Robe and Axe of Giovanni Battista Bugatti, who was the official executioner for the Papal States from 1796 to 1864. During his tenure, he executed 514 people.

30 comments

1. And yet he would go to heaven

2. Hey, that’s only like .63 people/month. Pretty cushy gig if you ask me.

3. All I can think of is that hood lifting itself up.

4. Wait, he was executed people for 68 straight years? Either he was executing people way past his retirement age, or he started at, like, age 3. Neither sounds pleasant.

   As far as career choices go: is wielding an axe a good workout to keep you feeling younger, just like yoga in retirement homes? Asking for a friend.

5. How did they square this with “thou shalt not kill”?

6. Giovanni Battista Bugatti

   Such name phew.

7. People loose their head over him.

8. Smart move wearing the red robe Giovanni

9. Were the Papal States still removing people’s heads up to 1864? That seems quite … late.

10. 68 years in one job! Guy never got the axe!

    Thank you I am here all week

11. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giovanni_Battista_Bugatti

    For anyone who is interested.

12. 68 years! He was clearly dedicated to his job. But you know the saying, do what you love for work and you’ll never work a day in your life.

    A great role model to inspire us all

13. He worked 68 years though. Imagine if you were the delinquent and a 70 year plus guy walks up holding the axe.

14. “Best job i ever had”

15. How was work today honey?

16. r/oddlyterrifying

17. Giovanni Battista Bugatti, the sealer of New Londo

18. According to wikipedia *”the method of execution was beheading by axe, hanging or mallet.”* A mallet sounds rough.

19. When you are so good at your job, they hang your robes in the Hall of Fame.

20. My name is Giovanni Battista Bugatti, but everyone calls me executioner.

    ‘cue Daft Punk music’

21. He kept a [detailed list of everything](https://it.wikisource.org/wiki/Mastro_Titta,_il_boia_di_Roma/annotazioni), including in most cases the execution method (spoiler: not nice)

22. In my country it was hard to find executioners, so the executioners were criminals that were sentenced to death but instead of death they agreed to replace (execute) the current executioner.

    This was a thing during the 17 century until 1699 when it was outlawed.

23. Say what you will but this man knew how to get a head

24. Papal states, for perspective, was not the Vatican. It was a good chunk of what is now Italy and would have administered the punishment for general laws such as murder.

25. Here is an astounding wiki of every person on record that has been executed by the Holy See (or at least within the Papal States)

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_executed_in_the_Papal_States

    Really interesting stuff. The vast majority of these seem to be things people were already executed for (murder, robbery etc.)

26. This could have been a great “Supernatural” episode

27. If videogames have taught me anything; that axe has some legendary stats

28. damn 68 year career, homie must have been executing people right out the womb

29. That’s a long ass time to be holding the same job

30. My name is Giovanni Giorgio… but everybody calls me Giorgio.

    *Cue axe cutting head*