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last words Last words are the final utterances before death. The meaning is sometimes expanded to somewhat earlier utterances. Last words of famous or infamous people are sometimes recorded (although not always accurately) which became a historical and liter ...
, their final articulated words stated prior to death or as death approaches, are often recorded because of the decedent's fame, but sometimes because of interest in the statement itself. (People dying of illness are frequently inarticulate at the end, and in such cases their actual last utterances may not be recorded or considered very important.) Last words may be recorded accurately, or, for a variety of reasons, may not. Reasons can include simple error or deliberate intent. Even if reported wrongly, putative last words can constitute an important part of the perceived historical records or demonstration of cultural attitudes toward death at the time.
Charles Darwin Charles Robert Darwin ( ; 12 February 1809 – 19 April 1882) was an English naturalist, geologist, and biologist, widely known for his contributions to evolutionary biology. His proposition that all species of life have descended fr ...
, for example, was reported to have disavowed his theory of evolution in favor of traditional religious faith at his death. This widely disseminated report served the interests of those who opposed Darwin's theory on religious grounds. However, the putative witness had not been at Darwin's deathbed or seen him at any time near the end of his life. Both Eastern and Western cultural traditions ascribe special significance to words uttered at or near death, but the form and content of reported last words may depend on cultural context. There is a tradition in Hindu and
Buddhist Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and gra ...
cultures of an expectation of a meaningful farewell statement;
Zen Zen ( zh, t=禪, p=Chán; ja, text= 禅, translit=zen; ko, text=선, translit=Seon; vi, text=Thiền) is a school of Mahayana Buddhism that originated in China during the Tang dynasty, known as the Chan School (''Chánzong'' 禪宗), and l ...
monks by long custom are expected to compose a poem on the spot and recite it with their last breath. In Western culture particular attention has been paid to last words which demonstrate deathbed salvation – the repentance of sins and affirmation of faith.


Chronological list of last words

In rising chronological order, with death date specified. If relevant, also the context of the words or the circumstances of death are specified. If there is controversy or uncertainty concerning a person's last words, this is described in footnotes. For additional suicide notes, see
Suicide note A suicide note or death note is a message left behind by a person who dies or intends to die by suicide. A study examining Japanese suicide notes estimated that 25–30% of suicides are accompanied by a note. However, incidence rates may depen ...
.


