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Medieval Torture Devices
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The medieval period
had many positive attributes; however, there was a dark
side to the time that saw men cause terrible pain and
suffering on other men, sometimes based upon little more
than rumor or speculation. To bend the will of individuals,
torture was often used as a grim tool.
One of the most common methods of torture was called strappado.
An individual’s hands were bound behind their back
then they were suspended by their wrists. This caused
their arms to be pulled behind their backs, dislocating
their shoulders. Weight could be added to dislocate their
legs joints. Other methods of torture were the thumb screw
where a devise was fitted over one’s thumb then by
way of a screw mechanism increased pressure was applied
to the thumb joint. This devise was also incorporated
into a boot to cause pain to the foot, ankle or calf.
Water was also used. A person would be given massive amounts
of water, sometimes mixed with urine, feces or other substances
while their nose was clamped shut. This caused severe
pain.
Pincers or tongs would be heated to sear the tortured
individual’s flesh. Another method involved the feet
being secured and coated with a layer of grease. A heat
source would then be moved near causing them to slowly
roast. Many different objects and devised were used in
torture and the methods were only limited by the torturer’s
imagination. Overall, the balance in torture was to slowly
inflict the maximum amount of pain while keeping the victim
conscious and alert for questioning.
The Church was not immune from torture as was seen in
the Inquisition. Christianity had spread through Europe
due to the Great Schism of 1054. While Christianity was
spreading, the Church was careful to put down any threats
or competing religious movements, perceived or real. To
quell any threats, the Pope authorized torture. Since
bishops and higher church rulers often lived away from
their areas of responsibility, traveling Inquisitors conducted
the heresy investigations.  It is interesting to note that
no inquisition was ever conducted in England. However,
the inquisition was not the only time torture was used.
Secular courts frequently used torture and their methods
were much more extreme than those of the Church. In fact,
the Church, while allowing torture, forbade the mutilation
of the tortured individual’s body; however, if the
Church torturers could not extract a confession, the victim
was often handed over to the secular authorities who were
not bound by the Church anti-mutilation decree.
The main goal of torture was to cause intense, agonizing
pain designed to break the will of a person to coerce
them to confess to whatever their torturers demanded.
Interestingly enough, many times the individual who was
being tortured had no idea what they were accused of.
However, the pain often was so intense, that they would
confess to anything to stop the pain. However, the reprieve
was often short lived as heretics were generally burned
at the stake as a result of their confession.
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