16th Century Executioner Describes His Executions and their Crimes (1573-1617) Franz Schmidt’s Diary

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Extracts taken from "A Hangman’s Diary: Being the Authentic Journal of Master Franz Schmidt, Public Executioner of Nuremberg 1573-1617."
Translated by C. Calvert and A.W. Gruner.
Published by D. Appleton, second impression October, 1928.
Soundtrack licensed from Epidemic Sound/Artlist.
Footage from Videoblocks.

[@jte7438]

Fun fact: Franz Schmidt was only a second generation executioner (the occupation was usually handed down from father to son), and his father had originally been a hunter until he was forced into the occupation. An executioners life, though important to the judicial system of the time, was looked down upon everywhere. This meant that executioners usually hanged with the "wrong crowd" of society. Franz knowingly spent a life in solitude in order to get a better reputation, which is why he managed to get hired be the thriving trade-city of Nuremberg. He had a house outside of the city walls, and even entered a marriage that was mostly out of convenience. If I remember correctly, he sent a letter to the Holy Roman Emperor himself with his life story and a personal request of being absolved from his occupation. The Emperor obliged, and Schmidt spent the last years of his life as a respected and efficient doctor of the city, having acquired unique insight of human anatomy during his many executions, maimings and tortures.

[@polemopoleno7104]

Thanks for posting

[@anakinvader9120]

Thanks for the info!

[@Ericsaidful]

Why do I feel like this is familiar? Did his offspring go on to become important Nazi personnel? Pretty sure I remember that.

[@gauntlettcf5669]

@@Ericsaidful I mean, Nuremberg os the city of the trial against nazis, so maybe there's some link to it that reminded you of some story you heard

[@Ericsaidful]

@GauntletTCF it's not the city. There was some Nazi Officer who came from a family of executioners and had risen above that class at a time where that wasn't really possible to do.

[@audrisampson]

Lesson here is don't steal stuff in Nuremberg.

[@mcjiba]

and don't F@#k cows

[@Face2theScr33n]

@@mcjiba Beat me to it

[@shanecarubbi7864]

Or fornicate

[@fmhummel]

Though it's said that they don't hang anyone in Nuremberg because they'd need to catch him first.

[@andytaurus62]

Got the message loud and clear some obviously didn't I simply cannot believe there were repeat offenders

[@alanwhiplington5504]

When the executioner says that he cut off the person's head 'as a favour' it means that he accepted payment from the victim to spare him the awfulness of hanging, which at that time did not involve the breaking of the neck.

[@mrfunnyperson100]

Franc Schmidt probably would have have advocated for a quick death anyway. He really, really didn’t want to be an executioner and was forced into it as part of the family business, and spent his entire life advocating lesser punishments and quick deaths.

[@alemalvina7624]

I was thinking about this. The guy was an arsonist. An EXTREMELY dangerous thing to have in a medieval city build Of wood and with nearly zero firefighting services other than the people and some buckets. This guy was very probably sentenced to be broken on the weel (an extremely painful way to die) just to send a message to another criminals.

[@vorynrosethorn903]

No, it was literally a favour, he might give it to lot repentant penniless murder, but not to a thief even for money if they had made themselves disliked during their imprisonment. Typically he'd have a discussion with the priest about it but other than that a bribe to sway his opinion would be just that.

[@artolehtio8284]

how was hanging made without breaking the neck then?

[@Thefan]

@@artolehtio8284 It'd have been how they made the noose, 'modern' ones have that knot on it that will break your neck - but back then it didn't - it'd just slowly strangle you.

[@Stew282]

"She had only one leg and had to be carried to execution" - Nice to know accessible executions were a thing!

[@McCRBen]

Wouldn’t have been easy for a one legged woman to survive in those times. They should have given her a medal for teaching people not to be so gullible.

[@gregmcgregginton574]

Inclusive af

[@samy7013]

@@staywhite6332 : Touché! 🤣😂😁👍

[@stevenwilson5556]

Diversity is our strength.

[@FlyingTigersKMT]

ADA compliant executions, very forward thinking

[@RJStockton]

2:26 Imagine it. You're caught with animals, then arrested and put to death. You think the worst is over. Then, 500 years later, somebody invents the internet and now everybody hears about what you did again. 🤣

[@drgonzothe4th]

Last week the radio said some 30 dude was got with a small pony. It was the police who found him. I think he got 5 years

[@t3hSpAdEs]

The furry subculture enables horrific animal abuses. We need to bring back public beheadings

[@finejustgivemeaname]

😂😂😂

[@someone-pz4dg]

@@t3hSpAdEs yes

[@alexcunningham1647]

@@t3hSpAdEs while I personally don't care for furries I think it would really surprise the number of people who have been caught getting it on with animals that have no prior history of such things

[@Hebblewater1]

"George, executed for Beastiality... And now a word from our sponsors"

[@noscrubbubblez6515]

And they executed the cow too..... because she liked it?

[@rustyshackelford3590]

@@noscrubbubblez6515 nah they just wanted some smoked ribs and steak after a long day of executing

[@n8archy121]

@@rustyshackelford3590 at least the guy marinated it before he was executed

[@dangersnail5839]

The cow was basically asking for it

[@belliott538]

And now a word from our sponsor: KY Jelly… 😈

[@valiantgrey3375]

The man with his throat cut and robbed while sleeping on the straw in the shed. We’ll never know his name, but we know the cruelty and injustice done to him. Very interesting that we’re aware of these after so long.

