Arson Collection

British army burning the White House in 1814 during the War of 1812. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

The destruction of York Minster, 1829 (engraving)
3103693 The destruction of York Minster, 1829 (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The destruction of York Minster, 1829)

The siege of Paris in 845 by the Vikings with Ragnar Lodbrok at their head
JLJ4641709 The siege of Paris in 845 by the Vikings with Ragnar Lodbrok at their head, Engraving 19th century by Unknown Artist

Witches destroying a house by fire - Swabia, 1533. Woodcut from Francesco Maria Guazzo Compendium Maleficarum, Milan, 1608. (Colorised black and white print)

London Fire Brigade, second Brixton Riots
On 28 September 1985 the second Brixton riot erupted. After the arrest of a man following a shooting incident, a largely black crowd protested at Brixton Police station in Lambeth, South London

Nottingham Castle on Fire, 10 October 1831, mid-19th century (oil on canvas)
3743748 Nottingham Castle on Fire, 10 October 1831, mid-19th century (oil on canvas) by Dawson

firefighter getting on the truck to work in emergency

France. Paris Commune. Arsonist firefighters surprised
France. Paris Commune. Popular revolutionary movement that took power in Paris from 18 March to 28 May 1871, during the Franco-Prussian War. Arsonist firefighters surprised by Versailles troops

France. Paris Commune. Rue de Rivoli (Rivoli Street)
France. Paris Commune. Popular revolutionary movement that took power in Paris from 18 March to 28 May 1871, during the Franco-Prussian War

Le Figaro, Satirique en N & B, 1975_8_16: Portugal
ICA4889643 Le Figaro, Satirique en N & B, 1975_8_16: Portugal, President of the Republic, Communist Party, Identifier, Sickle and hammer - Mitterrand Francois

The Burning of the Tuileries, Royal Palace in Paris, destruction during the uprising of the Paris Commune or La Commune de Paris, 1871, Paris, France, Europe

Germany, Berlin, 03. 10. 1990, Alexanderplatz, autonomous demonstration in East Berlin on the occasion of the Day of Reunification on 3 October 1990, burning car, Europe

Fire of the bridge of Asnieres during the siege (defense) of Paris, 1870 (engraving)
PCT4288246 Fire of the bridge of Asnieres during the siege (defense) of Paris

The Eye of the Police in All Countries - Illustration from "The Eye of the Police"
ICA4949898 The Eye of the Police in All Countries - Illustration from "The Eye of the Police", 1911 (engraving); Private Collection; Photo © Caricadoc

The burning of the Palais d'Orsay, Quai d'Orsay, now the Musee d'Orsay in Paris, destruction during the uprising of the Paris Commune or La Commune de Paris, 1871, Paris, France, Europe

Saints Aimo and Vermondo Standing on the Roof of the House of One of the Monastery's Enemies and Threatening to Burn it Down with Torches; Legenda Venerabilium Virorum Aymonis et Vermondi

The Ruins of Paris: the Hotel de Ville, 1871. Creator: Unknown
The Ruins of Paris: the Hôtel de Ville, 1871. The Hôtel de Ville was a magnificent structure, dating in part from 1628

The Ruins of Paris: the rue du Bac, 1871. Creator: Unknown
The Ruins of Paris: the rue du Bac, 1871. The last of the Paris Commune:.ruins of public buildings, destroyed by the fury of the Communist faction

The Ruins of Paris: the Theatre of the Porte St. Martin, 1871. Creator: Unknown
The Ruins of Paris: the Theatre of the Porte St. Martin, 1871

Ruins of the Grenier d'Abondance, Paris, 1871. Creator: RCH
Ruins of the Grenier d'Abondance, Paris, 1871. The last of the Paris Commune

The Ruins of Paris: the Place de la Concorde, 1871. Creator: Unknown
The Ruins of Paris: the Place de la Concorde, 1871. The last of the Paris Commune:.ruins of public buildings, destroyed by the fury of the Communist faction

