10 Horrific Punishments From History That Could Be In Game Of Thrones

9. A Child's Public Murder Which No One Cared About - Louison Cartouche

Louis Dominique Garthausen was a criminal in 18th century France. He was a Robin Hood-esque highwayman known for robbing the rich and giving to the poor. A popular figure in ballads and swashbuckling tales, Garthausen, more commonly known as Cartouche, was eventually captured and broken on the wheel for his crimes. The real unfair punishment, however, was given to his little brother, who was only 15. Recognising that the young man was not the mastermind behind Cartouche and his gang, the judge sentenced him to a bizarre 'non-fatal' hanging. This experimental punishment involved hanging little Louison by his armpits with the rope tied around his chest for two hours. It was supposed to be humiliating and uncomfortable, but not designed to kill him. However, before the 2 hours was up, the boy's tongue lolled from his mouth and he was no longer breathing. He was cut down to receive medical attention, but was already dead. There was little outrage over this unintended execution, and a diarist from the time dismissed Louison as being 'wicked for his years'.