List of people who were beheaded

The following is a list of notable people who were beheaded, arranged alphabetically by country or region and with date of decapitation. Special sections on "Religious figures" and "Fictional characters" are also appended.

These individuals may have lost their heads either accidentally or intentionally (as a form of execution or posthumously).

Salome and the Beheading of St. John the Baptist, by Titian

The Beheading of Saint Paul. Painting by Enrique Simonet in 1887

Australia

• Shirley Ann Durdin (1985) – Durdin was decapitated by a great white shark while snorkeling in South Australia; she was eaten alive

Austria

• Joseph Haydn (1809) – celebrated composer posthumously beheaded; see Haydn's head

Brazil

• Jordão da Silva Cantanhede (2013) – a Brazilian amateur football referee, was lynched, quartered and beheaded by football spectators after he stabbed a player in a match he officiated on June 30, 2013. Spectators then put his head on a stake in the middle of the pitch. A viral video later surfaced of medical officials reassembling his body.
• João Rodrigo Silva Santos (2013) – Brazilian football player

Canada

• Tim McLean (2008) – murdered and decapitated on Greyhound bus
• Fribjon Bjornson (2012) – severed head found on the Nak'azdli reserve near Fort St. James

China

• Guan Yu (219) – Executed during civil war by Sun Quan
• Guan Ping (219) – son of Guan Yu – executed during civil war by Sun Quan
• Wen Tianxiang (1283) – scholar and general
• St Francis de Capillas (1648) – Beheaded at Fogan, China
• Adolf Schlagintweit (1857) – German botanist and explorer; executed by the ruler of Kashgar
• Tan Sitong (1898) – Executed with five others by Empress Dowager Cixi

Chile

• José Larenas (1980) – Decapitated by a great white shark.
• María José Reyes and Juan Duarte (2012) – Beheaded by a seller of antiquities in Lolol

Denmark

• Anne Palles (1693) – Executed in Copenhagen for witchcraft
• Johann Friedrich Struensee (1772) – Executed in Copenhagen for lèse-majesté
• Enevold Brandt (1772) – Executed in Copenhagen for lèse-majesté

England

For English beheadings after 1707, see § Great Britain.