Pre-5th century

;"Wash me well, hold me to your breast, protect me from the earth (lying against) your breast." :—
Ḫattušili I Hattusili I (''Ḫattušili'' I) was a king of the Hittite Old Kingdom. He reigned ca. 1650–1620 BCE as per middle chronology, the most accepted chronology nowadays, or alternatively ca. 1586–1556 BCE ( short chronology). Excavations in Zinci ...
, Hittite king (17th century BCE), probably addressing his wife or favorite concubine and expressing his fear of death while being gravely ill. ;"Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A woman slew him." :() :—
Abimelech Abimelech (also spelled Abimelek or Avimelech; ) was the generic name given to all Philistine kings in the Hebrew Bible from the time of Abraham through King David. In the Book of Judges, Abimelech, son of Gideon, of the Tribe of Manasseh, is pr ...
, king of Shechem (12th century BCE). Mortally wounded in battle by a stone thrown by a woman, he asked his armor-bearer to kill him. ;"Let me die with the Philistines." :() :—
Samson Samson (; , '' he, Šīmšōn, label= none'', "man of the sun") was the last of the judges of the ancient Israelites mentioned in the Book of Judges (chapters 13 to 16) and one of the last leaders who "judged" Israel before the institution ...
, judge of the Israelites ( 1078 BCE), prior to bringing down pillars of the Philistine temple and killing 3000 people along with himself ;"Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me." :() :—
Saul Saul (; he, , ; , ; ) was, according to the Hebrew Bible, the first monarch of the United Kingdom of Israel. His reign, traditionally placed in the late 11th century BCE, supposedly marked the transition of Israel and Judah from a scattered t ...
, king of Israel ( 1012 BCE), to his servant during the Battle of Mount Gilboa ;"My reputation carried me safe through Greece, but the envy it excited at home has been my ruin." :—
Anacharsis Anacharsis (; grc, Ἀνάχαρσις) was a Scythian philosopher; he travelled from his homeland on the northern shores of the Black Sea, to Ancient Athens, in the early 6th century BC, and made a great impression as a forthright and outspoken ...
, Scythian philosopher (6th century BCE), mortally wounded with an arrow by his brother, King Caduidas ;"You know that during the long time I have been in the world, I have said and done many things; upon mature reflection, I find nothing of which I have cause to repent, excepting a case which I will now submit to your decision, that I may know whether I have acted properly or not. ;"On a certain occasion, I chanced to be one of three who sat in judgment on one of my own good friends, who, according to the laws, should have been punished with death. I was greatly embarrassed. One of two things was inevitable—either to violate the law or condemn my friend. After careful consideration, I devised this expedient. I delivered with such address all the most plausible arguments in behalf of the accused, that my two colleagues found no difficulty in acquitting him, and yet I, myself, condemned him to death without assigning any reason for my conduct. Thus I discharged two duties, those of friend and judge; yet I feel in my conscience something which makes me doubt whether my conduct was not criminal." :—
Chilon of Sparta Chilon of Sparta ( grc, Χείλων) (fl. 6th century BC) was a Spartan and one of the Seven Sages of Greece. Life Chilon was the son of Damagetus, and lived towards the beginning of the 6th century BC. Herodotus speaks of him as contemporar ...
, philosopher (6th century BCE), speaking to his friends before his death ;"It is better to perish here than to kill all these poor beans." :— Pythagoras, Ionian Greek philosopher and founder of Pythagoreanism (495 BCE), refusing to escape with his students from the Crotonians through a
fava bean ''Vicia faba'', commonly known as the broad bean, fava bean, or faba bean, is a species of vetch, a flowering plant in the pea and bean family Fabaceae. It is widely cultivated as a crop for human consumption, and also as a cover crop. Var ...
field ;"All compounded things are subject to vanish. Strive with earnestness." :() :— Siddhārtha Gautama Buddha, Indian sage who founded
Buddhism Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and gra ...
( 483 BCE) ;"Heaven has turned against me. No wise ruler arises, and no one in the Empire wishes to make me his teacher. The hour of my death has come." :— Confucius, Chinese philosopher who founded Confucianism (479 BCE) ;"Can you turn rainy weather into dry?" :— Heraclitus, Greek philosopher ( 475 BCE), asking his physicians for relief from
dropsy Edema, also spelled oedema, and also known as fluid retention, dropsy, hydropsy and swelling, is the build-up of fluid in the body's tissue. Most commonly, the legs or arms are affected. Symptoms may include skin which feels tight, the area ma ...
;"For, no
Athenian Athens ( ; el, Αθήνα, Athína ; grc, Ἀθῆναι, Athênai (pl.) ) is both the capital and largest city of Greece. With a population close to four million, it is also the seventh largest city in the European Union. Athens dominates a ...
, through my means, ever wore mourning." :—
Pericles Pericles (; grc-gre, Περικλῆς; c. 495 – 429 BC) was a Greek politician and general during the Golden Age of Athens. He was prominent and influential in Athenian politics, particularly between the Greco-Persian Wars and the Pelop ...
, Greek statesman (429 BCE), discussing with his friends what his greatest accomplishment had been ;"Give the boys a holiday.", cited in :—
Anaxagoras Anaxagoras (; grc-gre, Ἀναξαγόρας, ''Anaxagóras'', "lord of the assembly";  500 –  428 BC) was a Pre-Socratic Greek philosopher. Born in Clazomenae at a time when Asia Minor was under the control of the Persian Empire, ...
, Greek philosopher ( 428 BCE), in response to citizens of
Lampsacus Lampsacus (; grc, Λάμψακος, translit=Lampsakos) was an ancient Greek city strategically located on the eastern side of the Hellespont in the northern Troad. An inhabitant of Lampsacus was called a Lampsacene. The name has been transmit ...
asking how they could honor his memory ;"This to the fair Critias." :—
Theramenes Theramenes (; grc-gre, Θηραμένης; died 404 BC) was an Athenian statesman, prominent in the final decade of the Peloponnesian War. He was particularly active during the two periods of oligarchic government at Athens, as well as in the t ...
, Athenian statesman (404 BCE), after swallowing
poison hemlock ''Conium maculatum'', colloquially known as hemlock, poison hemlock or wild hemlock, is a highly poisonous biennial herbaceous flowering plant in the carrot family Apiaceae, native to Europe and North Africa. A hardy plant capable of living in a ...
which he had been condemned to drink by
Critias Critias (; grc-gre, Κριτίας, ''Kritias''; c. 460 – 403 BC) was an ancient Athenian political figure and author. Born in Athens, Critias was the son of Callaeschrus and a first cousin of Plato's mother Perictione. He became a leading ...
;"
Crito ''Crito'' ( or ; grc, Κρίτων ) is a dialogue that was written by the ancient Greek philosopher Plato. It depicts a conversation between Socrates and his wealthy friend Crito of Alopece regarding justice (''δικαιοσύνη''), ...
, we owe a
cock Cock or cocks most commonly refers to: * Cock (bird) or rooster, a male of any bird species * Cock (slang), a slang term for the penis Cock or cocks may also refer to: Names * Cock (surname) * Cocks (surname) Places * Cocks Glacier, Ross ...
to
Asclepius Asclepius (; grc-gre, Ἀσκληπιός ''Asklēpiós'' ; la, Aesculapius) is a hero and god of medicine in ancient Greek religion and mythology. He is the son of Apollo and Coronis, or Arsinoe, or of Apollo alone. Asclepius represen ...
. Please, don't forget to pay the debt." :() :— Socrates, Greek philosopher (399 BCE), just before his death by ingestion of poison hemlock which he was forced to drink as a death sentence ;"Men, it is good for me to die on this spot, where honor bids me; but for you, yonder your path lies. Hurry and save yourselves before the enemy can close with us." :—
Anaxibius Anaxibius ( grc, Ἀναξίβιος), was the Spartan admiral stationed at Byzantium in 400 BC, to whom the Greek troops of Cyrus the Younger, on their arrival at Trapezus on the Euxine, sent their general, Cheirisophus, to obtain a sufficient nu ...
, Spartan admiral (388 BCE), before being killed in
Athenian Athens ( ; el, Αθήνα, Athína ; grc, Ἀθῆναι, Athênai (pl.) ) is both the capital and largest city of Greece. With a population close to four million, it is also the seventh largest city in the European Union. Athens dominates a ...
ambush ;"Then I die happy." :— Epaminondas, Greek general and statesman of Thebes (362 BCE). He pulled out the weapon with which he had been impaled in battle once he heard the enemy was fleeing. ;"But
Alexander Alexander is a male given name. The most prominent bearer of the name is Alexander the Great, the king of the Ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia who created one of the largest empires in ancient history. Variants listed here are Aleksandar, Al ...
, whose kindness to my mother, my wife, and my children I hope the gods will recompense, will doubtless thank you for your humanity to me. Tell him, therefore, in token of my acknowledgement, I give him this right hand." :— Darius III,
Achaemenid The Achaemenid Empire or Achaemenian Empire (; peo, 𐎧𐏁𐏂, , ), also called the First Persian Empire, was an ancient Iranian empire founded by Cyrus the Great in 550 BC. Based in Western Asia, it was contemporarily the largest em ...
King of Kings of Persia (330 BCE), to a man who gave him water as he was dying ;"How can the teeth of wild beasts hurt me, without consciousness?" :() :—
Diogenes Diogenes ( ; grc, Διογένης, Diogénēs ), also known as Diogenes the Cynic (, ) or Diogenes of Sinope, was a Greek philosopher and one of the founders of Cynicism (philosophy). He was born in Sinope, an Ionian colony on the Black Sea ...
, Greek Cynic philosopher (323 BCE), asking for his body to be thrown outside the city wall for animals to eat ;"To the strongest." :() :—
Alexander the Great Alexander III of Macedon ( grc, Ἀλέξανδρος, Alexandros; 20/21 July 356 BC – 10/11 June 323 BC), commonly known as Alexander the Great, was a king of the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon. He succeeded his father Philip II to ...
, conqueror and king of Macedonia ( 11 June 323 BCE), when asked to whom his vast empire should belong after his death ;"Now, as soon as you please you may commence the part of Creon in the tragedy, and cast out this body of mine unburied. But, O gracious Neptune, I, for my part, while I am yet alive, arise up and depart out of this sacred place; though
Antipater Antipater (; grc, , translit=Antipatros, lit=like the father; c. 400 BC319 BC) was a Macedonian general and statesman under the subsequent kingships of Philip II of Macedon and his son, Alexander the Great. In the wake of the collaps ...
and the Macedonians have not left so much as thy temple unpolluted." :— Demosthenes, Greek statesman and orator (12 October 322 BCE), to
Archias of Thurii Archias ( grc, Ἀρχίας) of Thurii was an actor turned military agent of the Macedonian general Antipater in the 4th century BCE in ancient Greece. He was nicknamed "the hunter of the exiles" (φυγαδοθήρας). History Archias was or ...
; Demosthenes had taken poison to avoid arrest by Archias ;"Ah! poor hump-back! thy many long years are at last conveying thee to the tomb; thou shalt soon see the palace of
Pluto Pluto (minor-planet designation: 134340 Pluto) is a dwarf planet in the Kuiper belt, a ring of bodies beyond the orbit of Neptune. It is the ninth-largest and tenth-most-massive known object to directly orbit the Sun. It is the largest k ...
." :—
Crates of Thebes Crates ( grc-gre, Κράτης ὁ Θηβαῖος; c. 365 – c. 285 BC) of Thebes was a Greek Cynic philosopher, the principal pupil of Diogenes of Sinope and the husband of Hipparchia of Maroneia who lived in the same manner as him. Cra ...
, Cynic philosopher ( 285 BCE), surveying himself when about to die ;"Now, farewell, and remember all my words!" :— Epicurus, Greek philosopher (270 BCE); the majority of his writings are now lost ;"I come, I come, why dost thou call for me?" :— Zeno of Citium, Greek philosopher and founder of Stoicism ( 262 BCE), quoting
Aeschylus Aeschylus (, ; grc-gre, Αἰσχύλος ; c. 525/524 – c. 456/455 BC) was an ancient Greek tragedian, and is often described as the father of tragedy. Academic knowledge of the genre begins with his work, and understanding of earlier Greek ...
' play '' Niobe'' and striking the ground with his hand after sustaining a minor injury, which he considered a sign that he was about to die. He then killed himself. ;"Weep not, friend, for me, who dies innocent, by the lawless act of wicked men. My condition is much better than theirs." :—
Agis IV Agis IV ( grc-gre, Ἄγις; c. 265 BC – 241 BC), the elder son of Eudamidas II, was the 25th king of the Eurypontid dynasty of Sparta. Posterity has reckoned him an idealistic but impractical monarch. Family background and accession Agi ...
, king of Sparta (241 BCE), prior to execution by
strangulation Strangling is compression of the neck that may lead to unconsciousness or death by causing an increasingly hypoxic state in the brain. Fatal strangling typically occurs in cases of violence, accidents, and is one of two main ways that hangin ...
;"O children, whither are you going?" :— Cratesiclea, queen of Sparta (219 BCE), after seeing the children of her family executed and prior to her own execution ;"These, O Cephalon, are the wages of a king's love." :—
Aratus of Sicyon Aratus of Sicyon (Ancient Greek: Ἄρατος ὁ Σικυώνιος; 271–213 BC) was a politician and military commander of Hellenistic Greece. He was elected strategos of the Achaean League 17 times, leading the League through numerous mili ...
,
Hellenistic In Classical antiquity, the Hellenistic period covers the time in Mediterranean history after Classical Greece, between the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC and the emergence of the Roman Empire, as signified by the Battle of Actium in 3 ...
Greek politician and military commander (213 BCE), after expectorating blood while allegedly being slowly poisoned on the orders of Philip V of Macedon, his former friend ;" Do not disturb my circles!" :() :—
Archimedes Archimedes of Syracuse (;; ) was a Greek mathematician, physicist, engineer, astronomer, and inventor from the ancient city of Syracuse in Sicily. Although few details of his life are known, he is regarded as one of the leading scientists i ...
, Greek mathematician ( 212 BCE), to a Roman soldier who interrupted his geometric experiments during the capture of Syracuse, whereupon the soldier killed him ;"Go and give the ass a drink of wine to wash down the figs." :—
Chrysippus Chrysippus of Soli (; grc-gre, Χρύσιππος ὁ Σολεύς, ; ) was a Greek Stoic philosopher. He was a native of Soli, Cilicia, but moved to Athens as a young man, where he became a pupil of the Stoic philosopher Cleanthes. When Cle ...
, Greek philosopher ( 206 BCE), before dying of laughter ;"It is well that we have not been every way unfortunate." :—
Philopoemen Philopoemen ( el, Φιλοποίμην ''Philopoímēn''; 253 BC, Megalopolis – 183 BC, Messene) was a skilled Greek general and statesman, who was Achaean strategos on eight occasions. From the time he was appointed as strategos in 209 BC ...
, Greek general and statesman (183 BCE), sent a cup of poison to kill himself after being captured in battle. He asked the messenger with the poison about his cavalry and was told that most of them had escaped. ;"Let us ease the Roman people of their continual care, who think it long to await the death of an old man." :() :— Hannibal, Carthaginian general ( 182 BCE) ;"Let no one weep for me, or celebrate my funeral with mourning; for I still live, as I pass to and fro through the mouths of men." :—
Ennius Quintus Ennius (; c. 239 – c. 169 BC) was a writer and poet who lived during the Roman Republic. He is often considered the father of Roman poetry. He was born in the small town of Rudiae, located near modern Lecce, Apulia, (Ancient Calabri ...
, writer and poet of the Roman Republic ( 169 BCE); lines dictated to be engraved on his memorial. Only fragments of his works now survive. ;"It is a cold bath you give me." :— Jugurtha, king of Numidia (104 BCE), being lowered by the Romans into a damp dungeon to starve to death ;"When will the republic find a citizen like me?" :— Marcus Livius Drusus, Roman politician and reformer (91 BCE), after being stabbed by unknown assassin ;"Fear not true Pharisees, but greatly fear painted Pharisees." :—
Alexander Jannaeus Alexander Jannaeus ( grc-gre, Ἀλέξανδρος Ἰανναῖος ; he, ''Yannaʾy''; born Jonathan ) was the second king of the Hasmonean dynasty, who ruled over an expanding kingdom of Judea from 103 to 76 BCE. A son of John Hyrcanus, ...
, king of Judea ( 76 BCE), to his wife ;"O wretched head-band!—not able to help me even in this small thing!" :— Monime, wife of
Mithridates VI Mithridates or Mithradates VI Eupator ( grc-gre, Μιθραδάτης; 135–63 BC) was ruler of the Kingdom of Pontus in northern Anatolia from 120 to 63 BC, and one of the Roman Republic's most formidable and determined opponents. He was an e ...
(72/71 BCE), after failing to hang herself by her crown's strings in fulfillment of her death sentence ;"I am not mistaken, surely, in believing you to have been formerly my fellow-soldier." :— Pompey, Roman general and statesman (28 September 48 BCE), to
Lucius Septimius Lucius Septimius was a Roman soldier and mercenary who is principally remembered as one of the assassins of the triumvir Pompey the Great. At the time of the assassination (48 BC) Septimius was serving the Ptolemies of Egypt as a mercenary. He ...
, one of his assassins ;" You too, my child?" Suetonius, ''Julius'
82.2
/ref> :() :— Julius Caesar, Roman dictator (15 March 44 BCE), discovering that his stepson
Brutus Marcus Junius Brutus (; ; 85 BC – 23 October 42 BC), often referred to simply as Brutus, was a Roman politician, orator, and the most famous of the assassins of Julius Caesar. After being adopted by a relative, he used the name Quintus Serv ...
was among his murderers ;"O wretched virtue! thou art a bare name! I mistook thee for a substance; but thou thyself art the slave of fortune." :—
Decimus Junius Brutus Albinus Decimus Junius Brutus Albinus (27 April 81 BC – September 43 BC) was a Roman general and politician of the late republican period and one of the leading instigators of Julius Caesar's assassination. He had previously been an important support ...
, Roman general and politician, conspirator in Julius Caesar's assassination (September 43 BCE), quoting from Euripides prior to execution ;"I go no further: approach, veteran soldier, and, if you can at least do so much properly, sever this neck. ..What would you have done had you come to me as your first victim?" :() :—
Cicero Marcus Tullius Cicero ( ; ; 3 January 106 BC – 7 December 43 BC) was a Roman statesman, lawyer, scholar, philosopher, and academic skeptic, who tried to uphold optimate principles during the political crises that led to the esta ...
, Roman statesman (7 December 43 BCE), facing an assassin sent by an enemy ;"Through too much fondness of life, I have lived to endure the sight of my friend taken by the enemy before my face." :—
Gaius Cassius Longinus Gaius Cassius Longinus (c. 86 BC – 3 October 42 BC) was a Roman senator and general best known as a leading instigator of the plot to assassinate Julius Caesar on 15 March 44 BC. He was the brother-in-law of Brutus, another leader of the cons ...
, Roman senator and general, one of Julius Caesar's assassins (3 October 42 BCE), erroneously believing his comrade Titinius had been captured by Mark Antony's forces at the
Battle of Philippi The Battle of Philippi was the final battle in the Wars of the Second Triumvirate between the forces of Mark Antony and Octavian (of the Second Triumvirate) and the leaders of Julius Caesar's assassination, Brutus and Cassius in 42 BC, at Ph ...
. Cassius then killed himself. ;"Yes, indeed, we must fly; but not with our feet, but with our hands." :— Marcus Junius Brutus, Roman senator and assassin of Julius Caesar (23 October 42 BCE), after defeat at the
Battle of Philippi The Battle of Philippi was the final battle in the Wars of the Second Triumvirate between the forces of Mark Antony and Octavian (of the Second Triumvirate) and the leaders of Julius Caesar's assassination, Brutus and Cassius in 42 BC, at Ph ...
. He then bade his friends farewell before killing himself. ;"You must not pity me in this last turn of fate. You should rather be happy in the remembrance of our love, and in the recollection that of all men I was once the most famous and the most powerful, and now, at the end, have fallen not dishonorably, a Roman by a Roman vanquished." :— Mark Antony, Roman politician and general (1 August 30 BCE); to
Cleopatra Cleopatra VII Philopator ( grc-gre, Κλεοπάτρα Φιλοπάτωρ}, "Cleopatra the father-beloved"; 69 BC10 August 30 BC) was Queen of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Ancient Egypt, Egypt from 51 to 30 BC, and its last active ruler. ...
before his suicide ;"Here thou art, then!" :() :—
Cleopatra Cleopatra VII Philopator ( grc-gre, Κλεοπάτρα Φιλοπάτωρ}, "Cleopatra the father-beloved"; 69 BC10 August 30 BC) was Queen of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Ancient Egypt, Egypt from 51 to 30 BC, and its last active ruler. ...
, pharaoh of Egypt (12 August 30 BCE), right before she reportedly committed suicide by letting an asp bite her ;"Extremely well, and as became the descendant of so many kings." :—
Charmion Laverie Vallee ''née'' Cooper (July 18, 1875 – February 6, 1949), best known by her stage name Charmion, was an American vaudeville trapeze artist and strongwoman whose well-publicized suggestive performance was captured on film in 190 ...
, servant to Cleopatra (12 August 30 BCE), when one of Emperor
Augustus Caesar Augustus (born Gaius Octavius; 23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14), also known as Octavian, was the first Roman emperor; he reigned from 27 BC until his death in AD 14. He is known for being the founder of the Roman Pri ...
' men asked her, "Was this well done of your lady, Charmion?" She then fell dead. ;"Death twitches my ear. 'Live,' he says. 'I am coming.'" :— Virgil, Roman poet (21 September 19 BCE) ;"Have I played the part well? Then applaud, as I exit." :() :—
Augustus Caesar Augustus (born Gaius Octavius; 23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14), also known as Octavian, was the first Roman emperor; he reigned from 27 BC until his death in AD 14. He is known for being the founder of the Roman Pri ...
, First Roman Emperor (19 August 14 CE) ;" It is finished." :() :— Jesus, founder of Christianity ( 30 CE), right before his death by
crucifixion Crucifixion is a method of capital punishment in which the victim is tied or nailed to a large wooden cross or beam and left to hang until eventual death from exhaustion and asphyxiation. It was used as a punishment by the Persians, Carthagin ...
;"Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.Bible, Acts 7:59–60, English translation by King James Version
/ref> Lord, lay not this sin to their charge." :—
Saint Stephen Stephen ( grc-gre, Στέφανος ''Stéphanos'', meaning "wreath, crown" and by extension "reward, honor, renown, fame", often given as a title rather than as a name; c. 5 – c. 34 AD) is traditionally venerated as the protomartyr or first ...
, early Christian deacon and protomartyr ( 34 CE), while being stoned to death ;"I am still alive!" :—
Caligula Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (31 August 12 – 24 January 41), better known by his nickname Caligula (), was the third Roman emperor, ruling from 37 until his assassination in 41. He was the son of the popular Roman general Germanic ...
, Roman emperor (24 January 41 CE), after being fatally stabbed ;"It is not painful, Pætus." :() :—
Arria Arria (also Arria Major) was a woman in ancient Rome. Her husband, Caecina Paetus, was ordered by the emperor Claudius to commit suicide for his part in a rebellion but was not capable of forcing himself to do so. Arria wrenched the dagger from ...
, Roman woman (42 CE), to her husband,
Aulus Caecina Paetus Aulus Caecina Paetus (died AD 42) was a Roman senator, who was condemned to death for his role in the revolt of Lucius Arruntius Camillus Scribonianus against the emperor Claudius. He was suffect consul in the ''nundinium'' of September to Decemb ...
. He had been condemned to death but given permission to kill himself; when he hesitated to do so, his wife stabbed herself first and handed the dagger to him. ;"Strike here! Level your rage against the womb which gave birth to such a monster." :—
Agrippina the Younger Julia Agrippina (6 November AD 15 – 23 March AD 59), also referred to as Agrippina the Younger, was Roman empress from 49 to 54 AD, the fourth wife and niece of Emperor Claudius. Agrippina was one of the most prominent women in the Julio-Claud ...
, mother of Nero (23 March 59 CE), to her murderer ;"Asunder flies the man— / No single wound the gaping rupture seems, / Where trickling crimson flows the tender streams; / But from an opening horrible and wide / A thousand vessels pour the bursting tide: / At once the winding channel's course was broke, / Where wandering life her mazy journey took." :— Lucan, Roman poet (30 April 65 CE), forced to commit suicide after joining in a conspiracy against Nero. He died quoting lines from his own epic poem '' Pharsalia''. ;"Too late; is this your fidelity?" :() :— Nero, Roman emperor (9 June 68 CE), to a soldier trying to save him after his suicide ;"Strike, if it be for the Romans' good." :() :— Galba, Roman emperor (15 January 69 CE), prior to beheading by supporters of
Otho Marcus Otho (; born Marcus Salvius Otho; 28 April 32 – 16 April 69) was the seventh Roman emperor, ruling for three months from 15 January to 16 April 69. He was the second emperor of the Year of the Four Emperors. A member of a noble Etr ...
;"Go and show yourself to the soldiers, lest they cut you to pieces for being accessory to my death." :—
Otho Marcus Otho (; born Marcus Salvius Otho; 28 April 32 – 16 April 69) was the seventh Roman emperor, ruling for three months from 15 January to 16 April 69. He was the second emperor of the Year of the Four Emperors. A member of a noble Etr ...
, Roman emperor (16 April 69 CE), to a freedman, prior to committing suicide ;"Yet I was once your Emperor." :—
Vitellius Aulus Vitellius (; ; 24 September 1520 December 69) was Roman emperor for eight months, from 19 April to 20 December AD 69. Vitellius was proclaimed emperor following the quick succession of the previous emperors Galba and Otho, in a year of c ...
, Roman emperor (22 December 69 CE), prior to his killing on the
Gemonian stairs The Gemonian Stairs ( la, Scalae Gemoniae, it, Scale Gemonie) were a flight of steps located in the ancient city of Rome. Nicknamed the Stairs of Mourning, the stairs are infamous in Roman history as a place of execution. Location The steps ...
;"Woe, I think I'm turning into a god... An emperor should die on his feet." :() :— Vespasian, Roman emperor (24 June 79 CE), ironically alluding to the Roman practice of posthumously deifying former emperors, before he collapsed and died when attempting to stand up ;"My life is taken from me, though I have done nothing to deserve it; for there is no action of mine of which I should repent, but one." :— Titus, Roman emperor (13 September 81 CE) ;"One!" :() :— Rabbi Akiva, Jewish scholar and sage (28 September 135 CE), concluding his recitation of the
Shema Yisrael ''Shema Yisrael'' (''Shema Israel'' or ''Sh'ma Yisrael''; he , שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל ''Šəmaʿ Yīsrāʾēl'', "Hear, O Israel") is a Jewish prayer (known as the Shema) that serves as a centerpiece of the morning and evening Jewis ...
while being executed by the Romans ;"O my poor soul, whither art thou going?" :— Hadrian, Roman emperor (10 July 138 CE) ;"O Lord God Almighty, Father of Thy well-beloved Son, Jesus Christ, by whom we have received knowledge of Thee; God of angels, powers, and every creature that lives before Thee; I thank Thee that Thou hast graciously thought me worthy of this day and hour, that I may receive a portion in the number of Thy martyrs, and drink of Christ's cup, for the resurrection of both soul and body unto life eternal, in the incorruptibleness of the Holy Spirit. Among them may I be admitted this day, as an acceptable sacrifice, as Thou, O true and faithful God, hast prepared, foreshown, and accomplished. Wherefore, I praise Thee for all Thy mercies. I bless Thee. I glorify Thee, with Jesus Christ, Thy beloved Son, the Eternal, to Whom, with Thee and the Holy Spirit, be glory now and forever." :— Polycarp, Christian bishop of Smyrna (155 CE), prior to martyrdom by burning and spearing ;"Equanimity." :() :— Antoninus Pius, Roman emperor (7 March 161 CE), giving the password for the night-watch ;"You may go home, the show is over." :—
Demonax Demonax ( el, Δημώναξ, ''Dēmōnax'', ''gen''.: Δημώνακτος; c. AD 70 – c. 170) was a Greek Cynic philosopher. Born in Cyprus, he moved to Athens, where his wisdom, and his skill in solving disputes, earned him the admiration of ...
, Greek Cynic philosopher (c. 170 CE) ;"Go to the rising sun, for I am setting. Think more of death than of me." :— Marcus Aurelius, Roman emperor and philosopher (17 March 180 CE) ;"Hurry, if anything remains for me to do." :() :— Septimius Severus, Roman emperor (4 February 211 CE) ;"I am roasted,—now turn me, and eat me." :() :— Saint Lawrence, Christian deacon (10 August 258 CE), while being burned alive on a gridiron ;"God be thanked." :—
Cyprian Cyprian (; la, Thaschus Caecilius Cyprianus; 210 – 14 September 258 AD''The Liturgy of the Hours according to the Roman Rite: Vol. IV.'' New York: Catholic Book Publishing Company, 1975. p. 1406.) was a bishop of Carthage and an early Chris ...
, Christian bishop of Carthage and martyr (14 September 258 CE), sentenced to death by beheading ;"I am making my last effort to return that which is divine in me to that which is divine in the Universe." :—
Plotinus Plotinus (; grc-gre, Πλωτῖνος, ''Plōtînos'';  – 270 CE) was a philosopher in the Hellenistic tradition, born and raised in Roman Egypt. Plotinus is regarded by modern scholarship as the founder of Neoplatonism. His teacher wa ...
, Hellenistic philosopher (270 CE) ;"And let my word be kept secret by you, so that no one knows the place but you alone. For in the resurrection of the dead I shall receive my body incorruptible once again from the Savior. Distribute my clothing. To Bishop Athanasius give the one sheepskin and the cloak on which I lie, which he gave to me new, but I have by now worn out. And to Bishop Serapion give the other sheepskin, and you keep the hair garment. And now God preserve you, children, for Antony is leaving and is with you no longer." :—
Anthony the Great Anthony the Great ( grc-gre, Ἀντώνιος ''Antṓnios''; ar, القديس أنطونيوس الكبير; la, Antonius; ; c. 12 January 251 – 17 January 356), was a Christian monk from Egypt, revered since his death as a saint. He is d ...
, Christian monk from Egypt (17 January 356 CE) ;"How am I advanced, despising you that are upon the earth!" :— Marcus of Arethusa, Christian bishop and martyr (362 CE), hung up in a honey-smeared basket for bees to sting him to death ;"And yet Thou hast conquered, O Galilean!" :() :— Julian, Roman emperor (26 June 363 CE), mortally wounded in battle. He had rejected Christianity in favor of paganism; according to some accounts, he was assassinated by a Christian. ;"In peace I will sleep with Him and take my rest." :— Saint Monica, mother of
Augustine of Hippo Augustine of Hippo ( , ; la, Aurelius Augustinus Hipponensis; 13 November 354 – 28 August 430), also known as Saint Augustine, was a theologian and philosopher of Berber origin and the bishop of Hippo Regius in Numidia, Roman North Afr ...
(387 CE) ;"My dear one, with whom I lived in love so long, make room for me, for this is my grave, and in death we shall not be divided." :—
Severus of Ravenna Saint Severus of Ravenna was a 4th-century Bishop of Ravenna who attended the Council of Sardica in 344. He was ordained as a bishop due to his personal virtue and because of "the sign of a dove". He was purported to be an example of not only ...
,
Bishop of Ravenna This page is a list of Roman Catholic bishops and archbishops of Ravenna and, from 1985, of the Archdiocese of Ravenna-Cervia. ;"Old though he be, he is the best of all." :—
Ambrose Ambrose of Milan ( la, Aurelius Ambrosius; ), venerated as Saint Ambrose, ; lmo, Sant Ambroeus . was a theologian and statesman who served as Bishop of Milan from 374 to 397. He expressed himself prominently as a public figure, fiercely promot ...
,
Bishop of Milan The Archdiocese of Milan ( it, Arcidiocesi di Milano; la, Archidioecesis Mediolanensis) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or archdiocese of the Catholic Church in Italy which covers the areas of Milan, Monza, Lecco and Varese. It has lo ...
(4 April 397 CE), when
Simplician Simplician ( la, Simplicianus; it, Simpliciano) was Bishop of Milan from 397 to 400 or 401 AD. He is honoured as a Saint in the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches and his feast day is August 14. Life Simplician was born about 320 proba ...
was mentioned as his possible successor ;"What dost thou here, thou cruel beast?" :— Martin of Tours, third
bishop of Tours The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Tours (Latin: ''Archidioecesis Turonensis''; French: ''Archidiocèse de Tours'') is an archdiocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in France. The archdiocese has roots that go back to the 3rd cent ...
(8 November 397 CE), to the
Devil A devil is the personification of evil as it is conceived in various cultures and religious traditions. It is seen as the objectification of a hostile and destructive force. Jeffrey Burton Russell states that the different conceptions of t ...


