Medieval courts used whips & the gallows quite freely. But they also took things further by handing down punishments that, sometimes, were crimes themselves. Here are ten odd punishments handed out in medieval courts. Which of these weird sentences would’ve made you the most nervous?
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Abjuration of the realm
Stealing has always been a crime. But a medieval judge could sometimes tell you that you weren’t going to jail. Instead, you had to grab a cross & stick to a set road, then walk straight out of England. This was known as “abjuring the realm.” Offenders had to head to a port named by the court & leave by the next tide. Anyone who strayed off course went back to trial.
Pillory and hurdle for bad bread
Baking was a business, sure, but it was also heavily regulated. London courts could throw bakers into the pillory if their bread was underweight or faked with filler. Yes, really. They might even tie the bad loaf around your neck so everyone knew exactly why you were up there. A few unlucky bakers got dragged through town on a wooden hurdle. Ouch.
Cucking or ducking stool for scolds and traders
Markets weren’t free-for-alls. Anybody who sold weak ale or mouthed off too much could be punished with the stool, although it’s not as relaxing as it sounds. Offenders were strapped into a chair & wheeled through town. They were then dunked into the river several times. While women received the punishment most often, men weren’t immune.
Tarring and feathering at sea under Richard I
Shipboard theft was taken seriously under Richard the Lionheart. His naval law declared that thieves would be shaved & smeared with hot tar, then rolled in feathers and dumped ashore at the next port. It was definitely harsh. But it was also a clear warning for a crew spending months together at sea. Don’t steal.
Court-ordered pilgrimage to a specific shrine
Not every penalty meant pain. Sometimes, the “sentence” was a road trip, though not exactly a fun one, as a court could order a guilty person to take a pilgrimage. This usually involved walking to a shrine & wearing plain penitential clothes, maybe even iron chains. They got proof from the badges that they collected along the way. It was either that or a fine.
Amende honorable as a public apology ritual
Amende honorable was a punishment that involved standing barefoot in your shirt, with a rope around your neck. You had to hold a torch & say sorry in front of a whole town. Usually, it was reserved for insults or political crimes. Either you begged forgiveness in public or faced worse punishment.
Sanbenito garments in the Iberian inquisitorial courts
Inquisitorial trials in Spain & Portugal sometimes led to a sentence called the “sanbenito.” This was a plain tunic, decorated with crosses. Anyone who was seen as “unrepentant” was decorated in one with flames & demons. Even after the criminals died, these shirts stayed hanging in churches afterward, with their names on display. The shame lingered for years.
Live burial for women in some German territories
Execution wasn’t for everyone. In parts of the Holy Roman Empire, women found guilty of certain crimes were buried alive, which was as bad as it sounds. It was written into regional codes like the Sachsenspiegel. But men in the same position might be broken on the wheel or hanged instead. How sexist.
Outlawry for failing to appear in court
Skipping court too many times in medieval England would get you a fine. You became an outlaw. With that label, you lost all legal protections & your property was seized. Anyone could attack you without consequence. Literally.
Peine forte et dure for standing mute
But it’s not like you could stay silent in court. Nope, refusing to plead led to “peine forte et dure,” which originally meant fasting & rough confinement. But it changed by the late Middle Ages to mean that you’d have heavy weights piled onto your body until you gave a plea. Or at least you couldn’t take any more. Whichever came first.
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