The heads of famous English traitors were customarily spiked on London Bridge

Piers Gaveston at the feet of the Earl of Warwick, 1312

Execution of Hugh Despenser the younger, 1326

The execution of Edmund Beaufort, 4th Duke of Somerset at Tewkesbury, 1471

• Waltheof, Earl of Northumbria (1076) – Executed at Winchester by order of William I for taking part in the Revolt of the Earls
• Dafydd ap Gruffydd, Prince of Wales (1283) - Hanged, drawn and quartered in Shrewsbury by Edward I for treason
• Sir William Wallace (1305) – Scottish resistance fighter, hanged, drawn and quartered by Edward I
• Piers Gaveston (1312) – Executed near Warwick by Thomas, 2nd Earl of Lancaster in the Baron's Revolt
• Thomas, 2nd Earl of Lancaster – Lord High Steward (1322) – Executed at Pontefract by Edward II of England
• Edmund FitzAlan, 9th Earl of Arundel (1326) – Executed at Hereford by Queen Isabella, Regent for Edward III
• Hugh Despenser the Younger (1326) - hanged, drawn and quartered by order of Queen Isabella
• Edmund of Woodstock, 1st Earl of Kent – Lord Wardens of the Cinque Ports (1330) – Executed at Winchester by Queen Isabella, Regent for Edward III
• Sir Robert Hales – Lord High Treasurer (1381) – Executed at Tower Hill by rebels during the Peasants' Revolt
• Simon of Sudbury – Lord Chancellor, Archbishop of Canterbury and Bishop of London (1381) – Executed at Tower Hill by rebels during the Peasants' Revolt
• Richard Lyons – London Merchant and Financier (1381) – Beheaded in London by rebels during the Peasants' Revolt
• Sir John Cavendish – Chief Justice of the King's Bench, Chancellor of the University of Cambridge (1381) – Executed in Bury St Edmunds by rebels during the Peasants' Revolt
• Wat Tyler (1381) – Beheaded in London by order of the Lord Mayor of London during the Peasants' Revolt
• John Ball (1381) – Hanged, drawn and quartered at St Albans after the Peasants Revolt
• Sir Simon de Burley, KG (1388) – Executed on Tower Hill by the Merciless Parliament for supporting Richard II of England
• John de Beauchamp (1388) – Executed on Tower Hill by the Merciless Parliament for supporting Richard II of England
• Sir John Berners (1388) – Executed on Tower Hill by the Merciless Parliament for supporting Richard II of England
• Richard FitzAlan, 11th Earl of Arundel, KG (1397) – Executed at Tower Hill by order of Richard II of England
• William le Scrope, 1st Earl of Wiltshire, Sir John Bussy and Sir Henry Green (1399) Executed in Bristol Castle by the Duke of Hereford (soon to be Henry IV of England)
• Ralph de Lumley, 1st Baron Lumley (1400) – Executed at Cirencester during reign of Henry IV for the Epiphany Rising
• Thomas le Despenser, 1st Earl of Gloucester (1400) – Executed at Bristol by order of Henry IV for the Epiphany Rising
• John Holland, 1st Duke of Exeter, KG – Lord Great Chamberlain and Justice of Chester (1400) – Executed at Pleshey Castle, Essex by order of Joan Fitzalan, Countess of Hereford, with the approval of her son-in-law Henry IV, for the Epiphany Rising
• John Montacute, 3rd Earl of Salisbury, KG (1400) – Executed at Cirencester during reign of Henry IV for the Epiphany Rising
• Thomas Holland, 1st Duke of Surrey, KG – Earl Marshal (1400) – Executed at Cirencester during reign of Henry IV for the Epiphany Rising
• Sir Benard Brocas (1400) – Beheaded at Tyburn during reign of Henry IV for the Epiphany Rising
• Thomas Percy, 1st Earl of Worcester (1403) – Executed by order of Henry IV (Hanged, drawn and quartered)
• Sir Richard Vernon (1403) – Executed by order of Henry IV (Hanged, drawn and quartered)
• Sir Richard Venables (1403) – Executed by order of Henry IV (Hanged, drawn and quartered)
• Thomas de Mowbray, 4th Earl of Norfolk – Earl Marshal (1405) – Executed at York by order of Henry IV for treason
• Richard le Scrope Archbishop of York (1405) – Executed at York by order of Henry IV for treason
• Sir William de Plumpton (1405) – Executed by order of Henry IV for treason
• Richard of Conisburgh, 3rd Earl of Cambridge (1415) – Executed at Southampton by order of Henry V of England for his involvement in the Southampton Plot
• Henry Scrope, 3rd Baron Scrope of Masham, KG (1415) – Executed at Southampton by order of Henry V of England for his involvement in the Southampton Plot
• William de la Pole (1450) – Beheaded at sea, possibly by order of Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York
• James Fiennes, 1st Baron Saye and Sele (1450) – Beheaded in London by rebels led by Jack Cade
• James Touchet, 5th Baron Audley (1459) – Executed after Battle of Blore Heath for being a Lancastrian
• Richard Neville, 5th Earl of Salisbury, KG, PC – Lord Chancellor (1460) – Executed after the Battle of Wakefield for being a Yorkist
• Edmund, Earl of Rutland (1460) – Executed by order of Lord Clifford for being a Yorkist (stabbed to death during the Battle of Wakefield and later decapitated)
• Thomas Thorpe, speaker (1461) – Beheaded by a London mob
• Thomas Courtenay, 14th Earl of Devon (1461) – Executed after the Battle of Towton for being a Lancastrian
• Sir Owen Tudor (1461) – Executed after the Battle of Towton for being a Lancastrian
• James Butler, 5th Earl of Ormond – 1st Earl of Wiltshire (1461) – Executed after the Battle of Towton for being a Lancastrian
• Sir Thomas Kyriell (1461) – Executed by order of Margaret of Anjou after the Second Battle of St Albans for being a Yorkist
• William Bonville, 1st Baron Bonville (1461) – Executed by order of Margaret of Anjou after the Second Battle of St Albans for being a Yorkist
• Lord Aubrey de Vere (1462) – Son of John de Vere, 12th Earl of Oxford (1462) – Beheaded for treason at Tower Hill by order of John Tiptoft, 1st Earl of Worcester
• Thomas Tuddenham (1462) - Beheaded for treason at Tower Hill by order of John Tiptoft, 1st Earl of Worcester
• John de Vere, 12th Earl of Oxford (1462) – Beheaded for treason at Tower Hill by order of John Tiptoft, 1st Earl of Worcester
• Henry Beaufort, 3rd Duke of Somerset (1464) – Beheaded after the Battle of Hexham for being a Lancastrian
• Robert Hungerford, 3rd Baron Hungerford (1464) – Beheaded at Newcastle after the Battle of Hexham for being a Lancastrian
• Thomas de Ros, 9th Baron de Ros (1464) – Beheaded at Newcastle after the Battle of Hexham for being a Lancastrian
• Sir Philip Wentworth (1464) – Beheaded at Middleham after the Battle of Hexham for being a Lancastrian
• Sir William Tailboys (1464) – Executed after Battle of Hexham for being a Lancastrian
• Sir Humphrey Neville (1469) – Executed at York by order of Edward IV for being a Lancastrian
• Sir Charles Neville (1469) – Brother of above – Executed at York by order of Edward IV for being a Lancastrian
• Richard Woodville, 1st Earl Rivers – Lord High Treasurer and Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports (1469) – Executed by order of Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick for being a Yorkist
• Sir John Woodville (1469) – Son of above – Executed by order of Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick for being a Yorkist
• Sir Henry Courtenay (1469) – Executed for treason at Salisbury for being a Lancastrian; brother of Sir Hugh Courtenay and the 14th and 15th Earls of Devon who were all executed for being Lancastrians (in 1471, 1461 and 1471 respectively)
• William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke (1468 creation) (1469) – Executed after Battle of Edgecote Moor for being a Yorkist
• Sir Richard Herbert (1469) – Executed after Battle of Edgecote Moor for being a Yorkist, also illegitimate son of the above
• Humphrey Stafford, 1st Earl of Devon (1469) – Captured and executed in Bridgewater for being a Yorkist
• Richard Welles, 7th Baron Welles (1470) – Executed on battlefield of Losecote by order of Edward IV for being a Lancastrian
• Sir Thomas Dymoke (1470) – Executed on battlefield of Losecote by order of Edward IV for being a Lancastrian
• Robert Welles, 8th Baron Willoughby de Eresby (1470) – Son of Richard Welles; executed after Battle of Losecoat by order of Edward IV for being a Lancastrian
• John Tiptoft, 1st Earl of Worcester – Lord High Treasurer (1470) – Executed at Tower Hill by order of Henry VI for being a Yorkist
• Edmund Beaufort, 4th Duke of Somerset (1471) – Beheaded after the Battle of Tewkesbury for being a Lancastrian
• John Courtenay, 15th Earl of Devon (1471) – Beheaded after the Battle of Tewkesbury for being a Lancastrian
• Sir Hugh Courtenay (1471) – Beheaded after the Battle of Tewkesbury for being a Lancastrian
• Sir Gervase Clifton (1471) – Beheaded after the Battle of Tewkesbury for being a Lancastrian
• John Delves (1471) – Beheaded after the Battle of Tewkesbury for being a Lancastrian (The eldest son of Sir John Delves, who was killed in the battle.)
• Sir Thomas Tresham – MP for Buckinghamshire, Huntingdonshire and Northamptonshire, High Sheriff of Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire, High Sheriff of Sussex, High Sheriff of Surrey, Comptroller of the Household, Speaker of the House of Commons (1471) – Beheaded after the Battle of Tewkesbury for being a Lancastrian
• Sir John Langstrother – Grand Prior of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem (1471) – Beheaded after the Battle of Tewkesbury for being a Lancastrian
• Sir Thomas Neville, the Bastard of Fauconberg (1471) – Executed at Middleham Castle or Southampton by order of Edward IV for being a Lancastrian
• Sir Thomas Vaughan (1483) – Executed by order of Richard III even though he was a Yorkist
• William Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings (1483) – Executed near Tower Chapel by order of Richard III for being a Lancastrian
• Henry Stafford, 2nd Duke of Buckingham – Lord High Constable (1483) – Beheaded at Shrewsbury by order of Richard III for being too close to the crown and also for being a Lancastrian
• Anthony Woodville, 2nd Earl Rivers – Chief Butler of England (1483) – Executed at Pontefract castle by order of Richard III for being a Lancastrian and uncle of the below
• Sir Richard Grey (1483) – Executed at Pontefract Castle by order of Richard III for being a Lancastrian and nephew of the above
• Sir Thomas St Leger (1483) – Beheaded at Exeter for rebellion against his brother-in-law Richard III
• Sir George Browne (1484) - Beheaded at Tower Hill for rebellion against Richard III
• William Catesby (1485) – Beheaded at Leicester by order of Henry VII of England after the Battle of Bosworth for being a Yorkist
• Sir William Stanley (1495) – Executed at Tower Hill by order of Henry VII of England for supporting the pretender Perkin Warbeck
• James Tuchet, 7th Baron Audley (1497) – Executed at Tower Hill by order of Henry VII of England for opposing taxation
• Edward Plantagenet, 17th Earl of Warwick – Heir to the English Throne from 9 April 1484 – March 1485 (1499) – Executed at Tower Hill by order of Henry VII of England
• Sir James Tyrrell (1502) – Executed at Tower Hill by order of Henry VII of England for treason
• Sir John Wyndham (1502) – Executed at Tower Hill by order of Henry VII of England for treason
• Sir Edmund Dudley – Speaker of the House of Commons (1510) – Executed at Tower Hill by order of Henry VIII of England for extortion
• Sir Richard Empson – Speaker of the House of Commons, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1510) – Executed at Tower Hill by order of Henry VIII of England for extortion
• Sir Andrew Barton – High Admiral of Scotland (1511) – executed on capture as a pirate, according to ballads.
• Edmund de la Pole, 3rd Duke of Suffolk (1513) – Executed at Tower Hill by order of Henry VIII of England as Yorkist claimant to throne
• Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham, KG – Lord High Steward and Lord High Constable (1521) – Executed at Tower Hill by order of Henry VIII of England as claimant to throne
• Sir Rhys ap Gruffydd (1531) – Executed at Tower Hill by order of Henry VIII of England for conspiracy with Scotland
• Saint John Fisher – Catholic Bishop of Rochester (1535) – Executed at Tower Hill by order of Henry VIII of England for refusing to take Oath of Supremacy
• Robert Lawrence (1535) - Hanged, drawn and quartered at Tyburn for refusing to take Oath of Supremacy
• Sir Thomas More – Lord Chancellor, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Speaker of the House of Commons (1535) – Executed at Tower Hill by order of Henry VIII of England for refusing to take Oath of Supremacy
• Anne Boleyn – Queen of England and Henry's Wife (1536) – Executed by sword at the Tower of London by order of Henry VIII of England for High Treason
• George Boleyn, Viscount Rochford (1536) – Executed at Tower Hill by order of Henry VIII of England for High Treason
• Sir Henry Norris – Groom of the Stool (1536) – Executed at Tower Hill by order of Henry VIII of England for High Treason
• Sir William Brereton, KB – Groom of the Privy Chamber (1536) – Executed at Tower Hill by order of Henry VIII of England for High Treason
• Sir Francis Weston – Gentleman of the Privy Chamber (1536) – Executed at Tower Hill by order of Henry VIII of England for High Treason
• Mark Smeaton (1536) – Executed at Tower Hill by order of Henry VIII of England for High Treason
• Thomas Darcy, 1st Baron Darcy de Darcy, KG (1537) – Beheaded at Tower Hill by order of Henry VIII of England for being in the Pilgrimage of Grace
• John Hussey, 1st Baron Hussey of Sleaford – Chief Butler of England (1537) – Beheaded at Lincoln by order of Henry VIII of England for being in the Pilgrimage of Grace
• Sir Nicholas Tempest (1537) – Hung, drawn and quartered by order of Henry VIII of England for being in Bigod's Rebellion
• Sir Edward Neville (1538) – Beheaded at Tower Hill by order of Henry VIII of England for being in Bigod's Rebellion
• Henry Pole, 11th Baron Montacute (1539) – Executed at Tower Hill by order of Henry VIII of England for being in Exeter Conspiracy
• Henry Courtenay, 1st Marquess of Exeter, KG, PC, Lord Warden of the Stannaries (1539) – Executed at Tower Hill by order of Henry VIII of England for being in Exeter Conspiracy
• Sir Nicholas Carew, KG, PC – Master of the Horse (1539) – Executed at Tower Hill by order of Henry VIII of England for being in Exeter Conspiracy
• Sir Thomas Dingley (1539) – Executed at Tower Hill by order of Henry VIII of England for being implicated in the Pilgrimage of Grace
• Blessed Sir Adrian Fortescue (1539) – Executed by order of Henry VIII of England for Catholicism
• Richard Whiting, Abbot of Glastonbury (1539) – Executed on Glastonbury Tor by order of Thomas Cromwell (hung, drawn and quartered)

