page_title: Michał Piekarski
section_title: Execution
hierarchical_section_title: Michał Piekarski / Execution
caption_attribution_description: English: Execution of Michał Piekarski, who attempted to murder king Sigismund III of Poland in 1620. His body is being dismembered by horses. Polski: Egzekucja Michała Piekarskiego, który w 1620 usiłował zamordować króla Zygmunta III. Jego ciało zostało rozerwane przez konie, a szczątki spalone.
context_page_description: Michał Piekarski, also known as Michael Piekarski, was a Polish petty nobleman and landowner, who attempted to assassinate king Sigismund III in 1620.
context_section_description: On 20 November the Sejm (Parliament) already presented a verdict and sentenced Piekarski to death, without a proper trial. The main charge was attempted regicide, which Piekarski did not deny. He was not fond of the king and blatantly offended the Court Marshal and the noble jury. The Parliament ordered the confiscation of his estates; the repugnance of the magnates towards Piekarski was so great that his native village of Binkowice was to be sacked and burned to the ground. It was later spared and the estates were given to a noble who aided Sigismund during the assassination.
  The execution took place on 27 November and an executioner was brought in for the occasion from Drohiczyn. Per sentence, Piekarski was driven around Warsaw and his body was slowly torn up with heated pliers while he was still alive on the cart. He was then placed on a platform situated in an area called Piekiełko (Devil's Den) near the Old Town where his right hand was cut off and incinerated. Towards the end of his tortures Piekarski was tied by his legs and arms and dismembered by horses.
caption: Piekarski being dismembered by horses during execution, 1620
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