Generally, dictators and vicious tyrants tend to be a paranoid and hateful bunch who torture and kill out of misanthropy or as a defense against imagined threats. It’s when you get down to the specifics of their individual phobias and pet peeves that it gets weird. These are the 10 normal things that terrified some of history’s most infamous tyrants.

10 Normal Things Overview

10 Lin Biao Water And Wind

A key supporter of Mao Tse-tung who eventually rose to become his right hand man and chosen successor before dying in a mysterious and suspicious plane crash, Lin Biao was a notorious hypochondriac who suffered an irrational fear of water, as well as wind and cold. His many phobias made him appear like a drug addict most of the time, and in his later years he was often in a very fragile physical and mental state.

He would become seriously ill whenever he perspired and was said to have so feared liquid water that most of his water intake had to come in the form of cooked food. He suffered diarrhea at the sound of running water, and even the sight of rivers and lakes in traditional Chinese paintings made him nervous. He did maintain a house near the coast, but it was hidden in the hills as he could not stand the sight of the sea, which meant he had minimal contact with the navy.

This also affected his personal life, as he didn’t have a bath for years and would only be wiped down with a dry towel. His house had a number of wind-sensitive devices in it, and his wife allegedly had to be careful how she moved while near him, lest she cause a sudden, unwanted breeze. As he was also known for his hatred and contempt for nearly everyone, it isn’t entirely surprising he eventually met a sticky end.

9 Nicolae Ceausescu Disease And Drafts

Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu (at right in the photo above) was a notorious hypochondriac, an ailment apparently stemming from problems with his throat early in life. He had an apparent fear of air conditioning, with many buildings built on his orders constructed without it, and his foreign minister complaining of the lack of AC meant accompanying the president on trips to hot African countries was a nightmare.

Later, his hypochondria developed in a fear of drafts and an obsession with disinfecting everything he touched. Food Safety Agency personnel made sure the doorknobs wherever he went were disinfected with alcohol, and staff in his entourage stood on hand with a medical kit with disinfectant wipes in case Ceausescu needed to shake hands with any foreigners. In one reported incident, after being given an affectionate kiss by President Carter during a visit to the United States, the Romanian leader splashed himself in the face with a bottle of alcohol while in the car driving away from the White House, muttering about Carter being a “peanut-head.”

He also refused to eat food at official dinners on foreign trips due to fear of being poisoned, and he employed a chemist whose job it was to destroy the presidential excrement to prevent foreign intelligence from knowing the state of his health. Later, during a visit to Cuba, Castro told Ceausescu about how he had dodged a CIA poisoned-shoe plot designed to make his beard fall out. The Romanian president returned home declaring he would only wear clothes once. They were to be destroyed immediately after.

All his fears of poisoning and infection were rendered moot when he was deposed and executed by firing squad while forced to stand next to a toilet block.

8 Francisco Macias Nguema Education

The slow-minded dictator of Equatorial Guinea, Francisco Macias Nguema failed the Spanish civil service three times only to succeed on his fourth try due to favoritism by the Spanish, who thought the simple and badly educated man would be an easily manipulated figure. This proved to be a mistake, as his previous humiliations left Nguema with a resounding hatred for intellectuals and education in general. After using his newfound emancipado status to organize militia of his own majority Fang tribe, he turned on the white colonists and sent 7,000 Spanish civil servants fleeing the country.

After fully consolidating absolute power in 1973, he would embark on a campaign to eradicate education from his fiefdom. He went so far as to ban the word “intellectual,” close all libraries (as well as newspapers and printing presses), and declare private education illegal, hoping to teach only political slogans to young impressionable minds. Declaring himself “Grand Master of Science, Education, and Culture,” he purged intellectuals and killed or exiled everyone with an education. It is said after Nguema was through less than a dozen graduates of technical colleges remained in the country.

After a reign of terror that saw organized religion gutted and the economy collapse, Nguema became increasingly unstable as he smoked the intoxicant bhang and took the hallucinogen iboga, becoming so delusional he would engage his dead opponents in debates. After being deposed in a military coup, he was executed by hired Moroccan troops while he ranted at everyone that he would come back from the dead to haunt them.

7 Kaiser Wilhelm II Asians

Kaiser Wilhelm II was obsessed with the perceived threat to Western civilization coming from Asia, coining the term “Yellow Peril” that would later become popular in the English‑speaking world, to the Kaiser’s glee. After the Japanese defeated China in 1895, Wilhelm sent a letter to his cousin Tsar Nicolas II a picture of the Archangel Michael warning the Western nations (represented by mythological women) of a storm approaching from the East, a storm with a glowering Buddha in the center. In 1900, he had ordered German soldiers en route to China to “act like Huns,” showing no mercy and taking no prisoners.

Having a distaste of Russians who weren’t blood relatives, after Russia was defeated by Japan in 1905, the Kaiser blamed the victory of a non‑Christian nation over a Christian one on Russian Christianity being in poor shape, while Japanese soldiers exhibited “good Christian values.”

In 1907, he warned darkly of a coming war between Japan and America, which he believed was a matter of “Race, no Politics, only Yellow versus White.” He would later claim to the tsar that a German agent had informed him that 10,000 Japanese troops in military jackets with brass buttons were hiding in Southern Mexican plantations, apparently in a bid to capture the Panama Canal. He would even offer to send the Prussian army to help defend the Californian coast from Japanese invasion, though it is likely the US declined firmly.

6 Kim Il Sung Mortality

After the founder of the North Korean regime turned 65 in 1977, he assembled a group of doctors with instructions to help him to live to the age of 100, 120, or even older. According to Kim So Yeon, Kim Il Sung’s personal physician and leader of the “Longevity Center,” the group analyzed 1,750 herbs recorded in Asian medicine textbooks and conducted experiments to see how they could be used to extend the life of the dictator and his son.

One early attempted remedy was youthfulness through laughter, with the Center organizing comedy performances for the dictator and assembling young children to do miscellaneous cute things for his amusement. A more disturbing remedy was favored by Kim in his later years, in which he received blood transfusions from young people in their twenties, who were fed especially nutritious food before making the donation.

The dictator Kim only ended up living until the age of 82, which his physician blamed largely on bad habits and relying on supposed miracle cures while not actually taking care of himself. She even blamed the blood transfusions for changing his blood type from AB to B, and thus, according to Korean blood‑type superstition, turning him from a gregarious and lively tae‑yang personality to a quiet and calculating tae‑eum personality. Regardless, Dr. Kim expressed remorse for wasting her career helping to extend the life of a dictator and has since defected to the South.

5 Park Chung Hee Youth Counterculture

During the 1960s and 1970s, marijuana use was common and considered unremarkable in South Korea, though it has a strong taboo today. This began to change during the regime of dictator Park Chung Hee. Park opposed the influx of American counterculture, which he viewed as decadent and a threat to his rule. During a tour of the Ministry of Justice in 1976, Park put it plainly: “At this grave juncture that will settle the matter of life and death in our one‑on‑one confrontation with the Communist Party, the smoking of marijuana by the youth is something that will bring ruin to our country. You must pull up by the roots the problem of marijuana smoking and similar activities by applying the maximum penalties currently available under the law.”

Park wanted to establish his authority over an increasingly restive youth culture influenced by the American hippie movement and rock and roll. He targeted American‑influenced music in particular. During a massive 1975 crackdown on drugs, many young musicians fell afoul of new drug laws and were arrested, with their songs blacklisted from public broadcast or heavily censored. Korean music became less edgy and more pop‑oriented in the wake of the crackdown, an influence that continues to this day. One notable target was rocker Shin Joong‑hyun, who had refused to write a song praising the dictator. He was tortured, committed to a mental hospital, and presented to the public as an insane drug addict.

