Decapitation

Beheading was an Oriental capital punishment in remote ages and is still common in the Far East. Xenophon says that the Greeks regarded it as the most honorable death. It was rarely employed by the Egyptians, but the Romans carried it into every province. Unknown to the AngloS axons, the Normans introduced it into England, where Earl Wal the of was the first to suffer by it, 1075. Ab. 1400 decapitation by ax or sword was reserved as a privilege of the nobility throughout Europe, the last instance in England being that of the rebel lords 1745. Germany, Italy and France still retain IMG:content-1105.jpg:[graphic] IMG:content-1106.jpg:[blocks in formation] decapitation for the extreme penalty. See GUILLOTINE and EXE CUTION.