[@lanzknecht8599]

The executioners were despised men. In the taverns there were reserved places and cups for them. If one of the other guests felt bothered by their presence they had to leave. They had to wear pointy hats and certain clothes which unlike modern believes were mainly of red or green colour, later they changed to grey. They didn´t only execute and torture people, their duties also were the disposal of carrion and the maintenance of the sewers. No girl of a honorable family would marry an executioner or his son so that with the centuries almost a dynasty of their families in Europe had developed. Since their profession was not regarded as honorable their sons could not become members of the craftsmen´s guilds, so that they more or less had to become executioners too.

[@movsestimiryan3854]

Interesting, I did not know that.

[@davidsimut5016]

they were rich though

[@argentorangeok6224]

As long as I didn't have to torture anyone and could remain anonymous, I could probably do the job.

[@TheHolladiewaldfeee]

@@argentorangeok6224 but you had to torture ppl. It was part of the job profile.

[@kent7339]

Pretty much, though the executioner in this story eventually had Nuremberg citizenship restored. The family dynasty part is true, as executioners usually could only find mates of other executioner families, but usually Also, Executioners were not their main career, often they did odd jobs or worked as a healer for the poor folk. Franz Schmidt only executed 361 people in 40+ years but performed 15,000+ medical visits at the same period.

[@gitmoholliday5764]

the guy caught for raping cows and a sheep ended up burning on the stake together with a cow, well that would be a bit unreasonable towards the cow. 🤔 the sheep must've had a great lawyer defending her case.

[@Sweaty_Ken]

Pure gold

[@juanjuri6127]

you kid, but there were actually lawyers tasked with defending animals, back in the day. It was usually on witchcraft-related charges ("this pig gave me the evil eye and that's why my crops failed, put him to death!") and the 'defendant' was actually the owner of the animal, but it'd be recorded as "the pig's defence" and so on. There was a similar case to the one mentioned in this video on record, though, where a lady donkey lawyered up with an ace legal team: "Jacques Ferron was a Frenchman who was tried and hanged in 1750 for copulation with a jenny (female donkey). The trial took place in the commune of Vanves and Ferron was found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging. In cases such as these it was usual that the animal would also be sentenced to death, but in this case the she-ass was acquitted. The court decided that the animal was a victim and had not participated of her own free will. A document, dated 19 September 1750, was submitted to the court on behalf of the she-ass that attested to the virtuous nature of the animal. Signed by the parish priest and other principal residents of the commune it proclaimed that "they were willing to bear witness that she is in word and deed and in all her habits of life a most honest creature."

[@brokeneyes6615]

That sheep fleeced itself to avoid getting its hide tanned like the cow. .

[@edmann1820]

Victim blaming is despicable. Although, I heard the sheep was wearing it's fleece very short.

[@kylevolbrecht9255]

In the ancient law of Athens, if a roof tile fell and killed someone, the roof tile would be tried in court and removed from the city of found guilty. Ancient Greeks believed that anything which killed could generate an evil miasma which would slowly engulf the city of left unchecked. So animals, objects, and people who committed murders were all put out of the city.

[@paweandonisgawralidisdobrz2522]

Scams then: If you take this coal it will turn to gold Scams now: If you take this course you will become rich

[@richardegan1204]

🤣🤣🤣👍

[@thatsnodildo1974]

To be fair coal can be turned to gold if sold or used to make food for others

[@Tadesan]

Have this insurance so bad things don’t hurt you. Take this loan so you can use it to improve your life.

[@GrunOne]

@@twangshanty9559 Go away, can't have any peace from you people.

[@ericredelman2568]

@@GrunOne 🤫

[@JackValeroMusic]

Just imagine him going down the line of prisoners: ‘Beheading, beheading, beheading, beheading, beheading - oh actually you’re free to go’ ‘Really?’ ‘Nope beheading’

[@jenniferneil2438]

I see what you did there. 😂

[@Tom_Quixote]

@@jenniferneil2438 He didn't do anything.

[@jenniferneil2438]

Tom Quixote, he's referring to a Monty Python movie. That's what I was responding to.

[@Wrz2e]

"In the next world I will summon Emperor and King so that justice can at last be done.".... I'm gonna use this in my next HR meeting at work.

[@fidelcatsro6948]

2yrs on..Did you get promoted or sacked??

[@mrrandom1265]

Friend: "Hey bro, can I ask you a favor?" Me: "Say no more, I'll get the sword."

[@bluwasabi7635]

lol!

[@bamaking45]

🤣

[@varisleek3360]

squad goals

[@MyPhobo]

"Get your tux too. Gonna need to formally whip someone out of town."

[@captainLoknar]

did Nuremburg even have a jail?

[@Nate-bn5kk]

I'm seeing a lot of people who don't understand what it means to be "beheaded as a favor" it was common for someone who was to be executed to "bribe" the executioner for a more pleasant death. Beheading was considered the most humane and least painful way to be executed back then. (Edit: it was the best alternative, the alternative being a long torturous humiliating spectacle on the wheel for instance.)

[@spaulding304]

Thanks. Thought it meant it was a favor to the city to remove a criminal from society.

[@Nate-bn5kk]

@@spaulding304 Yup and on the contrary, if the accused were to upset or not bribe the executioner then they could potentially be executed by a prolonged and painful execution. Sometimes family members or important people from society who were friends with the accused would pay the executioner as a "favor" to the executes.

