the strategies behind the reactions and the counterstrategies a construction based on inferences, in reality many forms of mixtures of ideas can be found, different mixtures in different countries. Three basic approaches with several variations can be identified and are in the following identified as I, II, andIII. Of these strategies I andIII are further divided. I Focusing the attention on something else than the criminal, with deterrence as its main purpose. Central is then trying to shift the focus of the execution from the delinquent and her eternal destiny. A major part of this strategy was to lessen the liturgical nature of the execution and limit the role of the priests. Instead of transcendental perspectives, the execution should paint the picture of an only immanent punishment. We could also see several of these strategies as parts of a general trend consisting also of other motives and actions lacking apparent motives – the desacralisation of the executions probably linked to a general desacralisation. Even small changes could implement some aspect of desacralisation, even unintended. We could also find clues to the degree of collaboration between church and state – as the desacralisation also probably was related to the decline of such cooperation. Thus around 1760, the processions related to executions and other public punishments in Toulouse seem to have been abolished. The punishments as well as other ceremonies in the city became stationary instead of mobile. The importance of the observation is highlighted by the finding of Robert Schneider that the procession often marked a religious ceremony while a secular festivity generally was of a stationary character.806 The abolition of the processions might have been related to several processions in 1748 that challenged the authorities by implying the innocence of two hanged.807 Whatever the motive probably few, if any, in Toulouse thought that this constituted a form of desacralisation and the reasons behind the change might also have been purely practical, but it nevertheless could be seen as a small step on a road where near the end, the implications of desacralisation are evident. Eventually the transport of the condemned to the site of execution became mere transport and 806 Schneider 1995 p 82, 179 sqq, see also p 102. 807 Soula 2015 p 118 sq. 224
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