5th to 14th centuries

;"Glory to God for all things! Amen." :() :—
John Chrysostom John Chrysostom (; gr, Ἰωάννης ὁ Χρυσόστομος; 14 September 407) was an important Early Church Father who served as archbishop of Constantinople. He is known for his preaching and public speaking, his denunciation of ab ...
,
Early Church Father The Church Fathers, Early Church Fathers, Christian Fathers, or Fathers of the Church were ancient and influential Christian theologians and writers who established the intellectual and doctrinal foundations of Christianity. The historical pe ...
and
Archbishop of Constantinople The ecumenical patriarch ( el, Οἰκουμενικός Πατριάρχης, translit=Oikoumenikós Patriárchēs) is the archbishop of Constantinople (Istanbul), New Rome and ''primus inter pares'' (first among equals) among the heads of th ...
(14 September 407), while traveling deeper into exile ;"And me as I am going towards the God of mine, and I thank His name, as the Lord gave me everything bless His name. And I am telling you, to stand firm on your faith and to search for death for Christ for His name and you will find the permanent glory. I for my life glorified you and all of our race. And do not insult our home and do not abandon the love of the Greeks." :("მე ესე რა წარვალ წინაშე ღმრთისა ჩემისა, და ვმადლობ სახელსა მისსა, რამეთუ არა დამაკლო გამორჩეულთა წმიდათა მისთა. აწ გამცნებ თქუენ, რათა მტკიცედ სარწმუნოებასა ზედა სდგეთ და ეძიებდეთ ქრისტესთჳს სიკუდილსა სახელსა მისსა ზედა, რათა წარუვალი დიდება მოიგოთ. მე ჴორციელებრითა დიდებითა გადიდენ თქუენ ნათესავთა ჩემთა. და სახლსა ჩუენსა ნუ შეურაცხჰყოფთ, და სიყუარულსა ბერძენთასა ნუ დაუტეობთ".) :— Vakhtang I, Georgian monarch (502/22), to his son Dachi. ;"Here must I stop. What follows, let Baithen write." :—
Columba Columba or Colmcille; gd, Calum Cille; gv, Colum Keeilley; non, Kolban or at least partly reinterpreted as (7 December 521 – 9 June 597 AD) was an Irish abbot and missionary evangelist credited with spreading Christianity in what is tod ...
, Irish abbot and missionary evangelist (8 June 597), ceasing to transcribe a Psalter ;"Oh
God In monotheistic thought, God is usually viewed as the supreme being, creator, and principal object of faith. Swinburne, R.G. "God" in Honderich, Ted. (ed)''The Oxford Companion to Philosophy'', Oxford University Press, 1995. God is typically ...
, the Friend Most High!" or "The prayer, the prayer! And fear Allah with regard to those whom your right hands possess" :() or :() :— Muhammad, Prophet of God in Islam (8 June 632) ;"My children, these fearful forests and these barren rocks shall be adorned with cities and temples, where the name of Jesus shall be openly adored. Ye shall abandon your precarious and hard chase, and assemble together under temples lofty as those pines, and graceful as the crown of the palm. ;"Here shall my Saviour be known in all the simplicity of his doctrines. Ah! would that I might witness it; but I have seen those things in a vision. But I faint! I am weary! My earthly journey is finished! Receive my blessing. Go! and be kind one to another." :—
Goar of Aquitaine Saint Goar of Aquitaine ( la, Goaris; 585 – 6 July 649 AD) was a priest and hermit of the seventh century. He was offered the position of Bishop of Trier, but prayed to be excused from the position. Goar is noted for his piety and is revered a ...
, priest and hermit (6 July 649), dying in
Oberwesel Oberwesel () is a town on the Middle Rhine in the Rhein-Hunsrück-Kreis (district) in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It belongs to the ''Verbandsgemeinde'' Hunsrück-Mittelrhein, whose seat is in Emmelshausen. Geography Location Oberwesel li ...
,
Austrasia Austrasia was a territory which formed the north-eastern section of the Merovingian Kingdom of the Franks during the 6th to 8th centuries. It was centred on the Meuse, Middle Rhine and the Moselle rivers, and was the original territory of the Fr ...
;"I desire that whatever merits I may have gained by good works may fall upon other people. May I be born again with them in the heaven of the blessed, be admitted to the family of Mi-le, and serve the Buddha of the future, who is full of kindness and affection. When I descend again upon earth, to pass through other forms of existence, I desire at every new birth to fulfill my duties toward Buddha, and arrive at the end to the highest perfect intelligence." :— Xuanzang, Chinese Buddhist monk, scholar, traveler and translator (5 February 664) ;"You speak truth, all is finished now. Glory to God." :—
Bede Bede ( ; ang, Bǣda , ; 672/326 May 735), also known as Saint Bede, The Venerable Bede, and Bede the Venerable ( la, Beda Venerabilis), was an English monk at the monastery of St Peter and its companion monastery of St Paul in the Kingdom o ...
, English
Benedictine , image = Medalla San Benito.PNG , caption = Design on the obverse side of the Saint Benedict Medal , abbreviation = OSB , formation = , motto = (English: 'Pray and Work') , found ...
monk (26 May 735); to a scribe to whom he was dictating a translation of the Gospel of John ;"Lord, into Thy hands I commend my spirit." :—
Charlemagne Charlemagne ( , ) or Charles the Great ( la, Carolus Magnus; german: Karl der Große; 2 April 747 – 28 January 814), a member of the Carolingian dynasty, was King of the Franks from 768, King of the Lombards from 774, and the first Em ...
, European monarch (28 January 814), quoting Jesus ;"Out! out!" :() :—
Louis the Pious Louis the Pious (german: Ludwig der Fromme; french: Louis le Pieux; 16 April 778 – 20 June 840), also called the Fair, and the Debonaire, was King of the Franks and co-emperor with his father, Charlemagne, from 813. He was also King of Aqui ...
,
King of the Franks The Franks, Germanic-speaking peoples that invaded the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century, were first led by individuals called dukes and reguli. The earliest group of Franks that rose to prominence was the Salian Merovingians, who ...
(20 June 840), after turning his face to the wall before dying ;"Thou my dear son, set thee now beside me, and I will deliver thee true instructions. My son, I feel that my hour is coming. My countenance is wan. My days are almost done. We must now part. I shall to another world, and thou shalt be left alone in all my wealth. I pray thee (for thou art my dear child) strive to be a father, and a lord to thy people. Be thou the children's father, and the widow's friend. Comfort thou the poor, and shelter the weak; and, with all thy might, right that which is wrong. And, son, govern thyself, by law; then shall the Lord love thee, and God above all things shall be thy reward. Call thou upon him to advise thee in all thy need, and so shall he help thee, the better to compass that which thou wouldest." :—
Alfred the Great Alfred the Great (alt. Ælfred 848/849 – 26 October 899) was King of the West Saxons from 871 to 886, and King of the Anglo-Saxons from 886 until his death in 899. He was the youngest son of King Æthelwulf and his first wife Osburh, who b ...
,
king of the Anglo-Saxons This list of kings and reigning queens of the Kingdom of England begins with Alfred the Great, who initially ruled Wessex, one of the seven Anglo-Saxon kingdoms which later made up modern England. Alfred styled himself King of the Anglo-Sax ...
(26 October 899), to his son,
Edward the Elder Edward the Elder (17 July 924) was King of the Anglo-Saxons from 899 until his death in 924. He was the elder son of Alfred the Great and his wife Ealhswith. When Edward succeeded to the throne, he had to defeat a challenge from his cousin � ...
;"I have now reigned above fifty years in victory or peace; beloved by my subjects, dreaded by my enemies, and respected by my allies. Riches and honors, power and pleasure, have waited on my call, nor does any earthly blessing appear to have been wanting to my felicity. In this situation, I have diligently numbered the days of pure and genuine happiness which have fallen to my lot: they amount to Fourteen:—O man! place not thy confidence in this present world!" :—
Abd al-Rahman III ʿAbd al-Rahmān ibn Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn al-Ḥakam al-Rabdī ibn Hishām ibn ʿAbd al-Raḥmān al-Dākhil () or ʿAbd al-Rahmān III (890 - 961), was the Umayyad Emir of Córdoba from 912 to 92 ...
, first
Caliph of Córdoba A caliphate or khilāfah ( ar, خِلَافَة, ) is an institution or public office under the leadership of an Islamic steward with the title of caliph (; ar, خَلِيفَة , ), a person considered a political-religious successor to th ...
(15 October 961) ;"You urge me in vain. I am not the man to provide Christian flesh for pagan teeth to devour, and it would be so acting if I delivered unto you that which the poor have laid by for their subsistence." :() :—
Ælfheah of Canterbury Ælfheah, "elf-tall" ( – 19 April 1012), more commonly known today as Alphege, was an Anglo-Saxon Bishop of Winchester, later Archbishop of Canterbury. He became an anchorite before being elected abbot of Bath Abbey. His reputation for ...
,
Archbishop of Canterbury The archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and a principal leader of the Church of England, the ceremonial head of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. The current archbishop is Jus ...
(19 April 1012), refusing to pay ransom before being killed by his
Danish Danish may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to the country of Denmark People * A national or citizen of Denmark, also called a "Dane," see Demographics of Denmark * Culture of Denmark * Danish people or Danes, people with a Danish ance ...
captors ;"How shameful it is that I, who could not die in so many battles, should have been saved for the ignominious death of a cow! At least clothe me in my impenetrable breastplate, gird me with my sword, place my helmet on my head, my shield in my left hand, my gilded battle-axe in my right, that I, the bravest of soldiers, may die like a soldier." :—
Siward, Earl of Northumbria Siward ( or more recently ) or Sigurd ( ang, Sigeweard, non, Sigurðr digri) was an important earl of 11th-century northern England. The Old Norse nickname ''Digri'' and its Latin translation ''Grossus'' ("the stout") are given to him by near-c ...
(1055), dying of
dysentery Dysentery (UK pronunciation: , US: ), historically known as the bloody flux, is a type of gastroenteritis that results in bloody diarrhea. Other symptoms may include fever, abdominal pain, and a feeling of incomplete defecation. Complications ...
;"I have loved justice and hated iniquity; therefore I die in exile." :() :— Pope Gregory VII (25 May 1085), in exile in Salerno due to his conflicts with Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor ;"Then to our blessed Lady Mary, the mother of God, I commend myself. May she, by her holy intercessions, reconcile me to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. God be merciful to—" :— William the Conqueror, King of England (9 September 1087), after hearing bell ringing
Prime A prime number (or a prime) is a natural number greater than 1 that is not a product of two smaller natural numbers. A natural number greater than 1 that is not prime is called a composite number. For example, 5 is prime because the only ways ...
;"I shall not long hesitate between conscience and the Pope, for I shall soon appear in the presence of God, to be acquitted, I hope; to be condemned, I fear." :—
Berengar of Tours Berengar of Tours (died 6 January 1088), in Latin Berengarius Turonensis, was an 11th-century French Christian theologian and archdeacon of Angers, a scholar whose leadership of the cathedral school at Chartres set an example of intellectual i ...
, French Christian theologian (6 January 1088), dying in ascetic solitude on the island of Saint-Cosme near
Tours Tours ( , ) is one of the largest cities in the region of Centre-Val de Loire, France. It is the prefecture of the department of Indre-et-Loire. The commune of Tours had 136,463 inhabitants as of 2018 while the population of the whole metrop ...
;"Shoot, Walter, in the devil's name!" :—
William II of England William II ( xno, Williame;  – 2 August 1100) was King of England from 26 September 1087 until his death in 1100, with powers over Normandy and influence in Scotland. He was less successful in extending control into Wales. The third so ...
(2 August 1100), to
Walter Tirel Walter Tyrrell III, the “Red Knight of Normandie” (1065 – some time after 1100), was an Anglo-Norman nobleman. He is infamous for his involvement in the death of King William II of England, also known as William Rufus. Life Walter Tir ...
, who allegedly shot the king in a hunting accident ;"Yes, if it be His will, I shall obey it willingly. But were He to let me stay with you a little longer till I have resolved a problem about the origin of the soul, I would gladly accept the boon; for I do not know whether anyone will work it out when I am gone. If I could but eat, I think I should pick up a little strength. I feel no pain in any part of my body; only I cannot retain nourishment, and that exhausts me." :—
Anselm of Canterbury Anselm of Canterbury, OSB (; 1033/4–1109), also called ( it, Anselmo d'Aosta, link=no) after his birthplace and (french: Anselme du Bec, link=no) after his monastery, was an Italian Benedictine monk, abbot, philosopher and theologian of th ...
,
Archbishop of Canterbury The archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and a principal leader of the Church of England, the ceremonial head of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. The current archbishop is Jus ...
(21 April 1109) ;"I wished to do more harm than I could." :() :—
Ranulf Flambard Ranulf Flambard ( c. 1060 – 5 September 1128) was a medieval Norman Bishop of Durham and an influential government minister of King William Rufus of England. Ranulf was the son of a priest of Bayeux, Normandy, and his nickname Flambard m ...
, Norman
Bishop of Durham The Bishop of Durham is the Church of England, Anglican bishop responsible for the Diocese of Durham in the Province of York. The diocese is one of the oldest in England and its bishop is a member of the House of Lords. Paul Butler (bishop), Pau ...
and government minister (5 September 1128) ;"I don't know." :() :— Peter Abelard, French philosopher and theologian (21 April 1142) ;"May God's will be done." :—
Bernard of Clairvaux Bernard of Clairvaux, O. Cist. ( la, Bernardus Claraevallensis; 109020 August 1153), venerated as Saint Bernard, was an abbot, mystic, co-founder of the Knights Templars, and a major leader in the reformation of the Benedictine Order through ...
, Burgundian abbot (20 August 1153), on being told he was dying ;"In death at last let me rest with
Abelard Peter Abelard (; french: link=no, Pierre Abélard; la, Petrus Abaelardus or ''Abailardus''; 21 April 1142) was a medieval French scholastic philosopher, leading logician, theologian, poet, composer and musician. This source has a detailed desc ...
." :—
Héloïse Héloïse (; c. 1100–01? – 16 May 1163–64?), variously Héloïse d'ArgenteuilCharrier, Charlotte. Heloise Dans L'histoire Et Dans la Legende. Librairie Ancienne Honore Champion Quai Malaquais, VI, Paris, 1933 or Héloïse du Paraclet, wa ...
, French nun, philosopher, writer, scholar and abbess (16 May 1163–64?) ;"For the name of Jesus and the protection of the church I am ready to embrace death." :—
Thomas Becket Thomas Becket (), also known as Saint Thomas of Canterbury, Thomas of London and later Thomas à Becket (21 December 1119 or 1120 – 29 December 1170), was an English nobleman who served as Lord Chancellor from 1155 to 1162, and then ...
,
Archbishop of Canterbury The archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and a principal leader of the Church of England, the ceremonial head of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. The current archbishop is Jus ...
(29 December 1170), to his murderers ;"Lord, have mercy upon me. Wilt thou break a bruised reed?" :—
Andronikos I Komnenos Andronikos I Komnenos ( gr, Ἀνδρόνικος Κομνηνός;  – 12 September 1185), Latinized as Andronicus I Comnenus, was Byzantine emperor from 1183 to 1185. He was the son of Isaac Komnenos and the grandson of the emperor Al ...
,
Byzantine Emperor This is a list of the Byzantine emperors from the foundation of Constantinople in 330 AD, which marks the conventional start of the Eastern Roman Empire, to its fall to the Ottoman Empire in 1453 AD. Only the emperors who were recognized as le ...
(12 September 1185), lynched by his former subjects ;"Now let the world go as it will; I care for nothing more." :— Henry II of England (6 July 1189), on being told his son John was one of those conspiring against him ;"When I am buried, carry my winding-sheet on the point of a spear, and say these words: Behold the spoils which Saladin carries with him! Of all his victories, realms, and riches, nothing remains to him but this." :— Saladin, first sultan of Egypt and Syria (4 March 1193) ;"Youth, I forgive thee! Take off his chains, give him 100 shillings, and let him go." :— Richard I of England (6 April 1199), with reference to the young man who had mortally wounded him with a crossbow ;"Under the feet of my friars." :—
Saint Dominic Saint Dominic ( es, Santo Domingo; 8 August 1170 – 6 August 1221), also known as Dominic de Guzmán (), was a Castilian Catholic priest, mystic, the founder of the Dominican Order and is the patron saint of astronomers and natural scien ...
, Castilian Catholic priest, founder of the Dominican Order, when asked where he wanted to be buried (6 August 1221) ;"I have sinned against my brother, the ass." :—
Francis of Assisi Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone, better known as Saint Francis of Assisi ( it, Francesco d'Assisi; – 3 October 1226), was a mystic Italian Catholic friar, founder of the Franciscans, and one of the most venerated figures in Christian ...
, Italian Catholic friar (3 October 1226) ;"Let not my end disarm you, and on no account weep or keen for me, lest the enemy be warned of my death." :() :— Genghis Khan, warlord and
khan Khan may refer to: *Khan (inn), from Persian, a caravanserai or resting-place for a travelling caravan *Khan (surname), including a list of people with the name *Khan (title), a royal title for a ruler in Mongol and Turkic languages and used by ...
of Mongolia (18 August 1227) ;"I see my God. He calls me to Him." :—
Anthony of Padua Anthony of Padua ( it, Antonio di Padova) or Anthony of Lisbon ( pt, António/Antônio de Lisboa; born Fernando Martins de Bulhões; 15 August 1195 – 13 June 1231) was a Portuguese Catholic priest and friar of the Franciscan Order. He was b ...
, Portuguese Catholic priest and
Franciscan , image = FrancescoCoA PioM.svg , image_size = 200px , caption = A cross, Christ's arm and Saint Francis's arm, a universal symbol of the Franciscans , abbreviation = OFM , predecessor = , ...
friar (13 June 1231) ;"Don't cut my face." :() :—
Skule Bårdsson Skule Bårdsson or Duke Skule ( Norwegian: Hertug Skule) (Old Norse: Skúli Bárðarson) ( – 24 May 1240) was a Norwegian nobleman and claimant to the royal throne against his son-in-law, King Haakon Haakonsson. Henrik Ibsen's play '' Kongs ...
, Norwegian nobleman (24 May 1240), before being killed by supporters of King Haakon IV of Norway ;"By the arm of St. James, it is time to die." :— Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester (4 August 1265), before dying at the
Battle of Evesham The Battle of Evesham (4 August 1265) was one of the two main battles of 13th century England's Second Barons' War. It marked the defeat of Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester, and the rebellious barons by the future King Edward I, who led the ...
;"O my mother! how deep will be thy sorrow at the news of this day!" :—
Conradin Conrad III (25 March 1252 – 29 October 1268), called ''the Younger'' or ''the Boy'', but usually known by the diminutive Conradin (german: link=no, Konradin, it, Corradino), was the last direct heir of the House of Hohenstaufen. He was Duke ...
, last direct heir of the House of Hohenstaufen (29 October 1268), prior to execution by beheading at the age of 16 ;"I will enter thy house. I will worship in Thy sanctuary." :—
Louis IX of France Louis IX (25 April 1214 – 25 August 1270), commonly known as Saint Louis or Louis the Saint, was King of France from 1226 to 1270, and the most illustrious of the Direct Capetians. He was crowned in Reims at the age of 12, following the ...
(25 August 1270) ;"I am on the way to Spires to visit the kings, my predecessors." :— Rudolf I of Germany (15 July 1291); he was buried at Speyer Cathedral ;"Carry my bones before you on your march, for the rebels will not be able to endure the sight of me, alive or dead." :— Edward I of England (7 July 1307), to his son, Edward II of England, while dying during a war with Scotland ;" Pope Clement, Chevalier Guillaume de Nogaret, King Philip! I summon you to the Tribunal of Heaven before the year is out!" :—
Jacques de Molay Jacques de Molay (; c. 1240–1250 – 11 or 18 March 1314), also spelled "Molai",Demurger, pp. 1-4. "So no conclusive decision can be reached, and we must stay in the realm of approximations, confining ourselves to placing Molay's date of birth ...
, last
Grand Master of the Knights Templar The grand master of the Knights Templar was the supreme commander of the holy order, starting with founder Hugues de Payens in 1118. Some held the office for life while others resigned life in monasteries or diplomacy. Grand masters often led ...
(11 or 18 March 1314), before being
burned at the stake Death by burning (also known as immolation) is an execution and murder method involving combustion or exposure to extreme heat. It has a long history as a form of public capital punishment, and many societies have employed it as a punishment f ...
;"King of heaven, do thou have mercy on me, for the king of earth hath forsaken me." :—
Thomas, 2nd Earl of Lancaster Thomas of Lancaster, 2nd Earl of Lancaster, 2nd Earl of Leicester, 2nd Earl of Derby, ''jure uxoris'' 4th Earl of Lincoln and ''jure uxoris'' 5th Earl of Salisbury (c. 1278 – 22 March 1322) was an English nobleman. A member of the House of Pl ...
(22 March 1322), before beheading for treason against his cousin, Edward II of England ;"I have not told half of what I saw." :() :—
Marco Polo Marco Polo (, , ; 8 January 1324) was a Venetian merchant, explorer and writer who travelled through Asia along the Silk Road between 1271 and 1295. His travels are recorded in ''The Travels of Marco Polo'' (also known as ''Book of the Marv ...
,
Venetian Venetian often means from or related to: * Venice, a city in Italy * Veneto, a region of Italy * Republic of Venice (697–1797), a historical nation in that area Venetian and the like may also refer to: * Venetian language, a Romance language s ...
traveller in Asia ( January 9, 1324), responding to skepticism about the content of his memoir, ''
The Travels of Marco Polo ''Book of the Marvels of the World'' ( Italian: , lit. 'The Million', deriving from Polo's nickname "Emilione"), in English commonly called ''The Travels of Marco Polo'', is a 13th-century travelogue written down by Rustichello da Pisa from st ...
'' ;"I give thee thanks, O God, for all thy benefits, and with all the pains of my soul I humbly beseech thy mercy to give me remission of those sins I have wickedly committed against thee; and of all mortal men whom willingly or ignorantly I have offended, with all my heart I desire forgiveness." :—
Edward the Black Prince Edward of Woodstock, known to history as the Black Prince (15 June 1330 – 8 June 1376), was the eldest son of King Edward III of England, and the heir apparent to the English throne. He died before his father and so his son, Richard II, su ...
, heir to the English throne (8 June 1376) ;"Jesus." :— Edward III of England (21 June 1377), kissing a
crucifix A crucifix (from Latin ''cruci fixus'' meaning "(one) fixed to a cross") is a cross with an image of Jesus on it, as distinct from a bare cross. The representation of Jesus himself on the cross is referred to in English as the ''corpus'' (Lati ...
;"Ah, Jesus!" :—
Charles V of France Charles V (21 January 1338 – 16 September 1380), called the Wise (french: le Sage; la, Sapiens), was King of France from 1364 to his death in 1380. His reign marked an early high point for France during the Hundred Years' War, with his armi ...
(16 September 1380) ;"Because they are all under my command, they are sworn to do what I bid them." :— Wat Tyler, leader of the Peasants' Revolt (15 June 1381), prior to being killed by officers loyal to
Richard II of England Richard II (6 January 1367 – ), also known as Richard of Bordeaux, was King of England from 1377 until he was deposed in 1399. He was the son of Edward the Black Prince, Prince of Wales, and Joan, Countess of Kent. Richard's father di ...
;"I am a dead man! Lord, have mercy upon me!" :—
Gaston III, Count of Foix Gaston Fébus (also spelt Phoebus) (30 April 1331 – 1391) was the eleventh count of Foix (as Gaston III) and twenty-fourth viscount of Béarn (as Gaston X) from 1343 until his death. Early life Gaston was born either in Orthez or Foix, the e ...
(1391)


