"Spanish boot" is a terrible legacy of the past

The Middle Ages left us, as an inheritance, terrible stories of torture, which can not be heard without shudder. At that time in Europe, the "Spanish boot" was very famous. Despite the fact that the name contains a geographical indication, the implement was used by the executioners both in Germany, and in Britain, and in France, and even in Russia.

The essence of the instrument of torture

"The Spanish boot" is called for a reason, it actually looks like a shoe. It consisted of two wooden boards (or iron plates), between which the leg of the interrogated was located. This tool worked on the principle of vice. When special mechanisms, such as wedges or screws, were actuated, the boards (plates) began to gradually approach each other. Thus, they crushed, broken, flattened the bones of their legs. After reading such a description, it's even frightening to imagine in what bloody mess the "Spanish boot" turned a man's leg. Such a terrible mockery could endure only one who had a low pain threshold. As a rule, as soon as the bones of the legs began to crackle, the interrogated either lost consciousness, or confessed to all sins (even if they were not in fact).

Where did they come up with the "Spanish boot"?

Guess that this tool of torture was first made in Spain, is not difficult. And invented it in the time of the Inquisition. Holy fathers constantly invented something new and terrible in order to obtain from the interrogated such testimony, in which they could not be guilty. History does not tell us the name of one whose sophisticated mind invented this torture. Over time, the "Spanish boot" was modified and improved, it entered the history of many countries as a brutal instrument of torture.

Metal analogue

From this material, the very first instrument of torture, about which we are narrating, was made. It happened in the 13th century, when all powers in Spain belonged to the impunity of the Inquisition. The principle of operation of the mechanism was described above, the analog of metal also caused terrible pain. Sometimes sophisticated minds moved on and applied red-hot plates, which were put on the legs of the interrogated. Therefore, even before torture, a person received very severe burns.

Wooden tool of torture

As soon as religious wars and court intrigues swept Britain and France, the rulers of these states hastened to learn the experience of the Spaniards. However, in these countries the wooden "boot" became more widespread, which later became a kind of classic in this matter. The principle of operation is no different from the above.

How was it in Russia?

The torture of the "Spanish boot" was very popular in the days of Benckendorff. However, the Russian masters distinguished themselves and greatly simplified the whole process. They combined elements of wooden and metal guns. It turned out iron hoops, which began to work not from the action of special screws, but because of the wooden wedges, driven between the legs. The worst thing is that each subsequent wedge was thicker and larger than the previous one. According to historical data, no person could stand more than eight such sticks, because at this stage the leg was a sagging skin with bone fragments in the middle, and a person either died or fainted.

The modern mechanism

And the fascists went even further. For their mockery, they have perfected the "Spanish boot", or more precisely, they have expanded the scope of its use. They put such mechanisms on the head of the interrogated, causing the bones of the skull to crack and break .

Conclusion

Now you know what a "Spanish boot" is. Finally, let's name the names of those people who are practically well known to everyone for their merits. You will also know from what torture they perished. It was Giordano Bruno, and Galileo Galilei (not lost, remained lame), and Alexander Cagliostro, and Prince Athanasius of Vyazemsky and many others.