Friday, February 25, 2011

Question from Guy - Burning for heresy

Why were people burned for heresy and witchcraft but not for other crimes?

Are there accurate statistics on how many people suffered the death penalty in each reign?

[Some related threads linked below. - Lara]

http://queryblog.tudorhistory.org/2010/10/question-from-ann-b-number-of-heretics.html

http://queryblog.tudorhistory.org/2009/10/question-from-kaity-punishments-for.html

2 comments:

Annie said...

I don't think statistics are accurate in such reigns as Henry VIII and Elizabeth because they were masters of Public Relations and did not put people to death for Heresy but instead for Treason of one thing or another and yet the root reason was for religious reasons

Anonymous said...

Women might also be burned for treason and murder (especially for the murder of their spouses, which was considered a form of treason)