Park Chung Hee also engaged in a campaign to root out cultural trends he deemed decadent and pushed through the Minor Offence Law, which made it illegal for women to wear a skirt shorter than a certain length or for men to have hair longer than a certain length. This led to the spectacle of police enforcing the government‑approved lengths wielding rulers to harass young women on the street or subjecting hapless young men to an impromptu shave.

4 Benito Mussolini The Catholic Church

Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini was known in his youth as a mangiaprete (“priest‑eater”) due to his strongly held antipathy toward the Catholic Church. Fascist squads at the time were known for beating up priests and terrorizing Catholic youth clubs and Catholic‑owned banks. Mussolini was narcissistic with a common‑law family and many mistresses.

Before he became a fascist, Mussolini had been a socialist, writing and editing for the socialist newspaper Il Popoli (“The People”) and its weekly supplement, La Vita Trentina. Among his writings for the supplement was a novel, entitled The Cardinal’s Mistress, written to denigrate the Catholic Church. The pulp story is mostly purple prose about a long‑suffering cardinal and his salacious mistress, full of sex, murder, and corrupt Catholic intrigue.

Mussolini eventually reconciled with the Church in order to secure political power, reaching out to Pius XI even as fascist squads were attacking the centrist Catholic Popular Party. Mussolini made concessions to ban gambling and divorce and allow greater Church influence in schools, and the Pope agreed to order the Catholic party to disband. Mussolini wiped out Italian democracy by catering to the pope, but this merely showed his youthful hatred had evolved into a calculating and cynical contempt.

3 Adolf Hitler Horses

While Hitler was generally known as an animal lover, he had a strange antipathy toward horses, whom he associated with the arrogance of aristocratic cavalry officers. In his polemical Mein Kampf, he compared horses to the Jews, saying of the latter that “[their] will to self‑sacrifice does not go beyond the individual’s naked interest in self‑preservation … The same is true of horses which try to defend themselves against an assailant in a body, but scatter again as soon as the danger is past.”

According to Gustav Adolf von Halem, “Hitler did not like horses because they were not disciplined enough for him. They always disturbed the best military parades, especially when there was music. As far as I am aware, the Fuhrer never rode a horse himself. He hated them.”

He is said to have been furious that Berlin crowds watching Nazi military parades were less enthusiastic about tanks and tractor‑towed artillery pieces than they were about a pair of horse regiments left over from the reign of the Prussian king Frederick II. He would attempt to abolish the horse cavalry altogether, which would seem to make sense, except that the Wehrmacht found them invaluable in the muddy wastelands of the eastern front.

2 Joseph Stalin Flying

The man of steel was not such a tough guy when it came to getting on airplanes. This may have been worsened by the catastrophic 1935 crash of the Maxim Gorky, an eight‑engine luxury plane with an onboard cinema and library, which flew over the Red Square in triumph until an escort biplane crashed into its right wing. For travel from Moscow to his dacha, he preferred a motorcade, while he took longer trips by train accompanied by armed soldiers.

Stalin agreed to fly only once, for the Tehran conference in 1943 with Prime Minister Churchill and President Roosevelt. He would have preferred to go overland, but no safe route existed at the time. Two Soviet‑built Douglas DC‑3 airliners were configured for the flight, but Stalin rejected them in favor of American‑built Lend‑Lease C‑47 transports. Air Marshal Alexander Golovanov, commander of the 18th Air Army, was chosen as the pilot, but at the last moment, Stalin chose to take the other plane, piloted by the relatively unknown Lieutenant Colonel M. Grachev. His logic? “Better to go with Grachev. Marshals do more sitting behind a desk than behind the controls of a plane. It will be safer that way!”

The flight was successful, but Stalin was reportedly tense and terrified during turbulence. Grachev received a handshake, a promotion, and a Hero of the Soviet Union medal. Stalin, however, never flew again. Churchill was forced to fly to Moscow for a critical meeting in 1944, and an ailing Roosevelt made the long journey by sea to Yalta in the Crimea in 1945, because the Allied leaders knew they were never going to convince Stalin to fly anywhere else.

1 Ayatollah Khomeini Pepsi

In the late 1950s, Ruhollah Khomeini was deeply involved with a group of Shia clerics who were targeting the minority Baha’i faith in Iran, which was hated because it was heretical in their eyes and because of its association with the state of Israel. Things took a turn for the weird when they realized the Pepsi contract to market in Iran had gone to Baha’i businessman Habib Sabet. In 1957, Khomeini declared that anyone who drinks Pepsi will “roast in the fires of hell.” The market for the beverage slumped immediately, allowing Coca‑Cola to make inroads into the country by making sure they appointed a non‑Baha’i to head the franchise.

As anti‑Western sentiment increased in the 1960s, attacks on Pepsi intensified. In 1963, the Pepsi bottling plant was ransacked and torched. The shah’s secret police may have exacerbated the antipathy for the beverage with the horrific torture method of anally raping male prisoners with Pepsi bottles. After the revolution, Khomeini would eventually lift the fatwa, as well as similar fatwas against companies like Schweppes, when control of the bottling plants was shifted to operators deemed more acceptable by the fundamentalist Shia clergy.

Pepsi got its revenge in 2012 when rumors began circulating on the Iranian Internet that Pepsi planned to use powerful lasers to shine the image of their logo on the Moon’s surface, reminiscent of a 1979 belief that Khomeini’s face would appear on the lunar surface as he returned from exile. Thousands of Iranians climbed onto their roofs to stare at the Moon. When nothing happened, some bought Coca‑Cola out of spite. Among the joke images circulating on the Internet in the wake of the event was one that showed Ayatollah Khomeini superimposed on the Moon enjoying a refreshing sip of Pepsi.

Welcome to our roundup of the 10 great ancient rulers whose actions reverberated through centuries. From pioneering religions to forging empires, each leader left an indelible mark on the world.

10 Akhenaton Founding The First Monotheistic Religion

Around 1348 BC, just a few years into his reign, Akhenaton introduced the worship of Aten—the radiant sun disk—as what many consider the earliest monotheistic faith. He also commissioned a brand‑new capital on untouched terrain to cement his religious reforms.

Yet the Egyptian elite, steeped in a pantheon of gods, balked at this radical shift. When Akhenaton passed in 1334 BC, the traditional deities were swiftly reinstated, and his son even altered his name from Tutankhaten to Tutankhamun to signal loyalty to Amun.

For centuries, Akhenaton’s memory was deliberately erased—a classic case of damnatio memoriae. It wasn’t until the 19th century that archaeologists uncovered his artifacts, sparking debates about his possible influence on early Judaism and cementing his place in scholarly discourse.

9 Qin Shi Huang Uniting All Of China For The First Time

Qin Shi Huang did more than bring the warring states under one banner; he proclaimed himself the first emperor of a unified China. He also masterminded the early sections of the Great Wall and ordered the construction of his massive underground tomb, famed for its Terracotta Army.

Ascending the Qin throne in 246 BC at age 13—though only assuming power at 21—he spent the next 17 years employing political cunning and military brilliance to subdue the remaining six states.

His reign was marked by ruthless suppression of dissent, including the infamous 213 BC book burnings that spared only texts on agriculture, medicine, and divination. He even chased immortality, ultimately dying after ingesting mercury‑laden elixirs.

Although his empire crumbled four years after his death, Qin Shi Huang’s impact on Chinese unification is undeniable; as Harvard scholar Peter Bol notes, “We wouldn’t have a China without Qin Shi Huang.”

