The story of the French ‘bourreau’ is perhaps the most remarkable in the history of judicial executions. Nowhere were executioners more shunned than in France. Since they were carrying out the King’s work, by divine right, they were seen as mystical figures. Holy but unclean. It was nigh impossible for them to carry out any other trade. They were often forced to live outside town and city walls. Tradesmen refused to serve them. The only prospect of marriage was to marry into another executioner’s family. There were hundreds of them, forming a vast caste of death dealers. They lived together, loved together and killed together.
They were cobblers, salesmen, barbers and landlords. Working men. Yet they were anything but ordinary. They were the State’s part-time killers; the hangmen.