[@freewheelinfranklyn]

ha ha......i was wondering.....i thought he was doing a lot o jobs for free as favours

[@mikeyKnows_]

In England to be beheaded was the worse way to go, they used a blunt axe and the executioner would miss the neck multiple times.

[@factsdontcareaboutyourfeel7204]

@@mikeyKnows_ being hung, drawn and quartered is far more worse .

[@jvharbin8337]

"A wise vein hidden in her leg" that's a new one for me.

[@listentoyourvibes]

I got a wise vein on my forehead. It throbs when anger approaches.

[@harmoneggsarmandlegs481]

I have one in my underwear 😮 It's weakness is women

[@KowboyUSA]

Not a cell phone in sight, just people enjoying living in the moment.

[@writingtotortureyou]

LMFAO

[@cry2love]

Yes, people lived their best moment faces into only cells

[@Botiozuu]

With a cow or a sheep, whatever you into

[@Socialistdemon]

Kids today will never know what it’s like when you get to watch a man on the wheel after a long days of sucking the royal gunge out of your kings face.

[@alexandersheridan2179]

Most of them. The living part, not the cellphones, silly

[@jimbob3332]

"Beheaded as a favour" cheers, thanks mate, really doing me a solid here

[@vorynrosethorn903]

Hanging could last upwards of 40 minutes...so yeah...

[@jimbob3332]

@@vorynrosethorn903 Just seems like 'mercy' would be a better term, but now I'm nitpicking a 16th Century guy's diction.

[@mirzaahmed6589]

I'd rather be burned with the cow I'm in love with.

[@dab0331]

Beheading with a sword is pretty merciful. At least it's not with a dull knife, like in Mexico.

[@skyhappy]

@@dab0331 lol are you talking about the cartel beheading video

[@chrisconway9959]

This guy's house exists still.

[@Jim58223]

what's the location?

[@Stadtpark90]

And the Death Penalty still exists in the US (- and probably Saudi Arabia and places like that). The Dark Ages are not over at all.

[@Jim58223]

@@Stadtpark90 Saudia Arabia still has stoning. I think they only recently stopped it. China has mobile execution vans, that's how many people they kill.

[@racciacrack7579]

@@Stadtpark90 Decapitating Reginald for speaking out against the church isn't the same as some inhumane monster getting sentenced to death for killing kids.

[@Stadtpark90]

@@racciacrack7579 It’s about showing the capability to treat a murderer differently from how he would treat you.

[@matthewexline6589]

"Beheaded here at Nuremberg" has such a catchy ring to it. I could foresee it as the chorus of a song.

[@nik09las]

The Faithful Executioner is such a good read or listen. All Franz ever wanted was for his children to have a better life than himself and to not have to adopt the family business.

[@ForelliBoy]

My favorite line from a children's book remains "I am 14 and have not yet seen a hanging. My life is barren."

[@mrfunnyperson100]

What book was that?

[@neilpieterse9614]

@@mrfunnyperson100 I would like to know aswell

[@toffeebluenose7331]

Lmao

[@Allen667sjja]

Lol

[@jotcw81]

A book I particularly enjoyed at the time was Ken Follets´`Pillars of the Earth´, which mentions, if I am not mistaken, a hanging in the very first sentence.

[@HistoryOfRevolutions]

Dostoevsky writes in his book "crime and punishment": "I read about a man condemned to death saying or thinking, an hour before his death, that if he had to live somewhere high up on a cliffside, on a ledge so narrow that there was room only for his two feet- and with the abyss, the ocean, eternal darkness, eternal solitude, eternal storm all around him- and had to stay like that, on a square foot of space, an entire lifetime, a thousand years, an eternity- it would be better to live so than to die right now! Only to live, to live, to live! To live, no matter how- only to live!"

[@DigitalDuelist]

Thank you for sharing that. Powerful!

[@stollinroned5090]

living is gay tho

[@1lobster]

I don’t doubt that the criminal would rather live, but if he does not redeem himself he should be executed. Certainly not condemned to hell, but death is just.

[@1lobster]

@@Sash2016 that was typical for criminals of his time in Russia. Even in the Middle Ages, even the worst criminals were usually banished to Siberia, instead of executed. By the time Dostoyevsky was alive, it had become custom to threaten men with execution, but pardon them as soon as the “stepped in the shade of the gallows”

[@CSLFiero]

Quit yer belt aching and bite this rope.

[@l4zrh4wk]

If you ever go to Salzburg the executioners house sits completely isolated in the middle of a field in the middle of the city because no one used to want to live near the executioner.

[@georgeallmond4346]

Just discovered this channel and I’m addicted. Keep up the good work 👍🏻 thank you

[@electricgecko8997]

I will say that this gallery of rogues has so many cool nicknames that they rival Batman villains for their dastardly monikers.

[@taterkaze9428]

"The Cabbage Grower"

[@c0nstantin86]

In America, thieves become "villans" and go on to tell stories. In medieval europe they just died :3

[@johnr797]

@@taterkaze9428 I love it because it tells you nothing yet somehow everything

[@rachel_sj]

@@taterkaze9428 *Cabbage Cart destroyed* “My Cabbages!!”

[@O-plaat]

@@c0nstantin86 in modern day Europe thieves go to palement and get payed for stealing...

[@AlanWattResistance]

You might be interested in a book called: "The autobiography of a hunted Priest" by John Gerrad. Father Gerrad was a Jesuit missionary working undercover in England during the time of Elizabeth 1st, when being a priest was punished by death. He hid in 'priestholes', knew some of the gunpowder plotters and even escaped from the tower of London. His account of the escape is amazing.

