The Stake

By Crusader1307

Death by Involuntary Combustion or being Burnt at The Stake - was perhaps the most popular and infamous of all Medieval forms of torture (next to Drawing and Quartering). Tied to a wooden post with suitable kindling, fire was then applied to such. The result (assuming there was no wind), was slow roasting as the fire slowly burnt upwards towards the pole. Often, Victim would wear a simple coarse cloth "Execution" Robe or type cloth  (covered with oil or related combustible) - to expedite burning. The massive amounts of smoke would make One pass out (IF they were lucky). The primary goal was to burn the victim slowly (of which pain would achieve the same goal of passing out as well). Burning at The Stake goes back many centuries before the Middle Ages (even before Ancient Rome). Reserved for everything from Heresy, Witchcraft, Treason, Adultery - the crimes varied greatly. The Stake was a principle form of execution for Women (since social norms of the time detested the touching of a Female or likewise marring the Feminine form - even guilty Ones). The most famous Stake burning is of course, Joan of Arc for Heresy in 1431. Although not as popular in The New World, some burning did happen as a punishment for Witchcraft.