German Executioner's sword Early 17TH century ?

[Philip]

1. In some places and times, decapitation with a sword was reserved for condemned persons of noble lineage. Pre-revolutionary France was one example; commoners were put to death by hanging, breaking on the wheel, or other means. (French swordsmen were famed for their skill and their job was often handed down through generations, the Sansons were perhaps the most renowned). I'm sure the backstory of Anne Boleyn's unfortunate demise is well known to readers so I won't relate it again here. Interesting to note that in Switzerland, a land of non-royal government, this distinction was not made -- Peter Nied in "Scharf Gerichtet" (SCHWERT UND KLINGE, Vol. 13, 2011, pp 96-7) notes that the last Swiss witch executed with a sword met her end in 1782.

2. The different German states switched to the ax, or guillotine (Fallbeil) at various times during the 19th cent., the last beheading with sword was in Munich in 1854, and it was a public event (refer to above article). You can compare this with some oriental countries like Thailand and China, which continued that practice in public until the early 20th cent., and of course Saudi Arabia at present.