Great and powerful families have ruled over countless lives since the first civilization was born, and today we explore the 10 surprisingly humble stories of those who once sat on thrones that spanned continents and commanded billions.
10 Surprisingly Humble Tales
10 The Last King Of Rwanda Lives Off Food Stamps In Virginia
King Kigeli, the final monarch of Rwanda, enjoyed a reign that lasted a mere nine months before a Hutu uprising in 1959 forced him into exile. The once‑crowned sovereign now spends his twilight years in a modest Section 8 apartment in Virginia, relying on food‑stamp assistance to make ends meet.
To supplement his meager income, Kigeli sells ceremonial knighthoods bearing the name of the Rwandan kingdom to anyone willing to pay. His neighbors remain blissfully unaware that the man living next door once ruled an African nation.
Despite his circumstances, Kigeli clings to regal protocol: he never drives himself, insisting that his personal driver holds the title of his chancellor, while the driver supplements his salary by part‑time work selling mattresses at Sears.
9 The Last Prince Of Italy Was Charged With Pimping
When Italy abolished its monarchy in 1946, the royal family was banished and barred from returning for more than half a century. Vittorio Emanuele di Savoia, heir to the defunct throne, found himself adrift far from the power his lineage once commanded.
In 1978, while aboard his yacht, Vittorio impulsively fired a rifle into the night, inadvertently striking and killing a German tourist. The incident led to a protracted 13‑year manslaughter battle, from which he was eventually acquitted.
Upon his return to Italy, the former prince became entangled with the Sicilian Mafia, acting as a pimp for high‑rolling clients. The scandal culminated in his imprisonment, yet he kept his spirits high, famously declaring, “In Italy, you can eat well everywhere,” after tasting prison cuisine.
8 The Last King Of Egypt Shot Two Lions In A Zoo
Although baby Fuad II technically held the title of Egypt’s last king, the true final ruler who actually governed was King Farouk, whose reign spanned 1936‑1952. Lavish and extravagant, Farouk’s privileged existence left him detached from ordinary reality.
During World War II, Farouk suffered a recurring nightmare of being chased by a lion. Seeking counsel, he asked his trusted adviser El‑Maraghi what the vision meant. The sage warned, “You will not rest until you have slain those lions.”
Taking the advice literally, Farouk seized a rifle, marched to the local zoo, and shot two captive lions dead. He later reported his feat to El‑Maraghi, who spent the remainder of the day explaining the concept of metaphor to the bewildered monarch.
7 The Last Emperor Of China Lived As ‘Prisoner No. 981’
Pu Yi ascended to the Chinese throne at the tender age of two, only to be dethroned three years later. Kept in seclusion within his palace, he remained oblivious to his loss of power for a full decade, surrounded by servants who perpetuated a fantasy of imperial grandeur.Japan later installed him as the puppet emperor of Manchuria, but after Japan’s surrender he was captured by the Communists and sent to a Chinese prison. Expecting execution, Pu Yi instead received a sentence to tend vegetables, officially labeled “Prisoner No. 981.”
Demonstrating exemplary behavior, he earned the trust of his captors and was eventually released. In his final years, Pu Yi worked part‑time as an assistant gardener, living a modest life far removed from his former imperial status.
6 The Emperor Of Korea Manages A Home Shopping Network
Korea no longer bestows the title “Emperor” on its royal family, but if it did, the mantle would belong to Yi Won, the adopted son of the last monarch Yi Gu. After Yi Gu’s death in 2005, the family selected Yi Won as the symbolic head.
Yi Won never lived a life of palace opulence. Instead, he served as the general manager of Hyundai’s Home Shopping Network, selling products via televised catalogues. While his position was lucrative compared to other royal relatives, it still required him to hustle like any modern executive.
Another contender for the Korean throne, Yi Seok, runs a liquor store in the United States, illustrating how former royalty often must adapt to ordinary professions to make a living.
5 The Heir To The Ottoman Empire Is A Retired Librarian
The Ottoman dynasty ruled across three continents for 622 years before the Turkish Republic expelled the family in 1924, granting them a one‑way passport and prohibiting their return.
Prince Bayazid, the current claimant to the Ottoman throne, could not publicly acknowledge his heritage. He fought to secure a position at the New York Public Library, initially rejected due to his foreign name. After a desperate plea, the library hired him as a translator, impressed by his fluency in fifteen languages.
Despite his valuable contributions, Bayazid often had to conceal his identity, as the library feared controversy over a Turkish name appearing on Armenian documents. He devoted 45 years to the institution before retiring, and he continues to reside in New York.
4 The Nepalese Royal Family Ended In A Murder‑Suicide
In the early 1990s, Nepal’s monarchy began to crumble under the People’s Movement, which stripped the royal family of much of its authority. The final blow came from Crown Prince Dipendra, whose personal tragedy shattered the dynasty.
Dipendra fell in love with Devyani Rana, a woman he met while studying in England. His family vehemently opposed the match, with his mother threatening to remove him from the line of succession. Tensions escalated dramatically.
On June 1, 2001, Dipendra seized a firearm and massacred ten members of his own family before turning the gun on himself. The horrendous act eradicated the primary royal lineage, prompting the swift abolition of Nepal’s monarchy shortly thereafter.
3 The King Of Cambodia Is A Professional Ballet Dancer
Norodom Sihamoni never aspired to sit on Cambodia’s throne. As a youth, he pursued cinematography, even traveling to North Korea for education—an unusual choice that hints at Cambodia’s limited opportunities.
His true passion lay in ballet. After honing his craft in France, Sihamoni earned acclaim as a professional dancer, performing classical repertoire across Europe. Yet, when his father abdicated, he felt duty-bound to accept the crown.Today, Sihamoni serves as a ceremonial figurehead with no real political power. International media label him a “puppet king,” while Cambodians describe him as “sad, lonely, and abandoned.” With no children or designated heir, his reign is expected to conclude with his passing.
2 The Heir To India’s Mughal Empire Lives In A Slum
The Mughal Empire, famed for constructing the Taj Mahal, once governed a quarter of the world’s population. Its modern‑day claimant, Sultana Begum, is the great‑granddaughter‑in‑law of the last Mughal emperor.
She married Bedar Bukht, the male heir who spent his life in hiding to evade British colonial reprisals. Bukht earned a meager living selling charms and talismans, which Begum described as “too meager for survival.”
Following Bukht’s death, Begum now resides in a cramped shack within a Mumbai slum, operating a modest tea stall. She survives on a government pension of merely 400 rupees a month—about six US dollars.
1 The Emperor Of Japan Is An Expert On Goby Fish
Emperor Akihito stands as the sole remaining monarch bearing the title “Emperor” in the modern world. Yet his role is largely ceremonial, with few official duties beyond state functions.
To occupy his time, Akihito delved deep into ichthyology, focusing on goby fish. Within a dedicated laboratory inside the Imperial Palace, he conducts meticulous research, documenting species behavior and taxonomy.
His scholarly output is impressive: 38 peer‑reviewed papers and a 350‑page contribution to a comprehensive goby monograph. Despite his scholarly stature, the Japanese imperial institution continues to wane, suggesting that even Akihito’s reign may eventually fade into history.
11 Further Reading
The higher you rise, the farther you fall! Below are some recommended lists from the archives for additional insight into the captivating world of royalty and empire:
10 Wild Adventures Of Former Royals
Top 10 Pretenders To The Thrones Of Europe
10 Mysteries Surrounding Royal Children
Top 10 Scandals That Rocked Royal Families
10 Mysteries And Secrets Surrounding British Royalty