Execution of Mary, Queen of Scots, 1587

Raleigh just before being beheaded in 1618– an illustration from c. 1860

This contemporary German print depicts Charles I's decapitation in 1649.

Execution of James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth by Jack Ketch on Tower Hill, 15 July 1685 (O.S), in a popular print.

• Thomas Cromwell, 1st Earl of Essex, KG, PC – Secretary of State, Master of the Rolls, Lord Privy Seal, Governor of the Isle of Wight, Justice in Eyre, Lord Great Chamberlain (1540) – Executed at Tower Hill by order of Henry VIII of England for treason
• Walter Hungerford, 1st Baron Hungerford of Heytesbury (1540) – Executed at Tower Hill by order of Henry VIII of England for high treason and buggery
• Leonard Grey, 1st Viscount Grane – Lord Deputy of Ireland (1541) – Executed at Tower Hill by order of Henry VIII of England for High Treason after allowing the escape of his nephew Gerald FitzGerald, 11th Earl of Kildare
• Margaret Pole, 8th Countess of Salisbury (1541) – Executed at Tower Green by order of Henry VIII of England for high treason
• Sir Thomas Culpepper (1541) – Executed at Tyburn by order of Henry VIII for high treason (adultery with the queen)
• Catherine Howard – Queen of England and Henry's Wife (1542) – Executed at Tower Green by order of Henry VIII of England for High Treason
• Jane Boleyn, Viscountess Rochford – Wife of executed George Boleyn, Viscount Rochford and sister-in-law of Anne Boleyn (1542) – Executed at Tower Green by order of Henry VIII of England for High Treason
• Sir John Neville of Chevet (1546) – Executed by order of Henry VIII of England
• Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, KG – Earl Marshal (1547) – Executed at Tower Hill during the reign of Henry VIII of England for treason
• Thomas Seymour, 1st Baron Seymour of Sudeley – Master-General of the Ordnance, Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, Lord High Admiral, also was the husband of Henry VIII sixth wife and widow Catherine Parr and the brother of Henry's third wife Jane Seymour (1549) – Beheaded for treason at Tower Hill during the reign of Edward VI of England
• Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset, KG, PC, Earl Marshal, Lord High Treasurer, Lord High Admiral, Lord Protector of England in the period between the death of Henry VIII in 1547 and his own indictment in 1549 (1552) – Executed at Tower Hill during the reign of Edward VI of England for plotting murder of John Dudley
• Sir Thomas Arundell of Lanherne – Gentleman of the Privy Chamber (1552) – Beheaded at Tower Hill during the reign of Edward VI of England for treason
• Sir Michael Stanhope – Chief Gentleman of the Privy Chamber (1552) – Beheaded at Tower Hill during the reign of Edward VI of England for treason
• John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland, KG – Vice-Admiral, Lord Admiral, Governor of Boulogne, President of the Council in the Marches, Lord Great Chamberlain, Grand Master of the Royal Household, Earl Marshal of England, Lord President of the Council, Warden General of the Scottish Marches (1553) – Executed at Tower Hill by order of Mary I for supporting Lady Jane Grey
• Sir John Gates KB (1553) – Executed at Tower Hill by order of Mary I for supporting Lady Jane Grey
• Sir Thomas Palmer (1553) – Executed at Tower Hill by order of Mary I for supporting Lady Jane Grey
• Lady Jane Grey – Queen of England 10–19 July 1553 and Heir to the English and Irish Thrones 21 June – 10 July 1553 (1554) – Executed at Tower Green by Mary I as claimant to throne
• Lord Guilford Dudley – Son of John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland and Royal Consort of England 10–19 July 1553 (1554) – Executed at Tower Hill by order of Mary I for supporting Lady Jane Grey
• Henry Grey, 1st Duke of Suffolk, KG – Father of the above, Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire, Justice in Eyre (1554) – Executed at Tower Hill by order of Mary I for rebellion
• Sir Thomas Wyatt the Younger (1554) – Executed at Tower Hill by order of Mary I for rebellion
• Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk, KG – Earl Marshal (1573) – Executed at Tower Hill by order of Elizabeth I of England for Ridolfi plot
• Thomas Percy, 7th Earl of Northumberland (1572) – Executed at York during the reign of Elizabeth I of England for taking part in the Rising of the North
• Sir Thomas Doughty (1578) – Executed by order of Sir Francis Drake
• Edward Arden (1583) – Executed at Tyburn during the reign of Elizabeth I of England for high treason (hanged, drawn and quartered)
• Sir Francis Throckmorton (1584) – Executed during the reign of Elizabeth I of England
• Mary, Queen of Scots – Queen of Scots and Queen consort of France (1587) – Executed during the reign of Elizabeth I of England for treason
• Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, KG – Master of the Horse, Earl Marshal, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Custos Rotulorum of Pembrokeshire, Custos Rotulorum of Staffordshire, Master-General of the Ordnance (1601) – Executed at Tower Hill during the reign of Elizabeth I of England for High Treason
• Sir Christopher Blount (1601) – Executed at Tower Hill during the reign of Elizabeth I of England for High Treason
• Sir Charles Danvers (1601) – Executed at Tower Hill during the reign of Elizabeth I of England for High Treason
• Sir Walter Raleigh – Lord Warden of the Stannaries, Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall, Vice-Admiral of Devon, Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard, Governor of Jersey (1618) – Executed in the Old Palace Yard, Westminster by orders of James VI
• Mervyn Touchet, 2nd Earl of Castlehaven – Executed at Tower Hill for aiding buggery (1631)
• Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford, KG – Custos Rotulorum of the West Riding of Yorkshire, Lord Lieutenant of Yorkshire, Lord Deputy of Ireland, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1641) – Executed at Tower Hill on orders of Parliament
• Archbishop William Laud – Archbishop of Canterbury (1645) – Executed at Tower Hill on orders of Parliament
• Sir John Hotham the Younger (2 January 1645) – Executed at Tower Hill on orders of Parliament for betraying the parliamentarians to the Royalists
• Sir John Hotham, 1st Baronet the Elder, of Scarborough (died 3 January 1645) – Father of above – Executed for betraying the parliamentarians to the Royalists
• Charles I of England and Scotland (1649) – Executed in Whitehall, London by order of Cromwell's Parliament
• James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Hamilton, KG – Master of the Horse, Lord Chancellor of Scotland (1649) – Executed by order of Cromwell's Parliament for being a Royalist
• Arthur Capell, 1st Baron Capell of Hadham (1649) – Executed by order of Cromwell's Parliament for being a Royalist
• Henry Rich, 1st Earl of Holland, KG – Master of the Horse, Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard, Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire, Lord Lieutenant of Middlesex, Justice in Eyre (1649) – Executed in London by order of Cromwell's Parliament for being a Royalist
• Sir Henry Hyde (1650) – Beheaded in London by order of Cromwell's Parliament for being a Royalist
• Eusebius Andrews (1650) – Beheaded on Tower Hill for treason as a Royalist.
• James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby, KG – Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire, Lancashire, Vice-Admiral of Cheshire (1651) – Executed at Bolton by order of Cromwell's Parliament for being a Royalist
• Sir John Penruddock (1619–1655) – Executed at Exeter by order of Cromwell's Parliament for being a Royalist
• Sir Henry Slingsby, 1st Baronet (1658) – Beheaded on Tower Hill, London by order of Cromwell's Parliament for being a Royalist
• Reverend Dr. John Huett (1658) – Beheaded on Tower Hill, London by order of Cromwell's Parliament for being a Royalist
• Gregory Clement (1660) (MP) – Hanged, drawn and quartered at Charing Cross by Charles II as a regicide
• Oliver Cromwell (1661) – Posthumously beheaded at Tyburn by order of Charles II as a regicide.
• Henry Ireton (1661) – Posthumously beheaded at Tyburn by order of Charles II as a regicide.
• John Bradshaw (1661) – Posthumously beheaded at Tyburn by order of Charles II as a regicide.
• Sir Henry Vane the Younger (1662) – Executed at Tower Hill by order of Charles II for the death of his father Charles I
• John Twyn (1663) – Hanged, drawn, quartered and beheaded (and head displayed on a Ludgate spike) for publishing an anonymous pamphlet justifying the right of rebellion against the king
• William Howard, 1st Viscount Stafford (1680) – Executed at Tower Hill for treason
• Saint Oliver Plunkett (1681) – Hung, drawn and quartered in London for treason
• William Russell, Lord Russell – Member of Parliament for Tavistock and Tavistock (1683) – Executed for being involved with the Rye House Plot
• Algernon Sidney (1683) – Executed at Tower Hill for being involved with the Rye House Plot
• Sir Thomas Armstrong – Member of Parliament for Stafford (1684) – Executed by order of Judge Jeffreys for supporting Monmouth
• James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth (1685) – Executed at Tower Hill in reign of James II after the Battle of Sedgemoor for treason
• Lady Alice Lisle (1685) – Executed at Winchester by Judge Jeffreys during the Bloody Assizes for harbouring Monmouth rebels
• Sir John Fenwick (1697) – Jacobite Rebel executed at Tower Hill in reign of William III for treason