Barbarian invasions of the ostrogoths of Theodoric the Great Triumphant in Northern Italy
ELD4903636 Barbarian invasions of the ostrogoths of Theodoric the Great Triumphant in Northern Italy, ca. 493. 19th century (engraving); Private Collection; Photo © The Holbarn Archive

Seventh Italian War
ELD4871810 Seventh Italian War

First Jewish-Roman War
ELD4956871 First Jewish-Roman War: The destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem by the Roman army of Titus in 70 AD (The destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem by the Romans under Titus)

The sack of Rome (Italy), 410
ELD4903585 The sack of Rome (Italy), 410, taken from the city and looted by the Visigoths led by Alaric (370-410) during the reign of Emperor Honorius

The Fighting in Paris: burning of the Hotel de Ville, 1871. Creator: Unknown
The Fighting in Paris: burning of the Hotel de Ville, 1871....upon the line of retreat a fire was kindled at the corner of the Place du Louvre and at the corner of the Rue St

The Burning of Paris: fall of houses in the rue de Rivoli, 1871. Creator: Unknown
The Burning of Paris: fall of houses in the rue de Rivoli, 1871....the insurgents, being undisturbed and feeling their case a hopeless one, fired the Tuileries, the Treasury

The Burning of Paris: saved from the fire, 1871. Creator: Unknown
The Burning of Paris: saved from the fire, 1871

The Burning of Paris: the rue Royale, 1871. Creator: Unknown
The Burning of Paris: the rue Royale, 1871....the insurgents, being undisturbed and feeling their case a hopeless one, fired the Tuileries, the Treasury

Fire at the Reichstag
Black and white photo of an interior view of the Reichstag after the fire of 27 February 1933

Bogart In "The Treasure Of Sierra Madre"
(Original Caption) 03/18/1949. TAKING THE BOGIE OUT OF BOGART. (first of five). In "The Treasure of Sierra Madre, " Bogart seems bent on an artillery duel mixed with a slight case of arson

Freedom Riders Near Burning Bus
(Original Caption) Passengers of this smoking Greyhound bus, some of the members of the "Freedom Riders, " a group sponsored by the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE)

Arsonist Admits Crime 24 Years Later
Admitted arsonist William Estel Benson sits in a police station after confessing to police that 24 years earlier he had sabotaged gas lines under a New London, Texas

National Guardsmen Fighting Fire During Watts Riots
(Original Caption) 8/14/1965-Los Angeles: National Guard soldiers man the fire hoses into the night

Soldier Guarding Burning Building
A soldier in the Michigan National Guard watches over Detroit firefighters trying to put out a blaze, during the race riots of Detroit in July, 1967

H. Rap Brown In Handcuffs
(Original Caption) 7/26/1967-Alexandria, Va.: Black power advocate H

Burning Buildings on a Chicago Street
A block of burnt-out buildings stand in the wake of riots following the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr

Firefighters Trying to Control Newark Fires
A total of 183 fires, a score of them multiple-alarm, and described as of incendiary origin swept this city's troubled areas late yesterday through early today

SI Hayakawa Examines Burnt Office
(Original Caption) SAN FRANCISCO-12/9/68-: Acting San Francisco State College Pres. S.I. Hayakawa examines 12/9 the charred and blackened office of Dr

Napoleon Bonaparte watching the Fire of Moscow, 1812
Napoleon Bonaparte watching the Fire of Moscow after the Battle of Borodino, 1812

Burned to the ground - all that remains of South Bank FC social club after the double arson attack. 31st December 1991

Ray Price, secretary of Garston Boat users Association, standing in front of his vandalised boat

The Rave Club in Sunderland, which has been gutted by fire. Tyne and Wear. 20th July 1992

Church of St. Eustache, Paris, 1871. Creator: Unknown
Church of St. Eustache, Paris, 1871. The Church of St. Eustache was built between 1532 and 1633. It was set on fire during the Semaine sanglante, the last battle of the Paris Commune in May 1871