8 Cyrus The Great Founding The Achaemenid Empire

Cyrus the Great, born in the early sixth century BC—likely within Persia—emerged from a veil of myth. Legend tells of a prophetic mother who foresaw her son overthrowing his grandfather, prompting the latter to order his death. A loyal adviser spared the infant, sending him to a shepherd’s care.

When Cyrus reached adulthood, he reclaimed his destiny, toppling his grandfather to become king of the Medes. His subsequent conquests swept across Asia Minor, Syria, and Judea, culminating in the capture of Babylon, where he declared himself “king of the four corners of the world.”

Renowned for tolerance of local customs and religions, Cyrus is sometimes credited with drafting the world’s first “Charter of Human Rights,” though scholars debate whether this was innovative or simply customary for the era.

His empire, the Achaemenid, stretched from the Mediterranean to the Indus Valley—an unprecedented expanse for its time.

7 Alaric The Visigoth Sacking Rome

“My voice sticks in my throat, and as I dictate, sobs choke me. The city which had taken the whole world was itself taken,” wrote St. Jerome, describing the 410 AD sack of Rome—the first such breach in over eight centuries.

The mastermind behind this was Alaric, a brilliant Visigothic strategist. Born into a noble Gothic clan, he served Rome’s army before breaking away to become the Visigoths’ inaugural king. For years he roamed Greece and Italy, only pausing when the Roman Senate paid him substantial sums.

Alaric’s grievance stemmed from the Roman refusal to grant his people more land and subsidies. Legend suggests insiders opened Rome’s gates, allowing his forces to flood in for three days of plunder—though they largely spared citizens and structures.

Shortly after the sack, Alaric died, likely from fever, leaving a legacy of both terror and tactical brilliance.

6 Pachacuti Building Machu Picchu

Pachacuti ruled the Cuzco kingdom in the 15th century, spearheading a military expansion that birthed the Inca Empire. To celebrate his triumphs, he commissioned a series of royal estates, the crown jewel of which was Machu Picchu.

Constructed between 1460 and 1470, Machu Picchu—meaning “old peak”—stands as the most iconic representation of Inca ingenuity, showcasing sophisticated stonework and astronomical alignments.

Central to its religious significance is the intihuatana, a stone pillar used by priests to “tie” the sun during winter months, ensuring its return. Despite its grandeur, Spanish conquest led to the site’s abandonment after merely 80 years of use.

Rediscovered centuries later by American explorer Hiram Bingham III, he famously proclaimed the citadel “the crown of Inca Land,” cementing its place in world heritage.

5 Menes Founding Memphis

Menes is traditionally credited with founding Memphis, the capital of Egypt’s Early Dynastic Period. The city arose after the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt—an achievement sometimes also ascribed to other early pharaohs.

Ancient historians Manetho and Herodotus linked Menes with figures such as Narmer and Aha, noting that he allegedly diverted the Nile to construct the city. Memphis, originally called “White Walls,” likely derived its name from the gleaming brick walls of the royal palace.

The metropolis thrived for millennia, inhabited from the 31st century BC until the 7th century AD, before gradual decline led to its abandonment.

Even in the 12th century, Arab Egyptologist Abd‑ul‑Latif marveled at its enduring splendor, stating, “The more deeply we contemplate this city, the more our admiration rises, and every fresh glance at the ruins is a fresh source of delight.”

4 Augustus Founding The Roman Empire

Born Gaius Octavius, Augustus faced a frail childhood and orphanhood at four. His fortunes changed when his great‑uncle Julius Caesar adopted him, paving the way for his eventual rise.

After forming the Second Triumvirate with Mark Antony and Marcus Lepidus, Augustus outmaneuvered his rivals—exiling Lepidus and witnessing Antony’s suicide following the Battle of Actium.

While some argue he merely inherited the Roman Republic, Augustus expanded its territories, annexing Egypt and pushing further into Africa and Germania. He secured the Senate’s endorsement, earning the title “Augustus” and the honorific princeps civitatis (“first citizen”).

Beyond politics, Augustus was a visionary builder, commissioning monuments like the Ara Pacis. His partner Marcus Agrippa also played a crucial role, and as Suetonius records, Augustus boasted, “I found a Rome of bricks; I leave to you one of marble.”

3 Themistocles Defeating King Xerxes I And Persia

Themistocles, the architect of Athenian naval supremacy, recognized early on that sea power was Greece’s salvation against Persian aggression. Though his father hailed from aristocracy, his mother’s origins were modest, prompting Themistocles to claim Athenian citizenship at sixteen.

When criticized for his lack of classical education, he retorted, “‘Tis true, I never learned how to tune a harp or play upon a lute, but I know how to raise a small and inconsiderate city to glory and greatness.”

After the Battle of Marathon, he emerged as a leading strategos, championing the construction of nearly 200 triremes in preparation for Xerxes I’s invasion. His cunning tactics secured a decisive Greek victory, preserving Western civilization.

Despite his triumph, Themistocles was later ostracized and spent his final years governing Magnesia, a Persian province.

2 Sargon Of Akkad Creating The World’s First Empire

Sargon’s birth in the mid‑24th century BC is shrouded in legend: said to be the son of a high‑ranking priestess and an unknown father, he was abandoned in a river, only to be rescued by a gardener named Aqqi.

Adopted into the royal court, Sargon rose from cupbearer to usurper, overthrowing Urzababa and proclaiming himself ruler of Kish. His 56‑year reign saw the birth of the world’s first empire, spanning Mesopotamia and extending into present‑day Iran, Turkey, and Syria.

He founded the capital city of Akkad—still undiscovered today—drawing knowledge from the Sumerian “Sargon Legend.” Yet, despite his monumental achievements, the empire lasted merely 75 years after his death, succumbing to persistent rebellions.

1 Ashoka Maurya Uniting Nearly All Of India

H.G. Wells once praised Indian emperor Ashoka Maurya, noting that among the countless names in history, “the name of Ashoka shines, and shines almost alone, a star.” Around 270 BC, he inherited the vast Maurya Empire, which stretched across northwestern and central India, even reaching Afghanistan.

While his grandfather Chandragupta had repelled Alexander the Great’s satraps, the southeastern regions remained independent. Ashoka’s aggressive campaign culminated in the brutal conquest of Kalinga in his eighth year, causing such massive suffering that he experienced profound remorse.

Renouncing further warfare, Ashoka embraced Buddhism and pursued peaceful reforms: establishing hospitals for humans and animals, issuing edicts against cruelty, and promoting dharma. Despite these humanitarian efforts, his empire crumbled merely half a century after his death.

Discover More of the 10 Great Ancient Legends

From monotheistic pioneers to empire‑builders, these ten rulers illustrate how visionary leadership can reshape civilizations. Dive deeper into each story and uncover the timeless lessons they offer.

When you think of power, you might picture towering castles and iron‑clad kings, but the annals of history are peppered with 10 fascinating female leaders who turned the tables on a male‑dominated world. From battlefield commanders to shrewd diplomats, these women wielded the throne, the sword, and the pen with equal flair.

10 Fascinating Female Leaders

10 Amina

Most likely born in the 16th century, Amina was a fierce warrior, military leader, and quite possibly the ruler of Zazzau, now called Zaria, a Hausa kingdom which was located in modern‑day Nigeria. The eldest daughter of an ancient king named Bakwa Turunku, Amina ascended to the throne and embarked on a number of military campaigns to expand her country’s territory.

Supposedly to keep her grasp on power, Amina never took a husband, opting to have temporary husbands for one night each. They usually came from her personal bodyguards and were killed the following morning to keep details of their sexual rendezvous a secret.

One night, obviously aware of the fate that awaited him, one of her lovers escaped. Amina chased him, drowning in a river as he got away.

