The breaking wheel was second to hanging in popularity. It was used as an interrogation and most commonly involved with interrogating heretics, such as the knights Templar. An order founder during the 12th century under a crusade it eventually rich powerful in every term. Phillip the king of France was in dire need of money and prosecuted the order under terms of heresy. Eventually killing only 40 of the knights but receiving no profits for the knights escaped before more accusations could be made. The wheel was used throughout the medieval age. Victims of this monstrosity were placed on the ground with wooden timbers placed below their limbs. Then there would be repeated damage carefully placed upon the limbs (as to not kill the victims) using the iron edges of the wheel.