[@CanVultus]

This legitimately sounds like a really good read now I’m going to have to add it to my never ending library. Thank you.

[@sparklesparklesparkle6318]

@@CanVultus you should be reading instead of posting on youtube

[@alexaltair6076]

@@sparklesparklesparkle6318 And you?

[@CanVultus]

@@sparklesparklesparkle6318 You should give advice to people of your own intelligence level. You know the ones who are on the buses that are not so long. How many windows have you tasted?

[@CanVultus]

@@sparklesparklesparkle6318 deine Existenz ist erbärmlich und nutzlos.

[@JoeyArmstrong2800]

I just stumbled upon this channel. I'm a huge history buff. Love the first person perspective from the ones who were there. Cheers.

[@MrNaKillshots]

Compulsive listening. The narration is excellent, evoking a quiet, clinical authority.

[@davidm8135]

When I visited Rothenburg I saw a real executioner sword. The blade was engraved with Latin which said "the crime does not go unpunished"

[@okamisaiai5459]

That's pretty badass

[@juliohenrique8546]

Based.

[@Veldtian1]

@@juliohenrique8546 Based AF and Satanpilled.

[@Alex-nx5wi]

Do you remember the latin version?

[@davidm8135]

@@Alex-nx5wi Dikum Scelus Non Mamet Imult Um

[@53gaDr34mc4st]

This now makes me want to hear a reading of the diary of Peter Hagendorf, a German mercenary/Landsknecht in the Thirty Years War.

[@imAdolff]

Interesting

[@KoenBoyful]

His story is extremely interresting. Read about his whole life and story. 50% marching, 20% baking bread, 5% children death shortly after birth (like 6), 25% fighting against the Swedes mostly.

[@samy7013]

@@KoenBoyful : I need to read this.

[@maximkretsch7134]

And I would be interested how many contemporary English hangmen and mercenaries were able to write a diary.

[@AmazingPhilippines1]

I recently found your channel and find these accounts worth the listen.

[@thomasdavison7184]

I love this channel. I love what you guys are doing.

[@m.s.79]

A RPG player character wouldnt last a day in Nuremberg before being beheaded, as a favor, for breaking into every house and stealing everthing.

[@fmhummel]

You usually weren't hanged on the first offense, but banned from the town and flogged all the way through the gates. Returning after that already was punishable by death though - in theory.

[@howdoyoudo5949]

Ehh if you're only playing a thieves' guild type of situation.

[@terminator572]

Must be a very boring RPG experience if every single character you have met does the same.

[@howdoyoudo5949]

@@terminator572 Is that to me or to him?

[@amphionification]

I've played old school Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay games that were like this. I suspect they may have read some of these accounts.

[@SevenCostanza]

the soldier of 5 campaigns defintely sound like PTSD. probably snapped . poor guy

[@zanizone3617]

Well, poor beggar and poor burgmeister too...

[@davebroad642]

Immediately turned himself in, too.

[@rhett1029]

@@davebroad642 yeah that makes the PTSD theory even more likely he probably lost it then came back to his senses and was horrified

[@rekit7351]

Time stamp 8:15 incase anyone is looking for it

[@ebonymaw8457]

I don't know why they executed him despite his service and obvious immediate regret.

[@liamberry2450]

Just finished the book a hangman’s diary about him/written by him about 20 minutes ago. It’s a great read. Very insightful and extremely brutal in parts.

[@mindymorgan8479]

I hit the like instantly on this channel. Because, I know it will be a pleasure to hear the spoken words of the past. ❤️

[@Adam-gk4lz]

Franz Schmit was such an interesting man. He wrote that book to clear his fammily name of stigma his proffesion put on him. Whole thing is really worth reading.

[@alastairgreen2077]

Family, profession.

[@Cobywan54]

Innterressting commment

[@crocve]

By "doing a favour", what Franz was doing here was granting to the condemned a less painful execution by decapitation, which was a type of execution that was usually reserved to members of the aristocracy, since more painful forms of execution were used towards those who were not aristocrats, i.e., being drawn and quartered, being hanged, being burned to death, being bludgeoned to death, etc. During the French Revolution, in order to have a more humane execution, the guillotine was established as the main form of execution.

[@MrAnperm]

I notice the murderers were usually decapitated. Seems they got the easier death.

[@christobalcolon6601]

A hot stake is better than a cold chop.

[@NathanFrenchAttorney]

Captain Obvious - you are the type of person who says look the sky is blue

[@CrizzyEyes]

The murderers would normally have been broken on the wheel I think, very bad way to go, so a lot of them have "beheaded as a favor" instead

[@alemalvina7624]

Somebody paid for mercy so he was beheaded as a favour. The arsonist would probably have been sentenced to be broken in the weel (an exceptionally painful death) because arson/fires in medieval times were extremely dangerous and there was real risks of burning the entire city.

[@TheThizzelle]

First time stumbling onto your channel. This is fuckin AWESOME! Thank you for these.

[@BigFootStepping]

Been looking for this one

[@DeltaDanner]

Cow: “Finally that rapist gets what he deserved!” *gets taken to the pyre* Cow: 👀

[@miketacos9034]

“What? We’re hungry!” -the crowd

[@Dinngg0]

It takes two to tango

[@mahmud7645]

Its according to the Bible. Both the Human and the animal who was rapes must be killed. Its in Leviathan I think but idk I am not a christian

[@scutumfidelis1436]

That's because the cow has been tainted.

