1386: The Sow of Falaise, seeing justice done

ExecutedToday.com ^ | January 9, 2013 | Headsman

[CheshireTheCat]

There exists a receipt for January 9, 1386, in which the executioner of Falaise, France, acknowledges payment of ten sous and ten deniers

for his efforts and salary for having dragged and then hanged at the [place of] Justice in Falaise a sow of approximately three years of age who had eaten the face of the child of Jonnet le Macon, who was in his crib & who was approximately three months old, in such a way that the said infant died from [the injuries], and [an additional] ten s. tournoise for a new glove when the Hangman performed the said execution: this receipt is given to Regnaud Rigaut, Vicomte de Falaise; the Hangman declares that he is well satisfied with this sum and that he makes no further claims on the King our Sire and the said Vicomte.

From this tiny kernel of primary documentation — the only primary source that exists — an impressive legend has grown up around the “Sow of Falaise”. It’s been alleged by subsequent interlocuters that the condemned sow was dressed up as a person for execution, that other pigs were made to attend in order to take warning by their swinish sister’s fate, and even that the incident became so famous as to merit depiction in a church fresco....

[BigEdLB]

As long as they barbecued the pig in front of the other pigs

[READINABLUESTATE]

Execution today!
Barbeque to follow.

[Ex gun maker.]

Not impressed, in America we hung an Elephant.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Also electrocuted one, as well ass an orangutan.

[Alas Babylon!]

The Sow of Falaise was executed?

Who on The View replaced her?

[Ciexyz]

I’ve heard of this incident as a sample of medieval barbarism.

[BluH2o]

The Falaise Gap, prominent battle northern France August 1944.
My Uncle, serving in the Canadian Army, was part of this battle. A few weeks later he was wounded near Rouen, France ... evacuated to England and later returned to Canada.

[Bethaneidh]

Oh, but whose?

Upon this day
The Sow of Falaise
Did eat a young child
In her crib

Then hang’d was she
All quite legally
For the proof it was there
On her bib

But who did allow
That unlucky Sow
To starve and be locked
In the nursery

So Good Man when you
Taste your barbecue
Raise a glass for the
Sow of Falaise