23 Horrifying Methods of Torture in the Middle Ages

In the Middle Ages, to reduce crime rates and the number of prisoners, lords often devised extremely harsh methods of torture.

23. Cutting off the “manhood”

Tiberius was one of the most notorious emperors in ancient Roman history. He was infamous for devising many horrific forms of torture for prisoners.

Among these, the “manhood” of prisoners was often targeted by Tiberius in his gruesome tortures. The Emperor would invite his enemies to drink. Once they were intoxicated, Tiberius would order their “manhood” to be cut off, causing them excruciating pain before death.

22. Disemboweling a donkey and placing the prisoner inside

Specifically, a donkey would be killed, its belly cut open, and the prisoner stripped of clothing and stuffed inside before the belly was sewn shut, leaving only the head outside to prevent suffocation.

Eventually, the unfortunate donkey would be taken to a sunny area. After several days, the donkey’s body would decompose, and the prisoner would slowly die from hunger and the scorching heat.

21. The Daughter of a Rubbish Collector

“The Daughter of a Rubbish Collector” was invented and named after an Englishman named Skevington. Its structure consists of an iron frame with a hinge in the middle. The victim would be tied to this iron frame, and then the torturer would tighten the hinge, causing the victim to bend over, shatter their ribs, and die in agony.

20. The Neck Yoke

The neck yoke is a structure consisting of two parallel wooden pieces with holes cut into them. When fitted together, it can secure the head and hands of the victim on one side, preventing any escape. This is perhaps the least painful form of torture, as it does not cause the victim too much suffering or lead to death. Victims were often tied up in public places like squares, aimed at making them feel shame for their crimes.

19. The Stake and the Pile of Firewood

Being burned at the stake was often the final stop for victims after they had been tortured, as this method always resulted in death. This method involves a pile of dry firewood with a stake to bind the victim. This form of torture made victims endure the scorching heat of the flames for hours.

18. The Torture Rack

The Torture Rack is essentially a large wooden platform with two rollers at each end.

This is the most well-known torture device from the Middle Ages. The Torture Rack is essentially a large wooden platform with two rollers at each end. The victim’s hands and feet were sequentially tied to the rollers. As the rollers turned, they would stretch the victim’s body.

17. The Rope

The rope is an essential tool for the infamous hanging punishment. (Illustrative image).

The rope has always been a favored torture tool due to its convenience and versatility. For instance, one could tie the victim to a tree in the forest for insects to decompose them, or for birds to peck at them, or as bait for lions. Additionally, it was essential for the notorious hanging punishment, although some authorities at the time deemed it merely a form of entertainment for the powerful, resulting in death. Ultimately, one end of the rope would be used to bind the victim’s hands and feet, while the other end was tied to a horse’s tail, urging the horse to run.

16. Hanging, Stretching, and Quartering

Quartering – an extremely brutal form of torture.

Throughout the Middle Ages, the punishments for treason in England varied greatly, including hanging, stretching, or quartering in public, which were very well-known. However, these were abolished in 1814 after causing a series of gruesome and sudden deaths for many. In these torture techniques, the victim would be placed in a large wooden frame for 3-4 hours, then hanged for a short period, sufficient to cause them pain until near death. Next, these individuals would have their intestines removed and genitalia mutilated, which would be burned in front of them. Finally, a team of four horses with four ropes would perform the “quartering” of the criminals.

15. The Collar of Shame

A special collar made of metal or wood.

Humiliating and painful, those subjected to this punishment had to endure extraordinary suffering to survive. They would wear a special collar made of metal or wood. The brutality of this punishment was often concealed by details such as the victim not being able to lower their head, eat, or lie down for an entire week.

14. Crucifixion

Jesus Christ crucified on the cross.

This method has existed since ancient times and is primarily found in Western countries; however, there are still reports of some countries applying this brutal treatment today. The crucifixion of a person is well known through the event of Jesus Christ being nailed to the cross. This form causes the victim extreme pain but very slowly; they would be left there to die, although it takes about 3-4 days to kill a criminal using this method.

13. The Lead Sprinkler

This device was often filled with boiling oil or water at 100 degrees.

These devices were often filled with boiling oil, 100-degree hot water, or molten lead before being rubbed onto the victim’s body parts such as the chest, abdomen, thighs, or buttocks. Notably, a quantity of molten silver would be poured into the victim’s eye sockets so they could not witness the execution process.

12. Torture by Pot

The prisoner would be tightly fitted inside a wooden pot, with only the face allowed to stick out.

Also known as “sitting in a tub,” this form of torture truly terrified the condemned of that time. Prisoners were snugly placed in a wooden tub, with only their faces allowed to protrude. Subsequently, the torturer would cover their faces with milk and honey. Interesting? Not at all! The milk and honey would attract flies to land on them. The condemned would also be fed regularly until the tub overflowed with their waste, leading to death by decay from maggots within just a few days.

