History Main / TheExecutioner

** One of the worst examples was this hanging of the Manchester Martyrs. He was well known for making a big show of his executions to a crowd of over 30,000 people, dangling off the condemned legs in an attempt to break their necks. The first of the Martyrs, William Philip Allen, was lucky and his neck was broken. The other two, Michael Larkin, and Michael O'Brien, were nowhere near so lucky, causing Calcraft to have to yank on Larkin's legs to snap his neck. The Priest who was accompanying the martyrs to the gallows was so horrified that he said it was a killing not an execution, and refused to let Calcraft even touch O'Brien to finish him off

* [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Calcraft William Calcraft]] Is famous for being in a seventh category for executioners. Incompetent. He used the Short Drop method which, while standard at the time, he somehow still managed to botch regularly. At one point he was dealt a death threat and was in such a hurry to get off the platform than he completely mismeasured the rope and the condemned was able to cling to the scaffolding [[SerialEscalation three times]] despite the warden's best efforts to knock him lose and the guards had to drag him back to get him to kill the man properly. At yet somehow, he managed to serve 45 years despite that.

* ''{{Literature/Discworld}}'':
** Samuel Vimes' ancestor Suffer-Not-Injustice "Stoneface" Vimes was the only man to step up and execute the last king of Ankh-Morpork Lorenzo the Kind (who is heavily implied to have tortured and raped children to death). [[UngratefulBastard Ankh-Morpork being]] [[FullCircleRevolution what it is]], the citizens soon turned against him, to the point of needing several graves, and is responsible for the Vimes family falling on such hard times until Samuel [[spoiler:became Commander of the City Watch and Duke of Ankh-Morpork.]] One of Vetinari's rewards for Vimes was rehabilitating his ancestor's memory and commissioning a statue of him; it's the only one not graffitied in the city because no one wants to see Vimes' reaction on finding out it was vandalized.

* In ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'', the identity of a given executioner is often used for contrast compared to the example from Ned Stark, who believes that the one who passes the sentence should have to swing the axe himself. See below under Professional.

* ''Manga/SamuraiExecutioner'': The main character Asaemon Yamada is the local executioner. He takes his duty very seriously, and has immense compassion for those he kills, doing his best to make them repent for their crimes or trying to understand what drove them to commit the crime that got them executed.
** Because he's also the shogun's sword-tester (which involves cutting straw mats and dead bodies), he is repeatedly thought to be worthless against enemies who aren't tied up. The kind of people who think this are very quickly and fatally proven wrong.

* ''Film/TheNightOfTheHunter'': The state executioner has a minor role, introduced hanging a convicted convict. He expresses distain for the brutal nature of his job, but excepts it necessary. He is seen again at the end of the film, and informs [[SerialKiller Harry Powell]] that he's actually happy for once to be riding the world of such an evil man.

* ''{{Literature/Discworld}}'':
** In the modern timeline, there's Daniel Trooper, the Ankh-Morpok hangman. He's quite cheerful given his profession, and is skilled enough to hang a man without actually killing him, a skill that comes in handy when Vetinari wants a crook with useful skills seen to be dead.

** ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'': The Primarch of the Space Wolves, Leman Russ, gained the moniker 'The Emperor's Executioner', for his tendency and brutal efficiency in hunting down and punishing rogue Space Marines at the Emperor's behest. It's heavily implied, if not outright stated, that he and his Space Wolves were the ones who {{UnPerson}}ed the two forgotten legions.

* In ''ComicBook/NathanHalesHazardousTales'', one of the main characters and narrators of the books is The Hangman, a hood-wearing executioner who is meant to hang Nathan Hale. Interestingly, he nearly subverts almost ''every subtype'' that's associated with this trope. While he does wear a mask, he's by no means shunned by anyone, and he's very comfortable talking about his life and giving his full name. He doesn't appear to be tormented by his job, but he's also not completely blood thirsty nor is he apathetic in any way. He actually doesn't like it when people die or are horribly injured in the stories, something that the other character [[LampshadeHanging lampshade]] a lot. He also expresses empathy when meeting Nathan Hale, regretting that he doesn't have an extra life to give him. Ultimately, the Hangman is a pretty friendly guy, albeit goofy and dim-witted.
** Really, the only subtype that applies to him is Dynastic, as he shows off a picture of a relative of his, who was also an executioner. This is mainly PlayedForLaughs.

An executioner is someone tasked with executing criminals sentenced to death by an official authority. In some cases this person could also execute other [[CorporalPunishment corporal sentences]] such as whipping or chopping off limbs.

In the beginning, justice was based around private justice, ''i.e.'' feuds and vendettas: as such the victim or his relatives had to execute their sentence themselves. Oftentimes it was the community who executed the sentence, and some sentences, such as stoning, were based around this concept.

If the executioner also carries out the task of judging the culprit personally, this is JudgeJuryAndExecutioner. If he acts without legal sanction then he's a VigilanteMan doing {{Vigilante Execution}}s. Executioners will also overlap with TortureTechnician and ExaltedTorturer, as in medieval Europe, executioners also dealt with torture. Although historical executioners rarely wore hoods, depictions may show them as MalevolentMaskedMen. Sometimes depicted shirtless. Will most likely wield a sword and/or an axe.

