The Time Line of the Guillotine

1789- Dr. Guillotine proposed the idea that they use the machine to make executing people easier.
1792- The device was first used on Nicolas Jacques Pelletier, and then the usage was spread across Europe.
1793- People did not think that the guillotine was the best way to execute people. Then later during the French Revolution the machine was used. Then later that year in October Marie Antoinette was executed by the guillotine.
1794- A man named Robespierre had sent many people to the guillotine and in 1794 he met the same fate.  

Marie Antionette On The Way To The Guillotine

Louis XVI Killed By The Guillotine

The Guillotine Had A NickName?

Many people thought that calling it the guillotine was bad and that in the end they would have there own head chopped off, so they came up with a nickname for it. The name that was most used was "Madame la Guillotine". A lot of people would say "You have a date with Madame la Guillotine". That was not very nice, that was saying that ladies killed people. Even though the guillotine also killed many woman and children.

Are They Really Dead Right Away?

During the French Revolution people thought it was the quickest way to kill someone.People thought that it was instant death, but is it? It only takes 30 seconds for the blade to drop and sever your head from your body. Some doctors think that it actually takes the time for the blade to fall for you to go unconscious. Also other doctors believe that after the spinal cord is broken it is instant death, but you still are in control  of your muscles for about a minute after. So basically it was not instant death and the Royals new that it was not, but they were to afraid to tell anyone. This is what caused disputes in the Royal family.

A Picture of a Guillotine

The execution was supposed to be public, but people thought that it would be fun to show the entire town that you were going to be killed. 

Famous People that died by the Guillotine

Two people that were beheaded was Marie Antoinette and her husband king Louis XVI. Marie Antoinette is known for being killed by the guillotine. King Louis XVI thought that it would be bad for himself to be divorced so many time so instead he killed two of his wives. Also the man that created the guillotine was beheaded. Most of the people that were beheaded were just common people during the French Revolution.