[@pikebasss]

Cow: Oh wow they’re giving me a really good spot!

[@patrickking9600]

The margraves wife suddenly recognizing her husband and kissing him right before his execution made me sad 😔

[@JH-ji6cj]

You don't actually have facial hair

[@Natasha___.]

@@JH-ji6cj lol what? He quite obviously has a luscious ginger beard/stache combo 😂

[@marionfalco]

Me too ):

[@patrickking9600]

@@Natasha___. please marry me lol

[@chico9805]

@@patrickking9600 Pathetic.

[@johndaugherty4127]

Excellent video.

[@quillquickcard8824]

Not a sadist, not a twisted evil, but simply a man, with a job, carrying out his duties professionally, and happy to provide what mercies he could.

[@craigross341]

Post-execution BBQ.

[@hanstun1]

He did hang a child.

[@lucasvaughn629]

@@hanstun1 pretty common back then

[@current9300]

@@hanstun1 While it's messed up, "childhood" as we know it is relatively recent "invention" from the 1800s. By his time, people were considered just small adults by the time they were able to work independently and understand what they were doing.

[@aethulwulfvonstopphen8013]

@@hanstun1 They didn't hang him because he was 13, they hanged him because of his crimes.

[@boopah4365]

Wow, no filler, no senseless backstories..Just right into it. Very nicely done.

[@donofon1014]

I compliment the VOP staff. Unlike some other "history" based channels, you did not stoop to using title language to attract morbid, or sadistic or psycho audiences.

[@templargfx]

I didn't know what 'executed on the wheel' meant so I looked it up. Man do I wish I hadn't looked that up!

[@fmhummel]

I recommend Joel F. Harrington's "The Faithful Executioner". He puts Schmidt's diary into the context of the time and explains the background of his life.

[@martinphilip8998]

The Faithful Executioner. It’s an amazing story. I will watch and maybe add more later. Ok, I’m still waiting for the more interesting part of the story. Schmidt’s father had been forced to execute a criminal on the command of a noble. Thus, the family was thrust into generational service in this role. Franz worked diligently for the state but was desperate to spare his descendants this fate. He did not drink or mix with people of the lowly professions. He came to be regarded as a healer and supplemented his income in this way. Some of his duties involved using red hot pincers to take a chunk out of a criminal’s buttocks. With eventual execution his next task was to heal that person so they could face the rest of their sentence. As a result, he was better than doctors and barbers of the day. Read the book. It’s better than this.

[@ddmark69]

Half way thru and it is a very interesting look at that period of time, highly recommend

[@onthursday1599]

Thanks for the recommendation!

[@gankt]

No one can resist the Fisterin sisters

[@luchacefox259]

And mother apparently, good times lol.

[@Mitchy1000]

Lol

[@britviking5960]

I know I couldn't, better make myself scarce

[@FFM0594]

It's a mistranslation of Fistin' in sisters.

[@adolphusweimann9237]

✊🏻✊🏻✊🏻✊🏻✊🏻

[@angr3819]

Thank you

[@charlieross-BRM]

A true court case no more than 40 years ago in the U.S. - a farmer was in the docket, charged with buggering a cow. The case proceeded calmly when at some point the judge noticed the defendant had a limp and was favoring a leg. The judge asked him how he came to have injured his leg. The defendant explained that he was standing on an over turned bucket to reach the height necessary for the deed and that just as he was finished violating the cow, it kicked back knocking him off the bucket. A spectator in the court burst out a laugh and slapped his knee, proclaiming, "Yup, they'll do that every time!"

[@chanlee4707]

The laughing spectator's remark sounds more like sarcasm to me though. Lol

[@polkka7797]

America? I thought I would be Wales

[@crywlf9103]

@@polkka7797 they shag sheep in wales and New Zealand, not cows

[@gilbertwalker3222]

@@polkka7797 That’d be a sheep not a cow.

[@mrtumas998]

Shoulda found a JRHNBR cow iykyk

[@tomhammer802]

"The florentine florin was a coin...ranging according to social grouping and perspective from approximately 140 to 1000 modern US dollars."

[@BuriedFlame]

So bitcoin then?

[@Narokkurai]

Medieval currencies could vary pretty wildly in value, depending on regional politics, trade, taxes and customs. It could even be a problem if your money was worth *too much* because then nobody would want to trade for it. Imagine if you had nothing but $100 bills on hand, but any merchant you buy from would need to empty out their change drawer to give you your change, and then THEY'RE stuck with the $100 bill and they can't make any more change for any other customers. That's the kind of shenanigans that fluctuating medieval currency rates could cause.

[@Eadric_The_Wild]

@@Narokkurai they were also made of gold. i know that England had a serious problem with traders taking English gold coins and selling them in the middle east for a profit because gold was more valuable in the middle east. obviously this resulted in the English currency being debased, it's the same as how it's illegal to destroy money nowadays.

[@garrysekelli6776]

10000 with inflation

[@Eadric_The_Wild]

@Josue Rodriguez ...ok?

[@bowieupland6112]

Amazing stuff.

[@jinnbuster4753]

I think beheading by sword was probably more sure and swift than other forms of execution. In England they almost always used an axe and often made a hash of it. It sometimes took several blows to separate the head from the body. In one infamous case, the victim ran off after one blow and the executioner had to chase after her.

[@krismikewill]

I believe that you are speaking of Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury and mother of Cardinal Reginald Pole. She was near 70, and Henry killed her to punish Reginald (who was out of his reach). She ran around the grounds of the Tower of London. There were a few executions Henry was justified in doing (Edward Stafford, Duke of Buckingham), but the elderly Countess was not.

