Some of the most brutal and shocking execution methods used throughout history included hanging
drawing and quartering, burning at the stake and beheading by axe.
Many of these execution methods were used inside of Tudor England in the 1500s during
the reigns of Kings and Queens such as Henry VIII, Bloody Mary I and Elizabeth I.
But executions were common for centuries before, and they were aimed at times for public humiliation
and to bring great shame and pain to an individual accused of a number of crimes.
Some of the most sinister execution methods include the oubliette where an enemy would
be simply locked inside a tiny cell and would be forgotten.
However there was a viking method used which was purely for public spectacle and ritualistic
sacricife and it has gone down in history as one of the most barbaric.
There is some debate as to whether the blood eagle was actually used or not, but it lives
on today in history as a feared and notorious method of execution.
Join us today as we look at the blood eagle, remember to support our channel please make
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The Blood Eagle was important in its form of ritualistic sacrifice and as an offering
to the gods, as much as it was to inflict pain and suffering onto a high ranking criminal.
According to two sagas, the victims were forced and secured into a position when they were
lying down, huge crowds would gather to witness the sacrifice.
The Vikings loved their gods, and the Blood Eagle was seen as a sacrifice to the gods,
with the enemies of the vikings being killed.
Lying down, an executioner sometimes a high ranking member of a settlement would take
an axe to the condemned.
They would take their weapon to the victims back, and would cut open a large wound or
flap of skin and muscle from their back.
Following this huge cut, they would then sever the ribs from the spine of the victim and
would then pull the ribs out to the sides to form the wings.
Following this, the executioner would then complete the blood eagle, by pulling out the
victims lungs and laying them over the extended ribs, and it was just before here that likely
someone would have been killed.
The point was to create a pair of wings, and then the victim could be suspended and displayed
in huge scenes.
There has been much debate as to whether this practice actually occurred or whether it is
just propaganda from the viking sagas.
The blood eagle does appear in two cases in Norse literature, and there are other references
to it also.
There are two victims of the practice, one being Halfrdan Haaleg a prince, and the other
being King Aella of Northumbria.
Both of these executions were performed allegedly in consequence for a father being killed.
The first account from the late 9th century claims that Torf Einarr ritualistically executed
Haralf Fairhair’s son, Halfdan Long Leg.
It was said that the execution was done as a sacrifice to Odin.
It was said of Halfdan’s blood eagle, ‘Einarr made them carve an eagle on his back with
a sword, and then cut the ribs all from the backbone and draw the lungs there out, and
gave him to Odin for the victory he had won.’
It was also referenced in another saga saying, ‘Afterwards Earl Einarr went up to Halfdan
and cut the blood eagle on his back, in this fashion that he thrust his sword into his
chest by the backbone and severed all the ribs down to the loins, and then pulled out
the lungs, and that was Halfdan’s death.’
In both of these accounts, the blood eagle is clearly described as the method of Halfdan’s
execution.
But it’s closely with the sons of notorious Viking leader Ragnar Lothbrok that we consider
the Blood Eagle.
Ragnar Lothbrok had many sons, but he was killed by King Aella of Northumbria whom it
is said executed Ragnar by feeding him to a pit of snakes in retribution to the raids
and violence Ragnar had inflicted on Northumbria.
Following this, Ragnar’s sons set out to avenge their father, and Ivar the Bonless
captured King Aella of Northumbria.
Aella was killed following a battle for the control of the city of York, and it was said
that, ‘they caused the bloody eagle to be carved on the back of Aella and they cut away
all of the ribs from the spine and then they ripped out his lungs.’
The blood eagle was referred to again in the 11th century, and it was written again that
Aella was killed by the blood eagle.
Aella’s death was recounted again and it was said, ‘they did at the appointed time
and when they had captured him, they ordered the figure of an eagle to be cut in his back,
rejoicing to crush their most ruthless foe by marking him with the cruellest of birds.
Not satisfied with impressing a wound on him, they salted the mangled flesh.’
There are other accounts of the blood eagle, as there is possible a reference with regards
to Sigure felling the Sons of Hunting.
It was said, ‘Now the blood eagle, with a broad sword the killer of Sigmund carved
on the back, fewer were more valiant as the troops dispersed, a chief of people who made
the raven glad.’
But there is debate as to whether the blood eagle was ever practiced or not, or whether
it was just used to make stories and sagas better, and to make the vikings more feared.
Doubt has been cast over the use of it as a sacrificial method.
It has been compared to other brutal torture methods and execution methods, however what
has been questioned is the skill that a viking chieftain could perform the blood eagle well
to carve the back.
One of the legendary execution methods performed throughout history was the blood eagle.
Whether it was actually performed or not is up for debate, however its practices like
this that made the vikings incredibly feared.
Through raids and propaganda, they became known as being some of the most brutal and
feared people across the Medieval period.
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