European New World colonies

For beheadings after the respective dates of independence, see the respective country headings.

Blackbeard's severed head hanging from Maynard's bowsprit

Execution of Diego de Almagro

British North America

• Wingina (1586) – Roanoke Indian chief executed by first English settlers in the New World
• Wituwamat (1623) – Neponset warrior killed and beheaded by the Plymouth Colony Pilgrim/soldier Miles Standish
• Metacomet (1676) – New England Indian chief "King Philip" executed for resisting white settlement
• Blackbeard (1718) – Famous pirate beheaded after capture at Ocracoke Island

Panama

• Vasco Núñez de Balboa (1519) – Spanish conquistador who discovered the Pacific Ocean. Executed by rivals Francisco Pizarro and Pedro Arias de Avila

Haiti

• Dutty Boukman (1791) – Executed by the French for promoting a slave rebellion

Brazil

• Joaquim José da Silva Xavier (Tiradentes) (1792) – the body was quartered after his hanging for revolutionary activity

Mexico

• Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla and Ignacio Allende (1811) – Mexican insurgents were beheaded after their execution by firing squad

Bolivia

• Manuel Ascencio Padilla (1816) – Executed for insurrection after the Battle of La Laguna

Peru

• Diego de Almagro (1538) – Executed in Cuzco by his rival Francisco Pizarro
• Gonzalo Pizarro (1548) – Executed in Peru by Pedro de la Gasca for rebellion

Finland

• Tahvo Putkonen (1825) – beheaded for murder. This was the last beheading in Finland.

France

Ancien Régime

• Olivier III de Clisson (1343) – executed by Philip VI of France for treason
• Jean de Montaigu (1409) – executed in Paris by Charles VI of France
• Gabriel de Lorges, Comte de Montgomery (1574) – executed by Catherine de' Medici for treason
• Henri de Talleyrand-Périgord, comte de Chalais (1626) – executed in Nantes for conspiracy against Cardinal Richelieu
• François-Jean de la Barre (1766) – beheaded and burnt in Abbeville for blasphemy

French Revolution

Note: some estimates place the number of persons executed by the guillotine, particularly during the Reign of Terror (1793–1794), at 40,000.