15th century

;"Never yet has death been frightened away by screaming." :—
Timur Timur ; chg, ''Aqsaq Temür'', 'Timur the Lame') or as ''Sahib-i-Qiran'' ( 'Lord of the Auspicious Conjunction'), his epithet. ( chg, ''Temür'', 'Iron'; 9 April 133617–19 February 1405), later Timūr Gurkānī ( chg, ''Temür Kür ...
, Turco-Mongol conqueror, founder of the Timurid Empire (17–19 February 1405) ;"O, holy simplicity!" :() :— Jan Hus, Czech theologian and church reformer (6 July 1415). While being burned at the stake for heresy, he saw an old woman throw a small amount of brushwood onto the fire. ;"O Lord God, Father Almighty, have mercy upon me, and be merciful unto mine offences, for thou knowest how sincerely I have loved Thy truth." :—
Jerome of Prague Jerome of Prague ( cs, Jeroným Pražský; la, Hieronymus Pragensis; 1379 – 30 May 1416) was a Czech scholastic philosopher, theologian, reformer, and professor. Jerome was one of the chief followers of Jan Hus and was burned for heresy ...
, Czech scholastic philosopher and theologian (30 May 1416), burned for heresy ;"Make my skin into drumheads for the Bohemian cause." :— Jan Žižka, Czech general (11 October 1424) ;"I die content, after living the prescribed time, and leaving you, my sons, in affluence and health, placed in such a situation as, if you follow my example, will enable you to live honored and respected. I recall nothing in my life with so much pleasure as having given offence to no one, and having tried to serve all men as far as possible. I advise you to act thus, if you would live securely, accepting only those honors as the laws and favor of the state confer upon you; for it is the exercise of power that has been violently—not voluntarily—obtained, that occasions hatred and strife." :—
Giovanni di Bicci de' Medici Giovanni di Bicci de' Medici (c. 1360 – February 1429) was an Italian banker and founder of the Medici Bank. While other members of the Medici family, such as Chiarissimo di Giambuono de' Medici, who served in the Signoria of Florence i ...
, Italian banker (February 1429) ;"Hold the
cross A cross is a geometrical figure consisting of two intersecting lines or bars, usually perpendicular to each other. The lines usually run vertically and horizontally. A cross of oblique lines, in the shape of the Latin letter X, is termed a s ...
high so I may see it through the flames!" :— Joan of Arc, French military leader and mystic (30 May 1431), while she was burning at the stake ;"Fie on life! Speak no more of it to me." :() :— Margaret Stewart, Dauphine of France (16 August 1445) ;"O Gabriel, Gabriel, better would it have been for you to have been neither pope, nor cardinal, nor bishop, but to have finished your days as you commenced them, following peaceably in the monastery the exercises of your order." :— Pope Eugene IV (born Gabriele Condulmer) (23 February 1447) ;"Will not all my riches save me? What, is there no bribing death?" :—
Henry Beaufort Cardinal Henry Beaufort (c. 1375 – 11 April 1447), Bishop of Winchester, was an English prelate and statesman who held the offices of Bishop of Lincoln (1398) then Bishop of Winchester (1404) and was from 1426 a Cardinal of the Church of R ...
(11 April 1447), Cardinal,
Bishop of Winchester The Bishop of Winchester is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Winchester in the Church of England. The bishop's seat (''cathedra'') is at Winchester Cathedral in Hampshire. The Bishop of Winchester has always held ''ex officio'' (except dur ...
;"Were I born the son of a farmer, and became a friar of the Abrojo, and not the king of Castile." :"" :— John II of Castile (22 July 1454), King of Castile ;"I was born as a lily in the garden, and like the lily I grew, as my age advanced / I became old and had to die, and so I withered and died." :—
Pachacuti Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui ( qu, Pachakutiq Inka Yupanki) was the ninth Sapa Inca (1418–1471/1472) of the Kingdom of Cusco which he transformed into the Inca Empire ( qu, Tawantinsuyu). Most archaeologists now believe that the famous Inca site ...
( 1471/1472), Sapa Inca and founder of the Inca Empire, poem composed on his deathbed ;"Our Lady of Embrun, my good mistress, help me." :() :—
Louis XI Louis XI (3 July 1423 – 30 August 1483), called "Louis the Prudent" (french: le Prudent), was King of France from 1461 to 1483. He succeeded his father, Charles VII. Louis entered into open rebellion against his father in a short-lived revo ...
, King of France (30 August 1483) ;"Treason! treason!" :—
Richard III of England Richard III (2 October 145222 August 1485) was King of England and Lord of Ireland from 26 June 1483 until his death in 1485. He was the last king of the House of York and the last of the Plantagenet dynasty. His defeat and death at the Batt ...
(22 August 1485), when deserted by his best troops at the
Battle of Bosworth Field The Battle of Bosworth or Bosworth Field was the last significant battle of the Wars of the Roses, the civil war between the houses of Lancaster and York that extended across England in the latter half of the 15th century. Fought on 22 Aug ...
;"I know only Jesus the crucified." :—
Wessel Gansfort Wessel Harmensz Gansfort (1419 – October 4, 1489) was a theologian and early humanist of the northern Low Countries. Many variations of his last name are seen and he is sometimes incorrectly called Johan Wessel. Gansfort has been called one ...
, Dutch theologian and humanist (4 October 1489) ;"I hope never again to commit a mortal sin, nor even a venial one, if I can help it." :—
Charles VIII of France Charles VIII, called the Affable (french: l'Affable; 30 June 1470 – 7 April 1498), was King of France from 1483 to his death in 1498. He succeeded his father Louis XI at the age of 13.Paul Murray Kendall, ''Louis XI: The Universal Spider'' (New ...
(7 April 1498) ;"My Lord died innocent of all crimes, for my sins; and shall not I willingly give my soul for the love of Him." :—
Girolamo Savonarola Girolamo Savonarola, OP (, , ; 21 September 1452 – 23 May 1498) or Jerome Savonarola was an Italian Dominican friar from Ferrara and preacher active in Renaissance Florence. He was known for his prophecies of civic glory, the destruction o ...
, Italian
Dominican friar The Order of Preachers ( la, Ordo Praedicatorum) abbreviated OP, also known as the Dominicans, is a Catholic mendicant order of Pontifical Right for men founded in Toulouse, France, by the Spanish priest, saint and mystic Dominic of Cal ...
(23 May 1498), when asked before his execution if he was resigned to death