9 Zoe Porphyrogenita

Four Byzantine emperors owed their coronations to Zoe Porphyrogenita (“born in the purple”), the second daughter of Constantine VIII. When Constantine died, Zoe was crowned empress along with her husband, Romanos III Argyros.

One day, Romanos drowned in a bathtub, a death in which Zoe and her lover, Michael IV, were rumored to be involved. Later that day, Zoe married Michael IV, a violation of the tradition of widows waiting a year to remarry. When Michael IV died, their adopted son, Michael V, assumed the throne. He took sole control of the empire by banishing Zoe.

A revolt followed because Zoe was extremely popular. She and her sister, Theodora, soon ruled together quite contentiously. For his actions, Michael V was later blinded and castrated. Eventually growing tired of political life and her sister’s ambitions, Zoe took another husband, Constantine IX, whom she allowed to rule until her death in 1050.

8 Brunhilda Of Austrasia

Born to the Visigoth king Athanagild, Brunhilda was married off to Sigebert I, the ruler of the Frankish kingdom of Austrasia. Her sister married Sigebert’s half brother, but she was soon murdered at the prompting of her husband’s mistress. Brunhilda made it her life’s work to avenge her sister.

Less than a decade later, war broke out between the two half brothers. However, Sigebert quickly met his end at the hands of an assassin and Brunhilda was imprisoned.

Eventually, she returned to power, seizing the regency in her son’s name. When he died relatively young, Brunhilda tried in vain to rule through her grandsons, who went to war when the elder grandson exiled her from his court. Finally, she ruled for a short time through her great‑grandson Sigebert II before being betrayed and killed by Chlothar II of Neustria. Chlothar had Brunhilda dragged to death by a horse.

7 Jadwiga Of Poland

The first female monarch of Poland, Jadwiga (aka Hedwig) was the youngest daughter of Louis the Great, king of Hungary and Poland. After his death, her older sister, Maria, was named Louis’s successor to the Hungarian throne.

But Polish nobility was wary of Maria’s husband and his ties to the Holy Roman Empire. So they persuaded Jadwiga’s mother to choose Jadwiga to rule Poland even though she was only 10 at the time.

In 1384, Jadwiga traveled to Krakow, where she was crowned “king.” Though she was already betrothed to William of Habsburg, Polish nobility “encouraged” her to marry a man named Jogaila, who was the Grand Duke of Lithuania and a more politically expedient match. Jadwiga continued to reign as co‑ruler with her new husband, building a legacy as one of Poland’s greatest monarchs. She died at age 25 during childbirth.

6 Queen Seondeok Of Silla

Queen Seondeok was the 27th ruler of Silla, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, as well as the first female monarch. Appointed to the throne because her father had no male heirs, Queen Seondeok quickly established herself as a thoughtful, intelligent, and just ruler.

Her prolonged desire for cultural advancement helped create a road map for the eventual unification of the Three Kingdoms. Queen Seondeok was also responsible for the construction of what is now the oldest surviving observatory in the world: Cheomseongdae.

One of the best‑known stories of Queen Seondeok takes place when she was a child. Her father received a gift of peony seeds with a painting of peony blossoms. Queen Seondeok correctly deduced that the blossoms didn’t have a scent because no butterflies were flying around them in the picture. She was also said to have predicted the exact date of her death.

5 Queen Ana Nzinga

Ruling as regent for her nephew over what is now Angola, Queen Ana Nzinga waded through the difficult waters of the African slave‑trade era with the aplomb that has made her legacy endure to this day. Sandwiched between hostile neighbors, she formed an alliance with Portugal.

But Portugal soon betrayed her. Forced to flee with her people, Queen Ana Nzinga offered refuge for runaway slaves and trained militias in an effort to retake her land from the Portuguese.

After a lengthy war with the Portuguese, she eventually gave up on her hope of defeating them. Instead, she focused on raising the status of her new kingdom, Matamba. When she finally died, Matamba was doing quite well commercially, enabling them to deal with Portugal on more equal footing. Perhaps her greatest legacy is that she may have been the first “slave” abolitionist.

4 Rani Lakshmi Bai

In her youth, Lakshmi Bai learned to fight, becoming proficient in a number of disciplines like martial arts and sword fighting. These traits served her well later in life when she ascended to the throne of Jhansi, a state in northern India.

She assumed the throne after her husband died, becoming the regent for their adopted son. However, the East India Company refused to recognize her son’s right to rule because he was adopted. So they annexed the state.

Refusing to cede her kingdom to the British, Lakshmi Bai assembled an army to revolt against the occupying forces. As the Indian Mutiny began, the 22‑year‑old queen personally led her soldiers, bravely fighting even as her forces were overwhelmed by the East India Company. Eventually, after a number of defeats, Lakshmi Bai dressed up as a man and met her death during battle.

3 Toregene Khatun

Wife of one Mongol ruler, Ogedei Khan, and mother of another ruler, Guyuk Khan, Toregene Khatun was also the ruler, the Great Khan, for a period of time herself. When her husband died, Toregene grabbed for power, using her political guile to build a consensus that she should rule to maintain stability until a new Great Khan could be chosen.

Though her reign was relatively peaceful, especially for a Mongol, Toregene worked to further her country’s cause by currying favor with a number of foreign dignitaries. Her nominee for the succeeding Great Khan was her son, Guyuk, who faced stiff opposition from a number of sources. He was finally elected after four tumultuous years.

2 Christina, Queen Of Sweden

One of the most vivacious and well‑educated women of the 17th century, Christina assumed the throne of Sweden at age six upon the death of her father, King Gustav II Adolph. However, she didn’t start ruling until she reached age 18.

Her refusal to marry was one of the main reasons for her unexpected abdication of the throne at age 27. Faced with an unhappy populace begging for a king and his heirs, Christina left the country, heading to Rome to enjoy the company of Pope Alexander VII and others. Her secret conversion to Roman Catholicism may have played a role in her abdication as well.

After trying unsuccessfully to obtain the throne of Poland, Christina settled down to a life of leisure and patronage of the arts. The Pope later described her as “a queen without a realm, a Christian without faith, and a woman without shame.”

1 Tomyris

After her husband’s death, Tomyris became the queen of a tribe known as the Massagetae. Her greatest feat was defending her kingdom against the Persian king Cyrus the Great. Rebuffing his offer of marriage, Tomyris attempted to dissuade Cyrus from starting a war. She warned him: “Be content to rule your own people and try to endure the sight of me ruling mine.”

Nevertheless, the Persians invaded and Cyrus kidnapped her son, who later killed himself in captivity. The Persian king finally fell in battle against the Massagetae. Afterward, Tomyris was purported to have scoured the battlefield for Cyrus’s body, cut off the king’s head when she found him, and placed his head in a skin filled with human blood.

+ Further Reading

Women have played a fascinating role in history – from rulers to warriors and everything in between. Here are a few more captivating, yet not overly stereotypical, tales of the fairer sex:

• 10 Amazing Female Spies Who Brought Down The Nazis
• 10 Women Who Transformed Themselves Into Superheroes
• 10 Women Warriors Forgotten By History
• 10 Overlooked Women Who Outdid Famous Men

The Habsburgs weren’t just a powerhouse of European politics; they also amassed a collection of truly bizarre anecdotes. Here are 10 crazy facts that showcase their twisted hobbies, ill‑fated decisions, and even a lingering curse that haunted the line for centuries.

10 Crazy Facts About the Habsburg Dynasty

1 Their Last Member Is On The Path To Sainthood

Remember Karl I, the emperor who tried to broker a disastrous peace deal with France? Though he stepped down in 1918, effectively ending the Habsburg line, his story isn’t quite over. Today he’s widely known as Karl the Blessed and is being pushed as a strong candidate for future canonisation by the Catholic Church.