The execution of Robespierre

• Arnaud II de La Porte (23 August 1792) Second political victim of the guillotine
• Jacques Cazotte (1792) – Guillotined for treason
• Louis XVI of France (21 January 1793)
• Marie Antoinette (16th October 1793)
• Madame du Barry (8th December 1793)
• Charlotte Corday (1793) – Executed for the murder of Jean-Paul Marat
• Olympe de Gouges (1793) – Guillotined for sedition
• Jean Sylvain Bailly (1793)
• Madame Roland (1793) – Guillotined for Girondist
• Antoine Lavoisier (1794) – the "Father of Modern Chemistry"; Guillotined for treason
• Madame Élisabeth (1794)
• Georges Danton (1794)
• General Arthur Dillon - Guillotined in Paris for conspiracy (1794)
• Jacques Hébert (1794) – Guillotined for sedition
• Marie Marguerite Françoise Hébert (1794)
• Camille Desmoulins (1794) – Guillotined for plotting against Robespierre
• Marie Jean Hérault de Séchelles (1794) – Guillotined for plotting against Robespierre
• François Joseph Westermann (1794) – Guillotined for plotting against Robespierre
• Pierre Philippeaux (1794) – Guillotined for plotting against Robespierre
• Maximilien Robespierre (1794) – Guillotined by order of the Committee of General Security
• Georges Couthon (1794) – Guillotined by order of the Committee of General Security
• Louis Antoine de Saint-Just (1794) – Guillotined by order of the Committee of General Security
• Alexandre de Beauharnais (1794) – Husband of Josephine (who remarried Napoleon). Guillotined
• Thérèse de Choiseul-Stainville (1794) – Guillotined
• André Chénier (1794) – Poet, guillotined on trumped-up charges
• Antoine Quentin Fouquier-Tinville (1795) – Guillotined for abuse of his post as Public Prosecutor

French First Republic

• Giuseppe Ceracchi (1801) – Guillotined by Napoleon for his role in the Conspiration des poignards

Restoration

• Four Sergeants of La Rochelle (1822) – executed for treason against Louis XVIII of France
• Giuseppe Marco Fieschi (1836) – executed by guillotine for attempting to assassinate King Louis-Philippe

French Republic

• François Claudius Koenigstein, known as Ravachol (1892) – Guillotined for murder and anarchy
• Sante Geronimo Caserio (1894) – executed for assassination of president Marie François Sadi Carnot
• Téophile Deroo, the "Pollet Band" (1909) – guillotined in Béthune (Nord-Pas-de-Calais), by Anatole Deibler, for a series of murders
• Canut Vromant, the "Pollet Band" (1909) – guillotined in Béthune (Nord-Pas-de-Calais), by Anatole Deibler, for a series of murders
• Auguste Pollet, the "Pollet Band" (1909) – guillotined in Béthune (Nord-Pas-de-Calais), by Anatole Deibler, for a series of murders
• Abel Pollet, the "Pollet Band" (1909) – guillotined in Béthune (Nord-Pas-de-Calais), by Anatole Deibler, for a series of murders
• Henri Landru (1922) – executed for serial murder
• Paul Gorguloff (1932) – executed in Paris for assassination of President Paul Doumer
• Eugen Weidmann (1939) – Executed for murder. Last public execution by guillotine in France
• Jean Larivière (1951) – decapitated in racing car crash
• Some spectators of the 1955 Le Mans disaster
• Jacques Fesch (1957) – executed in Paris for killing a policeman
• Gerry Birrell (1973) – decapitated in racing car crash
• Christian Ranucci (1976) – guillotined in Marseille for murder
• Jérôme Carrein (1977) – guillotined in Douai for murder
• Hamida Djandoubi (1977) – guillotined in Marseille for murder – last guillotine execution, as well as last execution in France and last in Western world to be carried out by beheading

Georgia

• Demetre II (1289) – Executed by the Mongol Arghun Khan for rebellion

Germany

Pre-20th century

Execution of Pirates in Hamburg, 1573

• Priscillian (385) – Beheaded for heresy at Trier
• Klaus Störtebeker (1400) – Beheaded for being a pirate in Hamburg
• Thomas Müntzer (1525) – Beheaded after the Battle of Frankenhausen during German Peasants' War
• Ludwig Haetzer (1529) – Executed in Konstanz for Protestant radicalism (but technically for adultery)
• Thomas von Imbroich (1558) - Beheaded for heresy in Cologne
• Schinderhannes (1803) – Guillotined in Mainz for armed robbery and other crimes
• Max Hödel (1878) – Executed for attempting to assassinate Emperor Wilhelm I

Weimar Republic

• Fritz Haarmann (1925) – The Butcher (or Vampire) of Hanover – Guillotined in Hanover for murder
• Peter Kürten (1931) – The Vampire of Düsseldorf – Guillotined in Cologne for murder

Nazi Germany

• Bruno Tesch (1933) – Executed in Altona with three others after "Altona Bloody Sunday"
• Marinus van der Lubbe (1934) – Guillotined in Leipzig for starting the Reichstag fire
• Benita von Falkenhayn and Renate von Natzmer (1935) – Executed by axe in Berlin for espionage
• Edgar Josef André (1936) – Beheaded in Hamburg for treasonous involvement in the Reichstag Fire
• Helmut Hirsch (1937) – Executed in Berlin for treason
• Lilo Herrmann (1938) – Guillotined in Berlin for treason
• Maurice Bavaud (1941) – Guillotined in Berlin for attempting to assassinate Hitler
• Helmuth Hübener (1942) – Guillotined in Berlin for treason
• Ilse Stöbe (1942) – Guillotined in Berlin for treason via Red Orchestra
• Franz Jägerstätter (1943) – Guillotined in Berlin as a conscientious objector
• Maria Restituta (1943) – Guillotined for treason
• Cato Bontjes van Beek (1943) – Guillotined in Berlin for conspiracy to commit treason
• Mildred Harnack (1943) – American born. Guillotined in Berlin for anti-Nazi activity via Red Orchestra
• Sophie Scholl (1943) – Guillotined for treason via White Rose resistance group
• Hans Scholl (1943) – brother of above – Guillotined for treason via White Rose resistance group
• Christoph Probst (1943) – Guillotined for treason via White Rose resistance group
• Willi Graf (1943) – Guillotined for treason via White Rose resistance group
• Alex Schmorell (1943) – Guillotined for treason via White Rose resistance group
• Kurt Huber (1943) – Guillotined for treason via White Rose resistance group
• Otto and Elise Hampel (1943) – Guillotined in Berlin for treason
• Musa Cälil (1944) – Guillotined in Berlin for anti-Nazi activities
• Werner Seelenbinder (1944) – beheaded with an axe, for being a communist
• Friedrich Lorenz (1944) – beheaded by Nazi party at Halle an der Saale

Jeremiah Brandreth's head, 1817

Great Britain

For beheadings before the Union of 1707, see § England, § Scotland, and § Wales.

• William Gordon, 6th Viscount of Kenmure (1716) – executed at Tower Hill as a Jacobite Rebel
• James Radclyffe, 3rd Earl of Derwentwater (1716) – executed at Tower Hill as a Jacobite Rebel
• Arthur Elphinstone, 6th Lord Balmerinoch (1746) – beheaded at Tower Hill as a Jacobite supporter of Prince Charles Edward Stuart, he was taken prisoner at Culloden
• William Boyd, 4th Earl of Kilmarnock (1746) – beheaded at Tower Hill as a Jacobite supporter of Prince Charles Edward Stuart, he was taken prisoner at Culloden
• Charles Radclyffe, titular 5th Earl of Derwentwater (1746) – executed at Tower Hill as a Jacobite Rebel
• Simon Fraser, 11th Lord Lovat (1747) – executed at Tower Hill as a prominent veteran Jacobite supporter of Prince Charles Edward Stuart. Though too old to participate in the 1745 Rising, he was chosen by the British Crown for execution in lieu of his youthful son, who had actually led Clan Fraser for the Jacobite cause
• Jeremiah Brandreth (1817) – hanged and beheaded in Derby for treason; last British decapitation by axe
• Hon. Henry William John, later 4th Earl of Strafford (1899) – decapitated by a train
• J. G. Parry-Thomas (1927) – partially decapitated by drive chain in world land speed record attempt (this may not have been a cause of his death though)
• Donald Campbell (1967) – decapitated in crash during world water speed record attempt
• Jolanta Bledaite (2008) – Lithuanian immigrant, tortured and killed in Scotland
• Gerald Mellin (2008) – tied a rope around his neck and connected it to a tree before driving away in his sports car to commit suicide.
• David Phyall (2008) – see List of unusual deaths
• David Cawthorne Haines (2014) — decapitated in the Syro-Arabian desert by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

Hungary

• László Hunyadi (1457) – Executed by Ladislaus V for plotting against him
• János Kádár (2007) – Posthumously decapitated by dig desecrater(s).

