History is littered with stories and anecdotes about how seemingly insignificant details changed the world. While many of these stories are just apocryphal, strange circumstances and coincides cannot be discounted. Because in the face of extraordinary events, anything could be possible.

10Joan of Arc’s Epilepsy

Joan of Arc is famous today for using divine guidance to fight against invading English armies during the Hundred Years War. However, the fact that Joan claimed that heavenly voices inspired her actions has caused many modern researchers to suggest more organic causes. Namely, epilepsy.

Joan of Arc may have suffered from a particular type of epilepsy called idiopathic partial epilepsy with auditory features, or IPEAF. She claimed to have heard and occasionally saw saints like St. Catherine and St. Margaret, which is the sort of episode common in epileptics with IPEAF. Joan also said that many of her experiences were preceded by the “sound of bells,” which is similar to other epileptics who say that certain noises trigger episodes.

Unfortunately, this diagnosis can’t be affirmatively diagnosed. Tests could be done on Joan’s DNA, but there are currently no DNA samples from Joan known to exist.

9Moses’s Burning Bush

Moses remains one of the most important figures of all time, but the Moses of tradition may actually be quite different from the historical Moses. The acacia tree, frequently mentioned by Moses throughout the Old Testament, contains the powerful hallucinogen dimethyltriptamine, or DMT, which is used in a concoction known as ayahuasca. This could mean that Moses’s famous “burning bush” may have fueled his religious experiences through hallucinogenic drugs.

During the events at Mt. Sinai, where Moses received the Ten Commandments, he may have been high on DMT, which causes flashes of light similar to the account described in the Bible. Ayahuasca’s effects have been studied extensively in the Amazon region, where it is used as part of religious ceremonies, and most data suggests that Moses may have been tripping the whole time.

8The Hatfield And McCoy Anger Disorder

The Hatfield and McCoy family feud is so famous that it has almost permanently become part of American folklore. While the violence between the two clans has long since ended, one of its causes has lived on in the form of Von Hippel-Lindau disease.

Von Hippel-Lindau disease is a rare disorder which can cause tumors on the adrenal gland. Because of the stress on the adrenal glands, those who suffer from the disease have symptoms including high blood pressure, severe headaches, and excessive production of the “fight or flight” hormones. All of this combines to make a short temper and aggression. It is found in three-fourths of the McCoy family, and past ancestors are also textbook cases.

Could this rare disorder have caused the ferocity that fueled the Hatfield-McCoy feud? It seems likely, because many of the McCoys today display similar symptoms, even down to the tumors.

7Anthony Eden’s Sickness And The Suez Crisis

Soon after Winston Churchill’s resignation as Prime Minister of England in 1955, a crisis erupted in Egypt when Abdul Nassar seized the Suez Canal, the most important route by which oil was shipped to Europe. Anthony Eden, Churchill’s successor, was forced to take on the situation, but a lingering illness could have compromised his leadership.

In 1953, Eden had undergone an operation on his gallbladder, but there was a complication when a knife cut his bile duct. This left Eden with long-term pain that he used painkillers, barbiturates, and amphetamines to deal with. Eden’s behavior was extremely erratic during much of the Suez crisis, and he made a series of poor decisions that ultimately caused Great Britain’s decline as a world power. He was eventually forced to resign in shame in 1957.

6Fashion And Tuberculosis

During the Victorian era, attractiveness and fashion were linked to many bizarre trends, but one fad was influenced by a curious factor—tuberculosis. Tuberculosis was so romanticized during the time that many considered it the standard for feminine beauty. From 1780 to 1850, cosmetics and clothing were actually made to emulate the appearance of someone dying from the dreaded disease. Things changed after Robert Koch isolated the tuberculosis bacteria in 1881 and the germ theory began to gain traction.

Widespread hysteria took over and many trends began to radically change. The iconic flowing gowns and hoop skirts worn by women in the 19th century changed to become less regal, because it was believed that the extra fabric could hold tuberculosis microbes. The bushy beards and facial hair kept by men of the time were also said to aid the spread of tuberculosis, so by the 20th century most facial hair had all but disappeared. Whether these measures actually worked is anyone’s guess.

