A person's

last words Last words are the final utterances before death. The meaning is sometimes expanded to somewhat earlier utterances. Last words of famous or infamous people are sometimes recorded (although not always accurately), which then became a historical an ...

, their final articulated words stated prior to

death Death is the end of life; the irreversible cessation of all biological functions that sustain a living organism. Death eventually and inevitably occurs in all organisms. The remains of a former organism normally begin to decompose sh ...

or as death approaches, are often recorded because of the decedent's fame, but sometimes because of interest in the statement itself. (People dying of illness are frequently inarticulate at the end, and in such cases their actual last utterances may not be recorded or considered very important.) Last words may be recorded accurately, or, for a variety of reasons, may not. Reasons can include simple error or deliberate intent. Even if reported wrongly, putative last words can constitute an important part of the perceived historical records or demonstration of cultural attitudes toward death at the time.

Charles Darwin Charles Robert Darwin ( ; 12 February 1809 – 19 April 1882) was an English Natural history#Before 1900, naturalist, geologist, and biologist, widely known for his contributions to evolutionary biology. His proposition that all speci ...

, for example, was reported to have disavowed his theory of evolution in favor of traditional religious faith at his death. This widely disseminated report served the interests of those who opposed Darwin's theory on religious grounds. However, the putative witness had not been at Darwin's deathbed or seen him at any time near the end of his life. Both Eastern and Western cultural traditions ascribe special significance to words uttered at or near death, but the form and content of reported last words may depend on cultural context. There is a tradition in

Hindu Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...

and

Buddhist Buddhism, also known as Buddhadharma and Dharmavinaya, is an Indian religion and List of philosophies, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha, a wandering teacher who lived in the 6th or ...

cultures of an expectation of a meaningful farewell statement;

Zen Zen (; from Chinese: ''Chán''; in Korean: ''Sŏn'', and Vietnamese: ''Thiền'') is a Mahayana Buddhist tradition that developed in China during the Tang dynasty by blending Indian Mahayana Buddhism, particularly Yogacara and Madhyamaka phil ...

monks by long custom are expected to compose a poem on the spot and recite it with their last breath. In Western culture particular attention has been paid to last words which demonstrate deathbed salvation – the repentance of sins and affirmation of faith.

Chronological list of last words

In rising chronological order, with death date specified. If relevant, also the context of the words or the circumstances of death are specified. If there is controversy or uncertainty concerning a person's last words, this is described in footnotes. For additional suicide notes, see

Suicide note A suicide note or death note is a message written by a person who intends to die by suicide. A study examining Japanese suicide notes estimated that 25–30% of suicides are accompanied by a note. However, incidence rates may depend on ethnic ...

Pre-5th century

;"Wash me well, hold me to your breast, protect me from the earth (lying against) your breast." :— Ḫattušili I,

Hittite king The dating and sequence of Hittite kings is compiled by scholars from fragmentary records, supplemented by the finds in Ḫattuša and other administrative centers of cuneiform tablets and more than 3,500 seal impressions providing the names, tit ...

(17th century BC), probably addressing his wife or favorite concubine and expressing his fear of death while being gravely ill. ;"Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A woman slew him." :() :—

Abimelech Abimelech (also spelled Abimelek or Avimelech; ) was the generic name given to all Philistine kings in the Hebrew Bible from the time of Abraham through King David. In the Book of Judges, Abimelech, son of Gideon, of the Tribe of Manasseh, is ...

, king of

Shechem Shechem ( ; , ; ), also spelled Sichem ( ; ) and other variants, was an ancient city in the southern Levant. Mentioned as a Canaanite city in the Amarna Letters, it later appears in the Hebrew Bible as the first capital of the Kingdom of Israe ...

(12th century BC). Mortally wounded in battle by a stone thrown by a woman, he asked his armor-bearer to kill him. SamsonDestroyTemple

;"Let me die with the

Philistines Philistines (; LXX: ; ) were ancient people who lived on the south coast of Canaan during the Iron Age in a confederation of city-states generally referred to as Philistia. There is compelling evidence to suggest that the Philistines origi ...

." :() :—

Samson SAMSON (Software for Adaptive Modeling and Simulation Of Nanosystems) is a computer software platform for molecular design being developed bOneAngstromand previously by the NANO-D group at the French Institute for Research in Computer Science an ...

judge A judge is a person who wiktionary:preside, presides over court proceedings, either alone or as a part of a judicial panel. In an adversarial system, the judge hears all the witnesses and any other Evidence (law), evidence presented by the barris ...

of the

Israelites Israelites were a Hebrew language, Hebrew-speaking ethnoreligious group, consisting of tribes that lived in Canaan during the Iron Age. Modern scholarship describes the Israelites as emerging from indigenous Canaanites, Canaanite populations ...

( 1078 BC), prior to bringing down pillars of the Philistine temple and killing 3000 people along with himself ;"Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me." :() :—

Saul Saul (; , ; , ; ) was a monarch of ancient Israel and Judah and, according to the Hebrew Bible and Old Testament, the first king of the United Monarchy, a polity of uncertain historicity. His reign, traditionally placed in the late eleventh c ...

, king of

Israel Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in West Asia. It Borders of Israel, shares borders with Lebanon to the north, Syria to the north-east, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the south-west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Isr ...

( 1012 BC), to his servant during the Battle of Mount Gilboa ;"My reputation carried me safe through Greece, but the envy it excited at home has been my ruin." :— Anacharsis,

Scythian The Scythians ( or ) or Scyths (, but note Scytho- () in composition) and sometimes also referred to as the Pontic Scythians, were an ancient Eastern Iranian equestrian nomadic people who had migrated during the 9th to 8th centuries BC fr ...

philosopher (6th century BC), mortally wounded with an arrow by his brother, King Caduidas ;"You know that during the long time I have been in the world, I have said and done many things; upon mature reflection, I find nothing of which I have cause to repent, excepting a case which I will now submit to your decision, that I may know whether I have acted properly or not. ;"On a certain occasion, I chanced to be one of three who sat in judgment on one of my own good friends, who, according to the laws, should have been punished with death. I was greatly embarrassed. One of two things was inevitable—either to violate the law or condemn my friend. After careful consideration, I devised this expedient. I delivered with such address all the most plausible arguments in behalf of the accused, that my two colleagues found no difficulty in acquitting him, and yet I, myself, condemned him to death without assigning any reason for my conduct. Thus I discharged two duties, those of friend and judge; yet I feel in my conscience something which makes me doubt whether my conduct was not criminal." :—

Chilon of Sparta Chilon of Sparta () (fl. 6th century BC) was a Spartan politician credited with the militarization of Spartan society, and one of the Seven Sages of Greece. Life Chilon was the son of Damagetus, and lived towards the beginning of the 6th cent ...

, philosopher (6th century BC), speaking to his friends before his death ;"It is better to perish here than to kill all these poor beans." :—

Pythagoras Pythagoras of Samos (; BC) was an ancient Ionian Greek philosopher, polymath, and the eponymous founder of Pythagoreanism. His political and religious teachings were well known in Magna Graecia and influenced the philosophies of P ...

, Ionian Greek philosopher and founder of

Pythagoreanism Pythagoreanism originated in the 6th century BC, based on and around the teachings and beliefs held by Pythagoras and his followers, the Pythagoreans. Pythagoras established the first Pythagorean community in the Ancient Greece, ancient Greek co ...

(495 BC), refusing to escape with his students from the Crotonians through a fava bean field Paranirvana

;"All compounded things are subject to vanish. Strive with earnestness." :() :— Siddhārtha Gautama Buddha,

Shakya Shakya (Pali, Pāḷi: ; Sanskrit: ) was an ancient Indo-Aryan clan of the northeastern region of South Asia, whose existence is attested during the Iron Age in India, Iron Age. The Shakyas were organised into a Gaṇasaṅgha, (an Aristocrac ...

sage who founded

Buddhism Buddhism, also known as Buddhadharma and Dharmavinaya, is an Indian religion and List of philosophies, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha, a wandering teacher who lived in the 6th or ...

( 483 BC) ;"Heaven has turned against me. No wise ruler arises, and no one in the Empire wishes to make me his teacher. The hour of my death has come." :—

Confucius Confucius (; pinyin: ; ; ), born Kong Qiu (), was a Chinese philosopher of the Spring and Autumn period who is traditionally considered the paragon of Chinese sages. Much of the shared cultural heritage of the Sinosphere originates in the phil ...

, Chinese philosopher who founded

Confucianism Confucianism, also known as Ruism or Ru classicism, is a system of thought and behavior originating in ancient China, and is variously described as a tradition, philosophy, Religious Confucianism, religion, theory of government, or way of li ...

(479 BC) ;"Can you turn rainy weather into dry?" :—

Heraclitus Heraclitus (; ; ) was an Ancient Greece, ancient Greek Pre-Socratic philosophy, pre-Socratic philosopher from the city of Ephesus, which was then part of the Achaemenid Empire, Persian Empire. He exerts a wide influence on Western philosophy, ...

, Greek philosopher ( 475 BC), asking his physicians for relief from dropsy ;"For, no

Athenian Athens ( ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Greece, largest city of Greece. A significant coastal urban area in the Mediterranean, Athens is also the capital of the Attica (region), Attica region and is the southe ...

, through my means, ever wore mourning." :—

Pericles Pericles (; ; –429 BC) was a Greek statesman and general during the Golden Age of Athens. He was prominent and influential in Ancient Athenian politics, particularly between the Greco-Persian Wars and the Peloponnesian War, and was acclaimed ...

, Greek statesman (429 BC), discussing with his friends what his greatest accomplishment had been ;"Give the boys a holiday.", cited in :—

Anaxagoras Anaxagoras (; , ''Anaxagóras'', 'lord of the assembly'; ) was a Pre-Socratic Greek philosopher. Born in Clazomenae at a time when Asia Minor was under the control of the Persian Empire, Anaxagoras came to Athens. In later life he was charged ...

, Greek philosopher ( 428 BC), in response to citizens of

Lampsacus Lampsacus (; ) was an ancient Greece, ancient Greek city located in modern day Turkey, strategically situated on the eastern side of the Hellespont in the northern Troad. An inhabitant of Lampsacus was called a Lampsacene. The name has been trans ...

asking how they could honor his memory ;"This to the fair Critias." :—

Theramenes Theramenes (; ; died 404/403 BC) was an Athenian military leader and statesman, prominent in the final decade of the Peloponnesian War. He was active during the two periods of oligarchic government at Athens, the 400 and later the Thirty Tyrants, ...

, Athenian statesman (404 BC), after swallowing poison hemlock which he had been condemned to drink by

Critias Critias (; , ''Kritias''; – 403 BC) was an ancient Athenian poet, philosopher and political leader. He is known today for being a student of Socrates, a writer of some regard, and for becoming the leader of the Thirty Tyrants, who ruled Athens ...

Crito ''Crito'' ( or ; ) is a dialogue written by the ancient Greece, ancient Greek philosopher Plato. It depicts a conversation between Socrates and his wealthy friend Crito of Alopece regarding justice (''δικαιοσύνη''), injustice (''ἀ ...

, we owe a cock to

Asclepius Asclepius (; ''Asklēpiós'' ; ) is a hero and god of medicine in ancient Religion in ancient Greece, Greek religion and Greek mythology, mythology. He is the son of Apollo and Coronis (lover of Apollo), Coronis, or Arsinoe (Greek myth), Ars ...

. Please, don't forget to pay the debt." :() :—

Socrates Socrates (; ; – 399 BC) was a Ancient Greek philosophy, Greek philosopher from Classical Athens, Athens who is credited as the founder of Western philosophy and as among the first moral philosophers of the Ethics, ethical tradition ...

, Greek philosopher (399 BC), just before his death by ingestion of poison hemlock which he was forced to drink as a death sentence ;"Men, it is good for me to die on this spot, where honor bids me; but for you, yonder your path lies. Hurry and save yourselves before the enemy can close with us." :— Anaxibius,

Sparta Sparta was a prominent city-state in Laconia in ancient Greece. In antiquity, the city-state was known as Lacedaemon (), while the name Sparta referred to its main settlement in the Evrotas Valley, valley of Evrotas (river), Evrotas rive ...

n admiral (388 BC), before being killed in

ambush

Bartolomeo Pinelli - La Morte di Epaminonda 1812

;"Then I die happy." :—

Epaminondas Epaminondas (; ; 419/411–362 BC) was a Greeks, Greek general and statesman of the 4th century BC who transformed the Ancient Greece, Ancient Greek polis, city-state of Thebes, Greece, Thebes, leading it out of Spartan subjugation into a pre ...

, Greek general and statesman of Thebes (362 BC). He pulled out the weapon with which he had been impaled in battle once he heard the enemy was fleeing. ;"But

Alexander Alexander () is a male name of Greek origin. The most prominent bearer of the name is Alexander the Great, the king of the Ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia who created one of the largest empires in ancient history. Variants listed here ar ...

, whose kindness to my mother, my wife, and my children I hope the gods will recompense, will doubtless thank you for your humanity to me. Tell him, therefore, in token of my acknowledgement, I give him this right hand." :—

Darius III Darius III ( ; ; – 330 BC) was the thirteenth and last Achaemenid King of Kings of Persia, reigning from 336 BC to his death in 330 BC. Contrary to his predecessor Artaxerxes IV Arses, Darius was a distant member of the Achaemenid dynasty. ...

Achaemenid The Achaemenid Empire or Achaemenian Empire, also known as the Persian Empire or First Persian Empire (; , , ), was an Iranian empire founded by Cyrus the Great of the Achaemenid dynasty in 550 BC. Based in modern-day Iran, it was the large ...

King of Kings King of Kings, ''Mepet mepe''; , group="n" was a ruling title employed primarily by monarchs based in the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent. Commonly associated with History of Iran, Iran (historically known as name of Iran, Persia ...

Persia Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...

(330 BC), to a man who gave him water as he was dying ;"How can the teeth of wild beasts hurt me, without consciousness?" :() :—

Diogenes Diogenes the Cynic, also known as Diogenes of Sinope (c. 413/403–c. 324/321 BC), was an ancient Greek philosopher and one of the founders of Cynicism (philosophy), Cynicism. Renowned for his ascetic lifestyle, biting wit, and radical critique ...

, Greek Cynic philosopher (323 BC), asking for his body to be thrown outside the city wall for animals to eat ;"To the strongest." :() :—

Alexander the Great Alexander III of Macedon (; 20/21 July 356 BC – 10/11 June 323 BC), most commonly known as Alexander the Great, was a king of the Ancient Greece, ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia (ancient kingdom), Macedon. He succeeded his father Philip ...

, conqueror and king of

Macedonia Macedonia (, , , ), most commonly refers to: * North Macedonia, a country in southeastern Europe, known until 2019 as the Republic of Macedonia * Macedonia (ancient kingdom), a kingdom in Greek antiquity * Macedonia (Greece), a former administr ...

( 11 June 323 BC), when asked to whom his vast empire should belong after his death ;"Now, as soon as you please you may commence the part of Creon in the tragedy, and cast out this body of mine unburied. But, O gracious

Neptune Neptune is the eighth and farthest known planet from the Sun. It is the List of Solar System objects by size, fourth-largest planet in the Solar System by diameter, the third-most-massive planet, and the densest giant planet. It is 17 t ...

, I, for my part, while I am yet alive, arise up and depart out of this sacred place; though

Antipater Antipater (; ; 400 BC319 BC) was a Macedonian general, regent and statesman under the successive kingships of Philip II of Macedon and his son, Alexander the Great. In the wake of the collapse of the Argead house, his son Cassander ...

and the Macedonians have not left so much as thy temple unpolluted." :—

Demosthenes Demosthenes (; ; ; 384 – 12 October 322 BC) was a Greek statesman and orator in ancient Athens. His orations constitute a significant expression of contemporary Athenian intellectual prowess and provide insight into the politics and cu ...

, Greek statesman and orator (12 October 322 BC), to Archias of Thurii; Demosthenes had taken poison to avoid arrest by Archias ;"Ah! poor hump-back! thy many long years are at last conveying thee to the tomb; thou shalt soon see the palace of

Pluto Pluto (minor-planet designation: 134340 Pluto) is a dwarf planet in the Kuiper belt, a ring of Trans-Neptunian object, bodies beyond the orbit of Neptune. It is the ninth-largest and tenth-most-massive known object to directly orbit the Su ...

." :—

Crates of Thebes Crates (; c. 365 – c. 285 BC) of Thebes, Greece, Thebes was a Ancient Greece, Greek Cynicism (philosophy), Cynic philosopher, the principal pupil of Diogenes, Diogenes of Sinope and the husband of Hipparchia of Maroneia who lived in t ...

, Cynic philosopher ( 285 BC), surveying himself when about to die ;"Now, farewell, and remember all my words!" :—

Epicurus Epicurus (, ; ; 341–270 BC) was an Greek philosophy, ancient Greek philosopher who founded Epicureanism, a highly influential school of philosophy that asserted that philosophy's purpose is to attain as well as to help others attain tranqui ...

