Rulers taking lives is nothing new, but when those victims are their own children, the story takes a darker turn. In this roundup we explore 10 monarchs who executed their own sons, proving that absolute power often comes with a deadly family drama.
10 monarchs who turned family ties into fatal betrayals
10 Ivan IV Of Russia And Ivan Ivanovich
Ivan IV, better known as Ivan the Terrible, fathered a son named Ivan Ivanovich with his first wife, Anastasia Romanovna. While the young Ivan delighted in literature and music, he also displayed a cruel streak, tormenting small animals during his childhood.
As an adult, he conquered the Khanates of Kazan and Astrakhan, weaving them into the fabric of a burgeoning Russian empire. His marital history was equally turbulent—eight wives met mysterious ends, ranging from untimely deaths to exile in convents—while he steered Russia from a medieval principality into an imperial powerhouse.
When his pregnant daughter‑in‑law arrived improperly attired, Ivan the Terrible beat her, causing a miscarriage. The affront sparked a confrontation with his son, and in a fit of fury Ivan struck Ivan Ivanovich on the head with a sharp staff, ending his life. The gruesome scene was later immortalized by Ilya Repin in one of Russian art’s most haunting canvases.
Among all the atrocities committed by Ivan the Terrible, the murder of his only capable heir stands out as a stark reminder that no line was too sacred for him to cross.
9 Herod The Great And His Sons, Alexander And Aristobulus
The New Testament paints Herod the Great as the villain behind the “slaughter of the innocents,” a claim that has haunted his legacy for centuries. As king of Judea, he allegedly ordered the massacre of all male infants under two years old in Bethlehem.
Born to the Roman officer Antipater the Idumaean, Herod was a prolific builder who reconstructed Jerusalem and its temple, championing Hellenistic culture throughout his realm.
Beyond the biblical narrative, Herod’s own children fell victim to his paranoia. His son Antipater II stirred rumors of disloyalty among his brothers, prompting a paranoid Herod to act decisively: he ordered the strangulation of his sons Alexander and Aristobulus in 7 BC (some accounts suggest 8 BC) on accusations of treason.
8 Empress Irene And Constantine VI
On January 14, 771, Irene gave birth to Constantine VI, later becoming the first woman to rule the Byzantine Empire in her own right. Hailing from an aristocratic Athenian family, she initially served as regent for her son.
Constantine’s reign was marred by military setbacks, and his mother soon turned against him. Unpopular with the army and the court, he found himself betrayed by the very person who had once wielded power on his behalf.
In 797, Irene had Constantine blinded and imprisoned, later orchestrating his death to solidify her sole authority as empress. Despite her ruthless actions, she was later canonized as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox tradition.
7 Constantine The Great And Crispus
Emperor Constantine reshaped the Roman world by legalizing Christianity, ending centuries of persecution, and issuing the Edict of Milan, which guaranteed religious freedom throughout the empire.
His son Crispus, educated by the Christian writer Lactantius, distinguished himself as a brilliant military commander, scoring victories against the Franks and Alamanni. Crispus married a young woman named Helena, with whom he fathered a son.
Constantine took great pride in Crispus’s achievements, seeing in him a promising heir who would continue his legacy of conquest and governance.
However, Constantine’s second wife, Empress Fausta, accused Crispus of attempting to seduce her. Enraged, Constantine ordered Crispus’s execution. He later discovered the accusation was false and, in a grim reversal, had Fausta suffocated in her own bath.
6 Abbas I Of Persia And Mohammad Baqer Mirza
Shah Abbas I is celebrated as the greatest ruler of the Safavid dynasty, rescuing Iran from collapse, founding thriving cities, and welcoming Christian merchants and missionaries into his realm.
His designated heir, Mohammad Baqer Mirza, was born to a Circassian concubine. Court intrigue ensnared the young prince, who was accused of conspiring with Circassian factions. To eliminate the threat, Abbas ordered the execution of his own crown prince, passing the throne instead to his grandson.