5The Seven Day War And Divine Intervention

When Arab forces announced their intentions to invade Israel in 1967, it was widely believed that the Israelis didn’t have a chance. Through amazing coincidences—which most Israelis attribute to spiritual influence—the war was flipped on the Arabs with Israel eventually gaining three times the territory it had possessed previously.

Before the invasion was even set to begin, the commander of the Egyptian forces in Sinai was ordered to change officers, but the replacements knew next to nothing about Israel’s terrain. Three hours before the Israeli air strike that would cripple the Egyptian Air Force, Egyptian intelligence actually tried to notify forces on the ground of the attack, but for some unknown reason, no one informed the commanding officer.

When the actual presence of an Israeli fighter jet was detected by intelligence in northern Jordan, a red alert was sent to Cairo but, again for some unknown reason, the message couldn’t be decoded. Finally, when the Israeli air strikes actually occurred, no senior officers were around to do anything about it because they had spent the previous night watching a belly dancing show.

4Charles Whitman Was Influenced By A Tumor

On August 1, 1966, ex-marine Charles Whitman climbed to the top of the clock tower at the University of Texas campus in Austin. He proceeded to kill 13 people and wounded 32 others. In addition, he killed his mother and his wife. What led Whitman to commit such a senseless, destructive act? During an autopsy on his brain, a possible explanation was found.

A type of tumor called a glioblastoma the size of a nickel was found growing from his thalamus, impinged on his hypothalamus and compressing his amygdala. The amygdala is responsible for regulating emotion, and his tumor no doubt played a role in Whitman’s mental deterioration. While his actions were completely reprehensible, the finding does shine some light on how biological factors could play a role in criminal actions.

3Henry VIII’s Insanity And CTE

For much of Henry VIII’s early reign, he was a highly intelligent and capable leader, but his mental state eventually fell apart and he became paranoid, tempestuous, and deranged. Henry VIII was a well-known sportsman, and this could have led to his own demise.

In 1524, Henry received a head injury during a jousting tournament that left him with migraines. In 1536, Henry was knocked unconscious for two hours after his armored horse fell on him. It was after these accidents that he began experiencing symptoms of mental instability. While there is no way to test him any longer, the recently discovered illness Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) matches many of Henry VIII’s symptoms.

CTE, common in athletes who experience repeated head injuries, cause symptoms similar to dementia and Parkinson’s. Henry became forgetful and was prone to mood swings which could explain his infamous poor treatment of his wives, along with his inability to perform sexually despite being a womanizer in his youth.

2Sir Thomas Bludworth And The Great Fire Of London

In 1666, a massive fire destroyed much of old London. At the time, Sir Thomas Bludworth was the mayor of the city, and his desire to sleep could have caused an easily preventable tragedy.

At 2:00 AM on September 2, the house of the royal baker on Pudding Lane caught fire. Located on a narrow street and surrounded by crowded wooden buildings, the fire quickly spread. When Sir Bludworth was woken up and informed of the fire, he brushed it off and went back to sleep, reportedly saying, “A woman might piss it out.” He ignored the warnings to knock down surrounding buildings until it was too late, and by the time the fire ended, London was entirely up in smoke.

Samuel Pepys was unimpressed by Bludworth, and there are even suggestions that the mayor had been drinking the night the fire broke out. Bludworth, however, remained in government positions until his death.

1The French Revolution And Ergot Mold

In 1789, word began to spread around France that brigands were hiding in the woods, causing many peasants to take up arms. This event became known as The Great Fear and served as one of the catalysts for the French Revolution. However, the reason for the Great Fear remains mostly unexplained.

In the 1980s, Mary Kilbourne Matossian of the University of Maryland proposed that a bad crop could have been the cause of the paranoia. Earlier, in 1974, a historian announced that the rye grown throughout the late 1700s was afflicted with ergot. Ergot, a mold that grows on rye, is known to cause symptoms like paranoia and hallucinations and contains the chemical by which LSD is synthesized. Around one-twelfth of all rye crops were affected due to cold winters and wet springs, so widespread ergot poisoning could have been behind the beginning of the French Revolution.