, Greek philosopher (270 BC); the majority of his writings are now lost ;"I come, I come, why dost thou call for me?" :—

Zeno of Citium Zeno of Citium (; , ; c. 334 – c. 262 BC) was a Hellenistic philosophy, Hellenistic philosopher from Kition, Citium (, ), Cyprus. He was the founder of the Stoicism, Stoic school of philosophy, which he taught in Athens from about 300 BC. B ...

, Greek philosopher and founder of

Stoicism Stoicism is a school of Hellenistic philosophy that flourished in ancient Greece and Rome. The Stoics believed that the universe operated according to reason, ''i.e.'' by a God which is immersed in nature itself. Of all the schools of ancient ...

( 262 BC), quoting

Aeschylus Aeschylus (, ; ; /524 – /455 BC) was an ancient Greece, ancient Greek Greek tragedy, tragedian often described as the father of tragedy. Academic knowledge of the genre begins with his work, and understanding of earlier Greek tragedy is large ...

' play ''

Niobe Niobe (; : Nióbē) was in Greek mythology a daughter of Tantalus and of either Dione or of Eurythemista or Euryanassa. She was the wife of Amphion and the sister of Pelops and Broteas. Niobe is mentioned by Achilles in Homer's ''Iliad ...

'' and striking the ground with his hand after sustaining a minor injury, which he considered a sign that he was about to die. He then killed himself. ;"Weep not, friend, for me, who dies innocent, by the lawless act of wicked men. My condition is much better than theirs." :—

Agis IV Agis IV (; c. 265 BC – 241 BC), the elder son of Eudamidas II, was the 25th king of the Kings of Sparta, Eurypontid dynasty of Sparta. Posterity has reckoned him an idealistic but impractical monarch. Family background and accession Agis ...

, king of Sparta (241 BC), prior to execution by

strangulation Strangling or strangulation is compression of the neck that may lead to unconsciousness or death by causing an increasingly hypoxic state in the brain by restricting the flow of oxygen through the trachea. Fatal strangulation typically occurs ...

;"O children, whither are you going?" :— Cratesiclea, queen of Sparta (219 BC), after seeing the children of her family executed prior to her own execution ;"These, O Cephalon, are the wages of a king's love." :—

Aratus of Sicyon Aratus of Sicyon (Ancient Greek: Ἄρατος ὁ Σικυώνιος; 271–213 BC) was a politician and military commander of Hellenistic period, Hellenistic Ancient Greece, Greece. He was elected strategos of the Achaean League 17 times, lead ...

Hellenistic In classical antiquity, the Hellenistic period covers the time in Greek history after Classical Greece, between the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC and the death of Cleopatra VII in 30 BC, which was followed by the ascendancy of the R ...

Greek politician and military commander (213 BC), after expectorating blood while allegedly being slowly poisoned on the orders of

Philip V of Macedon Philip V (; 238–179 BC) was king of the Ancient Greece, ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia (ancient kingdom), Macedon from 221 to 179 BC. Philip's reign was principally marked by the Social War (220–217 BC), Social War in Greece (220-217 BC) ...

, his former friend ;" Do not disturb my circles!" :() :—

Archimedes Archimedes of Syracuse ( ; ) was an Ancient Greece, Ancient Greek Greek mathematics, mathematician, physicist, engineer, astronomer, and Invention, inventor from the ancient city of Syracuse, Sicily, Syracuse in History of Greek and Hellenis ...

, Greek mathematician ( 212 BC), to a Roman soldier who interrupted his geometric experiments during the capture of Syracuse, whereupon the soldier killed him ;"Go and give the ass a drink of wine to wash down the figs." :—

Chrysippus Chrysippus of Soli (; , ; ) was a Ancient Greece, Greek Stoicism, Stoic Philosophy, philosopher. He was a native of Soli, Cilicia, but moved to Athens as a young man, where he became a pupil of the Stoic philosopher Cleanthes. When Cleanthes ...

, Greek philosopher ( 206 BC), before dying of laughter ;"It is well that we have not been every way unfortunate." :— Philopoemen, Greek general and statesman (183 BC), sent a cup of poison to kill himself after being captured in battle. He asked the messenger with the poison about his cavalry and was told that most of them had escaped. ;"Let us ease the Roman people of their continual care, who think it long to await the death of an old man." :() :—

Hannibal Hannibal (; ; 247 – between 183 and 181 BC) was a Punic people, Carthaginian general and statesman who commanded the forces of Ancient Carthage, Carthage in their battle against the Roman Republic during the Second Punic War. Hannibal's fat ...

, Carthaginian general ( 182 BC), in a suicide note ;"Let no one weep for me, or celebrate my funeral with mourning; for I still live, as I pass to and fro through the mouths of men." :—

Ennius Quintus Ennius (; ) was a writer and poet who lived during the Roman Republic. He is often considered the father of Roman poetry. He was born in the small town of Rudiae, located near modern Lecce (ancient ''Calabria'', today Salento), a town ...

, writer and poet of the

Roman Republic The Roman Republic ( ) was the era of Ancient Rome, classical Roman civilisation beginning with Overthrow of the Roman monarchy, the overthrow of the Roman Kingdom (traditionally dated to 509 BC) and ending in 27 BC with the establis ...

( 169 BC); lines dictated to be engraved on his memorial. Only fragments of his works now survive. ;"It is a cold bath you give me." :—

Jugurtha Jugurtha or Jugurthen (c. 160 – 104 BC) was a king of Numidia, the ancient kingdom of the Numidians in northwest Africa. When the Numidian king Micipsa, who had adopted Jugurtha, died in 118 BC, Micipsa's two sons, Hiempsal and Adherbal ...

, king of

Numidia Numidia was the ancient kingdom of the Numidians in northwest Africa, initially comprising the territory that now makes up Algeria, but later expanding across what is today known as Tunisia and Libya. The polity was originally divided between ...

(104 BC), being lowered by the Romans into a damp dungeon to starve to death ;"When will the republic find a citizen like me?" :— Marcus Livius Drusus, Roman politician and reformer (91 BC), after being stabbed by unknown assassin ;"Fear not true

Pharisees The Pharisees (; ) were a Jews, Jewish social movement and school of thought in the Levant during the time of Second Temple Judaism. Following the Siege of Jerusalem (AD 70), destruction of the Second Temple in 70 AD, Pharisaic beliefs became ...

, but greatly fear painted Pharisees." :—

Alexander Jannaeus Alexander Jannaeus ( , English: "Alexander Jannaios", usually Latinised to "Alexander Jannaeus"; ''Yannaʾy''; born Jonathan ) was the second king of the Hasmonean dynasty, who ruled over an expanding kingdom of Judaea from 103 to 76 BCE. ...

, king of

Judea Judea or Judaea (; ; , ; ) is a mountainous region of the Levant. Traditionally dominated by the city of Jerusalem, it is now part of Palestine and Israel. The name's usage is historic, having been used in antiquity and still into the pres ...

( 76 BC), to his wife ;"O wretched head-band!—not able to help me even in this small thing!" :— Monime, wife of Mithridates VI (72/71 BC), after failing to hang herself by her crown's strings in fulfillment of her death sentence ;"I am free and the subject of a free state." :— Dumnorix, Gallic chieftain, ( 54 BC), before being killed by Roman cavalry. Caesar-07

;"I am not mistaken, surely, in believing you to have been formerly my fellow-soldier." :—

Pompey Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus (; 29 September 106 BC – 28 September 48 BC), known in English as Pompey ( ) or Pompey the Great, was a Roman general and statesman who was prominent in the last decades of the Roman Republic. ...

, Roman general and statesman (28 September 48 BC), to Lucius Septimius, one of his assassins ;"The imperator is doing well." :() :— Metellus Scipio, Roman senator and military commander (46 BC), before committing suicide to evade capture following his defeat in the Battle of Hippo Regius. ;" You too, my child?"

Suetonius Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus (), commonly referred to as Suetonius ( ; – after AD 122), was a Roman historian who wrote during the early Imperial era of the Roman Empire. His most important surviving work is ''De vita Caesarum'', common ...

, ''Julius'
82.2
/ref> :() :—

Julius Caesar Gaius Julius Caesar (12 or 13 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC) was a Roman general and statesman. A member of the First Triumvirate, Caesar led the Roman armies in the Gallic Wars before defeating his political rival Pompey in Caesar's civil wa ...

Roman dictator A Roman dictator was an extraordinary Roman magistrate, magistrate in the Roman Republic endowed with full authority to resolve some specific problem to which he had been assigned. He received the full powers of the state, subordinating the oth ...

(15 March 44 BC), discovering that his stepson

Brutus Marcus Junius Brutus (; ; 85 BC – 23 October 42 BC) was a Roman politician, orator, and the most famous of the assassins of Julius Caesar. After being adopted by a relative, he used the name Quintus Servilius Caepio Brutus, which was reta ...

was among his murderers. ;"O wretched virtue! thou art a bare name! I mistook thee for a substance; but thou thyself art the slave of fortune." :—

Decimus Junius Brutus Albinus Decimus Junius Brutus Albinus (27 April 81 BC – September 43 BC) was a Ancient Rome, Roman general and politician of the crisis of the Roman Republic, late republican period and one of the leading instigators of Julius Caesar's Assassination ...

, Roman general and politician, conspirator in Julius Caesar's assassination (September 43 BC), quoting from

Euripides Euripides () was a Greek tragedy, tragedian of classical Athens. Along with Aeschylus and Sophocles, he is one of the three ancient Greek tragedians for whom any plays have survived in full. Some ancient scholars attributed ninety-five plays to ...

prior to execution ;"I go no further: approach, veteran soldier, and, if you can at least do so much properly, sever this neck. ..What would you have done had you come to me as your first victim?" :() :—

Cicero Marcus Tullius Cicero ( ; ; 3 January 106 BC – 7 December 43 BC) was a Roman statesman, lawyer, scholar, philosopher, orator, writer and Academic skeptic, who tried to uphold optimate principles during the political crises tha ...

, Roman statesman (7 December 43 BC), facing an assassin sent by an enemy ;"Through too much fondness of life, I have lived to endure the sight of my friend taken by the enemy before my face." :—

Gaius Cassius Longinus Gaius Cassius Longinus (; – 3 October 42 BC) was a Roman senator and general best known as a leading instigator of the plot to assassinate Julius Caesar on 15 March 44 BC. He was the brother-in-law of Brutus, another leader of the conspir ...

, Roman senator and general, one of Julius Caesar's assassins (3 October 42 BC), erroneously believing his comrade Titinius had been captured by

Mark Antony Marcus Antonius (14 January 1 August 30 BC), commonly known in English as Mark Antony, was a Roman people, Roman politician and general who played a critical role in the Crisis of the Roman Republic, transformation of the Roman Republic ...

's forces at the

Battle of Philippi The Battle of Philippi was the final battle in the Liberators' civil war between the forces of Mark Antony and Octavian (of the Second Triumvirate) and the leaders of Julius Caesar's assassination, Brutus and Cassius, in 42 BC, at Philippi in ...

. Cassius then killed himself. ;"Yes, indeed, we must fly; but not with our feet, but with our hands." :—

Marcus Junius Brutus Marcus Junius Brutus (; ; 85 BC – 23 October 42 BC) was a Roman politician, orator, and the most famous of the assassins of Julius Caesar. After being adopted by a relative, he used the name Quintus Servilius Caepio Brutus, which was reta ...

, Roman senator and assassin of Julius Caesar (23 October 42 BC), after defeat at the

. He then bade his friends farewell before killing himself. ;"You must not pity me in this last turn of fate. You should rather be happy in the remembrance of our love, and in the recollection that of all men I was once the most famous and the most powerful, and now, at the end, have fallen not dishonorably, a Roman by a Roman vanquished." :—

, Roman politician and general (1 August 30 BC); to

Cleopatra Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator (; The name Cleopatra is pronounced , or sometimes in both British and American English, see and respectively. Her name was pronounced in the Greek dialect of Egypt (see Koine Greek phonology). She was ...

before his suicide Death of Cleopatra by Rixens

;"Here thou art, then!" :() :—

, pharaoh of Egypt (12 August 30 BC), right before she reportedly committed suicide by letting an asp bite her ;"Extremely well, and as became the descendant of so many kings." :—

Charmion Laverie Vallee (née Cooper; July 18, 1875 – February 6, 1949), best known by her stage name Charmion, was an American vaudeville trapeze artist and strongwoman. One of her risqué trapeze acts was captured on film in 1901 by Thomas Ediso ...

, servant to Cleopatra (12 August 30 BC), when one of Emperor

Augustus Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus (born Gaius Octavius; 23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14), also known as Octavian (), was the founder of the Roman Empire, who reigned as the first Roman emperor from 27 BC until his death in A ...

' men asked her, "Was this well done of your lady, Charmion?" She then fell dead. ;"Death twitches my ear. 'Live,' he says. 'I am coming.'" :—

Virgil Publius Vergilius Maro (; 15 October 70 BC21 September 19 BC), usually called Virgil or Vergil ( ) in English, was an ancient Rome, ancient Roman poet of the Augustan literature (ancient Rome), Augustan period. He composed three of the most fa ...

, Roman poet (21 September 19 BC) ;"Have I played the part well? Then applaud, as I exit." :() :—

, First Roman Emperor (19 August 14 AD) ;" It is finished. \ Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit." :() :—

Jesus Jesus (AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, and many Names and titles of Jesus in the New Testament, other names and titles, was a 1st-century Jewish preacher and religious leader. He is the Jesus in Chris ...

, founder of

Christianity Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion, which states that Jesus in Christianity, Jesus is the Son of God (Christianity), Son of God and Resurrection of Jesus, rose from the dead after his Crucifixion of Jesus, crucifixion, whose ...

( 30 AD), right before his death by

crucifixion Crucifixion is a method of capital punishment in which the condemned is tied or nailed to a large wooden cross, beam or stake and left to hang until eventual death. It was used as a punishment by the Achaemenid Empire, Persians, Ancient Carthag ...

;"Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Lord, lay not this sin to their charge." :—

Saint Stephen Stephen (; ) is traditionally venerated as the protomartyr or first martyr of Christianity."St ...

, early Christian deacon and protomartyr ( 34 AD), while being stoned to death ;"I am still alive!" :—

Caligula Gaius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (31 August 12 – 24 January 41), also called Gaius and Caligula (), was Roman emperor from AD 37 until his assassination in 41. He was the son of the Roman general Germanicus and Augustus' granddaughter Ag ...

, Roman emperor (24 January 41 AD), after being fatally stabbed ;"It is not painful, Pætus." :() :— Arria, Roman woman (42 AD), to her husband, Aulus Caecina Paetus. He had been condemned to death but given permission to kill himself; when he hesitated to do so, his wife stabbed herself first and handed the dagger to him. ;"Strike here! Level your rage against the womb which gave birth to such a monster." :—

Agrippina the Younger Julia Agrippina (6 November AD 15 – 23 March AD 59), also referred to as Agrippina the Younger, was Roman empress from AD 49 to 54, the fourth wife and niece of emperor Claudius, and the mother of Nero. Agrippina was one of the most prominent ...

, mother of

Nero Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus ( ; born Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus; 15 December AD 37 – 9 June AD 68) was a Roman emperor and the final emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, reigning from AD 54 until his ...

(23 March 59 AD), to her murderer ;"Asunder flies the man— / No single wound the gaping rupture seems, / Where trickling crimson flows the tender streams; / But from an opening horrible and wide / A thousand vessels pour the bursting tide: / At once the winding channel's course was broke, / Where wandering life her mazy journey took." :—

Lucan Marcus Annaeus Lucanus (3 November AD 39 – 30 April AD 65), better known in English as Lucan (), was a Roman poet, born in Corduba, Hispania Baetica (present-day Córdoba, Spain). He is regarded as one of the outstanding figures of the Imper ...

, Roman poet (30 April 65 AD), forced to commit suicide after joining in a conspiracy against

. He died quoting lines from his own epic poem ''

Pharsalia ''De Bello Civili'' (; ''On the Civil War''), more commonly referred to as the ''Pharsalia'' (, neuter plural), is a Latin literature, Roman Epic poetry, epic poem written by the poet Lucan, detailing the Caesar's civil war, civil war between Ju ...

''.

;"Too late; is this your fidelity?" :() :—

, Roman emperor (9 June 68 AD), to a soldier trying to save him after his suicide ;"Strike, if it be for the Romans' good." :() :—

Galba Galba ( ; born Servius Sulpicius Galba; 24 December 3 BC – 15 January AD 69) was Roman emperor, ruling for 7 months from 8 June AD 68 to 15 January 69. He was the first emperor in the Year of the Four Emperors and assumed the throne follow ...