16th century

;"I come. I come. It is right. Wait a moment." :() :— Pope Alexander VI (18 August 1503) ;"Into Your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit." :() :— Christopher Columbus, Italian explorer (20 May 1506), quoting Jesus ;"I have taken care of everything in life, only not for death—and now I have to die completely unprepared." :—
Cesare Borgia Cesare Borgia (; ca-valencia, Cèsar Borja ; es, link=no, César Borja ; 13 September 1475 – 12 March 1507) was an Italian ex- cardinal and ''condottiero'' (mercenary leader) of Aragonese (Spanish) origin, whose fight for power was a major ...
, Italian politician and ''
condottiero ''Condottieri'' (; singular ''condottiero'' or ''condottiere'') were Italian captains in command of mercenary companies during the Middle Ages and of multinational armies during the early modern period. They notably served popes and other Europ ...
'' (12 March 1507) ;"We heartily desire our executors to consider how behoofful it is to be prayed for." :— Henry VII of England (21 April 1509) ;"I believe." :—
Georges d'Amboise Georges d'Amboise (1460 – May 25, 1510) was a French Roman Catholic cardinal and minister of state. He belonged to the house of Amboise, a noble family possessed of considerable influence: of his nine brothers, four were bishops. His father ...
, French Roman Catholic cardinal and minister of state (25 May 1510) ;"That is false. I always have served my king loyally and sought to add to his domains." :— Vasco Núñez de Balboa, Spanish explorer, governor and
conquistador Conquistadors (, ) or conquistadores (, ; meaning 'conquerors') were the explorer-soldiers of the Spanish and Portuguese Empires of the 15th and 16th centuries. During the Age of Discovery, conquistadors sailed beyond Europe to the Americas, ...
(January 1519), on hearing a herald call him a "usurper of the rights of the Crown" while on the way to his execution by decapitation ;"I have offended God and mankind because my work did not reach the quality it should have." :() :— Leonardo da Vinci, Italian artist and scientist (2 May 1519), to King Francis I of France ;"Happy." :— Raphael, Italian artist (6 April 1520) ;"I confide to your care my beloved children, the most precious jewels I can leave you. The great monarch beyond the ocean will interest himself to see that they come into their inheritance, if you present before him their just claims. I know your master will do this, if for no other reason, then for the kindness I have shown the Spaniards, though it has occasioned my ruin. For all my misfortunes, Malinche, I bear you no ill will." :— Moctezuma II, ''
Huey Tlatoani ''Tlatoani'' ( , "one who speaks, ruler"; plural ' or tlatoque) is the Classical Nahuatl term for the ruler of an , a pre-Hispanic state. It is the noun form of the verb "tlahtoa" meaning "speak, command, rule". As a result, it has been various ...
'' or Emperor of the
Aztec Empire The Aztec Empire or the Triple Alliance ( nci, Ēxcān Tlahtōlōyān, �jéːʃkaːn̥ t͡ɬaʔtoːˈlóːjaːn̥ was an alliance of three Nahua city-states: , , and . These three city-states ruled that area in and around the Valley of Mexico ...
(29 June 1520), to Hernán Cortés (calling him by the name of his interpreter,
La Malinche Marina or Malintzin ( 1500 – 1529), more popularly known as La Malinche , a Nahua woman from the Mexican Gulf Coast, became known for contributing to the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire (1519–1521), by acting as an interpreter, adv ...
) ;"I have been murdered; no remedy can prevent my speedy death." :— Pope Leo X (1 December 1521), rumored to have died by poison ;"I am curious to see what happens in the next world to one who dies unshriven." :—
Pietro Perugino Pietro Perugino (, ; – 1523), born Pietro Vannucci, was an Italian Renaissance painter of the Umbrian school, who developed some of the qualities that found classic expression in the High Renaissance. Raphael was his most famous pupil. E ...
, Italian artist (1523), declining the
last rites The last rites, also known as the Commendation of the Dying, are the last prayers and ministrations given to an individual of Christian faith, when possible, shortly before death. They may be administered to those awaiting execution, mortall ...
;"I have already confessed my sins to God." :—
Franz von Sickingen Franz von Sickingen (2 March 14817 May 1523) was an Imperial Knight who, with Ulrich von Hutten, led the so-called " Knights' Revolt," and was one of the most notable figures of the early period of the Protestant Reformation. Sickingen was nic ...
, German knight and Protestant leader (7 May 1523), when his chaplain asked if he wanted to confess prior to his death defending his castle ;"At least I may die facing the enemy." :—
Pierre Terrail, seigneur de Bayard Pierre Terrail, seigneur de Bayard (c. 1476 – 30 April 1524) was a French knight and military leader at the transition between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, generally known as the Chevalier de Bayard. Throughout the centuries since his ...
, French knight (30 April 1524), mortally wounded at the
Battle of the Sesia (1524) The Battle of the Sesia or Battle of the Sesia River, took place near the Sesia River ''(Latin: Sesites or Sessite)'', situated in north-western Italy, Lombardy, on 30 April 1524, where the Imperial–Spanish forces commanded by Don Carlos de ...
;"I desire to go to hell, and not to heaven. In the former place I shall enjoy the company of popes, kings, and princes, while in the latter are only beggars, monks, hermits, and apostles." :— Niccolò Machiavelli (21 June 1527), Italian Renaissance diplomat, philosopher and writer ;"How long, Lord, shall darkness cover this land? How long wilt thou suffer this tyranny of men? Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." :— Patrick Hamilton, Scottish churchman (29 February 1528), while being burned at the stake ;"Master Kyngston, I pray you have me commended to his Grace, and beseech him, in my behalf, to call to mind all things that have passed between us, especially concerning good Queen
Katharine Katherine, also spelled Catherine, and other variations are feminine names. They are popular in Christian countries because of their derivation from the name of one of the first Christian saints, Catherine of Alexandria. In the early Chris ...
and himself, and then shall his Grace's conscience know whether I have offended him or not. He is a prince of most royal courage, and rather than miss any part of his will, he will endanger one-half of his kingdom; and, I do assure you, I have often knelt before him, sometimes for three hours together, to persuade him from his appetite, and could not prevail. ;"And, Master Kyngston, had I but served God as diligently as I have served the king, he would not have given me over in my gray hairs. But this is my just reward for my pains and study, not regarding my service to God, but only my duty to my Prince." :—
Thomas Wolsey Thomas Wolsey ( – 29 November 1530) was an English statesman and Catholic bishop. When Henry VIII became King of England in 1509, Wolsey became the king's almoner. Wolsey's affairs prospered and by 1514 he had become the controlling figure ...
, English archbishop, statesman and cardinal (29 November 1530); to the Lieutenant of the
Tower of London The Tower of London, officially His Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, which is separa ...
, after falling ill on the way to London under arrest for treason ;"I give your brothers to your keeping. Be faithful to them and all the people." :—
Babur Babur ( fa, , lit= tiger, translit= Bābur; ; 14 February 148326 December 1530), born Mīrzā Zahīr ud-Dīn Muhammad, was the founder of the Mughal Empire in the Indian subcontinent. He was a descendant of Timur and Genghis Khan through his ...
, founder of the Mughal Empire and first Emperor of the Mughal dynasty (26 December 1530) ;"I pray you, good people, be not the worse to these men on my account, as though they were the authors of my death." :—
Thomas Bilney Thomas Bilney ( 149519 August 1531) was an English Christian martyr. Early life Thomas Bilney was born around 1495 in Norfolk, most likely in Norwich. Nothing is known of his parents except that they outlived him. He entered Trinity Hall, ...
, English Christian martyr (19 August 1531). While he awaited burning for heresy, the friars and people present argued over who was responsible for Bilney's death; the friars threatened to withhold alms from the people if they were blamed ;"Can this be considered a calamity? Well! they can, indeed, kill the body, but they are not able to kill the soul." :—
Huldrych Zwingli Huldrych or Ulrich Zwingli (1 January 1484 – 11 October 1531) was a leader of the Reformation in Switzerland, born during a time of emerging Swiss patriotism and increasing criticism of the Swiss mercenary system. He attended the Unive ...
, priest and leader of the Reformation in Switzerland (11 October 1531), mortally wounded at the
Battle of Kappel The Second War of Kappel (german: Zweiter Kappelerkrieg) was an armed conflict in 1531 between the Catholic and the Protestant cantons of the Old Swiss Confederacy during the Reformation in Switzerland. Cause The tensions between the two parti ...
;"O ye
papists The words Popery (adjective Popish) and Papism (adjective Papist, also used to refer to an individual) are mainly historical pejorative words in the English language for Roman Catholicism, once frequently used by Protestants and Eastern Orthodox ...
: behold, ye look for miracles, and here now ye may see a miracle, for in this fire I feel no more pain than if I were in a bed of down, but it is to me as sweet as a bed of roses." :— James Bainham, English lawyer and Protestant reformer (30 April 1532), while burning at the stake for heresy ;"That is enough to last till I get to Heaven." :—
William Warham William Warham ( – 22 August 1532) was the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1503 to his death. Early life and education Warham was the son of Robert Warham of Malshanger in Hampshire. He was educated at Winchester College and New College, Ox ...
,
Archbishop of Canterbury The archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and a principal leader of the Church of England, the ceremonial head of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. The current archbishop is Jus ...
(22 August 1532), when a servant told him he had thirty pounds left ;"Father, into Thy hands I commend my spirit." :—
Ludovica Albertoni Ludovica Albertoni (1473 - 31 January 1533) was an Italian Roman Catholic noblewoman from the Renaissance period and a professed member of the Third Order of Saint Francis. The death of her husband prompted her to dedicate her life to the ser ...
, Italian noblewoman, professed member of the Third Order of Saint Francis (31 January 1533), quoting Jesus ;"This is not my home." :— Ludovico Ariosto, Italian poet (6 July 1533) ;"What have I done, or my children, that I should meet such a fate? And from your hands, too, you who have met with friendship and kindness from my people who have received nothing but benefits from my hands." :—
Atahualpa Atahualpa (), also Atawallpa (Quechua), Atabalica, Atahuallpa, Atabalipa (c. 1502 – 26-29 July 1533) was the last Inca Emperor. After defeating his brother, Atahualpa became very briefly the last Sapa Inca (sovereign emperor) of the Inca Empi ...
, last Sapa Inca of the Inca Empire (26 July 1533), prior to execution by strangling ;"Begone thou wretched beast, which hast utterly undone me." :() :— Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa, German polymath and occultist (18 February 1535), to his black dog (allegedly his familiar) ;"I die the King's good servant, and God's first." :— Thomas More, Lord High Chancellor of Britain (6 July 1535), prior to beheading for treason ;"Mine eyes desire thee only. Farewell." :() :—
Catherine of Aragon Catherine of Aragon (also spelt as Katherine, ; 16 December 1485 – 7 January 1536) was Queen of England as the first wife of King Henry VIII from their marriage on 11 June 1509 until their annulment on 23 May 1533. She was previousl ...
, Queen of England (7 January 1536), closing her last letter to her former husband, Henry VIII of England ;"Masters, I pray you pray for me, for I have deserved this death." :— Mark Smeaton, musician in the household of Queen
Anne Boleyn Anne Boleyn (; 1501 or 1507 – 19 May 1536) was Queen of England from 1533 to 1536, as the second wife of King Henry VIII. The circumstances of her marriage and of her execution by beheading for treason and other charges made her a key ...
(17 May 1536), prior to beheading for alleged treason and adultery ;"Oh God, have pity on my soul. Oh God, have pity on my soul." :—
Anne Boleyn Anne Boleyn (; 1501 or 1507 – 19 May 1536) was Queen of England from 1533 to 1536, as the second wife of King Henry VIII. The circumstances of her marriage and of her execution by beheading for treason and other charges made her a key ...
, Queen of England (19 May 1536), prior to her execution by beheading ;"Lord! Lord! make an end! make an end!" :() :— Erasmus, Dutch Catholic priest and humanist scholar (12 July 1536) ;"Lord, open the King of England's eyes." :— William Tyndale, English scholar and Bible translator ( 6 October 1536), before being strangled and burned at the stake for heresy ;"None but Christ! None but Christ!" :—
John Lambert John Lambert may refer to: * John Lambert (martyr) (died 1538), English Protestant martyred during the reign of Henry VIII *John Lambert (general) (1619–1684), Parliamentary general in the English Civil War * John Lambert of Creg Clare (''fl.'' c ...
, English Protestant martyr (22 November 1538), while being burned at the stake ;"May an avenger arise from my bones." :() :—
Filippo Strozzi the Younger Filippo Strozzi the Younger (January 4, 1489 – December 18, 1538) was a Florentine banker, and the most famous member of the Strozzi family in the Renaissance. He is best remembered as a tragic hero and defender of the lost Florentine republic ...
, Florentine banker (18 December 1538). He carved this line from Virgil's ''
Aeneid The ''Aeneid'' ( ; la, Aenē̆is or ) is a Latin epic poem, written by Virgil between 29 and 19 BC, that tells the legendary story of Aeneas, a Trojan who fled the fall of Troy and travelled to Italy, where he became the ancestor of the ...
'' on a mantelpiece with his sword as his suicide note. ;"Death cannot destroy us, for it is destroyed already by Him for Whose sake we suffer." :— Jerome Russell,
Franciscan , image = FrancescoCoA PioM.svg , image_size = 200px , caption = A cross, Christ's arm and Saint Francis's arm, a universal symbol of the Franciscans , abbreviation = OFM , predecessor = , ...
friar (1539), burned for heresy in Scotland ;"God be merciful to me, a sinner; Lord Jesus receive my spirit! Miserere mei Deus secundum magnam misericordiam tuam." :— Thomas Forret, vicar of
Dollar, Clackmannanshire Dollar ( gd, Dolair) is a small town with a population of 2,800 people in Clackmannanshire, Scotland. It is east of Stirling. Toponymy Possible interpretations are that Dollar is derived from ''Doilleir'', an Irish and Scots Gaelic word mean ...
, burned for heresy (28 February/1 March 1539), quoting
Psalm 51 Psalm 51, one of the penitential psalms, is the 51st psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "Have mercy upon me, O God". In the slightly different numbering system used in the Greek Septuagint and Latin ...
;"Did you envy my happiness?" :— Francisco de San Roman, Spanish merchant and Protestant martyr (1540). While burning at the stake, he moved his head in a way which caused the friars to believe he had recanted. Upon his removal from the flames, he asked them this question and was then returned to the fire. ;"I die in the traditional faith." :— Thomas Cromwell, 1st Earl of Essex (28 July 1540), prior to beheading for treason and heresy ;"I trust in no
good works In Christian theology, good works, or simply works, are a person's (exterior) actions or deeds, in contrast to inner qualities such as grace or faith. Views by denomination Anglican Churches The Anglican theological tradition, including Th ...
that ever I did, but only in the death of Christ. I do not doubt but through Him to inherit the kingdom of Heaven. But imagine not that I speak against good works, for they are to be done, and verily they that do them not shall never enter into the kingdom of God." :— Robert Barnes, English reformer and Protestant martyr (30 July 1540), while being burned at the stake for heresy ;"Blessed are they who suffer persecution for righteousness' sake." :— Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury (27 May 1541), quoting Matthew 5:10 while an incompetent executioner attempted to behead her ;"Jesu!" :— Francisco Pizarro, Spanish conquistador (26 June 1541), after being stabbed by assassins ;"
Luis de Moscoso Luis de Moscoso Alvarado (1505–1551) was a Spanish explorer and conquistador. Luis de Moscoso Alvarado assumed command of Hernando De Soto's expedition upon the latter's death. Early life Luis de Moscoso Alvarado was born in Badajoz, Spain, t ...
." :— Hernando de Soto, Spanish explorer and conquistador (21 May 1542), naming his successor ;"It he_Crown_of_Scotland.html" ;"title="Crown_of_Scotland.html" ;"title="he Crown of Scotland">he Crown of Scotland">Crown_of_Scotland.html" ;"title="he Crown of Scotland">he Crown of Scotlandcame with a lass, and it will go with a lass." :() :— James V of Scotland (15 December 1542), on being informed of the birth of his daughter and successor, Mary, Queen of Scots ;"Now, O Lord, set thy servant free." :— Nicolaus Copernicus, mathematician and astronomer (24 May 1543), paraphrasing ;"We are beggars, this is true." :( ) :— Martin Luther, German theologian who started the Protestant Reformation (18 February 1546) ;"Lo! here is a token that I forgive thee; my heart, do thine office." :— George Wishart, Scottish Protestant reformer and martyr (1 March 1546), kissing one of his executioners on the cheek after the man asked for his forgiveness ;"I am a priest; I am a priest! Fie! Fie! All is gone." :—
David Beaton David Beaton (also Beton or Bethune; 29 May 1546) was Archbishop of St Andrews and the last Scottish cardinal prior to the Reformation. Career Cardinal Beaton was the sixth and youngest son of eleven children of John Beaton (Bethune) of Ba ...
,
Archbishop of St Andrews The Bishop of St. Andrews ( gd, Easbaig Chill Rìmhinn, sco, Beeshop o Saunt Andras) was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of St Andrews in the Catholic Church and then, from 14 August 1472, as Archbishop of St Andrews ( gd, Àrd-easbaig ...
, final Scottish Cardinal prior to the Scottish Reformation (29 May 1546), during his assassination ;"I came not hither to deny my Lord and Master." :—
Anne Askew Anne Askew (sometimes spelled Ayscough or Ascue) married name Anne Kyme, (152116 July 1546) was an English writer, poet, and Anabaptist preacher who was condemned as a heretic during the reign of Henry VIII of England. She and Margaret Cheyne ...
, English writer and poet (16 July 1546), when offered letter of pardon before being burned at the stake for heresy ;"All is lost! Monks, monks, monks!" :— Henry VIII, King of England (28 January 1547) ;"Farewell, and remember me." :—
Margaret of Valois-Angoulême Marguerite de Navarre (french: Marguerite d'Angoulême, ''Marguerite d'Alençon''; 11 April 149221 December 1549), also known as Marguerite of Angoulême and Margaret of Navarre, was a princess of France, Duchess of Alençon and Berry, and Quee ...
,
Queen Queen or QUEEN may refer to: Monarchy * Queen regnant, a female monarch of a Kingdom ** List of queens regnant * Queen consort, the wife of a reigning king * Queen dowager, the widow of a king * Queen mother, a queen dowager who is the mother ...
of
Navarre Navarre (; es, Navarra ; eu, Nafarroa ), officially the Chartered Community of Navarre ( es, Comunidad Foral de Navarra, links=no ; eu, Nafarroako Foru Komunitatea, links=no ), is a foral autonomous community and province in northern Spain, ...
(21 December 1549) ;"Jesu, Maria!" :—
George Martinuzzi George Martinuzzi, O.S.P. (born Juraj Utješenović, also known as György Martinuzzi, Brother György, Georg Utiessenovicz-Martinuzzi or György Fráter, hu, Fráter György; 1482 – 16 December 1551), was a Croatian nobleman, Pauline m ...
,
Archbishop of Esztergom In Christian denominations, an archbishop is a bishop of higher rank or office. In most cases, such as the Catholic Church, there are many archbishops who either have jurisdiction over an ecclesiastical province in addition to their own archdio ...
(16 December 1551), while being assassinated ;"Bring down the curtain, the farce is played out." :— François Rabelais, French writer and physician (1553) ;"Lord take my spirit." :— Edward VI of England (6 July 1553) ;"Jesus, Son of the eternal God, have mercy on me!" :— Michael Servetus, Spanish theologian, physician and humanist (27 October 1553), while being burned at the stake for heresy on a pyre of his own books ;"Lord, into Thy hands I commend my spirit." :— Lady Jane Grey, ''de facto'' Queen of England and Ireland (12 February 1554), quoting Jesus prior to her beheading ;"What I then said I unsay now; and what I now say is the truth." :—
Thomas Wyatt the Younger Sir Thomas Wyatt the Younger (152111 April 1554) was an English politician and rebel leader during the reign of Queen Mary I; his rising is traditionally called " Wyatt's rebellion". He was the son of the English poet and ambassador Sir Thoma ...
, English politician and leader of Wyatt's rebellion (11 April 1554), exculpating Princess Elizabeth and
Edward Courtenay, 1st Earl of Devon Edward Courtenay, 1st Earl of Devon (c. 1527 – 18 September 1556) was an English nobleman during the rule of the Tudor dynasty. Born into a family with close royal connections, he was at various times considered a possible match for the ...
, prior to execution by beheading for treason ;"Lord, receive my spirit." :— John Rogers, English clergyman, Bible translator and commentator (4 February 1555), prior to burning at the stake for heresy ;"Welcome the cross of Christ! welcome everlasting life!" :—
Laurence Saunders Lawrence Saunders (1519 – 8 February 1555) was an English Protestant martyr whose story is recorded in ''Foxe's Book of Martyrs''. Early life Saunders was the son of Thomas Saunders (d. 1528) of Sibbertoft, Northamptonshire, by Margaret, the da ...
, English Protestant martyr (8 February 1555), kissing the stake at which he was to be burned ;"If you love my soul, away with it!" :— John Hooper, Anglican
Bishop of Gloucester The Bishop of Gloucester is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Gloucester in the Province of Canterbury. The diocese covers the County of Gloucestershire and part of the County of Worcestershire. The see's centre of governanc ...
and
Worcester Worcester may refer to: Places United Kingdom * Worcester, England, a city and the county town of Worcestershire in England ** Worcester (UK Parliament constituency), an area represented by a Member of Parliament * Worcester Park, London, Engla ...
, Protestant martyr (9 February 1555), refusing a pardon prior to burning at the stake for heresy ;"Merciful Father of heaven, for Jesus Christ my Savior's sake, receive my soul into Thy hand." :—
Rowland Taylor Rowland Taylor (sometimes spelled "Tayler") (6 October 1510 – 9 February 1555) was an English Protestant martyr during the Marian Persecutions. At the time of his death, he was Rector of Hadleigh in Suffolk. He was burnt at the stake at ne ...
, English Protestant martyr (9 February 1555), while being burned at the stake for heresy ;"I am not afraid. Lord, Lord, Lord, receive my spirit!" :— William Hunter, English silk-weaver and Protestant martyr (27 March 1555), while being burned at the stake for heresy ;"Be of good comfort, brother, for we shall have a merry supper with the Lord this night: if there be any way to heaven on horseback or in fiery chariots, this is it." :—
John Bradford John Bradford (1510–1555) was an English Reformer, prebendary of St. Paul's, and martyr. He was imprisoned in the Tower of London for alleged crimes against Queen Mary I. He was burned at the stake on 1 July 1555. Life Bradford was born i ...
, English Reformer and Protestant martyr (1 July 1555), to John Leaf, a fellow martyr, prior to being burned at the stake ;"Let the flames come near me. I cannot burn! I cannot burn!" :— Nicholas Ridley, (16 October 1555). While burning at the stake for heresy, only his lower limbs burned away. ;"Be of good comfort, Master Ridley, and play the man; we shall this day light such a candle by God's grace in England as (I trust) shall never be put out." :— Hugh Latimer, former
Bishop of Worcester A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is c ...
(16 October 1555); to Nicholas Ridley while they were burning at the stake for heresy ;"Like
Peter Peter may refer to: People * List of people named Peter, a list of people and fictional characters with the given name * Peter (given name) ** Saint Peter (died 60s), apostle of Jesus, leader of the early Christian Church * Peter (surname), a s ...
, I have erred, unlike Peter, I have not wept." :() :—
Stephen Gardiner Stephen Gardiner (27 July 1483 – 12 November 1555) was an English Catholic bishop and politician during the English Reformation period who served as Lord Chancellor during the reign of Queen Mary I and King Philip. Early life Gardiner was b ...
, English bishop and politician (12 November 1555) ;"Lord Jesus, receive my spirit... I see the heavens open and Jesus standing at the right hand of God." :— Thomas Cranmer,
Archbishop of Canterbury The archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and a principal leader of the Church of England, the ceremonial head of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. The current archbishop is Jus ...
(21 March 1556), alluding to prior to execution by burning ;"Now I'm oiled. Keep me from the rats." :— Pietro Aretino, Italian writer and blackmailer (21 October 1556), after receiving the last rites ;"Lord Jesu!" :—
Albert Alcibiades, Margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach Albert II (german: Albrecht; 28 March 15228 January 1557) was the Margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach (Brandenburg-Bayreuth) from 1527 to 1553. He was a member of the Franconian branch of the House of Hohenzollern. Because of his bellicose nature ...
(8 January 1557) ;"Lord, have mercy upon me! Pray, people, while there is time." :— Walter Milne, last Protestant martyr burned in Scotland before the Scottish Reformation (28 April 1558) ;"Now, Lord, I go! Ay, Jesus!" :—
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, french: Charles Quint, it, Carlo V, nl, Karel V, ca, Carles V, la, Carolus V (24 February 1500 – 21 September 1558) was Holy Roman Emperor and Archduke of Austria from 1519 to 1556, King of Spain ( Castile and Aragon) f ...
(21 September 1558), looking at a crucifix ;"After I am dead, you will find Calais written upon my heart." :— Mary I of England (17 November 1558). French forces had captured Calais from England earlier that year. ;"Nothing else but heaven." :— Philip Melanchthon, German Lutheran reformer (19 April 1560), when asked if he wanted anything ;"Farewell, thou who art so beautiful and so cruel; who killest me and whom I cannot cease to love." :() :—
Pierre de Bocosel de Chastelard Pierre de Bocosel de Chastelard (1540–1563), French poet, was born in Dauphiné; a scion of the house of Bayard, grandson of Chevalier de Bayard. His name is inseparably connected with Mary, Queen of Scots, for whom he conceived an insane passio ...
, French poet (22 February 1563), addressing the window of
Holyrood Palace The Palace of Holyroodhouse ( or ), commonly referred to as Holyrood Palace or Holyroodhouse, is the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland. Located at the bottom of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, at the opposite end to Edinburgh ...
before being hanged for hiding under the bed of Mary, Queen of Scots ;"I'm still learning." :() :— Michelangelo, Italian artist and poet (18 February 1564) ;"Thou, Lord, bruisest me; but I am abundantly satisfied, since it is from thy hand." :— John Calvin, French theologian and Protestant reformer, principal developer of
Calvinism Calvinism (also called the Reformed Tradition, Reformed Protestantism, Reformed Christianity, or simply Reformed) is a major branch of Protestantism that follows the Christian theology, theological tradition and forms of Christianity, Christ ...
(27 May 1564) ;"Tomorrow, at sunrise, I shall no longer be here." :() :—
Nostradamus Michel de Nostredame (December 1503 – July 1566), usually Latinised as Nostradamus, was a French astrologer, apothecary, physician, and reputed seer, who is best known for his book ''Les Prophéties'' (published in 1555), a collection o ...
, French seer (2 July 1566), correctly predicting his death ;"I desire to die and be with Christ." :— Roger Ascham, English scholar and didactic writer (30 December 1568) ;"Victory! Victory!" :() :— Bartolomeo Bartocci, Italian trader (25 May 1569), while burning at the stake for heresy ;"I am he; respect my gray hairs, young man!" :— Gaspard II de Coligny,
Admiral of France Admiral of France (french: Amiral de France) is a French title of honour. It is the naval equivalent of Marshal of France and was one of the Great Officers of the Crown of France. History The title was created in 1270 by Louis IX of France, dur ...
(24 August 1572), in response to one of his assassins asking, "Art thou Coligny?" ;"Now it is come." :— John Knox, founder of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland (24 November 1572) ;"Nurse, nurse, what murder! what blood! Oh! I have done wrong. God pardon me!" :—
Charles IX of France Charles IX (Charles Maximilien; 27 June 1550 – 30 May 1574) was King of France from 1560 until his death in 1574. He ascended the French throne upon the death of his brother Francis II in 1560, and as such was the penultimate monarch of the H ...
(30 May 1574) ;"Royal freedom will only be lost with life" :() :— Sebastian of Portugal (4 August 1578), when being advised to surrender, and to hand over his sword to the victors of the
Battle of Alcácer Quibir The Battle of Alcácer Quibir (also known as "Battle of Three Kings" ( ar, معركة الملوك الثلاثة) or "Battle of Wadi al-Makhazin" ( ar, معركة وادي المخازن) in Morocco) was fought in northern Morocco, near the t ...
;"It matters little to me; for if I am but once dead they may bury me or not bury me as they please. They may leave my corpse to rot where I die if they wish." :— George Buchanan, Scottish historian and humanist scholar (28 September 1582), when his servant asked who would pay for his burial after Buchanan told him to distribute his property among the poor ;"Over my spirit flash and float in divine radiancy the bright and glorious visions of the world to which I go." :—
Teresa of Ávila Teresa of Ávila, OCD (born Teresa Sánchez de Cepeda y Ahumada; 28 March 15154 or 15 October 1582), also called Saint Teresa of Jesus, was a Spanish Carmelite nun and prominent Spanish mystic and religious reformer. Active during t ...
, Spanish Carmelite nun, mystic and author (4 or 15 October 1582); last words uncertain ;"Too late." :—
Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, 3rd Duke of Alba Fernando Álvarez de Toledo y Pimentel, 3rd Duke of Alba (29 October 150711 December 1582), known as the Grand Duke of Alba (, pt, Grão Duque de Alba) in Spain and Portugal and as the Iron Duke ( or shortly 'Alva') in the Netherlands, was a S ...
(11 December 1582), on learning that the King was to visit him ;"We are as neare to Heaven by sea as by land." :—
Humphrey Gilbert Sir Humphrey Gilbert (c. 1539 – 9 September 1583) was an English adventurer, explorer, member of parliament and soldier who served during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I and was a pioneer of the English colonial empire in North America ...
, English adventurer and explorer (9 September 1583), prior to sinking of HMS ''Squirrel'' with all hands ;"God have mercy upon me, and upon this poor nation." :() :—
William the Silent William the Silent (24 April 153310 July 1584), also known as William the Taciturn (translated from nl, Willem de Zwijger), or, more commonly in the Netherlands, William of Orange ( nl, Willem van Oranje), was the main leader of the Dutch Rev ...
, Prince of Orange (10 July 1584), assassinated by
Balthasar Gérard Balthasar Gérard (alternative spellings Gerards or Gerardts; c. 1557 – 14 July 1584) was the assassin of the Dutch revolt's leader, William the Silent of the House of Orange (William the Silent, and later known as the "Father of the Fatherl ...
;"Jesus! I pardon you." :— Vittoria Accoramboni, Italian noblewoman (22 December 1585), kneeling before a crucifix ;"The murder of
the Queen In the English-speaking world, The Queen most commonly refers to: * Elizabeth II (1926–2022), Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 1952 until her death The Queen may also refer to: * Camilla, Queen Consort (born 1947), ...
had been represented to me as a deed lawful and meritorious. I die a firm Catholic." :—
Anthony Babington Anthony Babington (24 October 156120 September 1586) was an English gentleman convicted of plotting the assassination of Elizabeth I of England and conspiring with the imprisoned Mary, Queen of Scots, for which he was hanged, drawn and quarte ...
, English gentleman, conspirator in the
Babington Plot The Babington Plot was a plan in 1586 to assassinate Queen Elizabeth I, a Protestant, and put Mary, Queen of Scots, her Catholic cousin, on the English throne. It led to Mary's execution, a result of a letter sent by Mary (who had been impri ...
(20 September 1586), prior to being hanged, drawn and quartered for high treason ;"Take it; thy need is greater than mine." :—
Philip Sidney Philip, also Phillip, is a male given name, derived from the Greek (''Philippos'', lit. "horse-loving" or "fond of horses"), from a compound of (''philos'', "dear", "loved", "loving") and (''hippos'', "horse"). Prominent Philips who popularize ...
, English poet and soldier (17 October 1586), mortally wounded at the
Battle of Zutphen The Battle of Zutphen was fought on 22 September 1586, near the village of Warnsveld and the town of Zutphen, the Netherlands, during the Eighty Years' War. It was fought between the forces of the United Provinces of the Netherlands, aided ...
, passing a cup of water to another wounded soldier ;"O Lord, into Thy hands I commend my spirit." :() :— Mary, Queen of Scots (8 February 1587), quoting Jesus prior to execution by beheading ;"Let the pulse beat as it may, we know the mercy of God will never fail." :— Frederick II of Denmark (4 April 1588) ;" ar from me to glory except in the cross of Jesus Christ Good people, I beseech God to send all felicity." :— George Beesley, English Roman Catholic priest and martyr (2 July 1591), prior to execution ;"It is time for Matins." :—
John of the Cross John of the Cross, OCD ( es, link=no, Juan de la Cruz; la, Ioannes a Cruce; born Juan de Yepes y Álvarez; 24 June 1542 – 14 December 1591) was a Spanish Catholic priest, mystic, and a Carmelite friar of converso origin. He is a major figu ...
, Spanish Catholic priest and mystic (14 December 1591), dying at the stroke of midnight ;"A bishop ought to die on his legs." :—
John Woolton John Woolton (or Wolton) (1535? – 13 March 1594) served as Bishop of Exeter in Devon, England, from 1579 to 1594. Origins He was born at Whalley, Lancashire in about 1535, the son of John Woolton of Wigan, by his wife Isabella Nowell, a daught ...
,
Bishop of Exeter The Bishop of Exeter is the Ordinary (officer), ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Exeter in the Province of Canterbury. Since 30 April 2014 the ordinary has been Robert Atwell.
(13 March 1594) ;"Lord, into Thy hands I commend my spirit." :— Torquato Tasso, Italian poet (25 April 1595), quoting Jesus ;"Life or death is welcome to me; and I desire not to live, but so far as I may be serviceable to God and His church." :— William Whitaker, Calvinistic Anglican churchman, academic and theologian (4 December 1595) ;"Do not announce my death." :() :— Yi Sun-sin, Korean naval commander (16 December 1598), telling his nephew to hide his death by gunshot from his soldiers to avoid demoralizing them during the
Battle of Noryang The Battle of Noryang, the last major battle of the Japanese invasions of Korea (1592–1598), was fought between the Japanese navy and the combined fleets of the Joseon Kingdom and the Ming dynasty. It took place in the early morning of 16 ...
;"I die a martyr and willingly — my soul shall mount up to heaven in this chariot of smoke." :— Giordano Bruno, Italian Dominican friar (17 February 1600), prior to burning at the stake for heresy ;"Good Doctor, God hath heard my daily petitions, for I am at peace with all men, and He is at peace with me; and from that blessed assurance I feel that inward joy which this world can neither give nor take from me: my conscience beareth me this witness, and this witness makes the thoughts of death joyful. I could wish to live to do the Church more service, but cannot hope it, for my days are passed as a shadow that returns not." :—
Richard Hooker Richard Hooker (25 March 1554 – 2 November 1600) was an English priest in the Church of England and an influential theologian.The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church by F. L. Cross (Editor), E. A. Livingstone (Editor) Oxford University ...
, English priest and theologian (3 November 1600)


