Unlike Western European states, where the fires of the Inquisition were raging, The Grand Duchy of Lithuania was a a very humane state. However, our ancestors sometimes used punishment for misconduct or torture for terrible crimes. Belsat.eu presents TOP 6 of the most popular punishments in the history of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.
Winked at a man – wear “straw braid”
Wearing a “straw braid” was exclusively a female punishment. This punishment was rather moral than physical. Condemned to wearing “straw braids” were young unmarried girls, who behaved very indecently at the time. If a woman smiled to a married man, she had to wear a “braid”! If she put on a dress that was too open — she was to wear the “braid” again! If she winked at a man, she had to wear a “straw braid” for a whole week!
Straw braid
5 kg on the neck for missing a church service
Rosary – large heavy cross which could weigh up to 5 kg. Wearing such “decoration” could be a punishment for the sin before the Church.
Not only was the “rosary” heavy and badly straining the neck, but there also appeared painful blisters due to it. Such punishment was administered to both men and women. Although men got the chance to wear a “rosary” more often. If you missed church on Sunday, if you came drunk to the service and the priest noticed that, if you fell asleep during the service — you will wear a “rosary” until next Sunday. These methods were used in the GDL by Jesuits.
Standing at “pillory” the whole day was not easy
In fact, in the center of every city of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania there was a “pillory” or “pads”. People were usually sentenced to standing in “blocks” for minor crimes such as petty theft or drunken brawl. Of course, standing in the same position the whole day was very difficult.
Pads or pilloryIn winter, the offender was freezing and in the summer — suffering from the heat, people were also very thirsty. Offenders had, of course, to ease themselves standing in “pads”. Naturally, the offender could also become infamous to the whole of the countryside. Passers-by, in turn, always said a word or two or threw a stone in the direction of the sufferer.
Wood saw tore the skin alive
One of the most cruel punishment was torture by saw. The criminal was tied in the supine position to the table and had his body sawed alive. And God forbid that it was a sharp steel saw. Very often saws made of oak wood were used, which first tore the skin, and then the inside. This punished person remained alive and felt hellish pain. The person usually died from rapid loss of blood or from a shock of pain.
Such harsh punishment could apply to the killer, who was a commoner or was not a Christian.
“Cossack put on pile”
“Putting on pile” is the punishment, which is better known under the name of “ganching”. On the territory of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the whole of the Commonwealth this punishment was practiced until the end of the 18th century. It was particularly widespread during the struggle with the Cossacks in the middle of the 17th century. Such punishment was used against the worst offenders against the state.
An oiled ganch was put into the body to the depth of several tens of centimeters. Then it was set in the upright position. Under the influence of gravity of the body, the punished person slowly crawled down. It was probably the most horrible punishment, as the victim may have been suffering for a few days. Sometimes, the ganch never got in the vital organs, but only entered deeper into the body.
But there were cases when the victim died a few hours later from loss of blood or pain shock.
Quartering
Of the tough punishments, quartering was the most humane. It was applied to murderers of Christian origin, or non-Christians, who decided to be baptized with “blood”– were in Christ publicly — before death.
“Cutting by the sword” is cutting off the offender’s head. If a crime was deemed brutal, the body of the publicly executed person could be cut into several pieces with an ax and hung at the entrances to the city.
“Quartering” actually had the same function, only it was more painful for the victim. The limbs of the victim were tied to four horses who were set in different directions. Thus the victim was torn into four parts alive.
Mikola Dzyamidau belsat.eu
