Archaeologists have made an astonishing discovery in Grenoble, France, that sheds light on the dark history of royal justice during the Protestant Reformation. In a recently excavated site, they found a remarkably well-preserved gallows dating back to 1544, which stood as a grim reminder of the French crown's authority.
The gallows, measuring over 12 feet tall and made up of eight stone pillars, was constructed in a unique square plan that reflected its status within the hierarchy of criminal justice in the kingdom. The site itself contained ten burial pits from the same period, holding at least 32 individuals, mostly men with a few women, who were often buried together in groups.
Among those buried on the gallows site were Benoît Croyet and Charles du Puy Montbrun, two Huguenot leaders accused of participating in an attack on Grenoble in 1573. Their remains were deliberately left to decompose without proper burial rites, leaving researchers with many unanswered questions about their final moments.
The excavation of the gallows site has provided valuable insights into the brutal nature of royal justice during this period. Historian Nicolas Minvielle-Larousse noted that while gallows were "very common" in Europe, few examples have been found in France, making this discovery particularly significant.
By studying the gallows and its surrounding burials, researchers hope to gain a deeper understanding of the cultural and social contexts in which these executions took place. As Minvielle-Larousse aptly put it, "What constitutes a 'good' or 'bad' death? What material markers are left to make a bad death visible?"
The discovery serves as a poignant reminder of the brutal measures taken by those in power during times of conflict and unrest. It also highlights the importance of preserving historical sites like this one, which provide a unique window into the past and shed light on the darker corners of human history.
The gallows, measuring over 12 feet tall and made up of eight stone pillars, was constructed in a unique square plan that reflected its status within the hierarchy of criminal justice in the kingdom. The site itself contained ten burial pits from the same period, holding at least 32 individuals, mostly men with a few women, who were often buried together in groups.
Among those buried on the gallows site were Benoît Croyet and Charles du Puy Montbrun, two Huguenot leaders accused of participating in an attack on Grenoble in 1573. Their remains were deliberately left to decompose without proper burial rites, leaving researchers with many unanswered questions about their final moments.
The excavation of the gallows site has provided valuable insights into the brutal nature of royal justice during this period. Historian Nicolas Minvielle-Larousse noted that while gallows were "very common" in Europe, few examples have been found in France, making this discovery particularly significant.
By studying the gallows and its surrounding burials, researchers hope to gain a deeper understanding of the cultural and social contexts in which these executions took place. As Minvielle-Larousse aptly put it, "What constitutes a 'good' or 'bad' death? What material markers are left to make a bad death visible?"
The discovery serves as a poignant reminder of the brutal measures taken by those in power during times of conflict and unrest. It also highlights the importance of preserving historical sites like this one, which provide a unique window into the past and shed light on the darker corners of human history.
guess its another reminder of how brutal history can be 
anyway im tryna figure out how they built it without any modern tools 
and why was it square lol do u think its still got that spooky vibe or has it been turned into some kinda museum or somethin? 
It gives you chills just thinking about it.
It's all so dark and twisted. But at the same time, this discovery is like, super important for understanding history and how it shapes us into the people we are today.
It's all so...human, you know?
This is so messed up... I mean, who needs to see people being killed in such an ugly way? The fact that these guys were left to decompose without proper burial rites is just heartbreaking... 32 people, all buried together like that. It's like they didn't even matter anymore. And the gallows itself, it's just so... imposing. I can imagine how intimidating it must've been for those who had to stand in front of it. 
. We're still learnin' about this stuff and its like we're uncoverin' a dark chapter in history that nobody really wants to talk about. Its also interesting how researchers are tryin' to figure out what makes a 'good' or 'bad' death, I mean is it even possible to have one of those? 
. The fact that we're still finding out so much about the brutal nature of royal justice during this period is just mind-boggling... it's like we're uncovering pieces of a dark puzzle that's still trying to make sense of itself 
.
. and can you imagine the emotional toll these families must have felt after losing loved ones in such brutal circumstances 
. anyhoo, glad they're preserving this site for future generations to learn from 
. And what's with the whole "poignant reminder" thing? Like, come on, people, get over yourselves 
. Its just history, move on 
. I bet if they dug up a bunch of old trash and called it a discovery, everyone would be all like "oh wow, what a great find!" 
. Give me a break 
.
It's crazy to think about all those people who met their demise on that thing. 32 individuals, mostly men, buried together... it's like they were trying to make a statement or something. The fact that Benoît Croyet and Charles du Puy Montbrun are buried there without proper rites is just wild. It's like their bodies were left to rot as a warning to others. 