17th century

;"May I not seem to have lived in vain." :() :— Tycho Brahe, Danish astronomer (24 October 1601), to his assistant Johannes Kepler ;"All my possessions for a moment of time." :— Elizabeth I, queen regnant of England (24 March 1603) ;"I cannot bear that any misunderstanding should subsist between you and those who have for so many years shared in my toils and been the companions of my glory." :—
Akbar Abu'l-Fath Jalal-ud-din Muhammad Akbar (25 October 1542 – 27 October 1605), popularly known as Akbar the Great ( fa, ), and also as Akbar I (), was the third Mughal emperor, who reigned from 1556 to 1605. Akbar succeeded his father, Hum ...
, third
Mughal emperor The Mughal emperors ( fa, , Pādishāhān) were the supreme heads of state of the Mughal Empire on the Indian subcontinent, mainly corresponding to the modern countries of India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. The Mughal rulers styled t ...
(27 October 1605), to his nobles and his son, Jahangir; he then asked their forgiveness if he had ever wronged them ;"Stand by me, Tom, and we will die together." :—
Robert Catesby Robert Catesby (c. 1572 – 8 November 1605) was the leader of a group of English Catholics who planned the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605. Born in Warwickshire, Catesby was educated in Oxford. His family were prominent recusant Catholics, a ...
, leader of the Gunpowder Plot (8 November 1605). Catesby and Thomas Percy were shot by armed men led by Sir Richard Walsh. ;"Now I am going." :—
Paolo Farinati Paolo Farinati (also known as ''Farinato'' or ''Farinato degli Uberti''; c. 1524 – c. 1606) was an Italian painter of the Mannerist style, active in mainly in his native Verona, but also in Mantua and Venice. He may have ancestors among Flo ...
, Italian Mannerist painter (1606), on his deathbed. His wife replied, "I will bear you company, my dear husband," and also died. ;"I begin to perceive and feel the joys of eternal life. I shall soon behold Him, who was sacrificed for men; I long for the blessed sight. All else is to me as dross: there is nothing that could make me wish to live one hour longer." :— Joseph Justus Scaliger, French
Calvinist Calvinism (also called the Reformed Tradition, Reformed Protestantism, Reformed Christianity, or simply Reformed) is a major branch of Protestantism that follows the theological tradition and forms of Christian practice set down by John Cal ...
religious leader and scholar (21 January 1609) ;"I am wounded." :— Henry IV of France (14 May 1610), while being assassinated by stabbing ;"I receive absolution upon this condition." :— François Ravaillac, French Catholic zealot, assassin of Henry IV of France (27 May 1610), receiving conditional
absolution Absolution is a traditional theological term for the forgiveness imparted by ordained Christian priests and experienced by Christian penitents. It is a universal feature of the historic churches of Christendom, although the theology and the pr ...
prior to his execution due to his insistence that he had no accomplices ;"Ease and pleasure quake to hear of death; but my life, full of cares and miseries, desireth to be dissolved." :— Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, English statesman (24 May 1612) ;"I would say 'somewhat,' but I cannot utter it." :— Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales (6 November 1612), when asked if he was in pain ;"If there be here any hidden Catholics, let them pray for me, but the prayers of heretics I will not have." :— John Ogilvie (10 March 1615), hanged, drawn and quartered at
Glasgow Cross Glasgow Cross is at the hub of the ancient royal burgh and now city of Glasgow, Scotland, close to its first crossing over the River Clyde. As a major junction in the city centre, its five streets run: north up the High Street to Glasgow Cathedr ...
because of having preached the Catholic religion, then illegal in Scotland, and for refusing to pledge allegiance to
King James VI of Scotland James VI and I (James Charles Stuart; 19 June 1566 – 27 March 1625) was King of Scotland as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the Scottish and English crowns on 24 March 1603 until h ...
. ;"I am Sanada Nobushige, no doubt an adversary quite worthy of you, but I am exhausted and can fight no longer. Go on, take my head as your trophy." :— Sanada Yukimura, Japanese samurai warrior (3 June 1615), to his foes prior to his death at the
Battle of Tennōji The was fought on 3 June, 1615 between the forces of Tokugawa Ieyasu and Toyotomi Hideyori. Tokugawa was besieging Osaka, and Hideyori had planned a counterattack. Both sides were plagued by mistakes until Hideyori's side finally fell. He pre ...
;"Already my foot is in the stirrup." :— Miguel de Cervantes, Spanish novelist (22 April 1616) ;"Come Lord Jesu, come quickly, finish in me the work that Thou has begun; into Thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit, for Thou has redeemed me. O God of truth, save me Thy servant, who hopes and confides in Thee alone; let Thy mercy, O Lord, be shewn unto me; in Thee have I trusted, O Lord, let me not be confounded for ever." :— Robert Abbot, Anglican clergyman and academic (2 March 1617) ;"What dost thou fear? Strike, man, strike!" :—
Walter Raleigh Sir Walter Raleigh (; – 29 October 1618) was an English statesman, soldier, writer and explorer. One of the most notable figures of the Elizabethan era, he played a leading part in English colonisation of North America, suppressed rebellion ...
, English poet, soldier and courtier (29 October 1618), as he lay ready to be beheaded in the
Old Palace Yard Old Palace Yard is a paved open space in the City of Westminster in Central London, England. It lies between the Palace of Westminster to its north and east and Westminster Abbey to its west. It is known as the site of executions, including those ...
at the Palace of Westminster ;"They sweat in extremes, for fear of the unwarlike; I am dying undisturbed" :() :—
Lucilio Vanini Lucilio Vanini (15859 February 1619), who, in his works, styled himself Giulio Cesare Vanini, was an Italian philosopher, physician and free-thinker, who was one of the first significant representatives of intellectual libertinism. He was amon ...
, Italian philosopher, physician and freethinker (9 February 1619), prior to execution by strangling and burning for atheism and blasphemy ;"Make it short. Make it short." :() :—
Johan van Oldenbarnevelt Johan van Oldenbarnevelt (), Heer van Berkel en Rodenrijs (1600), Gunterstein (1611) and Bakkum (1613) (14 September 1547 – 13 May 1619) was a Dutch statesman and revolutionary who played an important role in the Dutch struggle for indepen ...
, Dutch statesman (13 May 1619), to his executioner ;"Oh, would to God I had never reigned! Oh, that those years I have spent in my kingdom I had lived a solitary life in the wilderness! Oh, that I had lived alone with God! How much more secure should I now have died! With how much more confidence should I have gone to the throne of God! What doth all my glory profit, but that I have so much the more torment in my death?" :—
Philip III of Spain Philip III ( es, Felipe III; 14 April 1578 – 31 March 1621) was King of Spain. As Philip II, he was also King of Portugal, Naples, Sicily and Sardinia and Duke of Milan from 1598 until his death in 1621. A member of the House of Habsburg, Phi ...
(31 March 1621) ;"Now I have overcome." :—
Johann Arndt Johann Arndt (or Arnd; 27 December 155511 May 1621) was a German Lutheran theologian who wrote several influential books of devotional Christianity. Although reflective of the period of Lutheran Orthodoxy, he is seen as a forerunner of Pietism, a ...
, German Lutheran theologian (11 May 1621), to his wife ;"Jesus, Jesus, Jesus." :—
Robert Bellarmine Robert Bellarmine, SJ ( it, Roberto Francesco Romolo Bellarmino; 4 October 1542 – 17 September 1621) was an Italian Jesuit and a cardinal of the Catholic Church. He was canonized a saint in 1930 and named Doctor of the Church, one of only 37. ...
, Italian Jesuit and Roman Catholic cardinal (17 September 1621) ;"All my life I have carried myself gracefully." :—
Rodrigo Calderón, Count of Oliva Don Rodrigo Calderón, Conde de la Oliva de Plasencia, Marqués (Marquis) de Siete Iglesias (1576 – Madrid, 21 October 1621) was a favorite minister of the Duke of Lerma, while the latter was ''valido'' or valued minister of King Philip III o ...
(21 October 1621), when his confessor chastised him for his attention to his appearance prior to his execution by beheading ;"Be thou everlasting." :—
Paolo Sarpi Paolo Sarpi (14 August 1552 – 15 January 1623) was a Venetian historian, prelate, scientist, canon lawyer, and statesman active on behalf of the Venetian Republic during the period of its successful defiance of the papal interdict (1605–16 ...
, Venetian historian, prelate, scientist, canon lawyer and statesman (15 January 1623), referring to Venice ;"Thy creatures, O Lord, have been my books, but Thy Holy Scriptures much more. I have sought Thee in the fields and gardens, but I have found Thee, O God, in Thy Sanctuary—Thy Temple." :— Francis Bacon, English philosopher and statesman (9 April 1626) ;"Blessed be God, though I change my place, I shall not change my company; for I have walked with God while living, and now I go to rest with God." :— John Preston, Anglican minister, master of
Emmanuel College, Cambridge Emmanuel College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college was founded in 1584 by Sir Walter Mildmay, Chancellor of the Exchequer to Elizabeth I. The site on which the college sits was once a priory for Dominican m ...
(20 July 1628) ;"Villaine!" :— George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham (23 August 1628); to his assassin, John Felton, after being stabbed by him ;"Hold your tongue; your wretched style only makes me out of conceit with them." :—
François de Malherbe François de Malherbe (, 1555 – 16 October 1628) was a French poet, critic, and translator. Life He was born in Le Locheur (near Caen, Normandie), to a family of standing, although the family's pedigree did not satisfy the heralds in terms of ...
, French poet, critic and translator (16 October 1628), listening on his deathbed to his confessor describing the glories of heaven ;"I am the man." :— John Felton, assassin of George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham (29 November 1628), referring to the killing of Buckingham ;"I do bless.—May Jesus and Mary bless, rule and govern." :—
Pierre de Bérulle Pierre de Bérulle (4 February 1575 – 2 October 1629) was a French Catholic priest, cardinal and statesman, one of the most important mystics of the 17th century in France. He was the founder of the French school of spirituality, who could cou ...
, French Roman Catholic cardinal and statesman (2 October 1629), blessing his congregation while celebrating Mass ;"It comes at last, the happy day: Let thanks be given to God in heaven, while we learn pleasure in His way." :—
Agrippa d'Aubigné Théodore-Agrippa d'Aubigné (, 8 February 155229 April 1630) was a French poet, soldier, propagandist and chronicler. His epic poem ''Les Tragiques'' (1616) is widely regarded as his masterpiece. In a book about his Catholic contemporary Jean d ...
, French poet, soldier, propagandist and chronicler (29 April 1630) ;"I were miserable, if I might not die." :— John Donne, English poet, scholar and soldier,
Dean of St Paul's The dean of St Paul's is a member of, and chair of the Chapter of St Paul's Cathedral in London in the Church of England. The dean of St Paul's is also ''ex officio'' dean of the Order of the British Empire. The current dean is Andrew Tremlet ...
(31 March 1631) ;"Now, God be with you, my dear children; I have breakfasted with you, and shall sup with my Lord Jesus Christ this night." :—
Robert Bruce of Kinnaird Robert Bruce (1554 – 27 July 1631) was Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland which was called on 6 February 1588 to prepare defences against a possible invasion by the Spanish Armada. King James VI was so sensible of the va ...
, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland (27 July 1631) ;"I have enough, brother; try to save your own life." :—
Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden Gustavus Adolphus (9 December Old_Style_and_New_Style_dates">N.S_19_December.html" ;"title="Old_Style_and_New_Style_dates.html" ;"title="/nowiki>Old Style and New Style dates">N.S 19 December">Old_Style_and_New_Style_dates.html" ;"title="/now ...
(16 November 1632), mortally wounded at the
Battle of Lützen (1632) The Battle of Lützen, fought on 16 November 1632, is considered one of the most important battles of the Thirty Years War. A combined Swedish-German army led by Gustavus Adolphus narrowly defeated an Imperial force under Albrecht von Wallens ...
;"I am now ready to die. Lord, forsake me not, now my strength faileth me; but grant me mercy for the merits of my Jesus. And now Lord—Lord, now receive my soul." :— George Herbert, Welsh-born poet, orator, and priest of the Church of England (1 March 1633) ;"Thy kingdom come, thy will be done." :— Edward Coke, English barrister, judge and politician (3 September 1634) ;"All right then, I'll say it. Dante makes me sick." :— Lope de Vega, Spanish playwright (27 August 1635) ;"I have kept the faith once given to the saints; for the which cause I have also suffered these things; but I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed to Him against that day." :—
William Bedell The Rt. Rev. William Bedell, D.D. ( ga, Uilliam Beidil; 15717 February 1642), was an Anglican churchman who served as Lord Bishop of Kilmore, as well as Provost of Trinity College Dublin. Early life He was born at Black Notley in Essex, and ...
, Anglican Lord Bishop of Kilmore (7 February 1642), dying from exposure after being imprisoned and tortured by rebels ;"Absolutely, and I pray God to condemn me, if I have had any other aim than the welfare of God and the state." :—
Cardinal Richelieu Armand Jean du Plessis, Duke of Richelieu (; 9 September 1585 – 4 December 1642), known as Cardinal Richelieu, was a French clergyman and statesman. He was also known as ''l'Éminence rouge'', or "the Red Eminence", a term derived from the ...
, French clergyman and statesman (4 December 1642), when asked whether he pardoned his enemies ;"O Lord, save my country! O Lord, be merciful to—" :— John Hampden, English landowner and politician (24 June 1643), mortally wounded at the
Battle of Chalgrove Field The Battle of Chalgrove Field took place on 18 June 1643, during the First English Civil War, near Chalgrove, Oxfordshire. It is now best remembered for the death of John Hampden, who was wounded in the shoulder during the battle and died six ...
six days before his death ;"I, feeble and of small virtue, have offended against Heaven; the rebels have seized my capital because my ministers deceived me. Ashamed to face my ancestors, I die. Removing my imperial cap and with my hair disheveled about my face, I leave to the rebels the dismemberment of my body. Let them not harm my people!" :() :—
Chongzhen Emperor The Chongzhen Emperor (; 6 February 1611 – 25 April 1644), personal name Zhu Youjian (), courtesy name Deyue (),Wang Yuan (王源),''Ju ye tang wen ji'' (《居業堂文集》), vol. 19. "聞之張景蔚親見烈皇帝神主題御諱字德� ...
, the last emperor of Ming Dynasty (24 April 1644) ;"Lord, receive my soul." :— William Laud,
Archbishop of Canterbury The archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and a principal leader of the Church of England, the ceremonial head of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. The current archbishop is Jus ...
(10 January 1645), spoken as the signal to the executioner at his beheading for treason ;"Be serious." :— Hugo Grotius, Dutch humanist, diplomat, lawyer, theologian and writer (28 August 1645) ;"Ungrateful traitors!" :—
Masaniello Masaniello (, ; an abbreviation of Tommaso Aniello; 29 June 1620 – 16 July 1647) was an Italian fisherman who became leader of the 1647 revolt against the rule of Habsburg Spain in the Kingdom of Naples. Name and place of birth Until recen ...
, Italian fisherman and revolutionary leader (16 July 1647), to his assassins ;"Ay! but I have been nearer to you, my friends, many a time, and you have missed me." :— George Lisle, Royalist leader in the English Civil War (28 August 1648), when the officer in charge of his firing squad said they would hit him ;"Stay for the sign." :— Charles I of England (30 January 1649), asking for his executioner to await his signal before beheading him ;"The covenant which I took, I own it and adhere to it. Bishops, I do not care for them. I never intended to advance their interests." :—
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose (1612 – 21 May 1650) was a Scottish nobleman, poet and soldier, lord lieutenant and later viceroy and captain general of Scotland. Montrose initially joined the Covenanters in the Wars of the Three ...
(21 May 1650), prior to execution by hanging, beheading and quartering ;"Lord Jesus, receive me!" :— Eusebius Andrews, English royalist (22 August 1650), prior to execution by beheading for treason ;"How sweet it is to rest!" :— John Taylor, English poet (December 1653) ;"You see what is man's life." :— Pierre Gassendi, French philosopher, Catholic priest, astronomer and mathematician (24 October 1655) ;"O Lord, forgive me specially my sins of omission." :— James Ussher, Church of Ireland
Archbishop of Armagh In Christian denominations, an archbishop is a bishop of higher rank or office. In most cases, such as the Catholic Church, there are many archbishops who either have jurisdiction over an ecclesiastical province in addition to their own archdioc ...
and Primate of All Ireland (21 March 1656) ;"It is not my design to drink or to sleep, but my design is to make what haste I can to be gone." :— Oliver Cromwell, English general and statesman, Lord Protector (3 September 1658) ;"Ah! mes enfans, you cannot cry as much for me as I have made you laugh in my time! I never thought that it was so easy a matter to laugh at the approach of death." :— Paul Scarron, French poet, dramatist and novelist (6 October 1660) ;"O, my poor soul, what is to become of thee? Whither wilt thou go?" :—
Cardinal Mazarin Cardinal Jules Mazarin (, also , , ; 14 July 1602 – 9 March 1661), born Giulio Raimondo Mazzarino () or Mazarini, was an Italian cardinal, diplomat and politician who served as the chief minister to the Kings of France Louis XIII and Louis XI ...
, Italian cardinal, diplomat and politician (9 March 1661) ;"I bless the Lord that he gave me counsel." :—
Samuel Rutherford Samuel Rutherford (also Rutherfurd or Rutherfoord; – 29 March 1661) was a Scottish Presbyterian pastor and theologian who wrote widely read letters, sermons, devotional and scholastic works. As a political theorist, he is known for ...
, Scottish pastor (29 March 1661) ;"I die not only a Protestant, but with a heart-hatred of popery, prelacy, and all superstition. Lord Jesus, receive me into Thy glory." :—
Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll Archibald Campbell, Marquess of Argyll, 8th Earl of Argyll, Chief of Clan Campbell (March 160727 May 1661) was a Scottish nobleman, politician, and peer. The ''de facto'' head of Scotland's government during most of the conflict of the 1640s and ...
, Scottish nobleman (27 May 1661), before execution by beheading ;"I take God to record upon my soul that I would not exchange this scaffold with the palace or mitre of the greatest prelate in Britain. The covenants, the covenants shall yet be Scotland's reviving." :— James Guthrie, Scottish Presbyterian minister (1 June 1661), prior to execution by hanging for high treason ;"Jesus, oh Jesus, you are my God, my justice, my strength, my all." :— Marie Angélique Arnauld,
Abbess An abbess (Latin: ''abbatissa''), also known as a mother superior, is the female superior of a community of Catholic nuns in an abbey. Description In the Catholic Church (both the Latin Church and Eastern Catholic), Eastern Orthodox, Coptic ...
of the Abbey of Port-Royal (6 August 1661) ;"It is a bad cause which cannot bear the words of a dying man." :—
Henry Vane the Younger Sir Henry Vane (baptised 26 March 161314 June 1662), often referred to as Harry Vane and Henry Vane the Younger to distinguish him from his father, Henry Vane the Elder, was an English politician, statesman, and colonial governor. He was bri ...
, English politician, statesman and colonial governor (14 June 1662), prior to execution by beheading for treason ;"My God, forsake me not." :—
Blaise Pascal Blaise Pascal ( , , ; ; 19 June 1623 – 19 August 1662) was a French mathematician, physicist, inventor, philosopher, and Catholic writer. He was a child prodigy who was educated by his father, a tax collector in Rouen. Pascal's earliest m ...
, French mathematician, physicist and theologian (19 August 1662) ;"My heart is fixed, O God! my heart is fixed where true joy is to be found." :— Robert Sanderson, English theologian and
casuist In ethics, casuistry ( ) is a process of reasoning that seeks to resolve moral problems by extracting or extending theoretical rules from a particular case, and reapplying those rules to new instances. This method occurs in applied ethics and ju ...
(29 January 1663) ;"
Abba ABBA ( , , formerly named Björn & Benny, Agnetha & Anni-Frid or Björn & Benny, Agnetha & Frida) are a Swedish supergroup formed in Stockholm in 1972 by Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. The group' ...
, Father, accept this, Thy poor sinful servant, coming unto Thee through the merits of Jesus Christ. O pray, pray! praise, praise!" :—
Archibald Johnston Archibald Johnston, Lord Wariston (1611 – 1663) was a Scottish judge and statesman. He assisted Alexander Henderson in writing the Scottish National Covenant in 1638, and was appointed Procurator of the Kirk in the same year. He helped ne ...
, Scottish judge and statesman (22 July 1663), before execution by hanging ;"Monsieur de Montaigu, consider what I owe to God, the favor He has shown me, and the great indulgence for which I am beholden to Him. Observe how they are swelled; time to depart." :—
Anne of Austria Anne of Austria (french: Anne d'Autriche, italic=no, es, Ana María Mauricia, italic=no; 22 September 1601 – 20 January 1666) was an infanta of Spain who became Queen of France as the wife of King Louis XIII from their marriage in 1615 unt ...
, former Queen of France (20 January 1666), looking at her formerly beautiful hands ;"And now I begin my intercourse with God, which shall never be broken off. Farewell, father and mother, friends and relations; farewell, the world and all delights; farewell, sun, moon and stars! Welcome, God and Father; welcome, sweet Jesus Christ, the mediator of the new covenant; welcome, blessed Spirit of grace, the God of all consolation; welcome, glory; welcome, eternal life; and welcome, death." :— Hugh Mackail, Scottish martyr (22 December 1666), prior to execution by hanging ;"My trust is in God." :—
Jeremy Taylor Jeremy Taylor (1613–1667) was a cleric in the Church of England who achieved fame as an author during the Protectorate of Oliver Cromwell. He is sometimes known as the "Shakespeare of Divines" for his poetic style of expression, and he is fr ...
,
Anglican divine Anglicanism is a Western Christian tradition that has developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the context of the Protestant Reformation in Europe. It is one of th ...
(13 August 1667) ;"Vex me not with this thing, but give me a simple cross, that I may adore it, both as it is in itself and as I can figure it in my mind." :—
Alonso Cano Alonso Cano Almansa or Alonzo Cano (19 March 16013 September 1667) was a Spanish painter, architect, and sculptor born in Granada. :—
William Davenant Sir William Davenant (baptised 3 March 1606 – 7 April 1668), also spelled D'Avenant, was an English poet and playwright. Along with Thomas Killigrew, Davenant was one of the rare figures in English Renaissance theatre whose career spanned bot ...
, English poet and playwright (7 April 1668), setting aside the manuscript of a new poem ;"Far from well, yet far better than mine iniquities deserve." :—
Richard Mather Richard Mather (1596 – 22 April 1669) was a New England Puritan minister in colonial Boston. He was father to Increase Mather and grandfather to Cotton Mather, both celebrated Boston theologians. Biography Mather was born in Lowton in the ...
, Puritan minister (22 April 1669), when asked about his health ;"Lord!" :—
John Cosin John Cosin (30 November 1594 – 15 January 1672) was an English churchman. Life He was born at Norwich, and was educated at Norwich School and at Caius College, Cambridge, where he was scholar and afterwards fellow. On taking orders he was a ...
, English churchman (15 January 1672), raising his hand ;"Well, my friend, what news from the Great Mogul?" :—
François de La Mothe Le Vayer François de La Mothe Le Vayer (, August 15889 May 1672), was a French writer who was known to use the pseudonym Orosius Tubero. He was admitted to the Académie française in 1639, and was the tutor of Louis XIV. Early years Le Vayer was born a ...
, French writer (9 May 1672), to physician and traveler
François Bernier François Bernier (25 September 162022 September 1688) was a French physician and traveller. He was born in Joué-Etiau in Anjou. He stayed (14 October 165820 February 1670) for around 12 years in India. His 1684 publication "Nouve ...
, who had come to say goodbye to him ;"Bad, bad! To judge by what I now endure, the hand of death grasps me sharply." :—
Salvator Rosa Salvator Rosa (1615 –1673) is best known today as an Italian Baroque painter, whose romanticized landscapes and history paintings, often set in dark and untamed nature, exerted considerable influence from the 17th century into the early 19th ...
, Italian artist and poet (15 March 1673), when asked how he was ;"Death is the great key that opens the palace of Eternity." :— John Milton, English poet and intellectual (8 November 1674) ;"I did not mean to be killed today." :() :— Henri de La Tour d'Auvergne, Viscount of Turenne (27 July 1675), struck by a cannonball at the
Battle of Salzbach The Battle of Salzbach, or Sasbach, took place on 27 July 1675 during the Franco-Dutch War, when an Imperial army under Raimondo Montecuccoli confronted a French force commanded by Marshal Turenne. The "battle" consisted primarily of an artille ...
;"I would never have married had I known that my time would be so brief. If I had known that, I would not have taken upon myself double tears." :—
Alexis of Russia Aleksey Mikhaylovich ( rus, Алексе́й Миха́йлович, p=ɐlʲɪkˈsʲej mʲɪˈxajləvʲɪtɕ; – ) was the Tsar of Russia from 1645 until his death in 1676. While finding success in foreign affairs, his reign saw several wars ...
,
Russian Tsar Tsar ( or ), also spelled ''czar'', ''tzar'', or ''csar'', is a title used by East and South Slavic monarchs. The term is derived from the Latin word ''caesar'', which was intended to mean "emperor" in the European medieval sense of the ter ...
() ;"I have seen the glories of the world." :— Isaac Barrow, English Christian theologian and mathematician (4 May 1677) ;"Well, ladies, if I were one hour in heaven, I would not be again with you, as much as I love you." :—
Mary Rich, Countess of Warwick Mary Rich, Countess of Warwick (8 November 1625 – 12 April 1678) was the seventh daughter of Richard Boyle, 1st Earl of Cork, and his second wife, Catherine Fenton, only daughter of Sir Geoffrey Fenton, Principal Secretary of State for Ire ...
(12 April 1678) ;"How beautiful!" :—
Giovan Battista Nani Giovan Battista Nani (30 August 1616, Venice – 5 November 1678, Venice), in French ''Jean Baptiste Felix Gaspard Nani'', was a Venetian ambassador, librarian, archivist, amateur botanist and historian, born into a patrician family. For 25 years ...
,
Venetian Venetian often means from or related to: * Venice, a city in Italy * Veneto, a region of Italy * Republic of Venice (697–1797), a historical nation in that area Venetian and the like may also refer to: * Venetian language, a Romance language s ...
ambassador, librarian and historian (5 November 1678) ;"I shall be happy." :— James Sharp,
Archbishop of St Andrews The Bishop of St. Andrews ( gd, Easbaig Chill Rìmhinn, sco, Beeshop o Saunt Andras) was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of St Andrews in the Catholic Church and then, from 14 August 1472, as Archbishop of St Andrews ( gd, Àrd-easbaig ...
(3 May 1679) ;"Now I am about to take my last voyage, a great leap in the dark." :—
Thomas Hobbes Thomas Hobbes ( ; 5/15 April 1588 – 4/14 December 1679) was an English philosopher, considered to be one of the founders of modern political philosophy. Hobbes is best known for his 1651 book ''Leviathan'', in which he expounds an influent ...
, English philosopher (4 December 1679) ;"The only objection against the Bible is a bad life." :—
John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester (1 April 1647 – 26 July 1680) was an English poet and courtier of King Charles II's Restoration court. The Restoration reacted against the "spiritual authoritarianism" of the Puritan era. Rochester embodie ...
, English poet and courtier (26 July 1680) ;"I do not fear death." :— Thomas Blood, Anglo-Irish officer and desperado (24 August 1680) ;"I do forgive you." :—
William Howard, 1st Viscount Stafford William Howard, 1st Viscount Stafford, FRS (30 November 1614 – 29 December 1680) was the youngest son of Thomas Howard, 21st Earl of Arundel, and his wife, the former Alethea Talbot. A Fellow of the Royal Society from 1665, he was a Royalis ...
(29 December 1680), to his executioner prior to beheading for alleged treason ;"Now the bitterness of death is past." :—
William Russell, Lord Russell William Russell, Lord Russell (29 September 163921 July 1683) was an English politician. He was a leading member of the Country Party, forerunners of the Whigs, who during the reign of King Charles II, laid the groundwork for opposition in t ...
(21 July 1683), after bidding farewell to his wife prior to execution by beheading for treason ;"Stop. Change that to say, 'I am yet in the land of the dying, but I hope soon to be in the land of the living.'" :— John Owen, English Nonconformist church leader and theologian (24 August 1683), when his secretary had written "I am still in the land of the living" in a letter in his name ;"I know that my Redeemer liveth. I die for the
good old cause The Good Old Cause was the name given, retrospectively, by the soldiers of the New Model Army, to the complex of reasons that motivated their fight on behalf of the Parliament of England. Their struggle was against King Charles I and the Royalis ...
." :—
Algernon Sidney Algernon Sidney or Sydney (15 January 1623 – 7 December 1683) was an English politician, republican political theorist and colonel. A member of the middle part of the Long Parliament and commissioner of the trial of King Charles I of England ...
, English politician (7 December 1683), prior to execution by beheading for treason ;"My God, my Father, and my Friend, / Do not forsake me in the end." :— Wentworth Dillon, 4th Earl of Roscommon, Anglo-Irish landlord, Irish peer, and poet (18 January 1685), quoting from his own translation of the " Dies irae" ;"I have been a most unconscionable time dying, but I beg you to excuse it." :—
Charles II of England Charles II (29 May 1630 – 6 February 1685) was King of Scotland from 1649 until 1651, and King of England, Scotland and Ireland from the 1660 Restoration of the monarchy until his death in 1685. Charles II was the eldest surviving child of ...
(6 February 1685) ;"There are six guineas for you, and do not hack me as you did my Lord Russell. I have heard that you struck him three or four times. My servant will give you more gold if you do your work well." :— James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth, illegitimate son of
Charles II of England Charles II (29 May 1630 – 6 February 1685) was King of Scotland from 1649 until 1651, and King of England, Scotland and Ireland from the 1660 Restoration of the monarchy until his death in 1685. Charles II was the eldest surviving child of ...
(15 July 1685), to
Jack Ketch John Ketch (died November 1686), generally known as Jack Ketch, was an infamous English executioner employed by King Charles II. He became famous through the way he performed his duties during the tumults of the 1680s, when he was often menti ...
, his executioner. Ketch was nervous and took several blows to behead Scott. ;"Lord, into Thy hands I commend my spirit; for Thou hast redeemed me, Lord God of truth." :— James Renwick, Scottish minister (17 February 1688), before execution by hanging ;"Take me, for I come to Thee." :— John Bunyan, English writer and preacher (31 August 1688) ;"O, come in glory! I have long waited for Thy coming. Let no dark cloud rest on the work of the Indians. Let it live when I am dead. Welcome joy!" :— John Eliot, Puritan missionary to the American Indians, founder of
Roxbury Latin School The Roxbury Latin School is a private boys' day school that was founded in 1645 in the town of Roxbury, Massachusetts, Roxbury (now a neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts) by the Rev. John Eliot (missionary), John Eliot under a charter rec ...
(21 May 1690) ;"I need nothing but God, and to lose myself in the heart of Jesus." :— Margaret Mary Alacoque, French Roman Catholic nun, promoter of devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus (17 October 1690) ;"Never heed; the Lord's power is over all weakness and death." :— George Fox,
English Dissenter English Dissenters or English Separatists were Protestant Christians who separated from the Church of England in the 17th and 18th centuries. A dissenter (from the Latin ''dissentire'', "to disagree") is one who disagrees in opinion, belief and ...
, founder of the Religious Society of Friends (13 January 1691) ;"I know that it will be well with me." :— John Flavel, English Presbyterian clergyman and author (26 June 1691) ;"Death, death. O I thank Him, I thank Him. The Lord teach you to die." :—
Richard Baxter Richard Baxter (12 November 1615 – 8 December 1691) was an English Puritan church leader, poet, hymnodist, theologian, and controversialist. Dean Stanley called him "the chief of English Protestant Schoolmen". After some false starts, ...
, English Puritan church leader, poet, hymnodist and theologian (8 December 1691) ; :— Louise-Anastasia Serment, French natural philosopher and poet (1692); lines addressed to Death ;"You are a lyer; I am no more a Witch than you are a Wizard, and if you take away my Life, God will give you Blood to drink." :—
Sarah Good Sarah Good (, 1653 – , 1692)Contemporary records commonly used the Julian calendar and the Annunciation Style of enumerating months and years. By the Gregorian calendar and using modern style dating, all of the witch trial events in this artic ...
, American woman accused of witchcraft during the
Salem witch trials The Salem witch trials were a series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts between February 1692 and May 1693. More than 200 people were accused. Thirty people were found guilty, 19 of whom w ...
(), to Reverend
Nicholas Noyes Rev. Nicholas Noyes II (December 22, 1647 at Newbury, Massachusetts Bay Colony – December 13, 1717 at Salem, Massachusetts Bay Colony) was a colonial minister during the time of the Salem witch trials. He was the second minister, called the " ...
prior to execution by hanging ;"More weight." :— Giles Corey, English-born American farmer (19 September 1692), before being pressed to death during the
Salem witch trials The Salem witch trials were a series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts between February 1692 and May 1693. More than 200 people were accused. Thirty people were found guilty, 19 of whom w ...
;"Oh, that this were for Ireland." :—
Patrick Sarsfield, 1st Earl of Lucan Patrick Sarsfield, 1st Earl of Lucan, ga, Pádraig Sáirseál, circa 1655 to 21 August 1693, was an Irish soldier, and leading figure in the Jacobite army during the 1689 to 1691 Williamite War in Ireland. Born into a wealthy Catholic fami ...
, Irish soldier (21 August 1693), mortally wounded at the
Battle of Landen The Battle of Landen, also known as Neerwinden, took place on 29 July 1693, during the Nine Years' War near Landen in modern Belgium. A French army under Marshal Luxembourg defeated an Allied force led by William III. By 1693, all combat ...
;"My Lord, why do you not go on? I am not afraid to die." :—
Mary II of England Mary II (30 April 166228 December 1694) was Queen of England, Scotland, and Ireland, co-reigning with her husband, William III & II, from 1689 until her death in 1694. Mary was the eldest daughter of James, Duke of York, and his first wife ...
(28 December 1694), when the clergyman reading the prayers for the sick paused due to being overcome by grief ;"O death, where is thy—" :— Philip Henry, English Nonconformist clergyman and diarist (24 June 1696), quoting 1 Corinthians 15:55 ;"Debt!" :— Hortense Mancini, Duchesse de Mazarin, niece of
Cardinal Mazarin Cardinal Jules Mazarin (, also , , ; 14 July 1602 – 9 March 1661), born Giulio Raimondo Mazzarino () or Mazarini, was an Italian cardinal, diplomat and politician who served as the chief minister to the Kings of France Louis XIII and Louis XI ...
and mistress of
Charles II of England Charles II (29 May 1630 – 6 February 1685) was King of Scotland from 1649 until 1651, and King of England, Scotland and Ireland from the 1660 Restoration of the monarchy until his death in 1685. Charles II was the eldest surviving child of ...
(2 July 1699), dying in financial ruin ;"I am nothing." :—
Charles II of Spain Charles II of Spain (''Spanish: Carlos II,'' 6 November 1661 – 1 November 1700), known as the Bewitched (''Spanish: El Hechizado''), was the last Habsburg ruler of the Spanish Empire. Best remembered for his physical disabilities and the War o ...
(1 November 1700)