, Roman emperor (15 January 69 AD), prior to beheading by supporters of

Otho Otho ( ; born Marcus Salvius Otho; 28 April 32 – 16 April 69) was Roman emperor, ruling for three months from 15 January to 16 April 69. He was the second emperor of the Year of the Four Emperors. A member of a noble Etruscan civilization, ...

;"Go and show yourself to the soldiers, lest they cut you to pieces for being accessory to my death." :—

, Roman emperor (16 April 69 AD), to a freedman, prior to committing suicide ;"Yet I was once your Emperor." :—

Vitellius Aulus Vitellius ( ; ; 24 September 1520 December 69) was Roman emperor for eight months, from 19 April to 20 December AD 69. Vitellius became emperor following the quick succession of the previous emperors Galba and Otho, in a year of civil wa ...

, Roman emperor (22 December 69 AD), prior to his killing on the Gemonian stairs ;"Woe, I think I'm turning into a god... An emperor should die on his feet." :() :—

Vespasian Vespasian (; ; 17 November AD 9 – 23 June 79) was Roman emperor from 69 to 79. The last emperor to reign in the Year of the Four Emperors, he founded the Flavian dynasty, which ruled the Empire for 27 years. His fiscal reforms and consolida ...

, Roman emperor (24 June 79 AD), ironically alluding to the Roman practice of posthumously deifying former emperors, before he collapsed and died when attempting to stand up. ;" Fortune favors the bold. Make for where Pomponianus is." :—

Pliny the Elder Gaius Plinius Secundus (AD 23/24 79), known in English as Pliny the Elder ( ), was a Roman Empire, Roman author, Natural history, naturalist, and naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, and a friend of the Roman emperor, emperor Vesp ...

, Roman military commander and author (October 79 AD), after being advised to turn back from

Herculaneum Herculaneum is an ancient Rome, ancient Roman town located in the modern-day ''comune'' of Ercolano, Campania, Italy. Herculaneum was buried under a massive pyroclastic flow in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Like the nearby city of ...

during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. ;"My life is taken from me, though I have done nothing to deserve it; for there is no action of mine of which I should repent, but one." :—

Titus Titus Caesar Vespasianus ( ; 30 December 39 – 13 September AD 81) was Roman emperor from 79 to 81. A member of the Flavian dynasty, Titus succeeded his father Vespasian upon his death, becoming the first Roman emperor ever to succeed h ...

, Roman emperor (13 September 81 AD) ;"Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God! The Lord is One!" :() :—

Rabbi Akiva Akiva ben Joseph (Mishnaic Hebrew: ; – 28 September 135 CE), also known as Rabbi Akiva (), was a leading Jewish scholar and sage, a '' tanna'' of the latter part of the first century and the beginning of the second. Rabbi Akiva was a leadin ...

, Jewish scholar and sage (28 September 135 AD), reciting the

Shema Yisrael ''Shema Yisrael'' (''Shema Israel'' or ''Sh'ma Yisrael''; , “Hear, O Israel”) is a Jewish prayer (known as the Shema) that serves as a centerpiece of the morning and evening Jewish prayer services. Its first verse encapsulates the monothe ...

while being executed by the Romans ;"O my poor soul, whither art thou going?" :—

Hadrian Hadrian ( ; ; 24 January 76 – 10 July 138) was Roman emperor from 117 to 138. Hadrian was born in Italica, close to modern Seville in Spain, an Italic peoples, Italic settlement in Hispania Baetica; his branch of the Aelia gens, Aelia '' ...

, Roman emperor (10 July 138 AD) ;"O Lord God Almighty, Father of Thy well-beloved Son, Jesus Christ, by whom we have received knowledge of Thee; God of angels, powers, and every creature that lives before Thee; I thank Thee that Thou hast graciously thought me worthy of this day and hour, that I may receive a portion in the number of Thy martyrs, and drink of Christ's cup, for the resurrection of both soul and body unto life eternal, in the incorruptibleness of the Holy Spirit. Among them may I be admitted this day, as an acceptable sacrifice, as Thou, O true and faithful God, hast prepared, foreshown, and accomplished. Wherefore, I praise Thee for all Thy mercies. I bless Thee. I glorify Thee, with Jesus Christ, Thy beloved Son, the Eternal, to Whom, with Thee and the Holy Spirit, be glory now and forever." :—

Polycarp Polycarp (; , ''Polýkarpos''; ; AD 69 155) was a Christian Metropolis of Smyrna, bishop of Smyrna. According to the ''Martyrdom of Polycarp'', he died a martyr, bound and burned at the stake, then stabbed when the fire failed to consume his bo ...

, Christian bishop of

Smyrna Smyrna ( ; , or ) was an Ancient Greece, Ancient Greek city located at a strategic point on the Aegean Sea, Aegean coast of Anatolia, Turkey. Due to its advantageous port conditions, its ease of defence, and its good inland connections, Smyrna ...

(155 AD), prior to martyrdom by burning and spearing ;"Equanimity." :() :—

Antoninus Pius Titus Aelius Hadrianus Antoninus Pius (; ; 19 September 86 – 7 March 161) was Roman emperor from AD 138 to 161. He was the fourth of the Five Good Emperors from the Nerva–Antonine dynasty. Born into a senatorial family, Antoninus held var ...

, Roman emperor (7 March 161 AD), giving the password for the night-watch ;"You may go home, the show is over." :— Demonax, Greek Cynic philosopher (c. 170 AD) ;"Go to the rising sun, for I am setting. Think more of death than of me." :—

Marcus Aurelius Marcus Aurelius Antoninus ( ; ; 26 April 121 – 17 March 180) was Roman emperor from 161 to 180 and a Stoicism, Stoic philosopher. He was a member of the Nerva–Antonine dynasty, the last of the rulers later known as the Five Good Emperors ...

, Roman emperor and philosopher (17 March 180 AD) ;"But what evil have I done? Whom have I killed?""Cassius Dio, lxxiv, 17.5. :—

Didius Julianus Marcus Didius Julianus (; 29 January 133 – 2 June 193) was Roman emperor from March to June 193, during the Year of the Five Emperors. Julianus had a promising political career, governing several provinces, including Dalmatia (Roman province) ...

, Roman emperor (2 June 193 AD), to his assassin. ;"Hurry, if anything remains for me to do." :() :—

Septimius Severus Lucius Septimius Severus (; ; 11 April 145 – 4 February 211) was Roman emperor from 193 to 211. He was born in Leptis Magna (present-day Al-Khums, Libya) in the Roman province of Africa. As a young man he advanced through cursus honorum, the ...

, Roman emperor (4 February 211 AD) ;"I am roasted,—now turn me, and eat me." :() :—

Saint Lawrence Saint Lawrence or Laurence (; 31 December 225 – 10 August 258) was one of the seven deacons of the city of Rome under Pope Sixtus II who were martyred in the Persecution of Christians, persecution of the Christians that the Roman Empire, Rom ...

, Christian deacon (10 August 258 AD), while being burned alive on a gridiron ;"God be thanked." :—

Cyprian Cyprian (; ; to 14 September 258 AD''The Liturgy of the Hours according to the Roman Rite: Vol. IV.'' New York: Catholic Book Publishing Company, 1975. p. 1406.) was a bishop of Carthage and an early Christian writer of Berbers, Berber descent, ...

, Christian bishop of Carthage and martyr (14 September 258 AD), sentenced to death by beheading ;"I am making my last effort to return that which is divine in me to that which is divine in the Universe." :—

Plotinus Plotinus (; , ''Plōtînos''; – 270 CE) was a Greek Platonist philosopher, born and raised in Roman Egypt. Plotinus is regarded by modern scholarship as the founder of Neoplatonism. His teacher was the self-taught philosopher Ammonius ...

, Hellenistic philosopher (270 AD) ;"And let my word be kept secret by you, so that no one knows the place but you alone. For in the resurrection of the dead I shall receive my body incorruptible once again from the Savior. Distribute my clothing. To Bishop Athanasius give the one sheepskin and the cloak on which I lie, which he gave to me new, but I have by now worn out. And to Bishop Serapion give the other sheepskin, and you keep the hair garment. And now God preserve you, children, for Antony is leaving and is with you no longer." :—

Anthony the Great Anthony the Great (; ; ; ; – 17 January 356) was a Christian monk from Egypt, revered since his death as a saint. He is distinguished from other saints named Anthony, such as , by various epithets: , , , , , and . For his importance among t ...

, Christian monk from Egypt (17 January 356 AD) ;"How am I advanced, despising you that are upon the earth!" :— Marcus of Arethusa, Christian bishop and martyr (362 AD), hung up in a honey-smeared basket for bees to sting him to death ;"And yet Thou hast conquered, O Galilean!" :() :— Julian, Roman emperor (26 June 363 AD), mortally wounded in battle. He had rejected Christianity in favor of paganism; according to some accounts, he was assassinated by a Christian. ;"In peace I will sleep with Him and take my rest." :— Saint Monica, mother of

Augustine of Hippo Augustine of Hippo ( , ; ; 13 November 354 – 28 August 430) was a theologian and philosopher of Berber origin and the bishop of Hippo Regius in Numidia, Roman North Africa. His writings deeply influenced the development of Western philosop ...

(387 AD) ;"My dear one, with whom I lived in love so long, make room for me, for this is my grave, and in death we shall not be divided." :— Severus of Ravenna, Bishop of Ravenna ( 348 AD). According to a traditional story, Severus laid himself in his family tomb alongside his dead wife and daughter, then died. ;"Old though he be, he is the best of all." :—

Ambrose Ambrose of Milan (; 4 April 397), venerated as Saint Ambrose, was a theologian and statesman who served as Bishop of Milan from 374 to 397. He expressed himself prominently as a public figure, fiercely promoting Roman Christianity against Ari ...

, Bishop of Milan (4 April 397 AD), when Simplician was mentioned as his possible successor ;"What dost thou here, thou cruel beast?" :—

Martin of Tours Martin of Tours (; 316/3368 November 397) was the third bishop of Tours. He is the patron saint of many communities and organizations across Europe, including France's Third French Republic, Third Republic. A native of Pannonia (present-day Hung ...

, third

bishop of Tours The Archdiocese of Tours (; ) is a Latin Church archdiocese of the Catholic Church in France. The archdiocese has roots that go back to the 3rd century, while the formal erection of the diocese dates from the 5th century. The ecclesiastical p ...

(8 November 397 AD), to the

Devil A devil is the mythical personification of evil as it is conceived in various cultures and religious traditions. It is seen as the objectification of a hostile and destructive force. Jeffrey Burton Russell states that the different conce ...

5th to 14th centuries

;"Glory to God for all things! Amen." :() :—

John Chrysostom John Chrysostom (; ; – 14 September 407) was an important Church Father who served as archbishop of Constantinople. He is known for his preaching and public speaking, his denunciation of abuse of authority by both ecclesiastical and p ...

, Early Church Father and Archbishop of Constantinople (14 September 407), while traveling deeper into exile ;"And me as I am going towards the God of mine, and I thank His name, as the Lord gave me everything bless His name. And I am telling you, to stand firm on your faith and to search for death for Christ for His name and you will find the permanent glory. I for my life glorified you and all of our race. And do not insult our home and do not abandon the love of the Greeks." :("მე ესე რა წარვალ წინაშე ღმრთისა ჩემისა, და ვმადლობ სახელსა მისსა, რამეთუ არა დამაკლო გამორჩეულთა წმიდათა მისთა. აწ გამცნებ თქუენ, რათა მტკიცედ სარწმუნოებასა ზედა სდგეთ და ეძიებდეთ ქრისტესთჳს სიკუდილსა სახელსა მისსა ზედა, რათა წარუვალი დიდება მოიგოთ. მე ჴორციელებრითა დიდებითა გადიდენ თქუენ ნათესავთა ჩემთა. და სახლსა ჩუენსა ნუ შეურაცხჰყოფთ, და სიყუარულსა ბერძენთასა ნუ დაუტეობთ".) :— Vakhtang I, Georgian monarch (502/22), to his son Dachi. ;"Here must I stop. What follows, let Baithen write." :—

Columba Columba () or Colmcille (7 December 521 – 9 June 597 AD) was an Irish abbot and missionary evangelist credited with spreading Christianity in what is today Scotland at the start of the Hiberno-Scottish mission. He founded the important abbey ...

, Irish abbot and missionary evangelist (8 June 597), ceasing to transcribe a Psalter ;"Will you govern it any better?" :—

Phocas Phocas (; ; 5475 October 610) was Eastern Roman emperor from 602 to 610. Initially a middle-ranking officer in the East Roman army, Roman army, Phocas rose to prominence as a spokesman for dissatisfied soldiers in their disputes with the cour ...

Eastern Roman emperor The foundation of Constantinople in 330 AD marks the conventional start of the Eastern Roman Empire, which fell to the Ottoman Empire in 1453 AD. Only the emperors who were recognized as legitimate rulers and exercised sovereign authority are ...

(3 October 610), to his successor

Heraclius Heraclius (; 11 February 641) was Byzantine emperor from 610 to 641. His rise to power began in 608, when he and his father, Heraclius the Elder, the Exarch of Africa, led a revolt against the unpopular emperor Phocas. Heraclius's reign was ...

before being executed ;"Oh

God In monotheistic belief systems, God is usually viewed as the supreme being, creator, and principal object of faith. In polytheistic belief systems, a god is "a spirit or being believed to have created, or for controlling some part of the un ...

, the Friend Most High!" or "The prayer, the prayer! And fear Allah with regard to those whom your right hands possess" :() or :() :—

Muhammad Muhammad (8 June 632 CE) was an Arab religious and political leader and the founder of Islam. Muhammad in Islam, According to Islam, he was a prophet who was divinely inspired to preach and confirm the tawhid, monotheistic teachings of A ...

, Prophet of God in

Islam Islam is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the Quran, and the teachings of Muhammad. Adherents of Islam are called Muslims, who are estimated to number Islam by country, 2 billion worldwide and are the world ...

(8 June 632) ;"My children, these fearful forests and these barren rocks shall be adorned with cities and temples, where the name of Jesus shall be openly adored. Ye shall abandon your precarious and hard chase, and assemble together under temples lofty as those pines, and graceful as the crown of the palm. ;"Here shall my Saviour be known in all the simplicity of his doctrines. Ah! would that I might witness it; but I have seen those things in a vision. But I faint! I am weary! My earthly journey is finished! Receive my blessing. Go! and be kind one to another." :— Goar of Aquitaine, priest and hermit (6 July 649), dying in Oberwesel,

Austrasia Austrasia was the northeastern kingdom within the core of the Francia, Frankish Empire during the Early Middle Ages, centring on the Meuse, Middle Rhine and the Moselle rivers. It included the original Frankish-ruled territories within what had ...

;"I desire that whatever merits I may have gained by good works may fall upon other people. May I be born again with them in the heaven of the blessed, be admitted to the family of Mi-le, and serve the Buddha of the future, who is full of kindness and affection. When I descend again upon earth, to pass through other forms of existence, I desire at every new birth to fulfill my duties toward Buddha, and arrive at the end to the highest perfect intelligence." :—

Xuanzang Xuanzang (; ; 6 April 6025 February 664), born Chen Hui or Chen Yi (), also known by his Sanskrit Dharma name Mokṣadeva, was a 7th-century Chinese Bhikkhu, Buddhist monk, scholar, traveller, and translator. He is known for the epoch-making ...

, Chinese Buddhist monk, scholar, traveler and translator (5 February 664) ;"You brothers must get along like fish and water and never fight each other for titles. If not, you will surely become the laughingstock of our neighbors." :— Yŏn Kaesomun, military dictator and generalissimo of

Goguryeo Goguryeo (37 BC – 668 AD) (; ; Old Korean: Guryeo) also later known as Goryeo (; ; Middle Korean: 고ᇢ롕〮, ''kwòwlyéy''), was a Korean kingdom which was located on the northern and central parts of the Korea, Korean Peninsula an ...

(c. 666), to his sons ;"You speak truth, all is finished now. Glory to God." :—

Bede Bede (; ; 672/326 May 735), also known as Saint Bede, Bede of Jarrow, the Venerable Bede, and Bede the Venerable (), was an English monk, author and scholar. He was one of the most known writers during the Early Middle Ages, and his most f ...

, English

Benedictine The Benedictines, officially the Order of Saint Benedict (, abbreviated as O.S.B. or OSB), are a mainly contemplative monastic order of the Catholic Church for men and for women who follow the Rule of Saint Benedict. Initiated in 529, th ...

monk (26 May 735); to a scribe to whom he was dictating a translation of the

Gospel of John The Gospel of John () is the fourth of the New Testament's four canonical Gospels. It contains a highly schematic account of the ministry of Jesus, with seven "Book of Signs, signs" culminating in the raising of Lazarus (foreshadowing the ...

;"Lord, into Thy hands I commend my spirit." :—

Charlemagne Charlemagne ( ; 2 April 748 – 28 January 814) was List of Frankish kings, King of the Franks from 768, List of kings of the Lombards, King of the Lombards from 774, and Holy Roman Emperor, Emperor of what is now known as the Carolingian ...