* [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Derrick Thomas Derrick]] was an English executioner who got the job after being convicted of rape by the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Devereux,_2nd_Earl_of_Essex Earl of Essex]], which he beheaded after Essex's failed coup against Queen Elizabeth I. Derrick devised a type of gallows that included a topping lift and pulleys, which he used at Tyburn, and a type of crane designed from those gallows was named after him.

# '''Apathetic''': Finally, we would have these who became stone-hearted because of their work.

If the executioner also carries out the task of judging the culprit personally, this is JudgeJuryAndExecutioner. If he acts without legal sanction then he's a VigilanteMan doing {{Vigilante Execution}}s. Executioners will also overlap with TortureTechnician and ExaltedTorturer, as in medieval Europe, executioners also dealt with torture. Although historical executioners rarely wore hoods, depictions may show them as MalevolentMaskedMen. Sometimes depicted shirtless. Will most likely wield an axe.

* [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Calcraft William Calcraft]] Is famous for being in a seventh category for executioners. Incompetent. He used the Short Drop method which, while standard at the time, he somehow still managed to botch regularly. At one point he was dealt a death threat and was in such a hurry to get off the platform than he completely mismeasured the rope and the condemned was able to cling to the scaffolding [[SerialEscalation three times]] despite the warden's best efforts to knock him lose and the guards had to drag him back to get him to kill the man properly.

[[folder:Literature]]
* Creator/ClarkAshtonSmith's short story "The Testament of Athammaus". Athammaus comes from a long line of executioners to the kings of Hyperborea in the capital city of Commoriom. He takes a grim pride in his work and his ability to quickly and painlessly decapitate the condemned, making him also an example of the Professional subtype, and it's very clear that he suffers no particular stigma around his profession, and enjoys the respect of the people. In the story, Athammaus encounters a particular criminal who [[ResurrectedMurderer refuses to stay dead]], eventually leading to the entire city being abandoned and the crown relocated.
[[/folder]]

* Creator/ClarkAshtonSmith's short story "The Testament of Athammaus". Athammaus comes from a long line of executioners to the kings of Hyperborea in the capital city of Commoriom. He takes a grim pride in his work and his ability to quickly and painlessly decapitate the condemned, and, uncharacteristic for this trope, seems to enjoy the respect of the populace with no particular stigma. In the story, Athammaus recounts how the city was ultimately abandoned after one particular criminal [[ResurrectedMurderer refused to stay dead]].

* In ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'', the identity of a given executioner is often used for contrast compared to the example from Ned Stark.

* In the first Singularity of ''VideoGame/FateGrandOrder'', Charles Henri-Sanson appears as an Assassin-class Servant for his reputation as an infamous executioner. He initially appears under the effects of Mad Enhancement, turning him into an AxCrazy madman who wishes to execute others so perfectly that they feel nothing but ecstasy when his blade cleaves through their neck. As a proper Servant, he's far more affable, if uptight, and prefers to use his knowledge for medical purposes and to slay his foes painlessly. He also has a certain amount of affection for [[Characters/FateGrandOrderRidersGToM Marie Antoinette]], whom he executed in life.

** The Sanson family gave executioners from 1688 to 1847.

* In ''VideoGame/FateGrandOrder'', Charles Henri-Sanson appears as an Assassin-class Servant for his reputation as an infamous executioner. He initially appears under the effects of Mad Enhancement, turning him into an AxCrazy madman who wishes to execute others so perfectly that they feel nothing but ecstasy when his blade cleaves through their neck. As a proper Servant, he's far more affable, if uptight, and prefers to use his knowledge for medical purposes and to slay his foes painlessly. He also has a certain amount of affection for [[Characters/FateGrandOrderRidersGToM Marie Antoinette]], whom he executed in the story.

* ''Franchise/DanganRonpa'': [[KillerTeddyBear Monokuma]] is an example of a Psycopath Executioner. He is responsible for executing the students who have been found guilty of killing another student or that have broken his rules. He outright '''loves''' having the chance of executing someone.

* [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Calcraft William Calcraft]] Is famous for being in a sixth category for executioners. Incompetent. He used the Short Drop method which, while standard at the time, he somehow still managed to botch regularly. At one point he was dealt a death threat and was in such a hurry to get off the platform than he completely mismeasured the rope and the condemned was able to cling to the scaffolding [[SerialEscalation three times]] despite the warden's best efforts to knock him lose and the guards had to drag him back to get him to kill the man properly.

* [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Calcraft William Calcraft]] Is famous for being in a sixth category for executioners. Incompetent. He used the Short Drop method which, while standard at the time, he somehow still managed to botch regularly. At one point he was dealt a death threat and was in such a hurry to get off the platform than he completely mismeasured the rope and the condemned was able to cling to the scaffolding [[UpToEleven three times]] despite the warden's best efforts to knock him lose and the guards had to drag him back to get him to kill the man properly.

* ''Webcomic/{{Widdershins}}'' the Knott family has been executioners for generations, but the latest scion, Vincent is a sweet, nervous, lovable law nerd who really, really would rather be a defense lawyer. He only didn't refuse the job in the first place because he's so anxious about disappointing his dad (a lovely chap after hours). Indeed, Vincent's working knowledge of the British law has been enough to get all his previous "clients" out of the death row, so he hasn't actually executed anyone yet. Will Sharpe, however, proves to be a tough case. [[spoiler: But he's actually being framed by someone using MindControl (to convince Will himself he did it, while he didn't). And after exposing that plot, Vincent finally works up the courage to tell his dad he's going to study law officially. Dad's still proud of him.]]