India

• Guru Tegh Bahadur (1675) – Ninth guru of Sikhs executed in Delhi by order of Mogul emperor Aurangzeb
• Saint John de Brito (1693) – executed in India for preaching Christianity
• Raja Dahir (712) – executed on command of Muhammad bin Qasim after Dahir's kingdom of Sindh was defeated.
• 2013 India–Pakistan border skirmishes- Two Indian soldiers, Lance Naik Hemraj and Lance Naik Sudhakar Singh were killed and their bodies were apparently found mutilated, with one decapitated by Pakistan Army.

Indonesia

• Zam Ledoh (2013) – decapitated by a saltwater crocodile

Iraq

Ancient Mesopotamia

• Teumann (653 BC), king of Elam, by the conquering Assyrian Ashubanipal at the Battle of Til-Tuba; his son Tammaritu was also beheaded

Caliphate

• Imam Husayn ibn Ali and his 72 companions (680) – at the Battle of Karbala
• Ja'far al-Barmaki (803) – Vizier executed for allegedly having an affair with Caliph Harun al-Rashid's sister Abassa

Modern

• Shosei Koda (2004) – Japanese citizen beheaded by terrorists
• Kim Sun-il (2004) – South Korean citizen beheaded by terrorists
• Kenneth Bigley (2004) – UK citizen beheaded by terrorists
• Nick Berg (2004) – US citizen beheaded by terrorists
• Eugene Armstrong (2004) – US citizen beheaded by terrorists
• Jack Hensley (2004) – US citizen beheaded by terrorists
• Paul Marshall Johnson, Jr. (2004) – US citizen beheaded by terrorists
• Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti (2007) – Saddam Hussein's half brother decapitated during hanging for crimes against humanity
• James Foley (2014) – by ISIS militants
• Steven Sotloff (2014) – by ISIS militants

Ireland

• Ascall mac Ragnaill (1171) - Beheaded after capture when attempting to capture Dublin.
• Tigernán Ua Ruairc (1172) – Beheaded on Hill of Ward, Meath during a parlay with Hugh de Lacy, Lord of Meath.
• Cornelius Grogan (1798) – Hanged and beheaded in Wexford for taking part in the Irish rebellion of 1798
• John Henry Colclough (1798) – Hanged and beheaded in Wexford for taking part in the Irish rebellion of 1798
• Bagenal Beauchamp Harvey (1798) – Hanged and beheaded in Wexford for taking part in the Irish rebellion of 1798
• John Kelly (1798) – Hanged and beheaded in Wexford for taking part in the Irish rebellion of 1798
• John Murphy (priest) (1798) - Hanged and beheaded in Tullow for taking part in the Irish rebellion of 1798

Italy

The Execution of Marino Faliero, Eugène Delacroix, 1827.

Ancient Rome

• Lucius Appuleius Saturninus (100 BC) – radical tribune; Gaius Rabirius toyed with his severed head at a dinner party
• Marcus Antonius Orator (87 BC) – grandfather of Marc Antony
• Marcus Marius Gratidianus (82 BC), praetor whose head was paraded through Rome after execution
• Gaius Marcius Censorinus (general) (82 BC), beheaded by Sulla, his head was sent to Preneste to lower Gaius Marius the Younger's troop's morale
• Marcus Licinius Crassus (53 BC) – general, politician and richest man then in the world – beheaded posthumously after his defeat in Parthia
• Publius Licinius Crassus (53 BC) – son of Marcus Licinius Crassus – beheaded posthumously in Parthia
• Pompey the Great (48 BC) – general, politician and member of the First Triumvirate – assassinated and beheaded posthumously in Egypt
• Gnaeus Pompeius (45 BC) – Pompey's son – executed for treason by Julius Caesar
• Titus Labienus (45 BC) – general, politician and one of Julius Caesar's foremost subordinates – Killed and beheaded posthumously at the Battle of Munda
• Gaius Trebonius (43 BC) – politician and general, tortured and beheaded by Publius Cornelius Dolabella; his head was kicked around like a football by Dolabella's soldiers
• Cicero (43 BC) – politician, lawyer and Rome's greatest orator – executed by order of Marc Anthony
• Marcus Antonius Antyllus (30 BC) – son of Marc Antony – executed by Octavian
• Galba (69) – assassinated Roman emperor
• Pope Stephen I (257) – Christian Martyr executed by Emperor Valerian
• Pope Sixtus II (258) – Christian Martyr executed by Emperor Valerian
• Stilicho (408) – executed in coup d'état after Gothic invasion
• Anthemius (472) – Emperor – Assassinated by Ricimer

Medieval Italy

• Giordano d'Anglano (1267) – beheaded in Brolo, Sicily by Charles of Anjou after the Battle of Tagliacozzo
• Conradin, King of Sicily (29 October 1268) – executed in Naples by Charles of Anjou
• Frederick I of Baden, Margrave of Baden (29 October 1268) – executed in Naples by Charles of Anjou

Later Italy

Giovanni Battista Bugatti, executioner of the Papal States between 1796 and 1865, carried out 516 executions

• Marino Faliero, Doge of Venice (1355) – executed for a failed coup d'état
• Antongaleazzo Bentivoglio (1435) – beheaded in Bologna as a rebel
• Gian Paolo Baglioni (1520) – beheaded in Rome for attempted assassination
• Giovanni Carafa, Duke of Paliano (1561) – beheaded by order of Pope Pius IV
• Pietro Carnesecchi (1567) – beheaded by the Christian inquisition for heresy
• Beatrice Cenci and Lucrezia Peroni (1599) – beheaded by sword in Rome for murder of Francesco Cenci
• Ferrante Pallavicino (1644) – beheaded at Avignon for blasphemy by order of Pope Urban VIII
• Felice Orsini (1858) – executed by Napoléon III for attempting to assassinate him
• Jochen Rindt (1970) – Partially decapitated by lap belt of his lotus 72 in a crash during practice for the 1970 Italian Grand Prix at Monza. Even though his Lotus didn't have any wings the crash wasn't caused by the lack of wings, the crash was caused by the input shaft to the front brakes failing and pitching the car into a fencepost smashing the nose and causing Rindt to slide out the through the shattered nose by centrifugal force of the spinning car, Rindt agreed to using a lap belt but not a crotch strap. If he did, he wouldn't have been killed in the accident.