, European monarch (28 January 814), quoting

;"Out! out!" :() :—

Louis the Pious Louis the Pious (; ; ; 16 April 778 – 20 June 840), also called the Fair and the Debonaire, was King of the Franks and Holy Roman Emperor, co-emperor with his father, Charlemagne, from 813. He was also King of Aquitaine from 781. As the only ...

King of the Franks The Franks, Germanic peoples that invaded the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century, were first led by individuals called dux, dukes and monarch, reguli. The earliest group of Franks that rose to prominence was the Salian Franks, Salian Mero ...

(20 June 840), after turning his face to the wall before dying ;"The piglets would grunt if they knew how the old boar is suffering!" :() :—

Ragnar Lodbrok Ragnar Lodbrok (Old Norse: ''Ragnarr loðbrók'', ), according to legends, was a Viking hero and a Legendary Kings of Sweden, Swedish and Legendary kings of Denmark, Danish king.Ælla of Northumbria ;"Thou my dear son, set thee now beside me, and I will deliver thee true instructions. My son, I feel that my hour is coming. My countenance is wan. My days are almost done. We must now part. I shall to another world, and thou shalt be left alone in all my wealth. I pray thee (for thou art my dear child) strive to be a father, and a lord to thy people. Be thou the children's father, and the widow's friend. Comfort thou the poor, and shelter the weak; and, with all thy might, right that which is wrong. And, son, govern thyself, by law; then shall the Lord love thee, and God above all things shall be thy reward. Call thou upon him to advise thee in all thy need, and so shall he help thee, the better to compass that which thou wouldest." :—

Alfred the Great Alfred the Great ( ; – 26 October 899) was King of the West Saxons from 871 to 886, and King of the Anglo-Saxons from 886 until his death in 899. He was the youngest son of King Æthelwulf and his first wife Osburh, who both died when Alfr ...

king of the Anglo-Saxons This list of kings and reigning queens of the Kingdom of England begins with Alfred the Great, who initially ruled Wessex, one of the heptarchy, seven Anglo-Saxon kingdoms which later made up modern England. Alfred styled himself king of the ...

(26 October 899), to his son,

Edward the Elder Edward the Elder (870s?17 July 924) was King of the Anglo-Saxons from 899 until his death in 924. He was the elder son of Alfred the Great and his wife Ealhswith. When Edward succeeded to the throne, he had to defeat a challenge from his cousi ...

;"I have now reigned above fifty years in victory or peace; beloved by my subjects, dreaded by my enemies, and respected by my allies. Riches and honors, power and pleasure, have waited on my call, nor does any earthly blessing appear to have been wanting to my felicity. In this situation, I have diligently numbered the days of pure and genuine happiness which have fallen to my lot: they amount to Fourteen:—O man! place not thy confidence in this present world!" :— Abd al-Rahman III, first

Caliph of Córdoba A caliphate ( ) is an institution or public office under the leadership of an Islamic steward with Khalifa, the title of caliph (; , ), a person considered a political–religious successor to the Islamic prophet Muhammad and a leader of ...

(15 October 961) ;"You urge me in vain. I am not the man to provide Christian flesh for pagan teeth to devour, and it would be so acting if I delivered unto you that which the poor have laid by for their subsistence." :() :—

Ælfheah of Canterbury Ælfheah ( – 19 April 1012), more commonly known today as Alphege, was an Anglo-Saxon Bishop of Winchester, later Archbishop of Canterbury. He became an anchorite before being elected abbot of Bath Abbey. His reputation for piety and sa ...

Archbishop of Canterbury The archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and a principal leader of the Church of England, the Primus inter pares, ceremonial head of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the bishop of the diocese of Canterbury. The first archbishop ...

(19 April 1012), refusing to pay ransom before being killed by his Danish captors ;"How shameful it is that I, who could not die in so many battles, should have been saved for the ignominious death of a cow! At least clothe me in my impenetrable breastplate, gird me with my sword, place my helmet on my head, my shield in my left hand, my gilded battle-axe in my right, that I, the bravest of soldiers, may die like a soldier." :—

Siward, Earl of Northumbria Siward ( or more recently ; ) or Sigurd (, ) was an important earl of 11th-century northern England. The Old Norse nickname ''Digri'' and its Latin translation ''Grossus'' ("the stout") are given to him by near-contemporary texts. It is possibl ...

(1055), dying of

dysentery Dysentery ( , ), historically known as the bloody flux, is a type of gastroenteritis that results in bloody diarrhea. Other symptoms may include fever, abdominal pain, and a feeling of incomplete defecation. Complications may include dehyd ...

;"I have loved justice and hated iniquity; therefore I die in exile." :() :—

Pope Gregory VII Pope Gregory VII (; 1015 – 25 May 1085), born Hildebrand of Sovana (), was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 22 April 1073 to his death in 1085. He is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church. One of the great ...

(25 May 1085), in exile in

Salerno Salerno (, ; ; ) is an ancient city and ''comune'' (municipality) in Campania, southwestern Italy, and is the capital of the namesake province, being the second largest city in the region by number of inhabitants, after Naples. It is located ...

due to his conflicts with

Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV (; 11 November 1050 – 7 August 1106) was Holy Roman Emperor from 1084 to 1105, King of Germany from 1054 to 1105, King of Italy and List of kings of Burgundy, Burgundy from 1056 to 1105, and Duke of Bavaria from 1052 to 1054. He was t ...

;"Then to our blessed Lady Mary, the mother of God, I commend myself. May she, by her holy intercessions, reconcile me to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. God be merciful to—" :—

William the Conqueror William the Conqueror (Bates ''William the Conqueror'' p. 33– 9 September 1087), sometimes called William the Bastard, was the first Norman king of England (as William I), reigning from 1066 until his death. A descendant of Rollo, he was D ...

, King of England (9 September 1087), after hearing bell ringing

Prime A prime number (or a prime) is a natural number greater than 1 that is not a product of two smaller natural numbers. A natural number greater than 1 that is not prime is called a composite number. For example, 5 is prime because the only ways ...

;"I shall not long hesitate between conscience and the Pope, for I shall soon appear in the presence of God, to be acquitted, I hope; to be condemned, I fear." :—

Berengar of Tours Berengar of Tours (died 6 January 1088), in Latin Berengarius Turonensis, was an 11th-century French Christian theologian and archdeacon of Angers, a scholar whose leadership of the cathedral school at Chartres set an example of intellectual i ...

, French Christian theologian (6 January 1088), dying in ascetic solitude on the island of Saint-Cosme near

Tours Tours ( ; ) is the largest city in the region of Centre-Val de Loire, France. It is the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Departments of France, department of Indre-et-Loire. The Communes of France, commune of Tours had 136,463 inhabita ...

;"Shoot, Walter, in the devil's name!" :—

William II of England William II (; – 2 August 1100) was List of English monarchs, King of England from 26 September 1087 until his death in 1100, with powers over Duchy of Normandy, Normandy and influence in Kingdom of Scotland, Scotland. He was less successfu ...

(2 August 1100), to Walter Tirel, who allegedly shot the king in a hunting accident ;"Yes, if it be His will, I shall obey it willingly. But were He to let me stay with you a little longer till I have resolved a problem about the origin of the soul, I would gladly accept the boon; for I do not know whether anyone will work it out when I am gone. If I could but eat, I think I should pick up a little strength. I feel no pain in any part of my body; only I cannot retain nourishment, and that exhausts me." :—

Anselm of Canterbury Anselm of Canterbury OSB (; 1033/4–1109), also known as (, ) after his birthplace and () after his monastery, was an Italian Benedictine monk, abbot, philosopher, and theologian of the Catholic Church, who served as Archbishop of Canterb ...

(21 April 1109) ;"I wished to do more harm than I could." :() :—

Ranulf Flambard Ranulf Flambard ( c. 1060 – 5 September 1128) was a medieval Norman Bishop of Durham and an influential government official of King William Rufus of England. Ranulf was the son of a priest of Bayeux, Normandy, and his nickname Flamba ...

, Norman

Bishop of Durham The bishop of Durham is head of the diocese of Durham in the province of York. The diocese is one of the oldest in England and its bishop is a member of the House of Lords. Paul Butler (bishop), Paul Butler was the most recent bishop of Durham u ...

and government minister (5 September 1128) ;"I don't know." :() :—

Peter Abelard Peter Abelard (12 February 1079 – 21 April 1142) was a medieval French scholastic philosopher, leading logician, theologian, teacher, musician, composer, and poet. This source has a detailed description of his philosophical work. In philos ...

, French philosopher and theologian (21 April 1142) ;"May God's will be done." :—

Bernard of Clairvaux Bernard of Clairvaux, Cistercians, O.Cist. (; 109020 August 1153), venerated as Saint Bernard, was an abbot, Mysticism, mystic, co-founder of the Knights Templar, and a major leader in the reform of the Benedictines through the nascent Cistercia ...

, Burgundian abbot (20 August 1153), on being told he was dying ;"Let us complete the Service of Offering, the rest of Holy Mass I will celebrate elsewhere!" :() :— Eric the Holy, Swedish king (18 May 1160) just before being decapitated by his successor Magnus Henriksson ;"In death at last let me rest with

Abelard Peter Abelard (12 February 1079 – 21 April 1142) was a medieval French scholastic philosopher, leading logician, theologian, teacher, musician, composer, and poet. This source has a detailed description of his philosophical work. In philo ...

." :— Héloïse, French nun, philosopher, writer, scholar and abbess (16 May 1163–64?) Pictures of English History Plate XX - Murder of Thomas A Becket

;"For the name of Jesus and the protection of the church I am ready to embrace death." :—

Thomas Becket Thomas Becket (), also known as Saint Thomas of Canterbury, Thomas of London and later Thomas à Becket (21 December 1119 or 1120 – 29 December 1170), served as Lord Chancellor from 1155 to 1162, and then as Archbishop of Canterbury fr ...

(29 December 1170), to his murderers ;"Lord, have mercy upon me. Wilt thou break a bruised reed?" :—

Andronikos I Komnenos Andronikos I Komnenos (; – 12 September 1185), Latinized as Andronicus I Comnenus, was Byzantine emperor from 1183 to 1185. A nephew of John II Komnenos (1118–1143), Andronikos rose to fame in the reign of his cousin Manuel I Komne ...

Byzantine Emperor The foundation of Constantinople in 330 AD marks the conventional start of the Eastern Roman Empire, which Fall of Constantinople, fell to the Ottoman Empire in 1453 AD. Only the emperors who were recognized as legitimate rulers and exercised s ...

(12 September 1185), lynched by his former subjects ;"Now let the world go as it will; I care for nothing more." :—

Henry II of England Henry II () was King of England The monarchy of the United Kingdom, commonly referred to as the British monarchy, is the form of government used by the United Kingdom by which a hereditary monarch reigns as the head of state, with the ...

(6 July 1189), on being told his son

John John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second E ...

was one of those conspiring against him ;"When I am buried, carry my winding-sheet on the point of a spear, and say these words: Behold the spoils which Saladin carries with him! Of all his victories, realms, and riches, nothing remains to him but this." :—

Saladin Salah ad-Din Yusuf ibn Ayyub ( – 4 March 1193), commonly known as Saladin, was the founder of the Ayyubid dynasty. Hailing from a Kurdish family, he was the first sultan of both Egypt and Syria. An important figure of the Third Crusade, h ...

, first sultan of Egypt and Syria (4 March 1193) ;"Youth, I forgive thee! Take off his chains, give him 100 shillings, and let him go." :—

Richard I of England Richard I (8 September 1157 – 6 April 1199), known as Richard the Lionheart or Richard Cœur de Lion () because of his reputation as a great military leader and warrior, was King of England from 1189 until his death in 1199. He also ru ...

(6 April 1199), with reference to the young man who had mortally wounded him with a crossbow ;"Under the feet of my friars." :—

Saint Dominic Saint Dominic, (; 8 August 1170 – 6 August 1221), also known as Dominic de Guzmán (), was a Castilians, Castilian Catholic priest and the founder of the Dominican Order. He is the patron saint of astronomers and natural scientists, and he a ...

, Castilian Catholic priest, founder of the

Dominican Order The Order of Preachers (, abbreviated OP), commonly known as the Dominican Order, is a Catholic Church, Catholic mendicant order of pontifical right that was founded in France by a Castilians, Castilian priest named Saint Dominic, Dominic de Gu ...

, when asked where he wanted to be buried (6 August 1221) ;"I have sinned against my brother, the ass." :—

Francis of Assisi Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone ( 1181 – 3 October 1226), known as Francis of Assisi, was an Italians, Italian Mysticism, mystic, poet and Friar, Catholic friar who founded the religious order of the Franciscans. Inspired to lead a Chris ...

, Italian Catholic friar (3 October 1226) ;"Let not my end disarm you, and on no account weep or keen for me, lest the enemy be warned of my death." :() :—

Genghis Khan Genghis Khan (born Temüjin; August 1227), also known as Chinggis Khan, was the founder and first khan (title), khan of the Mongol Empire. After spending most of his life uniting the Mongols, Mongol tribes, he launched Mongol invasions and ...

, warlord and khan of Mongolia (18 August 1227) ;"I see my God. He calls me to Him." :—

Anthony of Padua Anthony of Padua, Order of Friars Minor, OFM, (; ; ) or Anthony of Lisbon (; ; ; born Fernando Martins de Bulhões; 15 August 1195 – 13 June 1231) was a Portuguese people, Portuguese Catholic priest and member of the Order of Friars Minor. ...

, Portuguese Catholic priest and

Franciscan The Franciscans are a group of related organizations in the Catholic Church, founded or inspired by the Italian saint Francis of Assisi. They include three independent Religious institute, religious orders for men (the Order of Friars Minor bei ...

friar (13 June 1231) ;"Don't cut my face." :() :— Skule Bårdsson, Norwegian nobleman (24 May 1240), before being killed by supporters of King

Haakon IV of Norway Haakon IV Haakonsson ( – 16 December 1263; ; ), sometimes called Haakon the Old in contrast to his namesake son, was King of Norway from 1217 to 1263. His reign lasted for 46 years, longer than any Norwegian king since Harald Fairhair. Haak ...

A Chronicle of England - Page 251 - Death of de Montfort

;"By the arm of St. James, it is time to die." :—

Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester, 1st Earl of Chester ( – 4 August 1265), also known as Simon V de Montfort, was an English nobleman of French origin and a member of the Peerage of England, English peerage, who led the baronial opposi ...

(4 August 1265), before dying at the

Battle of Evesham The Battle of Evesham (4 August 1265) was one of the two main battles of 13th century England's Second Barons' War. It marked the defeat of Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester, and the rebellious barons by the future King Edward I, who led t ...

;"O my mother! how deep will be thy sorrow at the news of this day!" :—

Conradin Conrad III (25 March 1252 – 29 October 1268), called ''the Younger'' or ''the Boy'', but usually known by the diminutive Conradin (, ), was the last direct heir of the House of Hohenstaufen. He was Duke of Swabia (1254–1268) and nominal King ...

, last direct heir of the House of

Hohenstaufen The Hohenstaufen dynasty (, , ), also known as the Staufer, was a noble family of unclear origin that rose to rule the Duchy of Swabia from 1079, and to royal rule in the Holy Roman Empire during the Middle Ages from 1138 until 1254. The dynast ...

(29 October 1268), prior to execution by beheading at the age of 16 ;"I will enter thy house. I will worship in Thy sanctuary." :—

Louis IX of France Louis IX (25 April 1214 – 25 August 1270), also known as Saint Louis, was King of France from 1226 until his death in 1270. He is widely recognized as the most distinguished of the Direct Capetians. Following the death of his father, Louis VI ...

(25 August 1270) ;"I have written and taught much about this very holy Body, and about the other sacraments in the faith of Christ, and about the Holy Roman Church, to whose correction I expose and submit everything I have written." :—

Thomas Aquinas Thomas Aquinas ( ; ; – 7 March 1274) was an Italian Dominican Order, Dominican friar and Catholic priest, priest, the foremost Scholasticism, Scholastic thinker, as well as one of the most influential philosophers and theologians in the W ...

, Italian dominican theologian and philosopher (7 March 1274), as he received his last rites :"I am on the way to Spires to visit the kings, my predecessors." :—

Rudolf I of Germany Rudolf I (1 May 1218 – 15 July 1291) was the first King of Germany of the Habsburg dynasty from 1273 until his death. Rudolf's imperial election of 1273, election marked the end of the Interregnum (Holy Roman Empire), Great Interregnum whic ...

(15 July 1291); he was buried at

Speyer Cathedral Speyer Cathedral, officially ''the Imperial Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption and St Stephen'', in Latin: Domus sanctae Mariae Spirae (German: ''Dom zu Unserer lieben Frau in Speyer'') in Speyer, Germany, is the seat of the Roman Catholic Bish ...

