Breaking Wheel: One of the Worst Punishments in History

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The Breaking Wheel was one of the worst forms of punishment in history. It was both a very spectacular and exemplary form of capital punishment because it was carried out publicly, usually attracted many spectators and was intended to inflict as much pain for as long as possible. The breaking wheel is also referred to as Catherine Wheel because according to legend, Saint Catherine of Alexandria was sentenced to be executed by the wheel when she refused to renounce her Christian belief. However, when she touched the wheel, it shattered magically.

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Bibliography:
Horrox, Rosemay, The Black Death. Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1994.
Schild, Wolfgang, Die Geschichte der Gerichtsbarkeit: Vom Gottesurteil bis zum Beginn der modernen Rechtssprechung, Hamburg 1980, p. 204.
Blazek, Matthias, Letzte Hinrichtung durch Rädern im Königreich Preußen am 13. August 1841, in: Fachprosaforschung – Grenzüberschreitungen, Baden-Baden 2011.