What We Know About Medieval Executioners in Vilnius: A Respected but Shunned Profession
Medieval Vilnius executioners were not just hangmen but highly paid craftsmen with medical skills, handling executions, municipal cleaning, and even stitching wounds.
A Multifaceted Job
Vilnius once had executioners living among its townsfolk. According to art historian Juozapas Blažiūnas, the executioner was a skilled craftsman employed by the town magistrate. His duties extended far beyond carrying out death sentences – he also removed dead animals and waste, maintained public order, and administered corporal punishment. Executioners spent most of their time on these tasks and had plenty of free time for taverns or markets.
Training and Social Stigma
Training lasted 12–15 years at specialized academies. Despite earning about 30% more than the city's mayor, executioners were avoided by the public. People believed they could see a person's sins, even future ones, and refused to accept money from them, calling it "blood money." The phrase "to cross to the other side of the street" is linked to executioners.
Misconceptions and Medical Expertise
Contrary to Hollywood portrayals, executioners never wore hoods except when executing a royal family member as a mark of respect, and they used a sword, not an axe, for beheadings. Executioners were educated men with excellent knowledge of anatomy. People would go to them to have deep cuts stitched because only the executioner knew how to stop bleeding – a skill essential to his work.
Historical Context
Vilnius had its own executioner from the granting of Magdeburg rights until the late 18th century. The last executioner was German, and he even retired in the city. Most executioners were ethnic Germans or of Czech origin; when the city lacked one, a substitute was brought from Lida or Kėdainiai.