;"Carry my bones before you on your march, for the rebels will not be able to endure the sight of me, alive or dead." :—

Edward I of England Edward I (17/18 June 1239 – 7 July 1307), also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots (Latin: Malleus Scotorum), was King of England from 1272 to 1307. Concurrently, he was Lord of Ireland, and from 1254 ...

(7 July 1307), to his son,

Edward II of England Edward II (25 April 1284 – 21 September 1327), also known as Edward of Caernarfon or Caernarvon, was King of England from 1307 until he was deposed in January 1327. The fourth son of Edward I, Edward became the heir to the throne follo ...

, while dying during a war with Scotland ;" Pope Clement, Chevalier

Guillaume de Nogaret Guillaume de Nogaret (c. 1260 April 1313) was a French statesman, councilor and keeper of the seal to Philip IV of France. Early life Nogaret was born in Saint-Félix-Lauragais, Haute-Garonne. The family held a small ancestral property o ...

, King Philip! I summon you to the Tribunal of Heaven before the year is out!" :—

Jacques de Molay Jacques de Molay (; 1240–1250 – 11 or 18 March 1314), also spelled "Molai",Demurger, pp. 1–4. "So no conclusive decision can be reached, and we must stay in the realm of approximations, confining ourselves to placing Molay's date of birth ...

, last Grand Master of the Knights Templar (11 or 18 March 1314), before being

burned at the stake Death by burning is an list of execution methods, execution, murder, or suicide method involving combustion or exposure to extreme heat. It has a long history as a form of public capital punishment, and many societies have employed it as a puni ...

;"King of heaven, do thou have mercy on me, for the king of earth hath forsaken me." :— Thomas, 2nd Earl of Lancaster (22 March 1322), before beheading for treason against his cousin,

;"I have not told half of what I saw." :() :—

Marco Polo Marco Polo (; ; ; 8 January 1324) was a Republic of Venice, Venetian merchant, explorer and writer who travelled through Asia along the Silk Road between 1271 and 1295. His travels are recorded in ''The Travels of Marco Polo'' (also known a ...

, Venetian traveller in Asia ( January 9, 1324), responding to skepticism about the content of his memoir, ''

The Travels of Marco Polo ''Book of the Marvels of the World'' ( Italian: , lit. 'The Million', possibly derived from Polo's nickname "Emilione"), in English commonly called ''The Travels of Marco Polo'', is a 13th-century travelogue written down by Rustichello da Pis ...

'' ;"I give thee thanks, O God, for all thy benefits, and with all the pains of my soul I humbly beseech thy mercy to give me remission of those sins I have wickedly committed against thee; and of all mortal men whom willingly or ignorantly I have offended, with all my heart I desire forgiveness." :—

Edward the Black Prince Edward of Woodstock (15 June 1330 – 8 June 1376), known as the Black Prince, was the eldest son and heir apparent of King Edward III of England. He died before his father and so his son, Richard II, succeeded to the throne instead. Edward n ...

, heir to the English throne (8 June 1376) ;"Jesus." :—

Edward III of England Edward III (13 November 1312 – 21 June 1377), also known as Edward of Windsor before his accession, was King of England from January 1327 until his death in 1377. He is noted for his military success and for restoring royal authority after t ...

(21 June 1377), kissing a

crucifix A crucifix (from the Latin meaning '(one) fixed to a cross') is a cross with an image of Jesus on it, as distinct from a bare cross. The representation of Jesus himself on the cross is referred to in English as the (Latin for 'body'). The cru ...

;"Ah, Jesus!" :—

Charles V of France Charles V (21 January 1338 – 16 September 1380), called the Wise (; ), was King of France from 1364 to his death in 1380. His reign marked an early high point for France during the Hundred Years' War as his armies recovered much of the terri ...

(16 September 1380) ;"Because they are all under my command, they are sworn to do what I bid them." :—

Wat Tyler Wat Tyler (1341 or – 15 June 1381) was a leader of the 1381 Peasants' Revolt in Kingdom of England, England. He led a group of rebels from Canterbury to City of London, London to oppose the collection of a Tax per head, poll tax and to dem ...

, leader of the

Peasants' Revolt The Peasants' Revolt, also named Wat Tyler's Rebellion or the Great Rising, was a major uprising across large parts of England in 1381. The revolt had various causes, including the socio-economic and political tensions generated by the Black ...

(15 June 1381), prior to being killed by officers loyal to

Richard II of England Richard II (6 January 1367 – ), also known as Richard of Bordeaux, was King of England from 1377 until he was deposed in 1399. He was the son of Edward the Black Prince, Edward, Prince of Wales (later known as the Black Prince), and Jo ...

;"I am a dead man! Lord, have mercy upon me!" :— Gaston III, Count of Foix (1 August 1391)

15th century

;"Never yet has death been frightened away by screaming." :—

Timur Timur, also known as Tamerlane (1320s17/18 February 1405), was a Turco-Mongol conqueror who founded the Timurid Empire in and around modern-day Afghanistan, Iran, and Central Asia, becoming the first ruler of the Timurid dynasty. An undefeat ...

Turco-Mongol The Turco-Mongol or Turko-Mongol tradition was an ethnocultural synthesis that arose in Asia during the 14th century among the ruling elites of the Golden Horde and the Chagatai Khanate. The ruling Mongol elites of these khanates eventually ass ...

conqueror, founder of the

Timurid Empire The Timurid Empire was a late medieval, culturally Persianate, Turco-Mongol empire that dominated Greater Iran in the early 15th century, comprising modern-day Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, much of Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and parts of co ...

(17–19 February 1405) ;"We are now to sail home, at once!" :() :—

Margaret Margaret is a feminine given name, which means "pearl". It is of Latin origin, via Ancient Greek and ultimately from Iranian languages, Old Iranian. It has been an English language, English name since the 11th century, and remained popular thro ...

, Queen of Denmark, Norway and Sweden (28 October 1412) afflicted with the plague in

Flensburg Flensburg (; Danish language, Danish and ; ; ) is an independent city, independent town in the far north of the Germany, German state of Schleswig-Holstein. After Kiel and Lübeck, it is the third-largest city in Schleswig-Holstein. Flensburg's ...

harbor ;"O, holy simplicity!" :() :—

Jan Hus Jan Hus (; ; 1369 – 6 July 1415), sometimes anglicized as John Hus or John Huss, and referred to in historical texts as ''Iohannes Hus'' or ''Johannes Huss'', was a Czechs, Czech theologian and philosopher who became a Church reformer and t ...

, Czech theologian and church reformer (6 July 1415). While being burned at the stake for heresy, he saw an old woman throw a small amount of brushwood onto the fire. ;"O Lord God, Father Almighty, have mercy upon me, and be merciful unto mine offences, for thou knowest how sincerely I have loved Thy truth." :— Jerome of Prague, Czech scholastic philosopher and theologian (30 May 1416), burned for heresy ;"Make my skin into drumheads for the Bohemian cause." :—

Jan Žižka Jan Žižka z Trocnova a Kalicha (; 1360 – 11 October 1424) was a Czechs, Czech military leader and Knight who was a contemporary and follower of Jan Hus, and a prominent Radical Hussite who led the Taborites, Taborite faction during the Hu ...

, Czech general (11 October 1424) ;"I die content, after living the prescribed time, and leaving you, my sons, in affluence and health, placed in such a situation as, if you follow my example, will enable you to live honored and respected. I recall nothing in my life with so much pleasure as having given offence to no one, and having tried to serve all men as far as possible. I advise you to act thus, if you would live securely, accepting only those honors as the laws and favor of the state confer upon you; for it is the exercise of power that has been violently—not voluntarily—obtained, that occasions hatred and strife." :—

Giovanni di Bicci de' Medici Giovanni di Bicci de' Medici ( – February 1429) was an Italian banker and founder of the Medici Bank. While other members of the Medici family, such as Chiarissimo di Giambuono de' Medici, who served in the Signoria of Florence in 1401, and ...

, Italian banker (February 1429) ;"Hold the

cross A cross is a religious symbol consisting of two Intersection (set theory), intersecting Line (geometry), lines, usually perpendicular to each other. The lines usually run vertically and horizontally. A cross of oblique lines, in the shape of t ...

high so I may see it through the flames!" :—

Joan of Arc Joan of Arc ( ; ; – 30 May 1431) is a patron saint of France, honored as a defender of the French nation for her role in the siege of Orléans and her insistence on the Coronation of the French monarch, coronation of Charles VII o ...

, French military leader and mystic (30 May 1431), while she was burning at the stake ;"Fie on life! Speak no more of it to me." :() :—

Margaret Stewart, Dauphine of France :''See also Margaret Stewart (disambiguation), Margaret Stewart.'' Margaret Stewart (; 25 December 1424 – 16 August 1445) was a princess of Kingdom of Scotland, Scotland and the dauphine of France. She was the firstborn child of King James I of ...

(16 August 1445) ;"O Gabriel, Gabriel, better would it have been for you to have been neither pope, nor cardinal, nor bishop, but to have finished your days as you commenced them, following peaceably in the monastery the exercises of your order." :—

Pope Eugene IV Pope Eugene IV (; ; 1383 – 23 February 1447), born Gabriele Condulmer, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 11 March 1431 to his death, in February 1447. Condulmer was a Republic of Venice, Venetian, and a nephew ...

(born Gabriele Condulmer) (23 February 1447) ;"Will not all my riches save me? What, is there no bribing death?" :— Henry Beaufort (11 April 1447), Cardinal,

Bishop of Winchester The Bishop of Winchester is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Winchester in the Church of England. The bishop's seat (''cathedra'') is at Winchester Cathedral in Hampshire. The Bishop of Winchester has always held ''ex officio'' the offic ...

;"God forbid that I should live as an Emperor without an Empire. As my city falls, I will fall with it. Whosoever wishes to escape, let him save himself if he can, and whoever is ready to face death, let him follow me." :- Constantine XI (29 May 1453),

Byzantine Empire The Byzantine Empire, also known as the Eastern Roman Empire, was the continuation of the Roman Empire centred on Constantinople during late antiquity and the Middle Ages. Having survived History of the Roman Empire, the events that caused the ...

, before charging into ottoman lines during the Fall of Constantinople, he was never seen again. ;"Were I born the son of a farmer, and became a friar of the Abrojo, and not the king of Castile." :"" :—

John II of Castile John II of Castile (; 6 March 1405 – 20 July 1454) was King of Castile and León from 1406 to 1454. He succeeded his older sister, Maria of Castile, Queen of Aragon, as Prince of Asturias in 1405. Regency John was the son of King Henry ...

(22 July 1454),

King of Castile This is a list of kings regnant and queens regnant of the Kingdom of Castile, Kingdom and Crown of Castile. For their predecessors, see List of Castilian counts. Kings and Queens of Castile Jiménez dynasty House of Ivrea / Burgundy ...

;"I was born as a lily in the garden, and like the lily I grew, as my age advanced / I became old and had to die, and so I withered and died." :— Pachacuti ( 1471/1472),

Sapa Inca The Sapa Inca (from ; ) was the monarch of the Inca Empire (''Tawantinsuyu'' "the region of the four rovinces), as well as ruler of the earlier Kingdom of Cusco and the later Neo-Inca State at Vilcabamba, Peru, Vilcabamba. While the origins ...

and founder of the

Inca Empire The Inca Empire, officially known as the Realm of the Four Parts (, ), was the largest empire in pre-Columbian America. The administrative, political, and military center of the empire was in the city of Cusco. The History of the Incas, Inca ...

, poem composed on his deathbed ;"Our Lady of Embrun, my good mistress, help me." :() :—

Louis XI Louis XI (3 July 1423 – 30 August 1483), called "Louis the Prudent" (), was King of France from 1461 to 1483. He succeeded his father, Charles VII. Louis entered into open rebellion against his father in a short-lived revolt known as the ...

, King of France (30 August 1483) ;"Treason! treason!" :—

Richard III of England Richard III (2 October 1452 – 22 August 1485) was King of England from 26 June 1483 until his death in 1485. He was the last king of the Plantagenet dynasty and its cadet branch the House of York. His defeat and death at the Battle of Bosw ...

(22 August 1485), when deserted by his best troops at the

Battle of Bosworth Field The Battle of Bosworth or Bosworth Field ( ) was the last significant battle of the Wars of the Roses, the civil war between the houses of House of Lancaster, Lancaster and House of York, York that extended across England in the latter half ...

;"I know only Jesus the crucified." :—

Wessel Gansfort Wessel Harmensz Gansfort (1419 – 4 October 1489) was a theologian and early humanist of the northern Low Countries. Many variations of his last name are seen and he is sometimes incorrectly called Johan Wessel. Gansfort has been called one of ...

, Dutch theologian and humanist (4 October 1489) ;"I hope never again to commit a

mortal sin A mortal sin (), in Christian theology, is a gravely sinful act which can lead to damnation if a person does not repent of the sin before death. It is alternatively called deadly, grave, and serious; the concept of mortal sin is found in both ...

, nor even a venial one, if I can help it." :—

Charles VIII of France Charles VIII, called the Affable (; 30 June 1470 – 7 April 1498), was King of France from 1483 to his death in 1498. He succeeded his father Louis XI at the age of 13. His elder sister Anne acted as regent jointly with her husband Peter II, Du ...

(7 April 1498) ;"My Lord died innocent of all crimes, for my sins; and shall not I willingly give my soul for the love of Him." :—

Girolamo Savonarola Girolamo Savonarola, OP (, ; ; 21 September 1452 – 23 May 1498), also referred to as Jerome Savonarola, was an ascetic Dominican friar from Ferrara and a preacher active in Renaissance Florence. He became known for his prophecies of civic ...

, Italian

Dominican friar The Order of Preachers (, abbreviated OP), commonly known as the Dominican Order, is a Catholic mendicant order of pontifical right that was founded in France by a Castilian priest named Dominic de Guzmán. It was approved by Pope Honorius ...

(23 May 1498), when asked before his execution if he was resigned to death

16th century

;"All right, all right, I'm coming. Wait a moment." :() :—

Pope Alexander VI Pope Alexander VI (, , ; born Roderic Llançol i de Borja; epithet: ''Valentinus'' ("The Valencian"); – 18 August 1503) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 11 August 1492 until his death in 1503. Born into t ...

(18 August 1503) ;"Into Your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit." :() :—

Christopher Columbus Christopher Columbus (; between 25 August and 31 October 1451 – 20 May 1506) was an Italians, Italian explorer and navigator from the Republic of Genoa who completed Voyages of Christopher Columbus, four Spanish-based voyages across the At ...

, Italian explorer (20 May 1506), quoting

;"I have taken care of everything in life, only not for death—and now I have to die completely unprepared." :—

Cesare Borgia Cesare Borgia (13 September 1475 – 12 March 1507) was a Cardinal (Catholic Church)#Cardinal_deacons, cardinal deacon and later an Italians, Italian ''condottieri, condottiero''. He was the illegitimate son of Pope Alexander VI of the Aragonese ...

, Italian politician and ''

condottiero Condottieri (; singular: ''condottiero'' or ''condottiere'') were Italian military leaders active during the Middle Ages and the early modern period. The term originally referred specifically to commanders of mercenary companies, derived from the ...

'' (12 March 1507) ;"We heartily desire our executors to consider how behoofful it is to be prayed for." :—

Henry VII of England Henry VII (28 January 1457 – 21 April 1509), also known as Henry Tudor, was King of England and Lord of Ireland from his seizure of the crown on 22 August 1485 until his death in 1509. He was the first monarch of the House of Tudor. Henr ...

(21 April 1509) ;"I believe." :— Georges d'Amboise, French Roman Catholic cardinal and minister of state (25 May 1510) ;"That is false. I always have served my king loyally and sought to add to his domains." :—

Vasco Núñez de Balboa Vasco Núñez de Balboa (; c. 1475around January 12–21, 1519) was a Spanish people, Spanish explorer, governor, and conquistador. He is best known for crossing the Isthmus of Panama to the Pacific Ocean in 1513, becoming the first European to ...

, Spanish explorer, governor and

conquistador Conquistadors (, ) or conquistadores (; ; ) were Spanish Empire, Spanish and Portuguese Empire, Portuguese colonizers who explored, traded with and colonized parts of the Americas, Africa, Oceania and Asia during the Age of Discovery. Sailing ...

(January 1519), on hearing a herald call him a "usurper of the rights of

the Crown The Crown is a political concept used in Commonwealth realms. Depending on the context used, it generally refers to the entirety of the State (polity), state (or in federal realms, the relevant level of government in that state), the executive ...

" while on the way to his execution by decapitation Francois Ier Leonard de Vinci-Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres

;"I have offended God and mankind because my work did not reach the quality it should have." :() :—

Leonardo da Vinci Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci (15 April 1452 - 2 May 1519) was an Italian polymath of the High Renaissance who was active as a painter, draughtsman, engineer, scientist, theorist, sculptor, and architect. While his fame initially rested o ...