Sing Sing, between c1910 and c1915. Creator: Bain News Service
Sing Sing, between c1910 and c1915. Shows Sing Sing prison, Ossining, New York. Aftermath of an arson fire, set by disgruntled inmates, which destroyed several workshop buildings in July, 1913

Domestic accident, 19th century (Epinal print)
ELD4839868 Domestic accident, 19th century (Epinal print); Private Collection; (add.info.: Domestic accident: disobedient children playing with matches during their parents absence, causing fire)

A sailor saves a woman and her children from the fire of a steamboat, 1887 (illustration)
ELD4834500 A sailor saves a woman and her children from the fire of a steamboat

Duties to the neighbour: Devouement - Sacrifice
DUV4212823 Duties to the neighbour: Devouement - Sacrifice. A man saving a child from the flames at the peril of his life

The Moscow fire from September 14 to 18
JAB4120647 The Moscow fire from September 14 to 18, 1812, the Muscovites burned the capital so that it would not fall into the hands of Napoleon

Napoleon Bonaparte watching the Fire of Moscow after the Battle of Borodino
FLO4608620 Napoleon Bonaparte watching the Fire of Moscow after the Battle of Borodino, 1812

Gaucho cowboys of the Tucuman, River Plate
FLO4621709 Gaucho cowboys of the Tucuman, River Plate, Argentina. They wear striped ponchos and trousers, long hair in fur hats, carve wood with knives, while resting near their wagons

First World War: France, Patriotic Map showing a drawing representing the superiority of French weapons
LUX4740584 First World War: France, Patriotic Map showing a drawing representing the superiority of French weapons, 1915

France, Ile-de-France, Paris (75): Paris Commune
LUX4710222 France, Ile-de-France, Paris (75): Paris Commune, photograph of a drawing depicting the fire of a Paris hotel, 1871; (add.info.: France, Ile-de-France, Paris (75): Paris Commune

File cutting equipment and various filters
FLO4591225 File cutting equipment and various filters. Copperplate engraving by Wilson Lowry after a drawing by J

A fireman extinguishes a fire, 19th century (Epinal print)
ELD4839859 A fireman extinguishes a fire, 19th century (Epinal print); Private Collection; (add.info.: A fireman extinguishes a fire. Epinal print 19th century); Photo © The Holbarn Archive

Siege of a city with the war machine - in " Chronicle" by Othon de Freising
GIA5036476 Siege of a city with the war machine - in " Chronicle" by Othon de Freising

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EDITORS COMMENTS

"From Ancient Vikings to Modern Movements: A Fiery History of Arson" Arson, a destructive force that has plagued humanity throughout the ages, leaves behind a trail of devastation and chaos. In 845, the siege of Paris by the Vikings under Ragnar Lodbrok's leadership ignited fear and destruction in its wake (EVNT2A-00183). Centuries later, London Fire Brigade battled against flames during the second Brixton Riots, witnessing firsthand the havoc they are wreak. Throughout history, various motives have fueled this dangerous act. In Swabia, 1533, witches used fire to destroy houses as part of their malevolent practices. Similarly, Nottingham Castle became engulfed in flames on October 10th, 1831 (mid-19th century), leaving behind an eerie scene captured on canvas and has been employed as a tool for political expression and social change. The mob's burning of abolitionist Elijah Lovejoy's print-shop in Illinois in 1835 showcased how deeply rooted prejudices could lead to violent acts. Suffragette activists took up arson as a means to fight for women's rights at Rivington Pike. Yet even before recorded history began shaping our worldviews, fire played a significant role. Engravings from "La nature et l'homme" by Rengade depict prehistoric stilt-house settlements ablaze during conflicts at the dawn of the Iron Age—an early testament to mankind's capacity for destruction. Artistic interpretations further highlight society's fascination with arson throughout time. Paintings like "The Destruction of York Minster" (1829) or "The Chain" (1870) capture both historical events and symbolic representations—reminders that fire possesses both creative and destructive powers.