The Vatican recognised a second miracle attributed to his intercession in 2008, a key step toward sainthood. If the process concludes successfully, Karl will join the rare ranks of saints who once authorized the use of chemical weapons – the Austro‑Hungarian forces deployed chlorine gas during World War I.

That would be a fittingly bizarre coda for a dynasty that managed to blend royal grandeur with unsettling eccentricities. Karl ruled for only two years, yet his legacy may outlive the empire itself, becoming the longest‑revered Habsburg in spiritual history.

2 The Whole Family Was Plagued By A Creepy Curse

In 1848, Emperor Franz Joseph ordered the execution of a group of Hungarian rebels. One of those rebels, the son of Countess Karolyi, allegedly cursed Franz Joseph before his death. That hex is blamed for a string of tragic events that haunted the family for the next seven decades.

Franz Joseph narrowly escaped an assassination attempt, while his wife fell victim to an Italian anarchist’s bullet. Their son died in a murder‑suicide pact with his lover. Other family members suffered bizarre fates: one fell from a horse, another perished in a house fire, two took their own lives, and one simply vanished at sea, never to be seen again.

Beyond physical misfortunes, the curse seemed to gnaw at their sanity. After the Mexican emperor Maximilian’s death, his consort spent thirty years locked in an insane asylum. The cascade of misery culminated with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, an event that sparked World War I and ultimately shredded the Habsburg empire.

3 Maximilian Was Tricked Into Ruling Mexico

In 1863, a coalition of Mexican elites conspired with Napoleon III of France to oust liberal President Benito Juárez and install a pliant monarch. Their chosen figurehead was Ferdinand Maximilian, a minor Habsburg who, despite his friendly demeanor, was remarkably naïve.

When Napoleon assured Maximilian that the Mexican populace had elected him emperor, Maximilian took the claim at face value and set sail for the New World. He arrived in 1864, only to find the nation already spiralling into civil war, with French troops using his ascension as a pretext to crush Juárez.

By 1867, French forces were expelled, yet Maximilian stubbornly refused to abandon his ill‑fated throne, proclaiming his desire to stay with his “people.” The Mexicans, unsurprisingly, responded by executing him, sealing his place as a tragic footnote in Habsburg history.

4 Ferdinand I Was A Genuine Idiot

While many European royals suffered from inbreeding, it was rare for such afflicted heirs to actually inherit the throne. Ferdinand I was the odd exception, assuming the imperial mantle in 1835 despite possessing the mental age of a small child.

He struggled with basic tasks: opening doors baffled him, and he could not sign his name. One of his favorite pastimes involved placing a waste‑paper basket on his head and rolling across the floor. He even refused to acknowledge an eagle he saw because it had only one head, whereas the family crest displayed a two‑headed eagle.

Despite these glaring deficiencies, Ferdinand ruled for over a decade before a 1848 coup forced his abdication. One of his final recorded utterances, upon hearing of an open revolution, was a bewildered, “Are they allowed to do that?”—a poignant illustration of his genuine simplicity.

5 The Entire Family Was Hopelessly Deformed

The perils of relentless inbreeding extended beyond mental decline; they manifested physically in a grotesque condition now known as the “Habsburg Jaw.” Portraits reveal that virtually every family member sported a dramatically protruding underbite, their chins resembling aircraft landing strips.

This deformity crippled daily life. Charles V’s jaw was so severe he could not eat in public; Leopold I would become drenched when rain fell because his open mouth acted as a bucket. Carlos II was virtually unable to speak or chew solid food, rendering him entirely dependent on others for nourishment.

Simon Winder notes in *Danubia* that while Habsburg men could grow beards to mask their prominent chins, the women were forced to display the deformity openly, underscoring the dynasty’s tragic aesthetic legacy.

6 The Entire Family Was Hopelessly Inbred

In an era when royal lands were divided through marriage alliances, the Habsburgs adopted a blunt solution: marry within the family as often as possible. This strategy kept territories consolidated but introduced a genetic time bomb.

Leopold I, for instance, wed his own niece, Margaret Theresa of Spain, and insisted she address him as “uncle” even as they shared a bedroom. Cousin‑marriages and unions with aunts were commonplace, while marrying outside the clan was frowned upon.

The consequences were catastrophic. The Spanish branch of the dynasty collapsed when Carlos II, a product of generations of close‑kin unions, proved physically disabled, mentally impaired, and infertile, dying childless in 1700. His death marked the end of Habsburg rule over Spain and its overseas empire.

7 Karl I Made The Worst Peace Deal In History

While the Habsburgs are best remembered for allying with Germany during World I, Emperor Karl I (also known as Charles I) secretly reached out to France in a desperate attempt to secure a peace treaty as the war dragged on.

His overture essentially promised the French anything they desired, a move that convinced French Premier Georges Clemenceau that the Austro‑Hungarian forces were on the brink of collapse. Clemenceau publicly rejected Karl’s proposal, delivering a crushing blow to the empire’s morale.

The public rebuff not only demoralised the troops but also embarrassed Karl before the Kaiser, threatening the fragile alliance he hoped to preserve. Historians often label this attempt as the worst peace deal ever concocted, given its disastrous political fallout.

8 Franz Ferdinand Shot Anything That Moved

Before becoming infamous as the spark that ignited World I, Archduke Franz Ferdinand was renowned for an almost obsessive hunting habit. He traversed the Austro‑Hungarian Empire, indiscriminately shooting any creature in his path.

On a single day in the 19th century, he reportedly felled 2,140 animals. By the time of his assassination at age 51, estimates suggest he personally killed close to 300,000 living beings, with pheasants, partridges, and deer comprising the bulk of his tally.

His penchant for displaying trophies turned his estate at Konopiště into a macabre gallery, boasting 100,000 deer mounted on walls, creating a hazardous maze of antlers. He even repurposed two shot elephants—one as a massive waste‑paper bin, the other as an oversized ashtray—underscoring his relentless zeal for destruction.

9 Rudolf II Was A Crazy Alchemist

Rudolf II, the final Habsburg sovereign to make Prague his capital, became infamous for abandoning governance in favour of arcane pursuits. Though he reigned as Holy Roman Emperor, his true passion lay in transforming himself into a wizard.

An avid occultist, Rudolf chased the legendary philosopher’s stone, hoping to achieve eternal life. He enlisted celebrated alchemists—most notably the flamboyant Englishman John Dee—and consulted mystics such as Nostradamus, who penned horoscopes for the emperor.

His fascination extended to collecting esoteric artifacts, including alleged ties to the Jewish Golem legend, which some claim was conjured on Prague’s streets during his reign. Rudolf’s obsession with the supernatural eclipsed any real political legacy.

10 Leopold I Loved Weird Blood Sports

In the 17th century, royalty proved their masculinity through hunting, yet Leopold I took the tradition to grotesque extremes. The Holy Roman Emperor refused ordinary shooting parties, instead devising blood sports that placed animals at severe disadvantages.

One of his favourite pastimes involved wrapping a live fox in a blanket and commanding a troupe of dwarfs to beat the helpless creature with sticks until it perished. He also employed falcons to chase herons and submerged deer in deep pools, subsequently shooting them one by one with a crossbow.

While Leopold’s cruelty was already staggering, his successor Rudolf II may have eclipsed him by using cheetahs to hunt through the streets of Prague, cementing the Habsburgs’ reputation for bizarre and brutal entertainment.

When it comes to power trips, the ancient Chinese throne was the ultimate playground. In this roundup of 10 crazy stories you’ll meet emperors who turned their palaces into party venues, made their generals into archery targets, and even let goats pick their bedtime companions. Buckle up for a wild ride through the most outrageous reigns ever recorded.

