Garrotte facts for kids
A garrote is a tool that was used in the past to carry out a very serious punishment, like putting someone to death. It works by tightening a chain, rope, or wire around a person's neck to stop them from breathing.
A common type of garrote used by soldiers had two wooden handles and a flexible wire. The wire would be placed around a person's head and quickly pulled tight.
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History of the Garrote
Ancient Times
The garrote was used a very long time ago. People in ancient Rome used it in the first century BC. It was also used in Spain and Portugal during the Middle Ages.
When the Spanish explored and took over parts of the Americas, they also used the garrote. A famous example is the execution of Atahualpa, who was the emperor of the Inca Empire. People at the time thought this method was less painful than being burned.
The Ottoman Empire
In the Ottoman Empire, the garrote was a special punishment. It was only used for very important leaders and members of the ruling family.
Garrote in Spain
During the Peninsular War (1808–1814), French soldiers often used the garrote. They used it to punish Spanish fighters and other people who were against Napoleon's rule. Around 1810, the first garrotes made of metal appeared in Spain.
On April 28, 1828, the garrote became the only legal way to execute regular people in Spain. The last time a garroting was done in public in Spain was in May 1897, in Barcelona. After that, all such punishments were carried out inside prisons.
Notable People Executed by Garroting
Many people throughout history were executed using the garrote. Here are some of the well-known individuals:
- Atahualpa (1533) – The Inca emperor.
- Mariana de Pineda Muñoz (1831) – A Spanish liberal heroine.
- José Apolonio Burgos, Mariano Gomez, and Jacinto Zamora (1872) – Filipino priests.
- Salvador Puig Antich (1974) – One of the last people executed by garrote in Spain.