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21st century


Ironic last words

; ;"Let no one weep for me, or celebrate my funeral with mourning; for I still live, as I pass to and fro through the mouths of men." :—
Ennius Quintus Ennius (; c. 239 – c. 169 BC) was a writer and poet who lived during the Roman Republic. He is often considered the father of Roman poetry. He was born in the small town of Rudiae, located near modern Lecce, Apulia, (Ancient Calabri ...
, writer and poet of the Roman Republic ( 169 BCE); lines dictated to be engraved on his memorial. Only fragments of his works now survive. ;"Let all brave Prussians follow ''me!''" :— Field Marshal
Kurt Christoph Graf von Schwerin Kurt Christoph, Graf von Schwerin (26 October 1684 – 6 May 1757) was a Prussian ''Generalfeldmarschall'', one of the leading commanders under Frederick the Great. Biography He was born in Löwitz, Pomerania, and at an early age entered the ...
(6 May 1757), at the Battle of Prague, immediately before being struck by a cannonball. ; "Thomas Jefferson survives." : — John Adams, president of the United States (4 July 1826), unaware that Jefferson had died earlier that same day ;"They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance. ..All right, my man; go to your place." :— General John Sedgwick (9 May 1864) at the
Battle of Spotsylvania Court House The Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, sometimes more simply referred to as the Battle of Spotsylvania (or the 19th-century spelling Spottsylvania), was the second major battle in Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and Maj. Gen. George G. Meade's 18 ...
shortly before being killed by enemy fire. ;"Sergeant, the Spanish bullet isn't made that will kill me." :— Captain
Buckey O'Neill William Owen "Buckey" O'Neill (February 2, 1860 – July 1, 1898) was a sheriff, newspaper editor, miner, politician, Georgist, gambler and lawyer, mainly in Arizona. His nickname came from his tendency to "buck the tiger" (play contrary to th ...
(1 July 1898), one of Theodore Roosevelt's Rough Riders, just before being shot in the mouth prior to charge up Kettle Hill. ;"I think I'm going to make it." :— Richard A. Loeb (28 January 1936), after being slashed 56 times with a razor in a prison fight. ;"I'll show you that it won't shoot." :—
Johnny Ace John Marshall Alexander Jr. (June 9, 1929 – December 25, 1954), known by the stage name Johnny Ace, was an American rhythm-and-blues singer. He had a string of hit singles in the mid 1950s. Alexander died of an accidental self-inflicted gunsh ...
(25 December 1954), American musician, playing with a
.32 caliber .32 caliber is a size of ammunition, fitted to firearms with a bore diameter of . .32 in caliber variations include: * .32 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol), a pistol cartridge * .32-40 Ballard, an American rifle cartridge * .32 H&R Magnum, a rimmed ...
revolver. ;"What do you think I'm gonna do? Blow my brains out?" :— Terry Kath (23 January 1978), of the band Chicago, just before putting a supposedly unloaded semi-automatic 9-mm pistol to his temple and pulling the trigger. ;"I told u I was hardcore ..u are so fucking stupid" :— Brandon Vedas (12 January 2003), American computer enthusiast talking on IRC during a drug overdose ;"You're a lifesaver, Andy." :—
William Donaldson Charles William Donaldson (4 January 1935 – 22 June 2005) was a British satirist, writer, playboy and, under the pseudonym of Henry Root, author of '' The Henry Root Letters''. Life and career Son of Charles Glen Donaldson (1904–1956) a ...
, British satirist and playboy (22 June 2005), to the caretaker of his building, who had collected pills for him


Independently notable last words

This section is for last words that pass Wikipedia's notability guidelines and have therefore warranted their own article. ;" Do not disturb my circles!" :() :—
Archimedes Archimedes of Syracuse (;; ) was a Greek mathematician, physicist, engineer, astronomer, and inventor from the ancient city of Syracuse in Sicily. Although few details of his life are known, he is regarded as one of the leading scientists i ...
, Greek mathematician ( 212 BCE), to a Roman soldier who interrupted his geometric experiments during the capture of Syracuse, whereupon the soldier killed him ;" You too, my child?" :() :— Julius Caesar, Roman dictator (15 March 44 BCE), discovering that his stepson
Brutus Marcus Junius Brutus (; ; 85 BC – 23 October 42 BC), often referred to simply as Brutus, was a Roman politician, orator, and the most famous of the assassins of Julius Caesar. After being adopted by a relative, he used the name Quintus Serv ...
was among his murderers ;" It is finished." :() :— Jesus, founder of Christianity ( 30 CE), right before his death by
crucifixion Crucifixion is a method of capital punishment in which the victim is tied or nailed to a large wooden cross or beam and left to hang until eventual death from exhaustion and asphyxiation. It was used as a punishment by the Persians, Carthagin ...
; " Death to fascism! Freedom to the people!" : () : — Stjepan Filipović, Yugoslav communist (22 May 1942), seconds before execution by hanging ; "
I can't breathe "I can't breathe" is a slogan associated with the Black Lives Matter movement in the United States. The phrase originates from the last words of Eric Garner, an unarmed man who was killed in 2014 after being put in a chokehold by a New York Ci ...
. I can't breathe. I can't breathe. I can't breathe. I can't breathe. I can't breathe. I can't breathe. I can't breathe. I can't breathe. I can't breathe. I can't breathe." : — Eric Garner, American former horticulturist (17 July 2014), after being put in a
chokehold A chokehold, choke, stranglehold or, in Judo, shime-waza ( ja, 絞技, translation=constriction technique) is a general term for a grappling hold that critically reduces or prevents either air (choking)''The New Oxford Dictionary of English'' ...
by an arresting NYPD officer


See also

*
Last words Last words are the final utterances before death. The meaning is sometimes expanded to somewhat earlier utterances. Last words of famous or infamous people are sometimes recorded (although not always accurately) which became a historical and liter ...
, about the actual final utterings of dying patients *
Last words of Julius Caesar The last words of the Roman dictator Julius Caesar are disputed. Ancient chroniclers reported a variety of phrases and post-classical writers have elaborated on the phrases and their interpretation. The two most common theories – prevalent as e ...
* Last Words of Christ * Gallows humor * List of unusual deaths *
Death poem The death poem is a genre of poetry that developed in the literary traditions of East Asian cultures—most prominently in Japan as well as certain periods of Chinese history and Joseon Korea. They tend to offer a reflection on death—both in g ...
* Last meal


Notes


References


Further reading

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External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Last words Death-related lists * Quotations