[@FonicsSuck]

Gets stabbed "Why have you so wounded me?!" Gets stabbed again

[@nssherlock4547]

? The soldier stabbed 2 people One a begger, the other a Burgermiester LOL.

[@dogestranding5047]

@@nssherlock4547 Burger

[@nssherlock4547]

@@dogestranding5047 ?

[@dunruden9720]

@@nssherlock4547 beggar, burgermeister

[@fjordweit6170]

Joel Harrington wrote a book about Frantz Schmidt and his diary. At his Research in Nuremberg he found the oldest handwritten copy (1650) of the original diary at the Nuremberg City archive , which differs from here used transkript of an late 18th copy.

[@diggydude5229]

Would you agree that "nickname" would've been a better translation than "alias" as used in this video?

[@johnr797]

@@diggydude5229 well, thieves dealing with other thieves probably wouldn't want to be using their legitimate names amongst even each other.

[@atti_tube]

I read Harrington's book in college last year. Absolutely a fantastic work of microhistory.

[@martinphilip8998]

The Faithful Executioner. It’s an amazing story. I will watch and maybe add more later. Ok, I’m still waiting for the more interesting part of the story. Schmidt’s father had been forced to execute a criminal on the command of a noble. Thus, the family was thrust into generational service in this role. Franz worked diligently for the state but was desperate to spare his descendants this fate. He did not drink or mix with people of the lowly professions. He came to be regarded as a healer and supplemented his income in this way. Some of his duties involved using red hot pincers to take a chunk out of a criminal’s buttocks. With eventual execution his next task was to heal that person so they could face the rest of their sentence. As a result, he was better than doctors and barbers of the day. Read the book. It’s better than this.

[@martinphilip8998]

@@atti_tube I read it because I like to read. I didn’t really take up reading until I finished college. It’s a fascinating book and I’m sorry that the makers of this video haven’t read the book.

[@angiedelacruz4981]

Didn't expect to watch the whole vid!

[@russ3824]

Well told👍

[@pizzaboy7541]

Franz Schmidt was born around 1555 and his career as executioner began when he was just 18 years old, what a brutal time.

[@poutinedream5066]

18? Yikes. And it was an inherited position? My dad was a medic. He always insisted I could do it, I'd adjust if I had to. I was 35 when my 12 year old dropped a TV on her big toe at a friend's house. In the ER triage, they removed the bandage and I passed clean out 🤣. I can't imagine being put in that position at 18.

[@illustriouschin]

This guy operated for a long time, real good job security.

[@timokohler6631]

Medieval job markets where very simple, you did what your dad did, forever. Can be a blessing or a curse.

[@randygebreith2085]

Thats how family names like Smith and Miller etc originated.

[@MihaiRUdeRO]

@@randygebreith2085 I wish my family name was tied to an occupation. My family name translates to "Tommy's kid" ... I guess my great great etc. grandfather was named Tommy and knocked up some peasant girl... Great.

[@JarthenGreenmeadow]

@@MihaiRUdeRO M8 my last name translates to "big head" I dont wanna hear about it "Tommys kid"

[@rossambrose8649]

Not bad until you consider the executioner was usually was forced to live in a house outside town and was thought of as "untouchable" by everyone else. They would have been avoided by the townspeople unless they needed medical assistance (as the executioner was usually the only person with any knowledge of anatomy due to the nature of their work). Once you'd been an executioner that was essentially what you were doing for the rest of your life since nobody would even talk to you let alone ever hire you for anything. But it paid well and was always in demand.

[@landsman420]

0:30 I was born in Bamberg and went to school in Hollfeld... I LIVE HERE! I've also been to Nuremburg many times. It's really funny to see my homearea on an international youtube channel

[@yankeecornbread8464]

I’m familiar with many of the cities mentioned by our chronicler. In a museum in Wertheim I saw an executioner’s sword from the same period. It had a wide blade, not much of a point, and a slogan or prayer inscribed along the blade, saying “I am justice,” or something.

[@donmertz2171]

VII Corps patch. Very nice. Kelly Barracks, '87-'89.

[@walterloehrmann5213]

How old was this guy when he died? well over 60 i presume. A proud age back then. I looked it up, he died 1634 at the age of 79! What a mad lad he must have been.

[@natacee566]

Joel F. Harrington wrote a fantastic book on the executioner who wrote this diary. It is called "The Faithful Executioner" and is an incredibly humanizing look at Franz Schmidt. The book also really opened my eyes to the unique role of the executioner in that era and the world in which they lived. If you find these stories interesting I highly recommend you give it a read!

[@martinphilip8998]

Yes! The Faithful Executioner. It’s an amazing story. I will watch and maybe add more later. Ok, I’m still waiting for the more interesting part of the story. Schmidt’s father had been forced to execute a criminal on the command of a noble. Thus, the family was thrust into generational service in this role. Franz worked diligently for the state but was desperate to spare his descendants this fate. He did not drink or mix with people of the lowly professions. He came to be regarded as a healer and supplemented his income in this way. Some of his duties involved using red hot pincers to take a chunk out of a criminal’s buttocks. With eventual execution his next task was to heal that person so they could face the rest of their sentence. As a result, he was better than doctors and barbers of the day. Read the book. It’s better than this. I’m delighted in the comments that so many of us have read that book. It’s as wonderful as a book about torture can be. 🤣

[@samy7013]

I need to read this.

