The Impalement reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Impalement

Impalement is an act of torture or execution whereby the victim is pierced by a long stake, through the sides, or even from rectum through the mouth. The stake would be usually planted in the ground, leaving the victim hanging to die from blood loss. Medieval tyrants like Vlad III Dracula and Ivan the Terrible were quite fond of dispatching those they considered as undesirables in this way. It was also used as a systematic way of executing prisoners immediately after a battle. Impalement is considered a very cruel and painful death.

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