Gordon Gora is a struggling author who is desperately trying to make it. He is working on several projects but until he finishes one, he will write for for his bread and butter. You can write him at [email protected].

Alcohol can be a tricky experience. Drink enough and it can make almost any event more fun and memorable. Drink too much and it does the opposite – you forget everything and the bits you do remember, you probably wish you didn’t.

But this doesn’t apply only to bachelor parties and New Year’s celebrations. In fact, we’re going to take a look at ten historical events where alcohol definitely played a crucial role in the outcome.

10. The Wedding of George IV

It would be fair to say that when King George III of England announced the engagement of his son and heir, George IV, to Caroline of Brunswick in 1794, the junior George wasn’t a fan of the arrangement. For starters, he was already technically married to Maria Fitzherbert, although their marriage was invalid under English law. Plus, he preferred a carefree life filled with wine, women, and gambling, but eventually, he wasn’t left with much of a choice. George IV had racked up so many debts thanks to his excessive spending and neither his father nor Parliament would bail him out unless he found a suitable Protestant wife and sired an heir.

Enter Caroline of Brunswick. She had the perfect pedigree, but not much else going for her. Allegedly, the first words George uttered when he laid eyes on his bride-to-be were: “Harris, I am not well; pray get me a glass of brandy.” 

And that glass of brandy was followed by another one…and then another one…and then, well, you get the idea. George could hardly stand to be in her presence sober, and when it finally came time to tie the knot, on April 8, 1795, the prince regent was so drunk that he had to be carried up the aisle. He slurred his way through the vows and even started crying at one point. The ceremony was followed by what we assume was an incredibly awkward reception and then, finally, the wedding night, where George failed to perform his “royal duty” because he passed out in the fire grate.

9. The Eggnog Riot

West Point has a long and varied history that goes back all the way to the birth of America. Situated in a strategic position on the Hudson River, it was a valuable military post during the Revolutionary War and gained infamy when Benedict Arnold tried to turn it over to the British. Then, in 1802, it became the first military academy in the country. 

In 1817, Colonel Sylvanus Thayer became the academy’s superintendent and developed the curriculum which is still partly used today. After a few years in charge, Thayer decided that discipline at West Point was on a downward slope, mainly due to drinking. Alcohol was already prohibited but, of course, everyone still got drunk and the faculty generally looked the other way unless the offense was particularly egregious. But in 1826, Thayer put his foot down and said absolutely no alcohol, not even for that year’s Christmas party. Unsurprisingly, the cadets ignored him and smuggled a few gallons of whiskey into campus a few days prior. Then, on Christmas Eve, they got wasted on eggnog.

The rowdiness started with some loud singing. Not too bad at first, but things turned serious when two of the academy captains, Ethan Hitchcock and William Thornton, tried to end the party. Hitchcock literally read the Riot Act to a group of cadets, but instead of dispersing, they armed themselves with sticks, rocks, and swords, looking for a fight. One of them even fired a shot at the captain when he tried to open their door. The captains called for their superiors when they realized that the nog hit the fan, and the drunken cadets took advantage of the opportunity by completely trashing the barracks in order to barricade the doors and windows. 

The following day, everyone was hungover, wondering what they had done the night before. Ninety cadets had taken part in the riot, including one Jefferson Davis, future President of the Confederacy. Ultimately, though, only 19 were court-martialed, plus the soldier who allowed them to smuggle the booze on campus. Eleven were expelled.

8. The Field of the Cloth of Gold

In June 1520, King Henry VIII of England and King Francis I of France held a two-week-long summit at Balinghem, near Calais, in order to strengthen the bond between the two nations. Both kings were keen to show off their wealth and opulence in front of the other one, which is why the event became known as the Field of the Cloth of Gold.

There were huge feasts every day. The food was plentiful, the wine was unceasing, and the music was raucous. There was dancing, there was theater, and there was even a dragon kite made especially for the occasion, that featured both royal symbols entwined with one another.

