György Dózsa

György Dózsa’s execution was very brutal. He was a nobleman from Transylvania who led a peasants’ revolt against the king. He was captured after the battle and condemned to sit on a smoldering, heated iron throne, and forced to wear a heated iron crown and scepter (mocking his ambition to be a king). While he was suffering, a procession of nine fellow rebels who had been starved beforehand was led to this throne. In the lead was Dózsa’s younger brother, Gergely, who was cut in three despite Dózsa asking for Gergely to be spared. Next, executioners removed some pliers from fire and forced them into Dózsa’s skin. After tearing his flesh, the remaining rebels were ordered to bite spots where the hot pliers had been inserted and to swallow the flesh. The three or four who refused were simply cut up, prompting the others to comply. In the end, Dózsa died from the ordeal, while the rebels who obeyed were released and left alone.