Rack (torture)
A device of gradual joint dislocation used for interrogation and punishment.
The rack is a torture device consisting of a rectangular, usually wooden frame, slightly raised from the ground, with a roller at one or both ends. The victim's ankles are fastened to one roller and the wrists to the other; a handle and ratchet mechanism gradually retracts the chains, increasing strain on the joints and causing excruciating pain. Its use is documented from ancient Greece through early modern Europe, notably in England and Russia, and it was applied to extract confessions or punish individuals across various historical periods.
- First recorded use
- Ancient Greece (exact date and victim uncertain; no reliable ancient source confirms the often-cited 356 BC claim involving Herostratus)
- Last known use in england
- Late 1670s (during the Popish Plot; earlier claims of 1640 on John Archer are not definitively the last)
- Last known use in ireland
- No widely known historical record exists for a 1627 use authorized by Charles I; the claim is unsubstantiated
Lore & Background
In England, the rack first appeared in 1447 under John Holland, 2nd Duke of Exeter, constable of the Tower, and was popularly called 'the Duke of Exeter's daughter'. Notable victims include Protestant martyr Anne Askew (1546), who was so damaged she had to be carried to her burning; Catholic martyr Nicholas Owen (1606), who died under torture; and Guy Fawkes, for whom a royal warrant authorizing torture survives. In 1628, judges declared its use contrary to English law, but it was still used in 1640 on John Archer, the last person racked in England. In Russia, the rack (dyba) was a gallows-like device for suspending victims, who were then whipped and sometimes burned.
Reader's Guide
The rack's significance lies in its long history as a judicial torture instrument, spanning from ancient Greece to 17th-century Europe. Its design—a frame with rollers that gradually dislocated joints—made it a methodical tool for extracting confessions or punishing individuals, often without causing immediate death. The article highlights its use on figures of historical importance, such as Herostratus, whose confession led to his execution for destroying a Wonder of the Ancient World, and Epicharis, whose suicide under torture became a symbol of resistance. In England, its legality was questioned and ultimately rejected by judges in 1628, marking a shift in legal attitudes. The rack's association with the Tower of London and its nickname 'the Duke of Exeter's daughter' underscore its place in English history. The article also notes its application on both Catholic and Protestant martyrs during the Reformation, reflecting its role in religious persecution. Its legacy is one of a feared instrument of state power, whose use declined as legal reforms limited torture.
Did You Know?
- The rack was known in England as 'the Duke of Exeter's daughter' after John Holland, 2nd Duke of Exeter, who introduced it to the Tower in 1447.
- The Roman name for the rack was equuleus; a similar device called fidicula is mentioned but its exact design is lost.
- Anne Askew, tortured on the rack in 1546, was so damaged she had to be carried on a chair to her burning at the stake.
- In 1628, English judges unanimously declared the rack's use contrary to the laws of England.
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