, Italian artist and scientist (2 May 1519), to King

Francis I of France Francis I (; ; 12 September 1494 – 31 March 1547) was King of France from 1515 until his death in 1547. He was the son of Charles, Count of Angoulême, and Louise of Savoy. He succeeded his first cousin once removed and father-in-law Louis&nbs ...

;"Happy." :—

Raphael Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino (; March 28 or April 6, 1483April 6, 1520), now generally known in English as Raphael ( , ), was an Italian painter and architect of the High Renaissance. List of paintings by Raphael, His work is admired for its cl ...

, Italian artist (6 April 1520) ;"I confide to your care my beloved children, the most precious jewels I can leave you. The great monarch beyond the ocean will interest himself to see that they come into their inheritance, if you present before him their just claims. I know your master will do this, if for no other reason, then for the kindness I have shown the Spaniards, though it has occasioned my ruin. For all my misfortunes, Malinche, I bear you no ill will." :—

Moctezuma II Moctezuma Xocoyotzin . ( – 29 June 1520), retroactively referred to in European sources as Moctezuma II, and often simply called Montezuma,Other variant spellings include Moctezuma, Motewksomah, Motecuhzomatzin, Moteuczoma, Motecuhzoma, Motē ...

, '' Huey Tlatoani'' or Emperor of the

Aztec Empire The Aztec Empire, also known as the Triple Alliance (, Help:IPA/Nahuatl, �jéːʃkaːn̥ t͡ɬaʔtoːˈlóːjaːn̥ or the Tenochca Empire, was an alliance of three Nahuas, Nahua altepetl, city-states: , , and . These three city-states rul ...

(29 June 1520), to

Hernán Cortés Hernán Cortés de Monroy y Pizarro Altamirano, 1st Marquis of the Valley of Oaxaca (December 1485 – December 2, 1547) was a Spanish ''conquistador'' who led an expedition that caused the fall of the Aztec Empire and brought large portions o ...

(calling him by the name of his interpreter, La Malinche) ;"I have been murdered; no remedy can prevent my speedy death." :—

Pope Leo X Pope Leo X (; born Giovanni di Lorenzo de' Medici, 11 December 14751 December 1521) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 9 March 1513 to his death in December 1521. Born into the prominent political and banking Med ...

(1 December 1521), rumored to have died by poison ;"I am curious to see what happens in the next world to one who dies unshriven." :—

Pietro Perugino Pietro Perugino ( ; ; born Pietro Vannucci or Pietro Vanucci; – 1523), an Italian Renaissance painter of the Umbrian school, developed some of the qualities that found classic expression in the High Renaissance. Raphael became his most famou ...

, Italian artist (1523), declining the

last rites The last rites, also known as the Commendation of the Dying, are the last prayers and ministrations given to an individual of Christian faith, when possible, shortly before death. The Commendation of the Dying is practiced in liturgical Chri ...

;"I have already confessed my sins to God." :—

Franz von Sickingen Franz von Sickingen (; 2 March 14817 May 1523) was a knight of the Holy Roman Empire who, with Ulrich von Hutten, led the so-called " Knights' War," and was one of the most notable figures of the early period of the Protestant Reformation. Sic ...

, German knight and Protestant leader (7 May 1523), when his chaplain asked if he wanted to confess prior to his death defending his castle ;"At least I may die facing the enemy." :— Pierre Terrail, seigneur de Bayard, French knight (30 April 1524), mortally wounded at the Battle of the Sesia (1524) ;"I desire to go to hell, and not to heaven. In the former place I shall enjoy the company of popes, kings, and princes, while in the latter are only beggars, monks, hermits, and apostles." :—

Niccolò Machiavelli Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli (3 May 1469 – 21 June 1527) was a Florentine diplomat, author, philosopher, and historian who lived during the Italian Renaissance. He is best known for his political treatise '' The Prince'' (), writte ...

(21 June 1527), Italian Renaissance diplomat, philosopher and writer ;"How long, Lord, shall darkness cover this land? How long wilt thou suffer this tyranny of men? Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." :— Patrick Hamilton, Scottish churchman (29 February 1528), while being burned at the stake ;"Master Kyngston, I pray you have me commended to

his Grace His Grace and Her Grace are English Style (manner of address), styles of address used with high-ranking personages, and was the style for English monarchs until Henry VIII (r. 1509–1547), and for Scottish monarchs until the Act of Union (1707), ...

, and beseech him, in my behalf, to call to mind all things that have passed between us, especially concerning good Queen Katharine and himself, and then shall his Grace's conscience know whether I have offended him or not. He is a prince of most royal courage, and rather than miss any part of his will, he will endanger one-half of his kingdom; and, I do assure you, I have often knelt before him, sometimes for three hours together, to persuade him from his appetite, and could not prevail. ;"And, Master Kyngston, had I but served God as diligently as I have served the king, he would not have given me over in my gray hairs. But this is my just reward for my pains and study, not regarding my service to God, but only my duty to my Prince." :—

Thomas Wolsey Thomas Wolsey ( ; – 29 November 1530) was an English statesman and Catholic cardinal (catholic), cardinal. When Henry VIII became King of England in 1509, Wolsey became the king's Lord High Almoner, almoner. Wolsey's affairs prospered and ...

, English archbishop, statesman and cardinal (29 November 1530); to the Lieutenant of the

Tower of London The Tower of London, officially His Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London, is a historic citadel and castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamle ...

, after falling ill on the way to London under arrest for treason ;"I give your brothers to your keeping. Be faithful to them and all the people." :—

Babur Babur (; 14 February 148326 December 1530; born Zahīr ud-Dīn Muhammad) was the founder of the Mughal Empire in the Indian subcontinent. He was a descendant of Timur and Genghis Khan through his father and mother respectively. He was also ...

, founder of the

Mughal Empire The Mughal Empire was an Early modern period, early modern empire in South Asia. At its peak, the empire stretched from the outer fringes of the Indus River Basin in the west, northern Afghanistan in the northwest, and Kashmir in the north, to ...

and first Emperor of the Mughal dynasty (26 December 1530) ;"I pray you, good people, be not the worse to these men on my account, as though they were the authors of my death." :— Thomas Bilney, English Christian martyr (19 August 1531). While he awaited burning for heresy, the friars and people present argued over who was responsible for Bilney's death; the friars threatened to withhold alms from the people if they were blamed Ermordung Zwingli Jauslin

;"Can this be considered a calamity? Well! they can, indeed, kill the body, but they are not able to kill the soul." :—

Huldrych Zwingli Huldrych or Ulrich Zwingli (1 January 1484 – 11 October 1531) was a Swiss Christian theologian, musician, and leader of the Reformation in Switzerland. Born during a time of emerging Swiss patriotism and increasing criticism of the Swis ...

, priest and leader of the

Reformation in Switzerland The Protestant Reformation in Switzerland was promoted initially by Huldrych Zwingli, who gained the support of the magistrate, Mark Reust, and the population of Zürich in the 1520s. It led to significant changes in civil life and state matte ...

(11 October 1531), mortally wounded at the

Battle of Kappel The Second War of Kappel () was an armed conflict in 1531 between the Catholic and the Protestant cantons of the Old Swiss Confederacy during the Reformation in Switzerland. Background The peace concluded after the First War of Kappel two yea ...

;"O ye

papists The words Popery (adjective Popish) and Papism (adjective Papist, also used to refer to an individual) are mainly historical pejorative words in the English language for Roman Catholicism, once frequently used by Protestants and Eastern Orthodox ...

: behold, ye look for miracles, and here now ye may see a miracle, for in this fire I feel no more pain than if I were in a bed of down, but it is to me as sweet as a bed of roses." :—

James Bainham James Bainham (died 30 April 1532) was an English lawyer and Protestant reformer who was burned as a heretic in 1532. Life According to John Foxe he was a son of Sir Alexander Bainham, who was sheriff of Gloucestershire in 1497, 1501, and 1516; ...

, English lawyer and Protestant reformer (30 April 1532), while burning at the stake for heresy ;"That is enough to last till I get to Heaven." :—

William Warham William Warham ( – 22 August 1532) was the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1503 to his death in 1532. Early life and education Warham was the son of Robert Warham of Malshanger in Hampshire. He was educated at Winchester College and New Colleg ...

(22 August 1532), when a servant told him he had thirty pounds left ;"Father, into Thy hands I commend my spirit." :— Ludovica Albertoni, Italian noblewoman, professed member of the

Third Order of Saint Francis The Third Order of Saint Francis, or Franciscan Tertiaries, is the third order of the Franciscan tradition of Christianity, founded by the medieval Italian Catholic friar Francis of Assisi. Francis founded the Third Order, originally called t ...

(31 January 1533), quoting

;"This is not my home." :—

Ludovico Ariosto Ludovico Ariosto (, ; ; 8 September 1474 – 6 July 1533) was an Italian poet. He is best known as the author of the romance epic '' Orlando Furioso'' (1516). The poem, a continuation of Matteo Maria Boiardo's ''Orlando Innamorato'', describ ...

, Italian poet (6 July 1533) The execution of Inca

;"What have I done, or my children, that I should meet such a fate? And from your hands, too, you who have met with friendship and kindness from my people who have received nothing but benefits from my hands." :—

Atahualpa Atahualpa (), also Atawallpa or Ataw Wallpa ( Quechua) ( 150226 July 1533), was the last effective Inca emperor, reigning from April 1532 until his capture and execution in July of the following year, as part of the Spanish conquest of the In ...

, last

of the

(26 July 1533), prior to execution by strangling ;"Begone thou wretched beast, which hast utterly undone me." :() :— Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa, German polymath and occultist (18 February 1535), to his black dog (allegedly his familiar) ;"I die the King's good servant, and God's first." :—

Thomas More Sir Thomas More (7 February 1478 – 6 July 1535), venerated in the Catholic Church as Saint Thomas More, was an English lawyer, judge, social philosopher, author, statesman, theologian, and noted Renaissance humanist. He also served Henry VII ...

, Lord High Chancellor of Britain (6 July 1535), prior to beheading for treason ;"Mine eyes desire thee only. Farewell." :() :—

Catherine of Aragon Catherine of Aragon (also spelt as Katherine, historical Spanish: , now: ; 16 December 1485 – 7 January 1536) was List of English royal consorts, Queen of England as the Wives of Henry VIII, first wife of King Henry VIII from their marr ...

, Queen of England (7 January 1536), closing her last letter to her former husband,

Henry VIII of England Henry VIII (28 June 149128 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. Henry is known for his Wives of Henry VIII, six marriages and his efforts to have his first marriage (to Catherine of Aragon) annulled. ...

;"Masters, I pray you pray for me, for I have deserved this death." :— Mark Smeaton, musician in the household of Queen

Anne Boleyn Anne Boleyn (; 1501 or 1507 – 19 May 1536) was List of English royal consorts, Queen of England from 1533 to 1536, as the Wives of Henry VIII, second wife of King Henry VIII. The circumstances of her marriage and execution, by beheading ...

(17 May 1536), prior to beheading for alleged treason and adultery Anne-boleyn-execution

;"Oh God, have pity on my soul. Oh God, have pity on my soul." :—

, Queen of England (19 May 1536), prior to her execution by beheading ;"Lord! Lord! make an end! make an end!" :() :—

Erasmus Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus ( ; ; 28 October c. 1466 – 12 July 1536), commonly known in English as Erasmus of Rotterdam or simply Erasmus, was a Dutch Christian humanist, Catholic priest and Catholic theology, theologian, educationalist ...

, Dutch Catholic priest and humanist scholar (12 July 1536) ;"Lord, open the King of England's eyes." :—

William Tyndale William Tyndale (; sometimes spelled ''Tynsdale'', ''Tindall'', ''Tindill'', ''Tyndall''; – October 1536) was an English Biblical scholar and linguist who became a leading figure in the Protestantism, Protestant Reformation in the year ...

, English scholar and Bible translator ( 6 October 1536), before being strangled and burned at the stake for heresy ;"None but Christ! None but Christ!" :— John Lambert, English Protestant martyr (22 November 1538), while being burned at the stake ;"May an avenger arise from my bones." :() :— Filippo Strozzi the Younger, Florentine banker (18 December 1538). He carved this line from

's ''

Aeneid The ''Aeneid'' ( ; or ) is a Latin Epic poetry, epic poem that tells the legendary story of Aeneas, a Troy, Trojan who fled the Trojan War#Sack of Troy, fall of Troy and travelled to Italy, where he became the ancestor of the Ancient Rome ...

'' on a mantelpiece with his sword as his suicide note. ;"Death cannot destroy us, for it is destroyed already by Him for Whose sake we suffer." :— Jerome Russell,

friar (1539), burned for heresy in Scotland ;"God be merciful to me, a sinner; Lord Jesus receive my spirit! Miserere mei Deus secundum magnam misericordiam tuam." :— Thomas Forret, vicar of Dollar, Clackmannanshire, burned for heresy (28 February/1 March 1539), quoting

Psalm 51 Psalm 51, one of the penitential psalms, is the 51st psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "Have mercy upon me, O God". In the slightly different numbering system used in the Greek Septuagint and Latin V ...

;"Did you envy my happiness?" :— Francisco de San Roman, Spanish merchant and Protestant martyr (1540). While burning at the stake, he moved his head in a way which caused the friars to believe he had recanted. Upon his removal from the flames, he asked them this question and was then returned to the fire. ;"I die in the traditional faith." :—

Thomas Cromwell Thomas Cromwell (; – 28 July 1540) was an English statesman and lawyer who served as List of English chief ministers, chief minister to King Henry VIII from 1534 to 1540, when he was beheaded on orders of the king, who later blamed false cha ...

, 1st Earl of Essex (28 July 1540), prior to beheading for treason and heresy ;"I trust in no

good works In Christian theology, good works, or simply works, are a person's exterior actions, deeds, and behaviors that align with certain moral teachings, emphasizing compassion, Charity (Christian virtue), charity, kindness and adherence to biblical pri ...

that ever I did, but only in the death of Christ. I do not doubt but through Him to inherit the kingdom of Heaven. But imagine not that I speak against good works, for they are to be done, and verily they that do them not shall never enter into the kingdom of God." :— Robert Barnes, English reformer and Protestant martyr (30 July 1540), while being burned at the stake for heresy ;"Blessed are they who suffer persecution for righteousness' sake." :— Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury (27 May 1541), quoting Matthew 5:10 while an incompetent

executioner An executioner, also known as a hangman or headsman, is an official who effects a sentence of capital punishment on a condemned person. Scope and job The executioner was usually presented with a warrant authorizing or ordering him to ...

attempted to behead her ;"Jesu!" :—

Francisco Pizarro Francisco Pizarro, Marquess of the Atabillos (; ; – 26 June 1541) was a Spanish ''conquistador'', best known for his expeditions that led to the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire. Born in Trujillo, Cáceres, Trujillo, Spain, to a poor fam ...

, Spanish conquistador (26 June 1541), after being stabbed by assassins ;" Luis de Moscoso." :—

Hernando de Soto Hernando de Soto (; ; 1497 – 21 May 1542) was a Spanish explorer and conquistador who was involved in expeditions in Nicaragua and the Yucatan Peninsula. He played an important role in Francisco Pizarro's conquest of the Inca Empire in Peru, ...

, Spanish explorer and conquistador (21 May 1542), naming his successor ;"It he Crown of Scotland">Crown_of_Scotland.html" ;"title="he Crown of Scotland">he Crown of Scotlandcame with a lass, and it will go with a lass." :() :— James V of Scotland (15 December 1542), on being informed of the birth of his daughter and successor,

Mary, Queen of Scots Mary, Queen of Scots (8 December 1542 – 8 February 1587), also known as Mary Stuart or Mary I of Scotland, was List of Scottish monarchs, Queen of Scotland from 14 December 1542 until her forced abdication in 1567. The only surviving legit ...

;"Now, O Lord, set thy servant free." :— Nicolaus Copernicus, mathematician and astronomer (24 May 1543), paraphrasing ;"We are beggars, this is true." :( ) :—

Martin Luther Martin Luther ( ; ; 10 November 1483 – 18 February 1546) was a German priest, Theology, theologian, author, hymnwriter, professor, and former Order of Saint Augustine, Augustinian friar. Luther was the seminal figure of the Reformation, Pr ...

, German theologian who started the

Protestant Reformation The Reformation, also known as the Protestant Reformation or the European Reformation, was a time of major theological movement in Western Christianity in 16th-century Europe that posed a religious and political challenge to the papacy and ...

(18 February 1546) ;"Lo! here is a token that I forgive thee; my heart, do thine office." :— George Wishart, Scottish Protestant reformer and martyr (1 March 1546), kissing one of his executioners on the cheek after the man asked for his forgiveness ;"I am a priest; I am a priest! Fie! Fie! All is gone." :— David Beaton,

Archbishop of St Andrews The Bishop of St. Andrews (, ) was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of St Andrews in the Catholic Church and then, from 14 August 1472, as Archbishop of St Andrews (), the Archdiocese of St Andrews. The name St Andrews is not the town ...