10 Crazy Stories Unveiled

10 King Zhou Of Shang Had A Lake Of Wine

As King Zhou’s rule stretched on, his taste for extravagance grew to legendary proportions. He decided that a regular banquet just wouldn’t cut it, so he commissioned a massive artificial lake that was, quite literally, filled with wine. The so‑called Pool of Wine and Forest of Meat was a sprawling waterway where canoes drifted amid floating liquor, and islands sprouted trees whose branches were studded with skewers of roasted meat.

His royal court would spend afternoons leisurely paddling through the boozy waters, sipping straight from the lake while plucking succulent meat from the trees. It was a hedonistic wonderland that made the ancient world gasp in disbelief.

Predictably, such decadence didn’t earn King Zhou many friends. When rebellion flared, he chose a spectacularly theatrical end—setting himself ablaze rather than face a humble death. The wine‑filled lake was destroyed in the chaos, and his successors, determined to curb such excess, outlawed alcohol throughout the kingdom.

9 King Wu Of Qin Died In Powerlifting Contest

King Wu was a towering brute who believed that raw strength was the ultimate measure of a ruler. He purged his court of scholars and filled the highest offices with muscular men capable of hoisting massive cauldrons above their heads. His obsession with displays of power turned the palace into a permanent gymnasium.

One day, the kingdom’s strongest warrior, Meng Yue, challenged Wu to a cauldron‑lifting duel. Wu strained to raise the heavy vessel, but his knees gave way, and he collapsed under the weight. The injury proved fatal; he lingered for eight agonizing months before his body finally gave out.

The grim irony was that Meng’s victory cost him dearly. As a reward for besting the king, Meng and his entire family were hunted down and executed, a brutal reminder that in Wu’s world, triumph could be a double‑edged sword.

8 Emperor Wu Of Jin Let A Goat Choose His Concubines

The imperial harem was supposed to be a symbol of prestige, but for Emperor Wu, it became an all‑consuming hobby. He relentlessly recruited beautiful women from across the realm, even snatching daughters of his own officials to add to his collection.

His obsession reached absurd heights when he decreed that marriage was forbidden until he finished gathering his desired companions. By the end of his reign, his harem boasted more than ten thousand women. To decide which lady would spend the night with him, Wu rode a cart drawn by goats; wherever the goats halted, that’s where his next rendezvous would take place.

This bizarre selection method exemplified his complete disregard for conventional governance, turning the throne into a perpetual pleasure palace that left his subjects both bewildered and exasperated.

7 Emperor Gaozu Peed In Scholars’ Hats

Emperor Gaozu was a pragmatic soldier who prized martial strength over literary finesse. He famously dismissed the value of the classic texts, declaring, “All I possess I have won on horseback.” Scholars, with their pointed caps, represented everything he despised.

His disdain manifested in a vulgar ritual: whenever he encountered a scholar, he would yank off the man’s hat and relieve himself inside it, a gesture meant to humiliate the learned elite. This act of contempt sparked outrage among the educated class.

Ironically, after an adviser praised his conquests in a flattering manuscript, Gaozu experienced a change of heart. He established Confucian schools throughout the empire, embracing the very philosophy he once scorned, and made it the state ideology—a rare instance of a ruler admitting his error.

6 Emperor Xuanzong Had 40,000 Concubines

In most dynasties, an emperor’s harem shrank with each succession, but Xuanzong defied that pattern. His reign stretched an impressive forty‑four years, and his harem swelled to a staggering forty thousand women.

He never truly met most of his countless consorts; instead, they spent their days studying poetry, mathematics, and classic literature, while also tending to mulberry trees for silk production. The sheer scale of his household turned the palace into a sprawling academic commune.

Even in his later years, Xuanzong kept expanding his harem. At sixty, he forced his own son to divorce his wife so the emperor could claim the daughter‑in‑law as another concubine, illustrating the relentless appetite he held for companionship.

5 Emperor Houfei Used His General’s Belly For Target Practice

Ascended to the throne at the tender age of nine, Emperor Houfei quickly spiraled into a chaotic blend of childlike whimsy and tyrannical cruelty. One night, he discovered his general, Xiao Daocheng, sleeping naked, and was struck by the sight of the general’s protruding belly.

Inspired by this odd fascination, Houfei ordered a target to be pinned to Xiao’s gut and began shooting blunted arrows at it for sport. His attendant convinced him to use dull projectiles, claiming it would keep the general alive for endless practice sessions.

The general, fed up with being a living dartboard, plotted revenge. He sent an assassin into Houfei’s chambers while the boy‑emperor slept, beheading him and seizing the throne for himself.

4 Emperor Jing Killed A Man For Beating Him At A Board Game

Emperor Jing’s temper flared spectacularly over a game of Liubo, an ancient stone board game akin to modern backgammon. Losing a round left his pride bruised, and in a fit of rage he hurled the heavy stone board at his opponent’s head, killing the man instantly.

The victim turned out to be the heir‑apparent of the rival Wu kingdom, prompting the king of Wu to rally seven states in a massive revolt against Jing.

Jing, however, proved a ruthless military strategist. He crushed the uprising, then systematically reduced the territories of any state that dared challenge his authority, cementing his reputation as a ruler who would not tolerate defeat—on the board or the battlefield.

3 King Fu Sheng Made It A Crime To Say ‘Without’

Legend tells of King Fu Sheng losing an eye while attempting to pilfer an eagle’s eggs, leaving him permanently blind in one eye. Sensitive about his impairment, he decreed that uttering words such as “missing,” “lacking,” “less,” or “without” constituted an insult to his person and thus a capital crime.

His reign was marked by brutal purges; astrologers warned him of a short rule if he didn’t amend his ways, yet he persisted. Within two short years, he executed his own wife, her father, and her uncle, and began a systematic extermination of his extended family.

When his cousins discovered he intended to target them next, they stormed his palace, dragged him out, and sentenced him to death by horse‑drag, ending the one‑eyed tyrant’s brief but bloody reign.

2 Emperor Wenxuan Walked Around Naked Wearing Makeup

Emperor Wenxuan began his rule with promise, but over time he devolved into a perpetual drunkard. His inebriation drove him to strip off his garments, apply theatrical makeup, and wander the corridors of noble houses—often in the dead of winter.

His most chilling habit involved random acts of violence. On one occasion, he stopped a passerby and asked, “What is the Son of Heaven like?” When the woman answered that he was “so crazy he cannot be considered a Son of Heaven,” he promptly beheaded her.

Such murderous outbursts became routine. Ministers learned to feed him condemned prisoners before he could unleash his wrath on innocent citizens, hoping to sate his blood‑lust and keep the empire from descending into chaos.

1 Emperor Zhengde Liked To Play Make‑Believe

Ascending the throne at just thirteen, Emperor Zhengde never quite outgrew his childhood fantasies. He forced his ministers to masquerade as merchants so he could wander the markets pretending to be a commoner—a compulsory imperial pastime.

His imagination didn’t stop at role‑playing. He commissioned a sprawling 200‑room complex called the “Leopard Quarter” beside the imperial zoo, where he and his friends would indulge in drinking bouts and hunt zoo animals, treating each chase as a jungle expedition.

Adding to the theatricality, Zhengde invented an identical double named General Zhu Shou. He would issue orders to Zhu, then disguise himself and demand the same orders be read back, forcing courtiers to address him as his own double—an elaborate game of deception.

Despite his whimsical rule, the emperor’s end was grim. A heavy bout of drunkenness caused him to fall from a boat; the frigid water left him with a lingering illness that ultimately claimed his life at twenty‑nine.

