CRIME AND PUNISHMENT
Part II Historical Prisons (Tower of London)
By Elizabeth H. Elys: Incarceration
has not always been common form of punishment. Corporal punishment, forced labor and
social ostracism, were far more common forms of punishment than incarceration in
Ancient World, medieval Europe, and even in England and colonial America.
This changed with the 18th
century Enlightenment in France and England, which gave rise to new views on LIBERTY,
HUMAN NATURE and TIME. The birth of incarceration as punishment was the concept
that restricting a person’s liberty would itself be significant retribution for
crime.
In USA this Enlightenment concept was
combined with the early American colonies religious worldview, which went to
extent of treating biblical crimes such as blasphemy as legal violation, to
make modern prisons. American prisons are unique institutions with a roughly 200
year’s history of inhumanity followed by well-meaning short-lived attempts at
reform.
Prisons were nonexistent before the
1700 s; prison was not considered a serious punishment for crimes.
English and French rulers kept their
political enemies imprisoned in such as Tower of London in the Bastille in
Paris.
Mary Queen of Scots,
Luis XVI, Marie Antoinette, Napoleon Bonaparte, Nicholas II, Al Capone, Nelson
Mandela, and more
These are the world historical figures, which played a
crucial role in the past. They were famous, powerful, rich and despotic. They
ruled the world and later became very real prisoners.
I would like to present in my essay some important facts not
only about these historical figures and their destiny, but also I will focus
about millions of people during some historical time which were imprisoned,
suffered, tortured and executed. Today I will present my research on one
subject “Historical Prisons.”
Here we have an
overview of historical prisons:
Bastille,
The history is showing to us a dramatic development of
mistreatment of people which become prisoners. Going back to medieval time in
France one, from the hardest fortress is Bastille, on east side of Paris that
become, in 1700th and 1800th centuries, a French prison
and place of detention for important persons, charge with various offenses.
Built in 1370 on the order of Charles V of France to protect the wall around
Paris against English attack. Cardinal de Richelieau was the first to use the
Bastille as a state prison in 1700th century. Under Luis XIV the
Bastille became a place of judicial detention. On July 14, 1789people stormed
and captured the place; this dramatic active came to symbolize the end of the
Ancient Regime. French Revolution was a symbol of the despotism of the ruling
Bourbon monarchy and held an important place in the ideology of the Revolution.
Chateau D’IF
Other prison in France is called Chateau D’If, is well
known through its use as a setting in the book “The Count of Monte Cristo”
writing by Alexander Dumas. From 1634 to the end of 19th century,
the Chateau served as a ground for religious and political prisoners. Over 3500
Huguenots (French Protestants) were sent to Chateau D’IF.
The isolated location and dangerous offshore currents of the
Chateau D’IF made an ideal escape prison, very much like island of Alcatraz in
California in more recent times.
Mark Twain an American writer visited the Chateau in 1867and
he recounts in his book “The Innocents Abroad.” It was demilitarized and opened
to the public in 1890 and is now one of the most famous prisons in the world.
Elba
On April 11, 1814 Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of France
and one of the greatest military leaders in history, abdicates the throne, and
in The Treaty of Fontainebleau, is vanished to the Mediterranean island Elba,
were he stay for 300 days. He returned to France on February 26, 1815 and after
his defeat at Waterloo, he was exiled again to the isolated Atlantic island of
St. Helena.
Tower of London
Served as a prison from 1100 to the mid-20th century.
Famous prisoners include Sir Thomas More, King Henry VI, Anne Boleyn, and
Catherine Howard (wives of Henry VIII) and Nazi henchmen Rudolf Hess.
Tobolsk Prison
(Russia- Notorious Siberian Prison of Tsar Nicholas II
Castle was constructed under Tsarist rule at the turnoff the
18th century. Some 2500 political prisoners were shot during the
Soviet Union’s political repression. Prison from which nobody ever escaped and
where thousands of enemies of the state were imprisoned. Spending prison time
were Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Tsar Nicholas II, and Stalin’s
victims.
Philadephia’s
Walnut Street Jail
After 1790, those sentenced to hard labor in Pennsylvania
were moved indoor to an inner block of solitary cell. In 1790 Pennsylvania became
the first of the US to institute Solitary Confinement for incarcerated
convicts.
Alcatraz (Rock
Prison)
Most famous prison in the USA was the first maximum
security minimum privilege prison of the country. It was home to Al Capone and
Machine Gun Kelly. Located on a Rocky island in San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz was
believed to be inescapable. Closed in 1963.
Devil’s Island
Opened in 1854 under Emperor Napoleon III’s reign. This
historic prison was home to everyone from political prisoners to hardened
criminals. Located in jungle of French Guiana. In 1973 the book was made into
the movie Papillon starring Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman.
Gory Island
Thousands of slaves passed through this prison in Senegal
before France abolished the Slave Trade 1848. House of Slaves is just one of
the places on the island that held slaves before they were put on ship bound
for the New World.
Robben Island
Located just of the coast of Cape Town, South Africa. It’s
most know for serving as a prison under apartheid regime. Nelson Mandela spent
time there.
Elmina Castle
Is the oldest European building in Ghana. For over 300
years, it served as a holding area for people captured to be sold into slavery.
By the 18th century, over 30.000 slaves were passing through the
Door Of no Return each year.
Port Arthur
Is a former convict colony in Tasmania, Australia. From
1833 until 1850 it was destination for the hardest of convicted British and
Irish criminals.
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