, final Scottish Cardinal prior to the

Scottish Reformation The Scottish Reformation was the process whereby Kingdom of Scotland, Scotland broke away from the Catholic Church, and established the Protestant Church of Scotland. It forms part of the wider European 16th-century Protestant Reformation. Fr ...

(29 May 1546), during his assassination ;"I came not hither to deny my Lord and Master." :— Anne Askew, English writer and poet (16 July 1546), when offered letter of pardon before being burned at the stake for heresy ;"All is lost! Monks, monks, monks!" :—

Henry VIII Henry VIII (28 June 149128 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. Henry is known for his Wives of Henry VIII, six marriages and his efforts to have his first marriage (to Catherine of Aragon) annulled. ...

, King of England (28 January 1547) ;"Farewell, and remember me." :— Margaret of Valois-Angoulême,

Queen Queen most commonly refers to: * Queen regnant, a female monarch of a kingdom * Queen consort, the wife of a reigning king * Queen (band), a British rock band Queen or QUEEN may also refer to: Monarchy * Queen dowager, the widow of a king * Q ...

Navarre Navarre ( ; ; ), officially the Chartered Community of Navarre, is a landlocked foral autonomous community and province in northern Spain, bordering the Basque Autonomous Community, La Rioja, and Aragon in Spain and New Aquitaine in France. ...

(21 December 1549) Assassination of George Martinuzzi 1551 dec 17 in Alvincz Castle

;"Jesu, Maria!" :— George Martinuzzi,

Archbishop of Esztergom In Christian denominations, an archbishop is a bishop of higher rank or office. In most cases, such as the Catholic Church, there are many archbishops who either have jurisdiction over an ecclesiastical province in addition to their own archdioc ...

(16 December 1551), while being assassinated ;"Bring down the curtain, the farce is played out." :—

François Rabelais François Rabelais ( , ; ; born between 1483 and 1494; died 1553) was a French writer who has been called the first great French prose author. A Renaissance humanism, humanist of the French Renaissance and Greek scholars in the Renaissance, Gr ...

, French writer and physician (1553) ;"Lord take my spirit." :—

Edward VI of England Edward VI (12 October 1537 – 6 July 1553) was King of England and King of Ireland, Ireland from 28 January 1547 until his death in 1553. He was crowned on 20 February 1547 at the age of nine. The only surviving son of Henry VIII by his thi ...

(6 July 1553) ;"Jesus, Son of the eternal God, have mercy on me!" :— Michael Servetus, Spanish theologian, physician and humanist (27 October 1553), while being burned at the stake for heresy on a pyre of his own books ;"Lord, into Thy hands I commend my spirit." :—

Lady Jane Grey Lady Jane Grey (1536/1537 – 12 February 1554), also known as Lady Jane Dudley after her marriage, and nicknamed as the "Nine Days Queen", was an English noblewoman who was proclaimed Queen of England and Ireland on 10 July 1553 and reigned ...

, ''de facto'' Queen of England and Ireland (12 February 1554), quoting

prior to her beheading ;"What I then said I unsay now; and what I now say is the truth." :— Thomas Wyatt the Younger, English politician and leader of

Wyatt's rebellion Wyatt's Rebellion was a limited and unsuccessful uprising in England in early 1554 led by four men, one of whom was Sir Thomas Wyatt. It was given its name by the lawyer at Wyatt's arraignment, who stated for the record that "this shall be eve ...

(11 April 1554), exculpating Princess Elizabeth and Edward Courtenay, 1st Earl of Devon, prior to execution by beheading for treason ;"Lord, receive my spirit." :— John Rogers, English clergyman, Bible translator and commentator (4 February 1555), prior to burning at the stake for heresy ;"Welcome the cross of Christ! welcome everlasting life!" :— Laurence Saunders, English Protestant martyr (8 February 1555), kissing the stake at which he was to be burned ;"If you love my soul, away with it!" :— John Hooper, Anglican

Bishop of Gloucester The Bishop of Gloucester is the Ordinary (officer), ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Gloucester, England, Diocese of Gloucester in the Province of Canterbury. The diocese covers the Gloucestershire, County of Gloucestershire and part ...

and Worcester, Protestant martyr (9 February 1555), refusing a pardon prior to burning at the stake for heresy ;"Merciful Father of heaven, for Jesus Christ my Savior's sake, receive my soul into Thy hand." :— Rowland Taylor, English Protestant martyr (9 February 1555), while being burned at the stake for heresy ;"I am not afraid. Lord, Lord, Lord, receive my spirit!" :— William Hunter, English silk-weaver and Protestant martyr (27 March 1555), while being burned at the stake for heresy ;"Be of good comfort, brother, for we shall have a merry supper with the Lord this night: if there be any way to heaven on horseback or in fiery chariots, this is it." :—

John Bradford John Bradford (1510–1555) was an English English Reformation, Reformer, prebendary of Old St Paul's Cathedral, St. Paul's, and martyr. He was imprisoned in the Tower of London for alleged crimes against Queen Mary I. He was burned at the stak ...

, English Reformer and Protestant martyr (1 July 1555), to John Leaf, a fellow martyr, prior to being burned at the stake ;"Let the flames come near me. I cannot burn! I cannot burn!" :— Nicholas Ridley,

Bishop of London The bishop of London is the Ordinary (church officer), ordinary of the Church of England's Diocese of London in the Province of Canterbury. By custom the Bishop is also Dean of the Chapel Royal since 1723. The diocese covers of 17 boroughs o ...

(16 October 1555). While burning at the stake for heresy, only his lower limbs burned away. ;"Be of good comfort, Master Ridley, and play the man; we shall this day light such a candle by God's grace in England as (I trust) shall never be put out." :—

Hugh Latimer Hugh Latimer ( – 16 October 1555) was a Fellow of Clare College, Cambridge, and Bishop of Worcester during the Reformation, and later Church of England chaplain to King Edward VI. In 1555 under the Catholic Queen Mary I he was burned at the ...

, former

Bishop of Worcester The Bishop of Worcester is the Ordinary (officer), head of the Church of England Anglican Diocese of Worcester, Diocese of Worcester in the Province of Canterbury, England. The title can be traced back to the foundation of the diocese in the ...

(16 October 1555); to Nicholas Ridley while they were burning at the stake for heresy ;"Like

Peter Peter may refer to: People * List of people named Peter, a list of people and fictional characters with the given name * Peter (given name) ** Saint Peter (died 60s), apostle of Jesus, leader of the early Christian Church * Peter (surname), a su ...

, I have erred, unlike Peter, I have not wept." :() :—

Stephen Gardiner Stephen Gardiner (27 July 1483 – 12 November 1555) was an English Catholic bishop and politician during the English Reformation period who served as Lord Chancellor during the reign of Queen Mary I. Early life Gardiner was born in Bury St Ed ...

, English bishop and politician (12 November 1555) ;"Lord Jesus, receive my spirit... I see the heavens open and Jesus standing at the right hand of God." :—

Thomas Cranmer Thomas Cranmer (2 July 1489 – 21 March 1556) was a theologian, leader of the English Reformation and Archbishop of Canterbury during the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI and, for a short time, Mary I. He is honoured as a Oxford Martyrs, martyr ...

(21 March 1556), alluding to prior to execution by burning ;"Now I'm oiled. Keep me from the rats." :—

Pietro Aretino Pietro Aretino (, ; 19 or 20 April 1492 – 21 October 1556) was an Italian author, playwright, poet, satire, satirist and blackmailer, who wielded influence on contemporary art and politics. He was one of the most influential writers of his ti ...

, Italian writer and blackmailer (21 October 1556), after receiving the last rites ;"Lord Jesu!" :—

Albert Alcibiades, Margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach Albert II (; 28 March 15228 January 1557) was the margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach (Brandenburg-Bayreuth) from 1527 to 1553. He was a member of the Franconian branch of the House of Hohenzollern. Because of his bellicose nature, Albert was g ...

(8 January 1557) ;"Lord, have mercy upon me! Pray, people, while there is time." :— Walter Milne, last Protestant martyr burned in Scotland before the

(28 April 1558) ;"Now, Lord, I go! Ay, Jesus!" :—

Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor Charles V (24 February 1500 – 21 September 1558) was Holy Roman Emperor and Archduke of Austria from 1519 to 1556, King of Spain (as Charles I) from 1516 to 1556, and Lord of the Netherlands as titular Duke of Burgundy (as Charles II) ...

(21 September 1558), looking at a crucifix ;"After I am dead, you will find

Calais Calais ( , , traditionally , ) is a French port city in the Pas-de-Calais department, of which it is a subprefecture. Calais is the largest city in Pas-de-Calais. The population of the city proper is 67,544; that of the urban area is 144,6 ...

written upon my heart." :—

Mary I of England Mary I (18 February 1516 – 17 November 1558), also known as Mary Tudor, was Queen of England and Ireland from July 1553 and Queen of Spain as the wife of King Philip II from January 1556 until her death in 1558. She made vigorous ...

(17 November 1558). French forces had captured Calais from England earlier that year. ;"Nothing else but heaven." :—

Philip Melanchthon Philip Melanchthon (born Philipp Schwartzerdt; 16 February 1497 – 19 April 1560) was a German Lutheran reformer, collaborator with Martin Luther, the first systematic theologian of the Protestant Reformation, an intellectual leader of the L ...

, German

Lutheran Lutheranism is a major branch of Protestantism that emerged under the work of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German friar and Protestant Reformers, reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practices of the Catholic Church launched ...

reformer (19 April 1560), when asked if he wanted anything ;"Farewell, thou who art so beautiful and so cruel; who killest me and whom I cannot cease to love." :() :— Pierre de Bocosel de Chastelard, French poet (22 February 1563), addressing the window of

Holyrood Palace The Palace of Holyroodhouse ( or ), commonly known as Holyrood Palace, is the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland. Located at the bottom of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, at the opposite end to Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood has s ...

before being hanged for hiding under the bed of

;"I'm still learning." :() :—

Michelangelo Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni (6March 147518February 1564), known mononymously as Michelangelo, was an Italian sculptor, painter, architect, and poet of the High Renaissance. Born in the Republic of Florence, his work was inspir ...

, Italian artist and poet (18 February 1564) ;"Thou, Lord, bruisest me; but I am abundantly satisfied, since it is from thy hand." :—

John Calvin John Calvin (; ; ; 10 July 150927 May 1564) was a French Christian theology, theologian, pastor and Protestant Reformers, reformer in Geneva during the Protestant Reformation. He was a principal figure in the development of the system of C ...

, French theologian and Protestant reformer, principal developer of

Calvinism Reformed Christianity, also called Calvinism, is a major branch of Protestantism that began during the 16th-century Protestant Reformation. In the modern day, it is largely represented by the Continental Reformed Christian, Presbyteri ...

(27 May 1564) ;"Tomorrow, at sunrise, I shall no longer be here." :() :—

Nostradamus Michel de Nostredame (December 1503 – July 1566), usually Latinisation of names, Latinised as Nostradamus, was a French Astrology, astrologer, apothecary, physician, and reputed Oracle, seer, who is best known for his book ''Les Prophéti ...

, French seer (2 July 1566), correctly predicting his death ;"I desire to die and be with Christ." :—

Roger Ascham Roger Ascham (; 30 December 1568)"Ascham, Roger" in '' The New Encyclopædia Britannica''. Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 15th edn., 1992, Vol. 1, p. 617. was an English scholar and didactic writer, famous for his prose style, his pr ...

, English scholar and

didactic Didacticism is a philosophy that emphasises instructional and informative qualities in literature, art, and design. In art, design, architecture, and landscape, didacticism is a conceptual approach that is driven by the urgent need to explain. ...

writer (30 December 1568) ;"Victory! Victory!" :() :— Bartolomeo Bartocci, Italian trader (25 May 1569), while burning at the stake for heresy ;"I am he; respect my gray hairs, young man!" :—

Gaspard II de Coligny Gaspard de Coligny, seigneur de Châtillon (; 16 February 1519 – 24 August 1572), was a French nobleman, Admiral of France, and Huguenot leader during the French Wars of Religion. He served under kings Francis I and Henry II during the ...

Admiral of France Admiral of France () is a French title of honour. It is the naval equivalent of Marshal of France and was one of the Great Officers of the Crown of France. History The title was created in 1270 by Louis IX of France, during the Eighth Crusad ...

(24 August 1572), in response to one of his assassins asking, "Art thou Coligny?" ;"Now it is come." :—

John Knox John Knox ( – 24 November 1572) was a Scottish minister, Reformed theologian, and writer who was a leader of the country's Reformation. He was the founder of the Church of Scotland. Born in Giffordgate, a street in Haddington, East Lot ...

, founder of the

Presbyterian Presbyterianism is a historically Reformed Protestant tradition named for its form of church government by representative assemblies of elders, known as "presbyters". Though other Reformed churches are structurally similar, the word ''Pr ...

Church of Scotland The Church of Scotland (CoS; ; ) is a Presbyterian denomination of Christianity that holds the status of the national church in Scotland. It is one of the country's largest, having 245,000 members in 2024 and 259,200 members in 2023. While mem ...

(24 November 1572) ;"Nurse, nurse, what murder! what blood! Oh! I have done wrong. God pardon me!" :—

Charles IX of France Charles IX (Charles Maximilien; 27 June 1550 – 30 May 1574) was List of French monarchs, King of France from 1560 until his death in 1574. He ascended the French throne upon the death of his brother Francis II of France, Francis II in 1560, an ...

(30 May 1574) ;"Lord God, into Thy Holy Hands I commit my spirit." :() :—

Eric XIV Erik XIV or Eric XIV (13 December 153326 February 1577) became King of Sweden following the death of his father, Gustav I, on 29 September 1560. During a 1568 rebellion against him, Erik was incarcerated by his half-brother John III. He ...

, ex-King of Sweden (26 February 1577) when dying in prison from arsenic poisoning, quoting

;"Royal freedom will only be lost with life" :() :—

Sebastian of Portugal Sebastian ( ; 20 January 1554 – 4 August 1578) was King of Portugal from 11 June 1557 to 4 August 1578 and the penultimate Portuguese monarch of the House of Aviz. He was the son of João Manuel, Prince of Portugal, and his wife, Joanna of Aus ...

(4 August 1578), when being advised to surrender, and to hand over his sword to the victors of the Battle of Alcácer Quibir ;"It matters little to me; for if I am but once dead they may bury me or not bury me as they please. They may leave my corpse to rot where I die if they wish." :—

George Buchanan George Buchanan (; February 1506 – 28 September 1582) was a Scottish historian and humanist scholar. According to historian Keith Brown, Buchanan was "the most profound intellectual sixteenth-century Scotland produced." His ideology of re ...

, Scottish historian and humanist scholar (28 September 1582), when his servant asked who would pay for his burial after Buchanan told him to distribute his property among the poor ;"Over my spirit flash and float in divine radiancy the bright and glorious visions of the world to which I go." :—

Teresa of Ávila Teresa of Ávila (born Teresa Sánchez de Cepeda Dávila y Ahumada; 28March 15154or 15October 1582), also called Saint Teresa of Jesus, was a Carmelite nun and prominent Spanish mystic and religious reformer. Active during the Counter-Re ...

, Spanish Carmelite nun, mystic and author (4 or 15 October 1582); last words uncertain ;"Too late." :—

Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, 3rd Duke of Alba Fernando Álvarez de Toledo y Pimentel, 3rd Duke of Alba (29 October 150711 December 1582), known as the Grand Duke of Alba (, ) in Spain and Portugal and as the Iron Duke () or shortly 'Alva' in the Netherlands, was a Spaniards, Spanish noblema ...

