31/05/2024
This is the robe and axe that belonged to Giovanni Bugatti, who served as the official ex*****oner for the Pope from 1796 to 1864. Over the course of his career, he carried out 514 ex*****ons.
Giovanni Battista Bugatti, born on March 6, 1779, in Senigallia, Marche, Papal States, served as the official ex*****oner for the Papal States from 1796 to 1864.
Known as Mastro Titta, a Roman nickname derived from 'maestro di giustizia' (master of justice), he began his career in ex*****ons at the age of 17 and continued for 68 years until his retirement. Over his career, Bugatti carried out a total of 514 ex*****ons, averaging about 7 per year. His methods included beheading by axe, hanging, mallet, and later, the guillotine, introduced by the French and first used in the Papal States in 1816.
Bugatti was a short, portly man, always well-dressed, and known for his regular attendance at the church Santa Maria in Traspontina. He was married but had no children. Outside his official duties, he and his wife sold painted umbrellas and souvenirs to tourists. Bugatti was restricted to the Trastevere neighborhood unless on official business, partly for his protection against revenge from the relatives of those he executed and partly due to superstition about his job. His crossing the bridge to Rome signaled an impending ex*****on, drawing crowds.
One of his notable ex*****ons was described by Charles Dickens in "Pictures from Italy" (1846). Bugatti's blood-stained clothes, axes, and guillotines, including a peculiarly built guillotine with a straight blade and V-shaped neckpiece, are displayed at the Museum of Criminology in Rome.
He died on June 18, 1869, in Rome, Lazio, Papal States.
