Szczecin places of execution against the background of criminal jurisdiction devices in Central Europe. An attempt to locate selected objects from the 13th–19th centuries

The process of incorporation of cities in Pomerania on the German law started in the 13th century was the beginning of a number of transformations in the already existing legal and economic structures. Changed, among others, was the penal code, which established new forms of penalties and new places of their execution. The number of places of execution depended mainly on features of a given city, i.e. its size, economic and political position etc. For both prestigious and functional reasons Szczecin had more than one place of execution. Remarks on Szczecin Gallows Hill are to be found as early as in the 14th-century city book. The first information dates from 1 March 1311. The place of execution was situated in Górny Wik, to the south of Brama Passawska (Passau Gate). Szczecin’s Gallows Hill ceased to function as a place of execution in the 18th century. Probably the last city gallows was located at the junction of Kreckower Strasse and Falkenwalder Strasse in the 19th century. Because of Szczecin’s importance, it also had a pillory in the market square. There is a document from the period between 1592–1598, which refers to the construction of the pillory. The first drawing of it was made around 1600. At least since the end of the 16th century, Szczecin’s pillory was situated in the Rynek Warzywny (Vegetable Market, Kraut Market). There are, however, some suggestions that this object was supposedly moved there from its previous location, which could have been Rynek Węglowy (Coal Market, Kohl Markt). Concluding the study on Szczecin’s places of execution, a certain place of execution, mentioned only once in the literature, must not be overlooked. We are dealing here with the execution of Sidonia von Borcke. The noblewoman was beheaded and then her body was burned on 19 August 1620 in front of the Brama Młyńska (Mill Gate). Scattered pieces of source information on Szczecin’s places of execution cannot fully contribute to their full description. There is no doubt that in the future action should be undertaken in order to determine their exact location. The goal is to deepen the understanding of the workings of the medieval city and the everyday life of its inhabitants. Places of execution, in addition to regulations or legal documents are one of main sources of information on the jurisdiction question in a given city