(11 December 1582), on learning that Philip II of Spain, the King was to visit him ;"We are as neare to Heaven by sea as by land." :— Humphrey Gilbert, English adventurer and explorer (9 September 1583), prior to sinking of English ship Squirrel (1570s), HMS ''Squirrel'' with all hands ;"God have mercy upon me, and upon this poor nation." :() :— William the Silent, Prince of Orange (10 July 1584), assassinated by Balthasar Gérard ;"Jesus! I pardon you." :— Vittoria Accoramboni, Italian noblewoman (22 December 1585), kneeling before a crucifix ;"The murder of Elizabeth I, the Queen had been represented to me as Good works#Catholic Church, a deed lawful and meritorious. I die a firm Catholic." :— Anthony Babington, English gentleman, conspirator in the Babington Plot (20 September 1586), prior to being hanged, drawn and quartered for high treason ;"Take it; thy need is greater than mine." :— Philip Sidney, English poet and soldier (17 October 1586), mortally wounded at the Battle of Zutphen, passing a cup of water to another wounded soldier ;"O Lord, into Thy hands I commend my spirit." :() :—

(8 February 1587), quoting

prior to execution by beheading ;"Let the pulse beat as it may, we know the mercy of God will never fail." :— Frederick II of Denmark (4 April 1588) ;" [Far from me to glory except in the cross of Jesus Christ]. Good people, I beseech God to send all felicity." :— George Beesley, English Roman Catholic priest and martyr (2 July 1591), prior to execution ;"It is time for Matins." :— John of the Cross, Spanish Catholic priest and mystic (14 December 1591), dying at the stroke of midnight Johan IIIes begravning

;"I know that my Redeemer liveth." :() :— John III of Sweden, John III, King of Sweden (17 November 1592) ;"A bishop ought to die on his legs." :— John Woolton, Bishop of Exeter (13 March 1594) ;"Lord, into Thy hands I commend my spirit." :— Torquato Tasso, Italian poet (25 April 1595), quoting

;"Life or death is welcome to me; and I desire not to live, but so far as I may be serviceable to God and His church." :— William Whitaker (theologian), William Whitaker, Calvinistic Anglican churchman, academic and theologian (4 December 1595) ;"Do not announce my death." :() :— Yi Sun-sin, Korean naval commander (16 December 1598), telling his nephew to hide his death by gunshot from his soldiers to avoid demoralizing them during the Battle of Noryang ;"I die a martyr and willingly — my soul shall mount up to heaven in this chariot of smoke." :— Giordano Bruno, Italian Dominican Order, Dominican friar (17 February 1600), prior to burning at the stake for heresy ;"Good Doctor, God hath heard my daily petitions, for I am at peace with all men, and He is at peace with me; and from that blessed assurance I feel that inward joy which this world can neither give nor take from me: my conscience beareth me this witness, and this witness makes the thoughts of death joyful. I could wish to live to do the Church more service, but cannot hope it, for my days are passed as a shadow that returns not." :— Richard Hooker, English priest and theologian (3 November 1600)

17th century

;"May I not seem to have lived in vain." :() :— Tycho Brahe, Danish astronomer (24 October 1601), to his assistant Johannes Kepler ;"All my possessions for a moment of time." :— Elizabeth I, queen regnant of England (24 March 1603) ;"I cannot bear that any misunderstanding should subsist between you and those who have for so many years shared in my toils and been the companions of my glory." :— Akbar, third Mughal emperor (27 October 1605), to his nobles and his son, Jahangir; he then asked their forgiveness if he had ever wronged them Catesby and percy slain

;"Stand by me, Tom, and we will die together." :— Robert Catesby, leader of the Gunpowder Plot (8 November 1605). Catesby and Thomas Percy (Gunpowder Plot), Thomas Percy were shot by armed men led by Sir Richard Walsh (English politician), Richard Walsh. ;"Now I am going." :— Paolo Farinati, Italian Mannerist painter (1606), on his deathbed. His wife replied, "I will bear you company, my dear husband," and also died. ;"I begin to perceive and feel the joys of eternal life. I shall soon behold Him, who was sacrificed for men; I long for the blessed sight. All else is to me as dross: there is nothing that could make me wish to live one hour longer." :— Joseph Justus Scaliger, French Calvinist religious leader and scholar (21 January 1609) ;"I am wounded." :— Henry IV of France (14 May 1610), while being assassinated by stabbing ;"I receive absolution upon this condition." :— François Ravaillac, French Catholic zealot, assassin of Henry IV of France (27 May 1610), receiving conditional Absolution#Catholic Church, absolution prior to his execution due to his insistence that he had no accomplices ;"Ease and pleasure quake to hear of death; but my life, full of cares and miseries, desireth to be dissolved." :— Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, English statesman (24 May 1612) ;"I would say 'somewhat,' but I cannot utter it." :— Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales (6 November 1612), when asked if he was in pain ;"If there be here any hidden Catholics, let them pray for me, but the prayers of heretics I will not have." :— John Ogilvie (saint), John Ogilvie (10 March 1615), hanged, drawn and quartered at Glasgow Cross because of having preached the Catholic religion, then illegal in Scotland, and for refusing to pledge allegiance to King James VI of Scotland. ;"I am Sanada Nobushige, no doubt an adversary quite worthy of you, but I am exhausted and can fight no longer. Go on, take my head as your trophy." :— Sanada Yukimura, Japanese samurai warrior (3 June 1615), to his foes prior to his death at the Battle of Tennōji ;"Already my foot is in the stirrup." :— Miguel de Cervantes, Spanish novelist (22 April 1616) ;"Come Lord Jesu, come quickly, finish in me the work that Thou has begun; into Thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit, for Thou has redeemed me. O God of truth, save me Thy servant, who hopes and confides in Thee alone; let Thy mercy, O Lord, be shewn unto me; in Thee have I trusted, O Lord, let me not be confounded for ever." :— Robert Abbot (bishop), Robert Abbot, Anglican clergyman and academic (2 March 1617) ;"All must die, but tis enough that the child liveth" :— Pocahontas (March 1617), dying of an unknown illness ;"What dost thou fear? Strike, man, strike!" :— Walter Raleigh, English poet, soldier and courtier (29 October 1618), as he lay ready to be beheaded in the Old Palace Yard at the Palace of Westminster ;"They sweat in extremes, for fear of the unwarlike; I am dying undisturbed" :() :— Lucilio Vanini, Italian philosopher, physician and freethinker (9 February 1619), prior to execution by strangling and burning for atheism and blasphemy ;"Make it short. Make it short." :() :— Johan van Oldenbarnevelt, Dutch statesman (13 May 1619), to his executioner ;"Oh, would to God I had never reigned! Oh, that those years I have spent in my kingdom I had lived a solitary life in the wilderness! Oh, that I had lived alone with God! How much more secure should I now have died! With how much more confidence should I have gone to the throne of God! What doth all my glory profit, but that I have so much the more torment in my death?" :— Philip III of Spain (31 March 1621) ;"Now I have overcome." :— Johann Arndt, German Lutheran theologian (11 May 1621), to his wife ;"Jesus, Jesus, Jesus." :— Robert Bellarmine, Italian Jesuit and Roman Catholic cardinal (17 September 1621) ;"All my life I have carried myself gracefully." :— Rodrigo Calderón, Count of Oliva (21 October 1621), when his confessor chastised him for his attention to his appearance prior to his execution by beheading ;"Be thou everlasting." :— Paolo Sarpi, Venetian historian, prelate, scientist, canon lawyer and statesman (15 January 1623), referring to Venice ;"Thy creatures, O Lord, have been my books, but Thy Holy Scriptures much more. I have sought Thee in the fields and gardens, but I have found Thee, O God, in Thy Sanctuary—Thy Temple." :— Francis Bacon, English philosopher and statesman (9 April 1626) ;"Blessed be God, though I change my place, I shall not change my company; for I have walked with God while living, and now I go to rest with God." :— John Preston (priest), John Preston, Anglican minister, master of Emmanuel College, Cambridge (20 July 1628) ;"Villaine!" :— George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham (23 August 1628); to his assassin, John Felton (assassin), John Felton, after being stabbed by him ;"Hold your tongue; your wretched style only makes me out of conceit with them." :— François de Malherbe, French poet, critic and translator (16 October 1628), listening on his deathbed to his confessor describing the glories of heaven ;"I am the man." :— John Felton (assassin), John Felton, assassin of George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham (29 November 1628), referring to the killing of Buckingham before being executed by hanging. ;"I do bless.—May Jesus and Mary bless, rule and govern." :— Pierre de Bérulle, French Roman Catholic cardinal and statesman (2 October 1629), blessing his congregation while celebrating Mass ;"It comes at last, the happy day: Let thanks be given to God in heaven, while we learn pleasure in His way." :— Agrippa d'Aubigné, French poet, soldier, propagandist and chronicler (29 April 1630) ;"I were miserable, if I might not die." :— John Donne, English poet, scholar and soldier, Dean of St Paul's (31 March 1631) ;"Now, God be with you, my dear children; I have breakfasted with you, and shall sup with my Lord Jesus Christ this night." :— Robert Bruce of Kinnaird, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland (27 July 1631) ;"I have enough, brother; try to save your own life." :— Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden (16 November 1632), mortally wounded at the Battle of Lützen (1632) ;"I am now ready to die. Lord, forsake me not, now my strength faileth me; but grant me mercy for the merits of my Jesus. And now Lord—Lord, now receive my soul." :— George Herbert, Welsh-born poet, orator, and priest of the Church of England (1 March 1633) ;"Thy kingdom come, thy will be done." :— Edward Coke, English barrister, judge and politician (3 September 1634) ;"All right then, I'll say it. Dante makes me sick." :— Lope de Vega, Spanish playwright (27 August 1635) ;"I have kept the faith once given to the saints; for the which cause I have also suffered these things; but I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed to Him against that day." :— William Bedell, Anglican Bishop of Kilmore, Lord Bishop of Kilmore (7 February 1642), dying from exposure after being imprisoned and tortured by rebels ;"Absolutely, and I pray God to condemn me, if I have had any other aim than the welfare of God and the state." :— Cardinal Richelieu, French clergyman and statesman (4 December 1642), when asked whether he pardoned his enemies ;"O Lord, save my country! O Lord, be merciful to—" :— John Hampden, English landowner and politician (24 June 1643), mortally wounded at the Battle of Chalgrove Field six days before his death ;"It has been seventeen years since I ascended the throne. I, feeble and of small virtue, have offended against Heaven; the rebels have seized my capital because my ministers deceived me. Ashamed to face my ancestors, I die. Removing my imperial cap and with my hair disheveled about my face, I leave to the rebels the dismemberment of my body. Let them not harm my people!" :() :— Chongzhen Emperor, the last emperor of Ming dynasty (24 April 1644) ;"Lord, receive my soul." :— William Laud,

(10 January 1645), spoken as the signal to the executioner at his beheading for treason ;"Be serious." :— Hugo Grotius, Dutch humanist, diplomat, lawyer, theologian and writer (28 August 1645) ;"Ungrateful traitors!" :— Masaniello, Italian fisherman and revolutionary leader (16 July 1647), to his assassins ;"Ay! but I have been nearer to you, my friends, many a time, and you have missed me." :— George Lisle (Royalist), George Lisle, Royalist leader in the English Civil War (28 August 1648), when the officer in charge of his firing squad said they would hit him The execution of King Charles I from NPG

The execution of King Charles I from NPG

;"Stay for the sign." :— Charles I of England (30 January 1649), asking for his executioner to await his signal before Execution of Charles I, beheading him ;"The covenant which I took, I own it and adhere to it. Bishops, I do not care for them. I never intended to advance their interests." :— James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose (21 May 1650), prior to execution by hanging, beheading and quartering ;"Lord Jesus, receive me!" :— Eusebius Andrews (Royalist), Eusebius Andrews, English Cavalier, royalist (22 August 1650), prior to execution by beheading for treason ;"How sweet it is to rest!" :— John Taylor (poet), John Taylor, English poet (December 1653) ;"You see what is man's life." :— Pierre Gassendi, French philosopher, Catholic priest, astronomer and mathematician (24 October 1655) ;"O Lord, forgive me specially my sins of omission." :— James Ussher, Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh (Church of Ireland), Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland (21 March 1656) ;"It is not my design to drink or to sleep, but my design is to make what haste I can to be gone." :— Oliver Cromwell, English general and statesman, Lord Protector (3 September 1658) ;"Ah! mes enfans, you cannot cry as much for me as I have made you laugh in my time! I never thought that it was so easy a matter to laugh at the approach of death." :— Paul Scarron, French poet, dramatist and novelist (6 October 1660) ;"O, my poor soul, what is to become of thee? Whither wilt thou go?" :— Cardinal Mazarin, Italian cardinal, diplomat and politician (9 March 1661) ;"I bless the Lord that he gave me counsel." :— Samuel Rutherford, Scottish pastor (29 March 1661) ;"I die not only a Protestant, but with a heart-hatred of popery, prelacy, and all superstition. Lord Jesus, receive me into Thy glory." :— Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll, Scottish nobleman (27 May 1661), before execution by beheading ;"I take God to record upon my soul that I would not exchange this scaffold with the palace or mitre of the greatest prelate in Britain. The covenants, the covenants shall yet be Scotland's reviving." :— James Guthrie (minister), James Guthrie, Scottish Presbyterian minister (1 June 1661), prior to execution by hanging for high treason ;"Jesus, oh Jesus, you are my God, my justice, my strength, my all." :— Marie Angélique Arnauld, Abbess of the Abbey of Port-Royal (6 August 1661) ;"It is a bad cause which cannot bear the words of a dying man." :— Henry Vane the Younger, English politician, statesman and colonial governor (14 June 1662), prior to execution by beheading for treason ;"My God, forsake me not." :— Blaise Pascal, French mathematician, physicist and theologian (19 August 1662) ;"My heart is fixed, O God! my heart is fixed where true joy is to be found." :— Robert Sanderson (theologian), Robert Sanderson, English theologian and casuist (29 January 1663) ;"Ab (Semitic)#Christendom, Abba, Father, accept this, Thy poor sinful servant, coming unto Thee through the merits of Jesus Christ. O pray, pray! praise, praise!" :— Archibald Johnston, Scottish judge and statesman (22 July 1663), before execution by hanging ;"Monsieur de Montaigu, consider what I owe to God, the favor He has shown me, and the great indulgence for which I am beholden to Him. Observe how they are swelled; time to depart." :— Anne of Austria, former Queen of France (20 January 1666), looking at her formerly beautiful hands ;"And now I begin my intercourse with God, which shall never be broken off. Farewell, father and mother, friends and relations; farewell, the world and all delights; farewell, sun, moon and stars! Welcome, God and Father; welcome, sweet Jesus Christ, the mediator of the new covenant; welcome, blessed Spirit of grace, the God of all consolation; welcome, glory; welcome, eternal life; and welcome, death." :— Hugh Mackail, Scottish martyr (22 December 1666), prior to execution by hanging ;"My trust is in God." :— Jeremy Taylor, Anglicanism#Anglican divines, Anglican divine (13 August 1667) ;"Vex me not with this thing, but give me a simple cross, that I may adore it, both as it is in itself and as I can figure it in my mind." :— Alonso Cano, Spanish painter, architect and sculptor (3 September 1667), asking a priest to take away a badly carved crucifix ;"I shall have to ask leave to desist, when I am interrupted by so great an experiment as dying." :— William Davenant, English poet and playwright (7 April 1668), setting aside the manuscript of a new poem ;"Far from well, yet far better than mine iniquities deserve." :— Richard Mather, Puritan minister (22 April 1669), when asked about his health ;"Lord!" :— John Cosin, English churchman (15 January 1672), raising his hand ;"Well, my friend, what news from Aurangzeb, the Great Mogul?" :— François de La Mothe Le Vayer, French writer (9 May 1672), to physician and traveler François Bernier, who had come to say goodbye to him ;"Bad, bad! To judge by what I now endure, the hand of death grasps me sharply." :— Salvator Rosa, Italian artist and poet (15 March 1673), when asked how he was ;"Death is the great key that opens the palace of Eternity." :— John Milton, English poet and intellectual (8 November 1674) ;"I did not mean to be killed today." :() :— Henri de La Tour d'Auvergne, Viscount of Turenne (27 July 1675), struck by a cannonball at the Battle of Salzbach ;"I would never have married had I known that my time would be so brief. If I had known that, I would not have taken upon myself double tears." :— Alexis of Russia, Russian Tsar () ;"I have seen the glories of the world." :— Isaac Barrow, English Christian theologian and mathematician (4 May 1677) ;"Well, ladies, if I were one hour in heaven, I would not be again with you, as much as I love you." :— Mary Rich, Countess of Warwick (12 April 1678) ;"How beautiful!" :— Giovan Battista Nani, Venice, Venetian ambassador, librarian and historian (5 November 1678) ;"I shall be happy." :— James Sharp (bishop), James Sharp,

(3 May 1679) ;"Now I am about to take my last voyage, a great leap in the dark." :— Thomas Hobbes, English philosopher (4 December 1679) ;"The only objection against the Bible is a bad life." :— John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester, English poet and courtier (26 July 1680) ;"I do not fear death." :— Thomas Blood, Anglo-Irish officer and desperado (24 August 1680) ;"I do forgive you." :— William Howard, 1st Viscount Stafford (29 December 1680), to his executioner prior to beheading for alleged treason ;"Now the bitterness of death is past." :— William Russell, Lord Russell (21 July 1683), after bidding farewell to his wife prior to execution by beheading for treason ;"Stop. Change that to say, 'I am yet in the land of the dying, but I hope soon to be in the land of the living.'" :— John Owen (theologian), John Owen, English Nonconformist (Protestantism), Nonconformist church leader and theologian (24 August 1683), when his secretary had written "I am still in the land of the living" in a letter in his name ;"I know that my Redeemer liveth. I die for the Good Old Cause, good old cause."

Chronological list of last words

Pre-5th century

5th to 14th centuries

15th century

16th century

17th century

18th century

19th century

20th century

21st century

Ironic last words

Independently notable last words

See also

Notes

References

Further reading

External links