The Gunpowder Plot was a failed attempt by a group of English Catholics, including notable figures like Guy Fawkes, to assassinate King James I and blow up the Houses of Parliament. The conspirators aimed to end Protestant rule and replace it with a Catholic monarch. In 1605, they managed to place 36 barrels of gunpowder in the cellar beneath the House of Lords, but an anonymous letter warning a member of Parliament led to their discovery. The authorities acted swiftly, and most of the conspirators were captured by November of that year. After a series of interrogations, some of the captured conspirators were executed in early 1606, with Fawkes being one of the most recognized figures of the plot due to his involvement and bravery during the failed attempt.

On January 31, 1606, Guy Fawkes and three other conspirators faced execution in a grim spectacle witnessed by large crowds outside the St. Paul's Cathedral in London. The method of execution was particularly brutal, involving hanging, drawing, and quartering, which was reserved for cases of treason, intended as a severe deterrent against attempts on the king's life. The public execution of Fawkes and his fellow conspirators was widely covered and discussed, sending a clear signal to the country about the consequences of treason and the state's resolve in maintaining order and security. The event resonated deeply within the psyche of the nation, marking a significant moment in the struggle between Catholic conspirators and Protestant authorities in England.