5 Pharasmanes I Of Iberia And Rhadamistus
Pharasmanes I ruled the ancient kingdom of Iberia in the first century, fathering a son named Rhadamistus who possessed striking strength, towering stature, and striking good looks—yet his ambition outpaced his patience.
Rhadamistus seized the Armenian throne, but his rule was deemed illegitimate by the Romans, who demanded Pharasmanes withdraw and remove his son from power.
Facing inevitable defeat, Rhadamistus fled, and his pregnant wife, fearing capture, persuaded him to kill her and their unborn child. He slit her throat and cast her corpse into the Aras River before attempting to return home.
To demonstrate loyalty to Emperor Nero, Pharasmanes executed his own son, branding him a traitor. The king died shortly thereafter, succeeded by his own son Mihrdat.
4 Vitellius And Petronianus
Vitellius, the son of the distinguished consul Lucius Vitellius and noblewoman Sextilia, briefly held the imperial throne for eight tumultuous months, earning favor from Caligula, Claudius, and Nero for his eclectic talents.
His reputation stemmed from a flair for chariot racing under Caligula, dice‑playing prowess that impressed Claudius, and a charismatic presence that attracted Nero’s attention.
Known for his prodigious appetite, Vitellius would indulge in three to four lavish meals daily, followed by boisterous drinking bouts. He harbored a deep mistrust of astrologers, banning them from Rome and executing any he encountered.
His son Petronianus, blind in one eye, was named heir by his mother, effectively freeing him from his father’s control. In a twist of fate, Vitellius poisoned his own son to claim the inheritance.
When Vespasian’s forces captured Rome, Vitellius attempted to flee disguised in ragged clothes. He was seized, dragged through the streets half‑naked, brutally tortured, and ultimately thrown into the Tiber, sealing his downfall.
3 Philip II Of Spain And Don Carlos
Philip II’s wife, Maria Manuela of Portugal, died after delivering their son Don Carlos, who was born with a shorter leg and uneven shoulders, alongside a range of mental impairments.
Don Carlos displayed alarming behavior: he rode horses to the point of self‑destruction, assaulted young girls, and even claimed that diamonds were poisonous—traits that rendered him unsuitable for the throne.
In 1568, Don Carlos was declared dead under suspicious circumstances, with many historians believing that Philip poisoned his own heir to prevent a disastrous succession.
2 King Yeongjo And Prince Sado
Prince Sado, the crown prince of Joseon Korea, met a gruesome end when his father, King Yeongjo, sealed him inside a wooden rice chest, condemning him to a slow, agonizing death.
Yeongjo was a demanding ruler; after each encounter with his son, he would meticulously rinse his mouth, clean his ears, and change into fresh robes, underscoring his relentless disapproval of Sado’s behavior.
Accusations mounted that Sado possessed the severed head of a eunuch he had murdered and had assaulted numerous palace ladies, painting a portrait of a deeply troubled heir.
Ultimately, the strained relationship culminated in tragedy: stripped of his royal title, Sado was forced into the cramped chest where he languished for eight days, pleading for mercy until his death at the age of twenty‑seven.
1 Peter I And Alexei
Peter the Great, named after the apostle Peter, embarked on an ambitious mission to transform Russia into a modern superpower, championing secular education and establishing numerous schools across his realm.
His marriage to Tsarina Eudoxia, a conservative and uneducated woman who despised foreign influence, further complicated his domestic life. Their son Alexei was raised under Eudoxia’s strict, Bible‑focused education, limiting his exposure to his father’s reforms.
Alexei grew resentful of Peter’s policies, eventually defecting to Austria—a move that scandalized the Russian government and branded him a traitor.
Under Peter’s orders, Alexei was subjected to brutal torture and ultimately executed, sealing the grim legacy of a ruler who would not tolerate dissent, even from his own blood.
Summer Gallardo was named after Summer Sanders. She enjoys comic books, history, math, and making lists.