35 Facts About Weird Royal Deaths

Strange Royal Deaths: A Peek into the Past

History is filled with tales of royalty meeting their end in bizarre ways. These stories are not just about power and politics but also about the strange circumstances that led to their demise. Here are some of the most unusual royal deaths.

Accidents and Misadventures

Even royals are not immune to accidents. Some met their end in the most unexpected ways.

1. King Alexander of Greece died in 1920 after being bitten by a monkey. The bite led to sepsis, which ultimately took his life.
2. King Adolf Frederick of Sweden passed away in 1771 after consuming a massive meal. He ate lobster, caviar, sauerkraut, kippers, and champagne, followed by 14 servings of his favorite dessert.
3. King Henry I of England died in 1135 from a "surfeit of lampreys." He loved these eel-like fish so much that he overindulged, leading to food poisoning.
4. King Charles II of Navarre met his end in 1387 when his bedclothes caught fire. He was wrapped in brandy-soaked sheets to treat an illness, which accidentally ignited.

Unfortunate Battles and Assassinations

War and betrayal have claimed the lives of many royals. Some of these deaths are particularly gruesome.

5. King Edmund II of England was allegedly stabbed while using the toilet in 1016. An assassin hid in the latrine and struck when he was most vulnerable.
6. Emperor Valerian of Rome was captured by the Persian king Shapur I in 260 AD. He was reportedly used as a human footstool and later skinned alive.
7. King Edward II of England was murdered in 1327 in a particularly brutal manner. Legend says he was killed by having a red-hot poker inserted into his body.
8. Prince Dipendra of Nepal killed nine members of his family, including his parents, in 2001 before turning the gun on himself. He was declared king while in a coma but died three days later.

Illnesses and Medical Mysteries

Some royal deaths remain shrouded in mystery due to the illnesses that claimed them.

9. King George III of England suffered from a mysterious mental illness, now believed to be porphyria. He died in 1820 after years of suffering.
10. Tsar Ivan VI of Russia was imprisoned for most of his life and killed in 1764 during an escape attempt. His mental state had deteriorated due to isolation.
11. King Tutankhamun of Egypt died around 1323 BC at the age of 19. The exact cause remains unknown, with theories ranging from malaria to a chariot accident.
12. Emperor Claudius of Rome died in 54 AD, possibly from poisoning by his wife Agrippina. Some historians believe he was fed poisoned mushrooms.

Natural Disasters and Unusual Circumstances

Nature and strange events have also played a role in the demise of royals.

13. King William II of England was killed in 1100 during a hunting trip. He was struck by an arrow, possibly accidentally, but some suspect foul play.
14. Queen Sunandha Kumariratana of Siam drowned in 1880 when her boat capsized. Bystanders did not help due to a law forbidding them from touching royalty.
15. King Alexander I of Yugoslavia was assassinated in 1934 during a state visit to France. His death was one of the first to be captured on film.
16. King Ananda Mahidol of Thailand was found dead in his bed in 1946 with a gunshot wound to the head. The circumstances remain unclear, with theories of suicide, accident, or assassination.

Poisonings and Plots

Intrigue and poison have always been part of royal life. Some met their end through these sinister means.

17. Empress Elisabeth of Austria was stabbed to death in 1898 by an Italian anarchist. She was attacked while walking in Geneva.
18. King John of England died in 1216, possibly from dysentery. Some believe he was poisoned by monks who disliked his rule.
19. Tsar Nicholas II of Russia and his family were executed in 1918 by Bolsheviks. Their deaths marked the end of the Romanov dynasty.
20. King Faisal II of Iraq was killed in 1958 during a coup. His death marked the end of the Iraqi monarchy.

Unusual Rituals and Traditions

Some royal deaths are linked to the unique customs and traditions of their time.

21. Emperor Qin Shi Huang of China died in 210 BC after ingesting mercury pills. He believed they would grant him immortality.
22. King Pyrrhus of Epirus was killed in 272 BC by a woman who threw a roof tile at him during a street fight.
23. Emperor Elagabalus of Rome was assassinated in 222 AD. His body was thrown into the Tiber River by his own guards.
24. King Bela I of Hungary died in 1063 when his throne collapsed. The accident occurred during a council meeting.

Mysterious Disappearances

Some royals vanished without a trace, leaving their fate a mystery.

25. King Ludwig II of Bavaria drowned in 1886 under mysterious circumstances. His death remains unsolved, with theories of murder or suicide.
26. Prince Arthur of Connaught disappeared in 1942 during World War II. His body was never found, and his fate remains unknown.
27. King Louis XVII of France died in 1795 while imprisoned during the French Revolution. Some believe he escaped and lived under a different identity.
28. Emperor Norton I of the United States was a self-proclaimed emperor who died in 1880. His eccentric life and mysterious death continue to fascinate.

Unusual Animal Encounters

Animals have also played a role in the demise of some royals.

29. King Herod the Great died in 4 BC from a painful disease. Some believe it was caused by a parasitic infection from eating contaminated food.
30. King George V of England was euthanized in 1936 by his physician. The doctor administered a lethal dose of morphine and cocaine to hasten his death.
31. King Philip II of France died in 1223 from a horse-riding accident. He fell from his horse and succumbed to his injuries.
32. King William III of England died in 1702 after falling from his horse. The horse stumbled on a molehill, leading to the king's fatal injuries.

Unexplained Phenomena

Some royal deaths are linked to unexplained phenomena and eerie coincidences.

33. King Charles XII of Sweden was killed in 1718 during a siege. A bullet struck him in the head, but the shooter remains unknown.
34. King Henry VI of England was murdered in 1471 in the Tower of London. His death remains a mystery, with various theories about the culprit.
35. King Eric XIV of Sweden died in 1577, possibly from poisoning. Some believe he was poisoned with arsenic by his brother.

The Odd Endings of Royalty

Royal deaths have always fascinated people. From King Edward II's rumored demise by a red-hot poker to Queen Sunandha Kumariratana's tragic drowning while her subjects watched helplessly, these stories are both bizarre and captivating. They remind us that even those with immense power and privilege aren't immune to strange and untimely ends.

These tales also highlight the unpredictability of life. Whether it's King Alexander of Greece succumbing to a monkey bite or Empress Elisabeth of Austria being assassinated by an anarchist, the unexpected can strike anyone, anywhere.

So next time you hear about a royal, remember these odd endings. They add a human touch to the often distant and glamorous image of royalty. And who knows, maybe there's a lesson in there about the fragility of life and the quirks of fate.