History Extra podcast Medieval torture: everything you wanted to know
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Sep 7, 2024 Professor Hannah Skoda, a historian specializing in medieval studies, joins journalist Charlotte Hodgman to tackle the gruesome topic of medieval torture. They dive into why torture was employed and its legal standing, revealing surprising facts about its prevalence. The duo separates myths from facts about iconic torture devices, spotlighting a contemporary research project at the Tower of London. They also explore the psychological aspects of medieval trials, including Joan of Arc, and discuss how societal values shaped the evolution of torture leading up to the Reformation.
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Torture As State Not Law
- Torture was not a lawful regular instrument in English law but an instrument of the state, often authorised by the king.
- Continental Roman law and the Inquisition formally sanctioned torture, yet many officials still viewed it as problematic.
John Felton And Nathaniel Horse Cases
- The king formally authorised torture but judges often resisted, as in 1628 with John Felton's case where judges said he ought not be tortured by law.
- Nathaniel Horse refused to plead and was tortured with weights until he entered a plea and was then hanged.
Torture Focused On Serious Crimes
- Judicial torture targeted the most serious, typically capital, offences and was used to force pleas or confessions.
- Religious deviance and heresy were major contexts where authorities resorted to torture more frequently.