Joan of Arc was burnt at the stake on May 30, 1431 for her defence of Orleans during the Franco-English Hundred Years’ war.

Accused of cross-dressing and heresy she was but 19 years old and was later recognised as a Catholic saint for her martyrdom.

Guido Fawkes and his fellow Gunpowder Plotters were discovered on November 5, 1604 in an attempt to blow up England’s parliament at the Houses of Westminster,

They were sentenced to be drawn backwards to their death by a horse, their heads “halfway between heaven and earth as unworthy of both”.