When we talk about 10 tragic stories of monarchs who barely got to wave the scepter, we’re reminded that power can be as fleeting as a breath. In eras when the throne was either inherited or seized by force, climbing to the highest seat was often a one‑way ticket to danger.

10 Tragic Stories of Short‑Lived Sovereigns

10 Prince Milan Obrenovic II: 26 Days

Prince Milan Obrenovic II held the Serbian throne for just 26 days, and by most accounts he never truly grasped the weight of his new station. From birth he was plagued by illness—a family curse of sorts—being the sixth child yet the first to survive past infancy. By the time he turned twenty, he was confined to his bed, a fragile miracle to parents who had already lost five siblings.

When his father Miloš stepped down in 1839, he named the ailing Milan as his successor. The young prince, already battling pneumonia, was unaware of the political shift. He never signed a decree nor issued an edict; his condition left him unable to rise, let alone comprehend the magnitude of his accession. Some stories suggest he thought his father was merely on a short trip, asking passersby when he would return.

On the twenty‑sixth day of his reign, the fever claimed him. Milan died in his mother’s arms at the age of twenty, never having truly ruled.

9 Gordian I and Gordian II: 21 Days

In 238 AD, Rome witnessed a whirlwind of imperial turnover, and none were as brief as the joint reign of Gordian I and his son Gordian II. The octogenarian Gordian I refused to rule alone, insisting his son sit beside him, despite the Senate’s request for a solitary emperor. Their partnership was rooted in deep paternal affection.

When they seized power, Gordian I appointed his son as his right‑hand in all affairs, from provincial administration to the imperial throne. However, this devotion proved fatal: after just twenty‑one days, a rebel force attacked Gordian II in Carthage, overwhelming his troops and ending his life on the battlefield.

Grief‑stricken, the elderly Gordian I, having lost his beloved son, retreated to his chambers, placed a belt around his neck, and took his own life, ending the brief dynasty.

8 Lady Jane Grey: 9 Days

At just fifteen, Lady Jane Grey never imagined she would be thrust onto England’s throne. She was a distant cousin of King Edward VI and fourth in the line of succession. Yet, four days after Edward’s death in 1553, she was awakened and told she was now queen.

Edward, a devout Protestant, had tried to bypass his Catholic sister Mary by drafting a will that named Jane as his successor. This maneuver ignited a fierce power struggle. Mary quickly rallied support, and within nine days of Jane’s coronation, she was imprisoned on charges of treason and ordered to face execution—either by burning or beheading, at the queen’s discretion.

Although her execution was delayed a year, the grim fate of her husband—beheaded first—was carried out. When Jane’s turn finally arrived, she displayed brief bravery, reciting a psalm and pleading for a swift death. Yet, blindfolded and trembling, she asked the executioner where her head was, a moment of panic that underscored the horror of her end.

7 King Thong Lan: 7 Days

At fifteen, Thong Lan ascended to the Ayutthayan throne in 1388, only to rule for a single week before meeting a brutal death. His father, Boromrachathirat I, fell ill and died on the way to battle, leaving the teenage heir to inherit a kingdom in turmoil.

Within days, local ruler Ramesuan mustered an army upon hearing of Thong Lan’s accession. Though Ramesuan had once been a friend of Thong Lan’s father, he acted without hesitation, marching straight to the palace.

The young king had done nothing to provoke Ramesuan, yet the latter seized him, wrapped him in a velvet sack, and beat him to death at a Buddhist temple, ending the reign after just seven days.

6 King John I: 5 Days

King John I of France stands out as the only monarch who reigned his entire life, yet his tenure lasted a mere five days. He was the sole male offspring of King Louis X, who died on June 5, 1316 while John’s mother was still pregnant.

French authorities chose to wait for the birth, declaring the newborn king the moment he entered the world on November 15. Unfortunately, infant mortality was rampant, and the tiny sovereign survived only five days before passing away.

Rumors of foul play—ranging from a murderous godmother to a possible substitution with a commoner’s child—have circulated, but no concrete evidence supports them. The simplest explanation is that the infant simply did not survive.

5 Dipendra of Nepal: 3 Days

Just nineteen years ago, Nepal experienced one of its darkest chapters when Crown Prince Dipendra, only twenty‑four, seized the throne for a harrowing three‑day span. On June 1, 2001, a heavily intoxicated Dipendra arrived at a family gathering, immediately clashing with his father over a forbidden romance.

After storming out in a rage, he returned armed with automatic weapons, opening fire on his own family. He first shot his father, then proceeded to murder his mother, brother, sister, and five other relatives before turning the gun on himself.

Eyewitnesses reported the sheer chaos of the massacre, and while some speculate his actions were driven by parental opposition to his marriage, others suggest mental health struggles—he had been on antidepressants and reportedly needed help. The self‑inflicted wound left him in a coma for three days, during which he was technically king before his death.

4 Sultan Sayyid Khalid bin Barghash: 2 Days

The Sultanate of Zanzibar saw its briefest reign in the form of Sayyid Khalid bin Barghash, who ruled for only two days before being ousted in what became history’s shortest war. He ascended on August 25, 1896, but the British Empire, deeming him a troublesome ruler, demanded his removal per a treaty requiring British approval for any new sultan.

The British navy positioned itself outside the palace, giving Khalid until 9 a.m. on August 27 to lower his flag or face destruction. When he refused, British forces bombarded the palace for 38 minutes, setting it ablaze and killing roughly 500 people before his supporters surrendered.

This rapid conflict, lasting less than an hour, marked the end of Khalid’s fleeting two‑day sovereignty.

3 Minshinzaw: 18 Hours

Minshinzaw spent much of his life in exile after his father cast him out in 1152 for criticizing a foreign marriage. During his banishment, he transformed his adopted lands, constructing dams, canals, and fostering education that attracted the era’s brightest minds.

When his father died in 1167, Minshinzaw returned to claim the Pagan throne, only to be crowned by his younger brother Narathu. Unbeknownst to him, Narathu had already murdered their father and coveted the crown.

That very night, while Minshinzaw slept, Narathu slipped poison into his drink, ending his life after only eighteen hours as king, clearing the path for Narathu’s rule.

2 Tsar Michael II: 16 Hours

On the morning of March 15, 1917, Michael II learned his brother had abdicated the Russian throne and named him the new Tsar. Yet, with the Revolution already roaring, Michael recognized the throne was a cursed gift.

He declared he would accept power only if elected by universal suffrage, and he would step down within sixteen hours. After his brief proclamation, he retired to his villa, hoping for a quiet life.

His hopes were shattered when he was arrested shortly after abdicating, placed under house arrest for a year, and ultimately murdered on June 12, 1918, by secret police officer Gavril Myasnikov, who forced Michael into a carriage, rode him into a forest, and shot him alongside his close friend Nicholas Johnson.

1 Empress Yuan: Less Than 5 Hours

The annals of Chinese history record a mysterious infant, Empress Yuan, who ruled for fewer than five hours in 528 AD. She was the sole child of Emperor Xiaoming, and her grandmother, Empress Dowager Hu, sought to retain power by presenting the newborn as a boy.

At just fifty days old, Yuan was proclaimed ruler after her father’s death, only for Hu to swiftly replace her with a three‑year‑old boy named Yuan Zhao, ensuring a pliable puppet on the throne.

This maneuver sparked outrage; the populace revolted, and the dowager, along with Yuan Zhao, were dragged to the Yellow River and drowned. Over 13,000 associated individuals were massacred. While the exact fate of infant Yuan remains unknown, she vanished from the historical record.