Japan

Head of Kim Okgyun, 1894

Home islands

• Ishida Mitsunari, daimyo and general (1600) – beheaded in Kyoto after the Battle of Sekigahara
• Ankokuji Ekei, Buddhist monk and ally of Mitsunari (1600) – beheaded in Kyoto after the Battle of Sekigahara
• Konishi Yukinaga (1600) – ally of Mitsunari – beheaded in Kyoto after the Battle of Sekigahara
• Asano Naganori, lord of the Forty-seven Ronin (1701) – ordered to commit seppuku (hari kiri) followed by beheading
• Kondo Isami, commander of the Shinsengumi (1868) – executed at Itabashi

Sergeant Siffleet's execution at Aitape, 1943

Japanese-occupied territories (20th century)

• William Ellis Newton, VC – Australian pilot beheaded in Papua New Guinea by Japanese forces
• Leonard Siffleet (1943) – Australian soldier beheaded in Papua New Guinea by Japanese captors
• Stanley James Woodbridge (1945) – British RAF crewman captured and beheaded by Japanese forces in Burma

Korea

• Columba Kim (1839) – beheaded for being Christian
• Laurent-Marie-Joseph Imbert (1839) – beheaded in Saenamteo for being Christian
• Kim Okgyun, Korean activist (1894) – assassinated and beheaded at sea by Hong Jong-u due to leading Gapsin Revolution

Netherlands/Belgium

Beheading of Johan van Oldenbarnevelt

• Wijerd Jelckama (1523) – Executed in Leeuwarden for the Frisian rebellion
• Jan van Casembroot (1568) – Beheaded by the Governor, the Duke of Alba, at Vilvoorde for treason.
• Lamoral, Count of Egmont (1568) – Beheaded in Brussels for treason.
• Philip de Montmorency, Count of Horn (1568) – Beheaded in Brussels for treason
• Johan van Oldenbarnevelt (1619) – Executed in the Hague for Hollandic separatism by Prince Maurice
• Chris Bristow (1960) – Decapitated in racing car crash
• Nabil Namzieb (2016) – Beheaded in Amsterdam by a Maroccan gang for conflicts in underground drug-war

Ottoman Empire

• Ali Pasha of Yanina (1822) – Shot and beheaded by order of Sultan Mahmud II
• Bajo Pivljanin (1685), Serb hajduk in Venetian service, beheaded and head sent to Sultan Mehmed IV

Pakistan

• Northwest India before 1947

Raja Dahir (712) – executed on command of Muhammad bin Qasim after Dahir's empire was defeated.

• Islamic Republic of Pakistan

Daniel Pearl (2002) – American journalist killed by terrorists

Palestine

Death of Raynald of Châtillon

• Bernard de Tremelay (1153) Grand Master of the Knights Templar – killed and beheaded at the Battle of Ascalon by Egyptians.
• Raynald of Châtillon (1187) – executed by Saladin after the Battle of Hattin
• Gerard de Ridefort (1189) Grand Master of the Knights Templar – executed by Saladin at the Battle of Acre
• 2700 Muslim prisoners (1191) – beheaded on orders of Richard I of England after the Battle of Acre.

Papua New Guinea

• Melas Mero (2014) – decapitated by a saltwater crocodile

Philippines

• Unnamed girl (2009) – decapitated by a saltwater crocodile
• Bernard Then (2015) - executed by MILF terrorists.

Poland

• Kazimierz Lyszczynski (1689) – executed in Warsaw by Christians for being atheist
• Piotr Stańczak (February 2009) – polish engineer beheaded in Pakistan by terrorists

Romania

• Nicolae Labiş (1956) – fell off of a tram while going to a friend's house and was decapitated when his head hit the pavement between the two trams

Russia

• Stenka Razin (1671) – Quartered alive in Moscow for Cossack revolution
• Mary Hamilton (lady in waiting) (1719) – Executed for infanticide and slandering Catherine I of Russia
• Yemelyan Pugachev (1775) – Executed in Moscow for insurrection by Catherine II of Russia
• Yevgeny Rodionov (1996) – Beheaded by Chechen terrorists
• Rina Palenkova (2015) – Russian suicide teen girl posted her last selfie before got beheaded by train

Saudi Arabia

• Prince Faisal bin Musa'id (1975) – for the assassination of his uncle, King Faisal
• Paul Marshall Johnson, Jr. (2004) – American engineer killed by terrorists
• Rizana Nafeek (2013) – Sri Lankan woman for homicide

Scotland

For Scottish beheadings after 1707, see § Great Britain.

The Scottish Maiden on display at the Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh

• Donnchadh, Earl of Lennox (1425) – Executed by orders of James I of Scotland
• Lord Walter Stewart and Lord Alexander Sewart (1425) – Executed by orders of James I of Scotland
• Murdoch Stewart, Duke of Albany (1425) – Executed by order of James I of Scotland
• Walter Stewart, 1st Earl of Atholl (1437) – Executed for his part in the murder of James I of Scotland
• William Douglas, 6th Earl of Douglas (1440) – Executed at Edinburgh Castle on trumped-up charges in front of James II of Scotland
• Lord David Douglas (1440) – Executed at Edinburgh Castle on trumped-up charges in front of James II of Scotland
• Hugh Douglas, Earl of Ormonde (1455) – Executed on the orders of James II of Scotland
• John Douglas, Lord of Balvenie (1463) – Executed on the orders of James III of Scotland
• Sir James Hamilton of Finnart – Master of Work to the Crown of Scotland (1540) – Executed by order of James V of Scotland
• James Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton (1581) – Executed on the Scottish maiden for complicity in murder of Lord Darnley
• William Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie (1584) – Executed by order of James VI of Scotland
• John Maxwell, 9th Lord Maxwell (1613) – Beheaded in Edinburgh for carrying out a revenge killing
• Patrick Stewart, 2nd Earl of Orkney (1615) – Executed by order of James VI of Scotland
• Sir John Gordon, 1st Baronet, of Haddo (1644) – Executed on the Scottish maiden by the Covenanters for treason as a Royalist
• Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll (1661) – Executed by order of Charles II of Scotland on the Scottish maiden for treason
• Archibald Campbell, 9th Earl of Argyll (1685) – son of above. Executed by order of James VII of Scotland on the Scottish maiden for treason
• Godfrey McCulloch (1697) – Executed on the Scottish maiden for murder. Last man to be executed by the maiden

South Africa

• Peter Revson (1974) – racing driver decapitated in testing crash
• Tom Pryce (1977) – racing driver partially decapitated by chin strap

Spain

• Eulogius of Cordova (859) – Executed by Muslim rulers for blasphemy
• Rodrigo Calderon (1621) – Executed in Madrid
• Antonio Osorio de Acuña (1526) – Executed in Simancas for supporting the Comunero Revolt
• Juan Bravo (1521) – Executed in Villalar de los Comuneros, Valladolid
• Juan de Padilla (1521) – Executed in Villalar de los Comuneros, Valladolid
• Francisco Maldonado (1521) – Executed in Villalar de los Comuneros, Valladolid
• Jennifer Mills-Westley (2011) – beheaded in a supermarket in Los Cristianos, Tenerife.

Sri Lanka

• Keppetipola Disawe (1818) – Executed in Kandy, Sri Lanka

Sweden

Execution of Anna Månsdotter. The executioner Dalman stands to the far left, hiding his axe behind his back.

• Mattias Gregersson (1520) – Bishop of Strängnäs. Executed by Danes in the Stockholm Bloodbath
• Vincent Henningsson (1520) – Bishop of Skara. Executed by Danes in the Stockholm Bloodbath
• Anna Zippel (1676) – Executed in Stockholm for witchcraft
• Brita Zippel (1676) – sister of above. Executed in Stockholm for witchcraft
• Gävle Boy (1676) – witness in the trial against the above sisters. Executed for perjury
• Anna Eriksdotter (1704) – beheaded for sorcery.
• Jacob Johan Anckarström (1792) – executed for assassination of Gustav III
• Metta Fock (1810) – executed for murder of her husband and children.
• Anna Månsdotter (1890) – executed by axe for murder. Last woman executed in Sweden
• John Filip Nordlund (1900) – Executed by axe in Västerås for mass murder
• Johan Alfred Ander (1910) – Executed by guillotine in Stockholm for murder. Last Swedish execution

Syria

• James Foley (2014) — decapitated in the Syro-Arabian desert by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.
• Steven Sotloff (2014) — decapitated in the Syro-Arabian desert by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

Switzerland

Execution of Greifensee garrison

• Wildhans von Breitenlandenberg and 61 companions following the siege of Greifensee during the Old Zürich War (1444)
• Anna Göldi (1782) – Executed as the "last witch in Switzerland"

United States

For beheadings before 1776, see § European New World colonies.