[@jotcw81]

Thx! Just ordered the book and it will make it just in time to arrive on mothers day at my moms´. She´s gonna love it, you really helped me out here hehe

[@evacope1718]

I found this book in a bargain bin for 1 dollar :)

[@RD-hs3oy]

Fascinating

[@billthebutcher1780]

I’m new to channel. I’m hooked.

[@upstandingcitizen3877]

“And the coals.. remained coals.”

[@mirzaahmed6589]

I fail to see how this was defrauding anyone. All she did was stay one night and ask them to dig some holes the next day.

[@EvsEntps]

@@mirzaahmed6589 She promised they would turn into Gold and probably was paid by them to do it, hence committed fraud.

[@gormsundberg302]

Yeah, I'm so fascinated by that story, bc they never got into the upside of her hustle, like was she asking them for a finders fee, money, sassages? Also, imagine having one leg in the 1600's, ofc she had to con some ppl for sassages.

[@dehydratedmanatee3586]

Right after that part, a St. Jude's add came on, saying, "Cole, he's my miracle child". Bizarre.

[@SuLokify]

Man. I've been watching and listening to these videos for a long time, and it feels like they're just getting better and better. I especially enjoy the "east meets west" accounts, it reminds me of the first contact tales we hear about so often in scifi stories and shows. My friend teaches history and uses these videos in his classroom

[@markc.1816]

I LOVE MAGELLAN TV!!!!

[@MishaDark]

Everyone: Ayo Franz, I need a favor. Franz Schmidt: Say no more.

[@adrianbigboss5685]

We still have this saying in Poland, "What's meant to hang, will not drown."

[@SSHitMan]

Do you have trials where someone is tied up and tossed in a pond, and if they sink and drown they're innocent but if they float and live they're guilty and must be hanged?

[@adrianbigboss5685]

@@SSHitMan Haha no, it means something like, when something is meant to happen, nothing will stop it.

[@SSHitMan]

@@adrianbigboss5685 I was just joking, but that method of trial really did happen back then. And yes as mentioned in this video sometimes animals associated with the crime were executed as well..

[@Swordfish42]

@@SSHitMan Nah, it's enough to check if they are heavier than a duck

[@battleelf6523]

PUT IT ON A SHIRT? WHAT’S MEANT 2 HANG, GETS WATERBOARDED FIRST?

[@Velkan1396]

This is absolute GOLD. Thank u so much.

[@Vanessa-bi4rg]

The best history Chanel

[@laurencetitusoates6328]

Loved to have met some of these characters.

[@FandersonUfo]

"Diary of an Executioner" - should have been a film by now - or a weekly series even

[@isn0t42]

There's a manga "Innocent" by Sakamoto Shinichi about Charles Sanson the Executioner of Paris during the French Revolution.

[@FandersonUfo]

@@isn0t42 - lots of potential in a traditional series format - each weekly victim's story narrated by the executioner - until he chops off their head etc - 2 or 3 good seasons possible

[@malahamavet]

@@FandersonUfo so basically The Storyteller tv show meets 1000 ways to die... interesting

[@malahamavet]

@@isn0t42 that manga is so Gore and ewwwwww!

[@edanridge3023]

@@malahamavet apparently there was a lot of stuff in his diary about how he was also a surgeon and healer and how he begged the nobles to free him and his family from the cast of executioners

[@diegoriverospineda3338]

"beheaded with the sword as a favor.." what a nice dude

[@mrfunnyperson100]

More than you think, the better translation would be “out of mercy,” as Frank Schmidt, the executioner, would usually lobby for the prisoners to receive the least painful punishments. If he had to burn someone at the stake he would try to break their necks first. Franz Schmidt was a surprisingly interesting man, he was one of the very first “professional” executioners that acted more like public servants than sadists. Despite the dishonor of being an executioner, Schmidt was known to be so pious, efficient, and friendly that he overcame people’s suspicion and became a respected member of the Nuremberg Upper Class and retired to be a doctor and surgeon.

[@charliebowen5071]

@@mrfunnyperson100 that’s codswallop.. an executioner had no position to lobby for anything to anyone... and Schmidt was never part of Nuremberg high society... at any point of his life.. he did his job with due diligence at best but you’re just plain wrong

[@karenwaddell9396]

A book ‘The Faithful Executioner’ by Joel F. Harrington is about Franz Schmidt’s journal and the life of his time. Interesting read. Well written.

[@jjdoom4420]

Can you imagine a 13th century Instagram feed 😂🤣😂

[@thaloblue]

Worse than 2010 Twitter

[@jjdoom4420]

@@thaloblue I totally agree

[@larryohh6974]

To me as a native franconian, this was very enthralling. Greetings from germany!

[@gennehring1]

"Beheaded by sword as a favor." understated phrase of the year.

[@dontmindme333]

That was a favor compared to hanging

[@DED_MEEM]

The cow, seeing the torch: "WHAT DID I DO!?!?!?"

[@sirianfelixbrightonesquire3247]

This is absolutely crazy! I’m not even a minute in. We’re hearing the crimes and some of the last actions of people 500- 600 years ago! The atrocities and opportunist.

[@phileas007]

Fun fact: executioner's swords are forged flat without a tip cause you never stab with them.

[@dragon12234]

Also cause without a taper the point of balance is further out on the blade, giving it a more powerful cut

[@yepiratesworkshop7997]

@@dragon12234 I saw one in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Full double-edged blade, squared tip and wickedly razor sharp looking. One swipe from even a small man could easily take off a cow's head.

