An executioner's sword is a sword designed specifically for decapitation of condemned criminals (as opposed to combat). These swords were intended for two-handed use, but were lacking a point, so that their overall blade length was typically that of a single-handed sword (ca. 80–90 cm (31–35 in)). The quillons were quite short, and mainly straight, and the pommel was often pear-shaped or faceted.
In the Middle Ages, decapitations were executed with regular swords, and the earliest known specifically designed executioner's sword dates to ca. 1540.
They were in wide use in 17th-century Europe, but fell out of use quite suddenly in the early 18th century. The last executions by sword in Europe were carried out in Switzerland in 1867 and 1868, when Niklaus Emmenegger in Lucerne and Héli Freymond in Moudon were beheaded for murder. Swords known as a sulthan are used to carry out executions in Saudi Arabia (see Capital punishment in Saudi Arabia).
The blades of executioner's swords were often decorated with symbolic designs. When no longer used for executions, an executioner's sword sometimes continued to be used as a ceremonial sword of justice, a symbol of judicial power.
Early Modern German inscription on the blade: Wan Ich Das Schwert thue Auffheben - So Wünsche Ich Dem Sünder Das Ewige Leben "When I this sword do lift - so [do] wish I the sinner everlasting life"
executioner, sword, executioner, sword, sword, designed, specifically, decapitation, condemned, criminals, opposed, combat, these, swords, were, intended, handed, were, lacking, point, that, their, overall, blade, length, typically, that, single, handed, sword. An executioner s sword is a sword designed specifically for decapitation of condemned criminals as opposed to combat These swords were intended for two handed use but were lacking a point so that their overall blade length was typically that of a single handed sword ca 80 90 cm 31 35 in The quillons were quite short and mainly straight and the pommel was often pear shaped or faceted Executioner s sword 16th century A decapitation scene as shown in Cosmographia universalis of Sebastian Munster 1552 In the Middle Ages decapitations were executed with regular swords and the earliest known specifically designed executioner s sword dates to ca 1540 They were in wide use in 17th century Europe but fell out of use quite suddenly in the early 18th century The last executions by sword in Europe were carried out in Switzerland in 1867 and 1868 when Niklaus Emmenegger in Lucerne and Heli Freymond in Moudon were beheaded for murder Swords known as a sulthan are used to carry out executions in Saudi Arabia see Capital punishment in Saudi Arabia The blades of executioner s swords were often decorated with symbolic designs When no longer used for executions an executioner s sword sometimes continued to be used as a ceremonial sword of justice a symbol of judicial power 15th century Heimatmuseum at Frankfurt Bergen Enkheim Early Modern German inscription on the blade Wan Ich Das Schwert thue Auffheben So Wunsche Ich Dem Sunder Das Ewige Leben When I this sword do lift so do wish I the sinner everlasting life See also EditGuillotine Muhammad Saad al Beshi Saudi Arabian executioner Terminus Est a fictional executioner s sword wielded by the executioner protagonist of The Book of the New SunExternal links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Executioner s swords German executioner s sword dated to 1674 at the Royal Armouries This article relating to swords is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte This crime related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Executioner 27s sword amp oldid 1089629081, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
