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Beheaded
Whether by sword, axe or guillotine, death by beheading was historically considered the most humane form of death sentence—as long as the executioner was swift, strong and good at hitting his mark. While the practice was never legally supported in the United States, we do give the method a nod in this country whenever we use the term "capital punishment"; the word "capital" is derived from the Latin "capitalis," which translates to "of the head." Here are some of the most famous victims of this gruesome form of execution.
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Featured People
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Louis XVI
- In these groups:
- Beheaded
- Famous Virgoans
- Famous Kings
Louis XVI
King / 1754 - 1793
Louis XVI was the last king of France (1774–92) in the line of Bourbon monarchs preceding the French Revolution of 1789. He was executed for treason by guillotine in 1793.
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Anne Boleyn
- In these groups:
- Loved to Death
- Beheaded
- Famous Queens
Anne Boleyn
Queen / 1501 - 1536
Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII, served as queen of England in the 1530s. She was executed on charges of incest, witchcraft, adultery and conspiracy against the king.
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Vasco Núñez de Balboa
- In these groups:
- Hispanic Explorers
- Beheaded
- Famous Explorers
Vasco Núñez de Balboa
Explorer / 1475 - 1519
Explorer and conquistador Vasco Núñez de Balboa became the first European to see the Pacific Ocean.
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Peter Kurten
- In these groups:
- Infamous Serial Killers
- Beheaded
- Famous Geminis
Peter Kurten
Serial Killer / 1883 - 1931
German serial killer Peter Kürten, known as the "Dusseldorf Vampire", murdered at least nine people before surrendering to police in 1931.
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St. John the Baptist
- In these groups:
- Beheaded
- Famous Preachers
- Famous Saints
St. John the Baptist
Preacher, Prophet, Saint / 5 - 30
St. John the Baptist was a Jewish prophet who preached the imminence of God's final judgment, had several disciples and baptized a number of people.
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William Wallace
- In these groups:
- Famous Scottish People
- Beheaded
- Famous Military Leaders
William Wallace
Military Leader, Royalty / 1270 - 1305
William Wallace, a Scottish knight, became a central early figure in the wars to secure Scottish freedom from the English, becoming one of his country's greatest national heroes.
profile name: Louis XVI profile occupation: King
profile id: 9196350
profile name: Vasco Núñez de Balboa profile occupation: Explorer
profile id: 17169742
profile name: Peter Kurten profile occupation: Serial Killer
profile id: 9218155
profile name: Anne Boleyn profile occupation: Queen
profile id: 9355623
profile name: St. John the Baptist profile occupation: Preacher, Prophet, Saint
profile id: 9522479
profile name: William Wallace profile occupation: Military Leader, Royalty
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