Imprisonment and Suicide
In the year 1249 members of the royal household attempted to poison Frederick. Frederick had Pietro imprisoned and chained like a dog in Pisa. After a year in prison he was visited by the Emperor; he was unable to communicate or defend himself as the Emperor had his eyes ripped out; the Emperor and his entourage left. Unable to bear the disgrace, della Vigna fell to his knees with his hands outstretched and begged for mercy, before smashing his head on the stone floor, until his brains rushed forth from his cracked skull. {TH}
Read more about this topic: Pietro Della Vigna
Famous quotes containing the words imprisonment and/or suicide:
“... imprisonment itself, entailing loss of liberty, loss of citizenship, separation from family and loved ones, is punishment enough for most individuals, no matter how favorable the circumstances under which the time is passed.”
—Mary B. Harris (1874–1957)
“Most of the folktales dealing with the Indians are lurid and romantic. The story of the Indian lovers who were refused permission to wed and committed suicide is common to many places. Local residents point out cliffs where Indian maidens leaped to their death until it would seem that the first duty of all Indian girls was to jump off cliffs.”
—For the State of Iowa, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)