[@ryangianan1439]

Thats also to distinguish them from the war sword which was only for, by law, knights and noblemen

[@mileslong3904]

Must be nice to be a specialist that's always in demand I guess.

[@dizbang3073]

A real problem-solver.

[@swaffelkonijn5166]

He was actually also a healer, many executioners were.

[@thesanfranciscoseahorse473]

He was "a head" of the curve, you could say.

[@robertpatter5509]

Excellent account. Would make a great film

[@hawaiisidecar]

Bring this back.

[@barnsleyman32]

this is probably the most harrowing source you've ever used to me, hearing the ages of those young kids executed for theft and hearing that they had never been in church and must have been outcasts from a very early age. what a short and tragic life they must have lived :(

[@daniwoods6868]

Def would have rather lived in an Islamic region during the time

[@chuckles5689]

@@daniwoods6868 you don't think the muslims executed kids for theft and treated people who didn't go to religious institutions as outcasts?

[@mujtabamohammed7264]

@@chuckles5689 In Islamic law thieves would lose a hand, unless it was a small amount which they needed for sustenance, in which case they received a lesser punishment such as a lashing, or if it was an armed robbery in which case they would lose a hand and a foot provided no one was actually killed during the robbery..

[@chuckles5689]

@@mujtabamohammed7264 how merciful...

[@mujtabamohammed7264]

@@chuckles5689 I assume you realise that it would be counterproductive if punishments were designed to show mercy, which is probably why the church-going German plaintiffs, judges and executioner didn't turn the other cheek.

[@schwermetall666]

There's an excellent book on this diary, Franz Schmidt, his time and craft: "The faithful executioner: Life and death in the 16th century" by Joel F. Harrington. To anyone interested, check it out. It's a thorough, well researched exploration of the man and his times.

[@mqbitsko25]

"I have a wise vein in my leg...." "We'd like to speak to you about your car's warranty...."

[@MickRiley]

I have the book a hangman's diary its a eye opener for sure 😮

[@Mattias_Tannhauser]

Would you consider focusing a bit more on 16th century Europe? This was an excellent video, and I’d love to see more from the period.

[@philarid2390]

Who was the early 2000s scene girl at @2:00 ? Serious what peice of art is that?

[@MTCason]

I have the audiobook of his diary and it is so fascinating.

[@s.t.lacroix372]

I have read the book on this particular executioner. To be an executioner was not a free choice, the sons of the town's executioner were obliged to follow their father's carreer after he died or couldn't work any longer. The executioners families were looked down upon by the hypocrite towns people.

[@MrBottlecapBill]

I hardly think people looked down on you without reason since you were the one enforcing half of the made up fraudulent charges and putting innocents to death a lot of the time. As a favour........

[@Sprite_525]

I mean, deliberately killing humans regularly has a affect you. There’s reasons soldiers get PTSD. Most people could never kill a fully conscious animal let alone a pet, let alone a human. Humans take this intuition, then they look at a killer with this mindset: someone who does the unthinkable everyday has to be of a particular mindset naturally, or they eventually become that way. Nobody would want to be an executioner. So it makes sense that kings and townships forced that role on isolated families. It sucks. I often think about what it would be like to do that job hating it everyday.

[@s.t.lacroix372]

@@MrBottlecapBill The executioner had a very low social status, comparable with street sweepers or the folks who had to empty the shit buckets. He was paid by the city council and was awarded life long low rent housing. Still nobody volunteered, everybody was appointed executioner by the city council, and such an appointment could not be refused and was for life. When the father died, the son had to take over. That's why many executioner assistants were actually the sons of those executioners

[@s.t.lacroix372]

@@Sprite_525 Well in the book it says that the executioner took delight in executing the biggest scoundrells. Medieval times were hard, tough and horrific. Individuality did not really exist, everything was done in the name of God. I doubt if most people really had problems with killing other humans, in those times death, sickness and violence were a daily part of life.

[@hung-upear2659]

@@s.t.lacroix372 If I remember correctly, this particular executioner was a second generation executioner. His father had something to do with birds, maybe a hunter or sth similar to that and one day had "taken a short straw". Afterwards, that particular executioner (not the hunter one) was freed and may have been pardoned by Pope (?) I may be greatly mistaken

[@yukisan78]

Is there a transcript of this text? I‘d like to know the names of the towns mentioned in the beginning. I think I understand „Stadt Steinach“ and „Stadt Kronach“ but I‘m not sure. That would be wild because that’s where I live 😂

[@tps1020]

I've read this book. I learned that beheading by sword was considered the most desirable way to be executed and the condemned would beg for it to the judges.

[@StormKidification]

Renaissance court: you are accused of counterfeiting Guy in the back: I also saw him do a card trick Renaissance court: you are accused of counterfeiting and magic

[@fmhummel]

Doesn't matter, both meant burning at the stake.

[@TheSquidPro]

*Muffled talking* Wow fuck that guy. Demonic. He made my coins disappear one day.

[@StormKidification]

@@fmhummel tough life for early modern shrigma grindset

[@crazymdrive]

I know what it's like to go through a smear campaign. A very dangerous situation to be in.

[@smisipawer]

A source suggestion: the police deposition of Nikolai Smirnov, a runaway serf, 1785.

[@jimpoop]

So, History of the Earth, History of the Universe, Voices of the past, what other channels do you have? So I can subscribe to all of them

[@user-tt4lz9jx8v]

Is it weird that i listen this to fall asleep?