Historiography of Early Modern German Executioners

by historypleb

Hi all!

I'm currently researching Franz Schmidt, the executioner of Nuremberg between 1578 and 1617. Having read a diary he left behind of his executions and mutilations I am ready to dig into the historiography surrounding crime, punishment, and execution in early-modern Germany but I'm finding it somewhat difficult to get started. (I've found plenty of info on crime and punishment, but it's rather late for what I'm looking for-- late middle ages to the early part of early modern)

I will soon begin reading Richard van Dülmen's "Theater des Schreckens," but I fear that this will put my German close to its limit. Are there any English-language classics about this subject? I'll take anything on crime, criminals, punishments, or executioners you could recommend me.

Works I'll already be reading include:

The Faithful Executioner: Life and Death, Honor and Shame in the Turbulent Sixteenth Century by Joel Harrington

and

Defiled Trades and Social Outcasts: Honor and Ritual Pollution in Early Modern Germany by Kathy Stuart

Thanks a lot for your help, I'm a bit out of my usual field here.

sunagainstgold

Harrington's major secondary sources are nearly all in German (except Stuart). Still would be worth a perusal.

Some stuff I can think of offhand in English:

  • Ulinka Rublack, The Crimes of Women in Early Modern Germany - bibliography is primarily German on Germany, but supplemented with English sources on Italy and England
  • Richard van Dülmen, Theatre of Horror: Crime and Punishment in Early Modern Germany (will not be as up-to-date as the 2010 edition of Theater des Schreckens, but hey, English!)

And then work on specific crimes: sodomy, banishment, witchcraft, infanticide - using terms like those plus "early modern germany" in your searches will help flesh out your bibliography!