Picture of the Day

The Execution of György Dózsa

History has taught us that committing high treason is a sure fire way to get tortured and executed in the most excruciating ways. Of course, this isn’t a problem if you actually manage to succeed in overthrowing a ruler or monarch, but those who fail are made an example of in the worst ways possible. Such was the case of György Dózsa, a Hungarian soldier of fortune who led a peasants’ revolt against the kingdom’s nobility in 1514. Despite achieving some early decisive victories against the Hungarian army, the revolution was eventually suppressed with force and Dózsa captured.

He was condemned to sit on a heated smoldering iron throne with a heated iron crown on his head and a heated scepter in his hand (mocking at his ambition to be king). While Dózsa was suffering, a procession of 9 fellow rebels, who had been starved beforehand, were led to such throne. In the lead was Dózsa’s younger brother, Gergely, who was cut in three before Dózsa despite Dózsa asking for Gergely to be spared. Next, executioners removed hot pliers from fire and forced them into Dózsa’s skin. After pulling flesh from him, the remaining rebels were ordered to bite where the hot iron had been inserted and to swallow the flesh. Those who refused, about 3 or 4, were simply cut up which prompted the remaining rebels to do as commanded. In the end, Dózsa died on the throne of iron from the damage that was inflicted while the rebels who obeyed were let go without further harm.