• At least 21 insurgent black slaves executed (1811) after the German Coast Uprising near New Orleans, Louisiana. Their heads were displayed on pikes and gates as a warning
• Isaac N. Ebey (1857) – Washington state pioneer murdered by Haida Indians
• Pearl Bryan (1896) – Murdered in Fort Thomas, Kentucky
• Tom Ketchum (1901) – accidentally decapitated in New Mexico Territory in botched hanging for train robbery
• Gordon Reid and Ruby Ellen Shaffer (1952) – decapitated in racing car crash
• Denny Keith (1964) – decapitated in racing car crash
• Charles Bassett (1966) – decapitated in crash of jet aircraft
• Les Ritchey (1966) – decapitated in drag racing crash
• Ken Kotalac (1969) – decapitated in drag bike racing crash
• François Cevert (1973) – cut in pieces in racing car crash
• Helmuth Koinigg (1974) – decapitated in racing car crash
• 16 Victims of Jeffrey Dahmer (1978–1991)
• Boris Sagal (1981) – partially decapitated by helicopter
• Vic Morrow and Myca Dinh Le (1982) – decapitated by crashing helicopter during film shoot
• Christa Hoyt (1990) – decapitated by serial killer Danny Rolling
• Russell Phillips (1995) – decapitated in racing car crash
• Robert Lees (2004) – decapitated by murderer
• Randy Fry (2004) – decapitated by a great white shark
• Katie Flynn (2005) – decapitated in car crash
• Aasiya Zubair (2009) – decapitated in New York state by murderer/husband Muzzammil Hassan
• Hanny Tawadros and Amgad Konds (2013) – decapitated posthumously, allegedly by murderer Yusef Ibrahim
• Patricia Ward (2014) – decapitated in her son's apartment in New York City by her deranged son then dragged to the street. Witness initially thought it was a part of a Halloween display. The son then committed suicide by jumping in front of a train.
• Colleen Hufford (2014) – 54-year-old woman was decapitated in Oklahoma by a 30-year-old pro-Jihad, Islamist, Jah'Keem Yisrael, formerly Alton Alexander Nolen. Jah'Keem reportedly began a second beheading and sliced the neck of Tracey Johnson. Jah'Keem was ultimately stopped by Vaughn Foods employee who privately kept a gun for protection.
• Caleb Schwab (2016) - Caleb, the 10-year-old son of Kansas state representative Scott Schwab, was decapitated while sliding down the world's tallest water slide (Verrückt) at Schlitterbahn Kansas City in Kansas City, Kansas. State officials in Kansas announced in November 2016 that the water slide would be demolished because of the incident, despite being the world's tallest water slide.

Vietnam

Execution of Pierre Dumoulin-Borie

• Vicente Liem de la Paz (1773) – Beheaded in Tonkin as Christian martyr
• Pierre Dumoulin-Borie (1838) – Beheaded in Tonkin as Christian martyr
• Bernard Võ Văn Duệ (1838) – Beheaded in Korea as Christian martyr
• Andrew Dũng-Lạc (1839) – Beheaded in Korea as Christian martyr
• Augustin Schoeffler (1851) – Beheaded in Tonkin as Christian martyr
• Jean-Louis Bonnard (1852) – Beheaded in Korea as Christian martyr
• Michael Hồ Đình Hy (1857) – Beheaded in Korea as Christian martyr
• Théophane Vénard (1861) – Beheaded in Tonkin as Christian martyr
• Ba Cụt (Lê Quang Vinh) (1956) – Guillotined in Cần Thơ for insurrection and multiple murder

Wales

For Welsh beheadings after 1707, see § Great Britain.

• Gwenllian ferch Gruffudd (February 1136) – executed by the Anglo-Norman forces led by Maurice de Londres at Kidwelly Castle, Wales, after a failed uprising
• Llewelyn ap Gruffydd (1282) – Beheaded posthumously after his death in battle at Aberedw.
• Sir Gruffudd Vychan (1447) – Executed at Powis Castle by Lord Powis for unclear reasons.
• Sir Roger Vaughan (1471) – Beheaded at Chepstow by Jasper Tudor, Earl of Bedford for being a Yorkist.

Religious figures

Biblical figures

Judith Beheading Holofernes (Caravaggio)

• Goliath – according to Scripture (in the Old Testament), after he was killed by David, this example illustrates the aforementioned post-mortem decapitation
• John the Baptist in the Gospels by order of Herod Antipas
• Holofernes in the deuterocanonical Book of Judith

Catholic saints

The martyrdom of Saints Cosmas and Damian by Fra Angelico (Musée du Louvre, Paris)

The martyrdom of St Nicasius

• Saint Acisclus
• Saint Agnes
• Saint Alban (around 304) – Executed in Britain by Romans for converting to Christianity
• Saint Andrew Kim of Korea (1846) – Beheaded in Korea for being Christian
• Saint Ansanus
• Saint Anthimus of Rome
• Saint Catherine of Alexandria
• Saint Christopher
• Saint Columba of Spain (c853) – Executed in Spain by Moors for not converting to Islam
• Saint Columba of France
• Saint Columba (the Virgin) of Cornwall, England
• Saints Cosmas and Damian (c.287) – Executed by Emperor Diocletian in purge of Christians in Syria
• Saint Cyprian (258) – Bishop of Carthage, North Africa – Christian Martyr executed by Emperor Valerian
• Saint Denis, who carried his head to his final resting place, a familiar hagiographical trope (see Cephalophore)
• Saint Diomedes
• Saint Dorothea of Alexandria
• Saint Dymphna
• Saint Emmeram
• Saint Eurosia
• Saint Felicitas of Rome
• Saints Felix and Nabor
• Saints Firmus and Rusticus
• Saint George
• Saint Gereon
• Saint Gordianus
• Saint James, traditionally
• Saint Marcellus
• Saint Maximilian (295) – Executed by Romans for conscientious objection to military service
• Saint Nicasius of Rheims, at Rheims (407) – Executed by Vandals during conquest of Rheims
• Saint Pancras
• Apostle Paul, traditionally
• Saint Peter of Rates
• Saint Polyeuctus
• Saint Quiteria
• Saints Rufina and Secunda
• Saints Simplicius and Faustinus
• Saint Typasius
• Saint Urith of Chittlehampton, Devon, England
• Saint Venantius, at Camerino
• Saint Winefride of Flintshire in Wales

Greek mythology

Perseus with the Head of Medusa, by Benvenuto Cellini (Florence)

• Medusa, a Gorgon beheaded by Perseus

Sikh

• Guru Tegh Bahadur (1675) – for refusing to convert to Islam
• Baba Deep Singh (1757) – in the Battle of Amritsa
• 1000 Sikhs (1746) – executed by Lakhpat Rai in Lahore

Fictional characters

2

See also

• Tower Hill
• Scottish Maiden
• List of prisoners of the Tower of London