And, of course, there were lots of games to keep the people entertained. Jousting was the most popular spectacle, but wrestling was also a welcomed sight, especially when the weather turned sour. Then, one day, after a few glasses of wine, Henry did the unthinkable – he broke protocol and challenged King Francis to a wrestling match, threatening to lay the smackdown on his candy ass. Not wanting to look like a jabroni, Francis accepted the challenge and met Henry inside the squared circle for a literal royal rumble.

Both kings were young lions, in their mid-to-late 20s, but on this occasion, Francis proved to be the cream of the crop, easily going over his English counterpart. Henry, however, was gracious in defeat and suggested an archery contest for a rematch, where he emerged triumphant.

7. Andrew Jackson’s Inauguration

On March 4, 1829, Andrew Jackson was inaugurated as the seventh President of the United States. After the swearing-in ceremony in front of the Capitol Building, Jackson invited the crowd of roughly 21,000 on-lookers to join him at the White House for an open house reception. 

Unfortunately for him, most of the crowd took him up on the offer. It wasn’t long before the White House was filled to the brim with rich and poor, upper and working class, who wanted to congratulate the new president. The raucousness wasn’t helped by the addition of alcohol and before you knew it, the furniture was knocked over, dishes and glasses were broken on the floor, and muddy footprints were everywhere. One attendee, Margaret Smith, described the scene:

“Ladies fainted, men were seen with bloody noses and such a scene of confusion took place as is impossible to describe,—those who got in could not get out by the door again, but had to scramble out of windows.”

President Jackson himself, ultimately, made his escape through a window and sought refuge at a nearby hotel. Eventually, Jackson’s steward had the bright idea of installing large tubs filled with whiskey punch on the White House lawn, and that managed to lure out most of the crowd, like moths to the flame, but the carpets smelled of cheese and booze for months after.

6. The Signing of the Constitution

In September 1787, 55 delegates from all the American states except Rhode Island attended the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. The gathering culminated with the signing of the United States Constitution on September 17, although only 39 delegates agreed to sign the document. Everyone knew it was a landmark moment, so the delegates celebrated it the best way they knew how – by getting absolutely hammered.

Two days before the signing, all 55 delegates gathered at a local tavern and partied like the British were getting ready to invade again. Curiously enough, the bill for that historic evening was preserved, so here is what the Framers of the Constitution drank between them: 54 bottles of Madeira wine, 60 bottles of claret, eight bottles of whiskey, 42 assorted bottles of porter, beer, and hard cider, and seven bowls of alcoholic punch.

The cost for a party that went down in the history books – £90, which is over $20,000 today. This included a two percent breakage fee from the innkeeper since it seemed that some of the delegates got a little too rowdy with his furniture.

5. Washington’s Entry into Politics

Staying with the Founding Fathers, we’re going to focus on the foundingest (not a real word) father of all – George Washington – and how alcohol helped his entry into politics. By the time he was in his mid-20s, Washington was already a distinguished military man thanks to his role in the French and Indian War, so a political position was the next natural step for him. 

In 1755, the 24-year-old Washington ran for a seat in Virginia’s House of Burgesses, which was the colony’s elected representative body. But the future father of the country lost his first campaign, garnering only 40 votes while his opponent secured 271. How so? His opponent got his voters wasted on beer, wine, whiskey, and rum punch.

Even so, lessons were learned, so three years later, Washington ran again for the same office and, this time, he didn’t skimp out on the booze. His electoral office had 144 gallons of rum, beer, and hard cider ready and waiting for the thirsty voter willing to cast his vote for George Washington. The result – Washington won handily with 331 votes and launched his career in politics.

4. The October Revolution

The October Revolution was one of the most crucial episodes in the modern history of Russia, which allowed the Bolsheviks led by Lenin to seize power and, eventually, form the Soviet Union. It all started on November 7, 1917 (or October 25 going by the old calendar) in Petrograd, today known as Saint Petersburg, when the Bolshevik Red Guards captured the Winter Palace. Of course, not everyone was on their side. The Bolsheviks had a civil war ahead of them and needed to prepare. There was just one problem, though – when they took over the Winter Palace, they also seized the largest private wine collection in the world.