11. Impalement

Prisoners were forced to sit on sharp, pointed stakes, which were then slowly raised to pierce their bodies.

This punishment is not as strange as you might think, as it was considered a sadistic hobby of Count Vlad, better known as Dracula. In Romania during the 15th century, prisoners were forced to sit on sharp iron stakes. These stakes were then slowly raised to pierce their bodies. This method would cause the victim to die within three days due to blood loss and multiple organ perforations. It is rumored that Vlad used this form of torture on over 20,000 people for his entertainment during meals.

10. The Brazen Bull

This torture device was designed by Perillos in Athens, Greece.

This torture device was designed by Perillos in Athens, Greece. It was cast in bronze, shaped like a hollow bull, and designed with a door that could be opened on the side.

Those convicted would be locked inside the belly of the brazen bull while flames were lit beneath it, roasting them alive until death.

The head of this bull was designed with a hollow tube leading outside. As the interior heated up, the condemned would scream in agony, and those cries would resonate through the bull’s head, sounding like the painful bellowing of real bulls.

9. The Breaking Wheel

After being tightly bound to it, the victims would have their bones smashed.

This wheel was designed like a cartwheel but was used for the purpose of torturing and punishing criminals in the Middle Ages.

After being tightly bound to the wheel, the victims would have their joints smashed and then be left there until they died of hunger and thirst or were pecked to death by birds.

8. The Rack

The wooden frame with two sliders placed at each end.

This device was rectangular in shape, made of wood, with two sliders at both ends where the arms and legs of the criminal would be tightly bound.

A handle was used as a lever to move the sliders up and down. As the sliders moved, the joints of the person lying on it would be stretched, and when pulled to the limit, it would lead to ruptured muscles and bones of the victim.

7. Judas Cradle

This torture device was designed like a pyramid-shaped seat.

This torture device was designed like a pyramid-shaped seat. The victim would be suspended above the apex of the pyramid and then gradually lowered onto it, while being jeered at by onlookers.

Not only that, it could also impale the victim, prolonging their agony until death.

6. Iron Coffin

Prisoners were locked inside coffins and taken to public places for the crowd to stone or stab them to death.

Depending on the severity of the crime, individuals could be confined in this human-shaped metal coffin for varying lengths of time. They could be left there until death or taken to public areas for the crowd to throw stones and stab them to death.

5. Iron Maiden

Inside the Iron Maiden was completely hollow, allowing room for a person to stand inside.

This Iron Maiden was designed like a metal cabinet shaped like a standing person. However, inside it was completely hollow, allowing room for a person to stand inside.

The top of the iron cabinet was designed to be hollow, where the torturer could use sharp objects to stab into the victim’s head, while the door was designed with sharp spikes that could pierce through the victim, causing a painful death.

4. Knee Crusher

This device was also used to break the elbows, arms, or legs of the criminals.

The purpose of this torture device was to inflict severe injury on medieval criminals. It consisted of two rows of sharp teeth on the top and bottom, totaling from 3 to 20 such teeth.

The victim’s knee would be placed between the two rows of sharp teeth, and then the two rows would be pressed together, causing the skin to peel off or crush the knee, as desired.

Additionally, there were similar torture devices designed to break the elbows, arms, or legs of criminals.

This device did not cause death to its victims and was often used in conjunction with other torture devices.

3. Heretic’s Fork

It is a metal bar with two symmetrical ends resembling two forks.

This device was commonly used during trials of those accused of heresy in Spain. It is a metal bar with two symmetrical ends resembling two forks.

One end was used to pierce under the chin of the tortured individual, while the other pierced the skin on their chest. Due to its short design, it could not penetrate any vital organs, thus not causing death, but it prevented the victim from moving their neck or speaking and caused harm to their neck.

When attached to this device, the victim would have their arms tied behind their back, preventing them from removing it.

2. Saw Torture

This saw was used to cut the prisoner’s body in half from the groin to the head.

This prolonged method of torture was often used to punish those accused of witchcraft, adultery, murder, theft, or insulting high-ranking officials.

The victim would be hung upside down to allow blood to flow to the brain, causing gradual blood loss. Then, the saw would be used to cut their body in half from the groin to the head. However, the torturers sometimes only sawed the victim up to the abdomen to prolong their suffering and ensure a slow death.

1. Finger Crusher

The victim’s fingers would be placed in the device and could be crushed to the point of fracturing bones.

This tool was often used to coerce victims into confessing. The victim’s fingers would be placed in the device and could be crushed to the point of fracturing bones. This method of torture could last for hours, inflicting immense pain on the victim.

It can also be used to crush a person’s toes or designed larger to accommodate an entire foot, knee, elbow, or even a person’s head.