
Jan Mydlář (1572–1664) was a 17th-century
executioner from
Bohemia
Bohemia ( ; cs, Čechy ; ; hsb, Čěska; szl, Czechy) is the westernmost and largest historical region of the Czech Republic. Bohemia can also refer to a wider area consisting of the historical Lands of the Bohemian Crown ruled by the Bohem ...
. He is most known for the red hood-like mask he donned when performing his executions.
Old Town Square execution
Mydlář carried out the killings in the
Old Town Square execution of 27
Bohemian Revolt leaders. These leaders were men of high importance, representing various ranks in
Czech society and professions. They had organized an uprising against the
Habsburg
The House of Habsburg (), alternatively spelled Hapsburg in Englishgerman: Haus Habsburg, ; es, Casa de Habsburgo; hu, Habsburg család, it, Casa di Asburgo, nl, Huis van Habsburg, pl, dom Habsburgów, pt, Casa de Habsburgo, la, Domus Hab ...
Emperor Matthias and later
Ferdinand II.
On 21 June 1621, Mydlář executed the 27 revolters on behalf of the Austrian
House of Habsburg
The House of Habsburg (), alternatively spelled Hapsburg in Englishgerman: Haus Habsburg, ; es, Casa de Habsburgo; hu, Habsburg család, it, Casa di Asburgo, nl, Huis van Habsburg, pl, dom Habsburgów, pt, Casa de Habsburgo, la, Domus Hab ...
. He beheaded twelve of the men and hanged the other fifteen. The Habsburgs displayed the cut-off heads of the beheaded men on the Prague
Old Town
In a city or town, the old town is its historic or original core. Although the city is usually larger in its present form, many cities have redesignated this part of the city to commemorate its origins after thorough renovations. There are ma ...
Bridge Tower.
Legacy
Mydlář is the central character of a 19th-century
novel
A novel is a relatively long work of narrative fiction, typically written in prose and published as a book. The present English word for a long work of prose fiction derives from the for "new", "news", or "short story of something new", itsel ...
by Josef Svátek based on his life, The Memoirs of a Prague Executioner.
According to the novel, young Mydlář became an executioner because of a disappointment in love, just before graduating from medical school.
References
External links
''The Memoirs of a Prague Executioner''
1572 births
1664 deaths
17th-century Bohemian people
Czech executioners
People from Prague
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