Lenin couldn’t just deny access to the people. His whole shtick was that the riches of the aristocracy actually belonged to the laboring masses. So what followed was the grandaddy of all keggers, as the people of Petrograd got absolutely smashed on the czar’s private stash. Predictably, this led to drunken mobs, lootings, and street violence, but Lenin hoped that they would get it out of their system after a few days.

They did not. As Bolshevik playwright Anatoly Lunacharsky put it: “The whole of Petrograd is drunk.” Nothing the Bolsheviks did could stop the thirsty masses. They erected walls around the cellar, but they were broken down. They placed guards, but they just started selling the booze. They poured the wine into the streets, and the crowds drank it from the gutter. The city’s jail cells were all filled with drunken looters. There was only one solution. Martial law was imposed and the Bolsheviks had to wait for weeks until the booze finally ran out.

3. Lincoln’s Assassination

The assassination of Abraham Lincoln is already an infamous moment in history, so we’re not going to dwell on it too much. We’re just going to look at the role that alcohol played in the proceedings.

First up is John Wilkes Booth, who initially went to the saloon near Ford’s Theater and had a couple of drinks to strengthen his resolve. His confederate, George Atzerodt, who had been tasked with killing Vice President Andrew Johnson, did the same thing, except that the alcohol had the opposite effect on him. Even though the vice president was sitting all alone in his hotel room, Atzerodt couldn’t bring himself to do it, so he just spent the night drunkenly roaming the city.

Last, but not least, we have Officer John Frederick Parker, the Washington cop who had been assigned to protect the president. If he had been present, could he have stopped Booth from killing Lincoln and changed the course of history? We will never know because during intermission Parker decided to leave the president and go to the Star Saloon next door to have a couple of drinks with Lincoln’s footman and carriage driver. 

2. The Burning of Persepolis

During the mid-4th century BC, Alexander the Great invaded the Achaemenid Empire and, in 330 BC, he captured the Persian capital of Persepolis. When he entered the city, Persepolis was one of the grandest metropolises that the ancient world had ever known. When he left, it was nothing but smoldering ruins. The burning of Persepolis was one of Alexander’s most infamous acts, but the question remains – did he do it on a drunken dare?

Almost all the ancient historians agreed that Alexander and his men were drunk when they burned the place down. They had celebrated their victory by looting, feasting, and, of course, drinking the night away. But historian Diodorus Siculus points the finger at a woman named Thais, an Athenian who got close to the drunken Alexander and kept prodding him throughout the festivities, telling him what an achievement it would be for him to destroy the pride of the Persians. Which was the ancient equivalent of a “double-dog dare” so, obviously, Alexander was left with no choice.

Only one Roman historian named Arrian claimed that Alexander was sober when he burned Persepolis and that he did it simply as revenge for what the Persians did to Athens during the Greco-Persian Wars a hundred years earlier. 

1. The Rise of Agriculture

Is beer responsible for civilization as we know it? According to some archaeologists, the answer is maybe. We can all agree that the agricultural revolution was a key element in the development of the earliest human societies. Instead of going out to hunt and gather, people decided to grow stuff and then make other stuff with it. The places where agriculture thrived soon evolved into the first villages and boom! Another ancient civilization is born.

Tradition tells us that early humans domesticated grain for bread, but maybe they used it for beer first. This is known as the beer-before-bread hypothesis and, as you can tell from the name, it is not a proven theory yet, it’s just an idea. It has been around for over 60 years and it is gaining more and more acceptance. 

The intoxicating effect of alcohol would have given it an important ceremonial role. At the moment, the Natufian culture from the Levant holds the record for the oldest man-made alcohol thanks to some 13,000-year-old stone mortars that were used to brew beer, and they, too, were believed to drink the booze during ritual feasts to venerate the dead. This could suggest why ancient cultures like the Natufians would prize beer over