The world of monarchs is full of drama, but few stories are as dark as those of the top 10 rulers who turned on their own spouses. From medieval tyrants to legendary emperors, these leaders took marriage to a murderous extreme, leaving a trail of blood, intrigue, and legend that still fascinates us today.

Why the Top 10 Rulers Became Murderous

Power can corrupt, and when it comes to kings, emperors, and even mayors, the desire to control extends to the very heart of their households. Whether driven by political ambition, personal vendettas, or superstition, each of these ten figures found a reason—real or imagined—to eliminate the women they were bound to.

10 King Henry VIII

King Henry VIII stands out as the original celebrity on this grim roster. He earned the dubious honor of being the OG monarch who dispatched not one, but two of his wives, all while juggling six marriages and a parade of mistresses.

The 16th‑century English sovereign famously broke from the Roman Catholic Church after Pope Julius II refused his request to divorce Catherine of Aragon. Henry’s solution? He founded the Church of England, a bold move that gave him the freedom to pursue his matrimonial ambitions.

His first queen to meet a tragic end was Anne Boleyn, a woman he courted for six years. She initially sparked Henry’s desire for a divorce, but after giving birth only to a daughter, Elizabeth, Henry grew disillusioned.

Anne’s failure to produce a male heir, combined with accusations of treason and infidelity with five men, led to her beheading on May 19, 1536, when she was just 35.

The next royal victim was Catherine Howard, a cousin of Anne Boleyn. She reigned as queen from 1540 to 1541, only to be executed on February 13, 1542 after being charged with adultery.

Catherine’s final words on the scaffold were chillingly defiant: “I die a queen, but I would rather die the wife of Thomas Culpeper,” a nod to the king’s close confidant who had allegedly been involved with her.

9 King Herod the Great

King Herod the Great, who ruled Judea from 37 BC to 4 BC, earned infamy for the brutal murder of his wife Mariamme—granddaughter of a former High Priest—along with their two sons, her brother, grandfather, and mother.

Herod’s extensive family included eight other wives and fourteen children by six of them. In 29 BC, he ordered Mariamme’s execution on charges of adultery and an alleged plot to assassinate him, a grim reminder of his ruthless approach to perceived betrayal.

8 Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus

From AD 54 to AD 68, the Roman Empire was under the flamboyant and infamous rule of Nero, whose original name was Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus. He rose as the fifth emperor, stepping into power as the adopted son of Emperor Claudius.

Initially hesitant to sign death warrants, Nero’s reign quickly turned dark when he ordered the murder of his mother Agrippina in AD 59, citing her overbearing influence as justification.

But the real domestic horror came when Nero, after a series of violent outbursts toward his wife, decided to kill her in favor of the young, charismatic Poppaea Sabina, a former senator’s spouse.

Beyond his marital cruelty, Nero also eliminated his stepbrother, his stepbrother’s wife, and his mother, while being blamed—rightly or not—for the Great Fire of Rome, a tragedy he allegedly shifted onto the Christians.

His legacy remains one of tyranny, religious persecution, and personal brutality, culminating in his own suicide in AD 68.

7 King Claudius

Turning to fiction, Shakespeare’s King Claudius—Hamlet’s treacherous uncle—offers a textbook case of unintended spousal death. In his desperate attempt to poison Prince Hamlet, Claudius prepares a lethal cup that his own wife, Queen Gertrude, unwittingly drinks.

Although Claudius protests, his hesitation is half‑hearted; he does not intervene to stop Gertrude from consuming the poison, sealing her fate.

Thus, Gertrude’s death becomes a pivotal moment in the tragedy, illustrating how political scheming can have fatal domestic repercussions.

6 Mayor Barry Waites

Even a modern‑day mayor can earn a spot on this list. Barry Waites, the mayor of Lanett, Alabama, in the 1990s, was convicted of murdering his wife, Charlotte, in 1998.

Initially, Waites claimed he was at work when his daughter called to announce his wife’s death, a story that misled investigators for three years. It wasn’t until a re‑election campaign that allegations surfaced, accusing him of strangling Charlotte, beating her, and delivering a fatal head injury.

Financial troubles, deceit toward his daughters, and mounting evidence eventually led to his conviction, resulting in a 40‑year prison sentence in 2006.

5 King John of England

Often remembered from Robin Hood folklore, King John (1199–1216) was far more ruthless than the legends suggest. While his brother Richard the Lionheart fought abroad, John colluded with France’s Philip Augustus, seeking to usurp the English crown.

Under pressure from rebellious nobles, John was forced to sign the Magna Carta in 1215, limiting royal authority. Yet his cruelty extended to personal realms: he allegedly raped his wives and, in a particularly gruesome episode, starved his own wife to death alongside twenty‑two knights within Dorset’s Corfe Castle.

John’s death is shrouded in myth—some say he succumbed to a peach‑induced illness, but most historians attribute it to dysentery, leaving him in a pitiable state covered in his own excrement.

4 Afzal Khan

Although not a sovereign, Afzal Khan was a formidable general in 17th‑century India, commanding the Sultan’s army and boasting sixty‑three wives—an impressive, albeit terrifying, tally.

Superstitious to a fault, Khan consulted astrologers before a campaign against the Maratha ruler. The ominous forecast warned of doom, prompting Khan to order the execution of his wives, fearing they might remarry if he fell in battle.

While the exact method remains unclear—whether they were pushed into a well or slain by Khan’s own hand—the astrologers proved correct: Khan met his end on the battlefield.

3 King Shahryar

In the realm of fiction, King Shahryar from the Arabian Nights saga becomes infamous for his nightly execution of brides, a habit sparked by a single jilting that left him distrustful of women.

His cruelty persisted until the clever storyteller Shahrazad, daughter of his vizier, volunteered to marry him. Each night she spun a captivating tale, ending on a cliff‑hanger, compelling Shahryar to spare her life to hear the conclusion.

After a thousand nights of storytelling, Shahryar transformed, his faith in women restored, though not before he had already slain countless brides.

2 Caligula

Gaius Caesar Germanicus, better known as Caligula, ruled Rome from AD 12 to AD 41 and epitomized tyrannical excess. Declaring himself a living god, he enacted gruesome spectacles, including feeding spectators to wild animals.

His background was marred by tragedy: his mother and two brothers suffered imprisonment and death under his predecessor, Tiberius, fostering a deep‑seated ruthlessness.

Caligula survived an illness that allegedly altered his temperament, leading to a reign marked by four marriages, public executions of children before their parents, and a brief yet chaotic rule.

His downfall came after a public sporting event; a mob of Romans stabbed him thirty times, then proceeded to murder his fourth wife—still married to him at the time—and his daughter.

1 Wu Zetain

Our final ruler flips the script: Wu Zetain, the sole female emperor of China (655–690), began as a concubine to Emperor Taizong before maneuvering her way to power by seducing his son, Li Zhi, during the former’s death throes.

After the new emperor took her to a monastery, she impressed Li Zhi with her intellect and vigor, prompting his recall of her as a trusted advisor. She soon rose to become the de facto ruler.

Zetain proved both brilliant and merciless. She ordered the execution of two opposing princes, forced her own grandchildren into suicide, eradicated members of the Tang clan, and is believed to have poisoned her husband, Li Zhi, to cement her authority.

Her calculated cruelty ensured her dominance, cementing her legacy as a ruler who would stop at nothing—including spiking her spouse’s drink—to maintain control.

Arguably one of the most famous rulers to have ascended to any throne in human history was Tutankhamun (1341–1323 BC). What sets the 11th Pharaoh of Egypt apart from many others is that he rose to power before his tenth birthday. After a nine-year rule over Egypt, Tutankhamun is suspected of having died of either malaria or another infection.

History tells of many other rulers who were crowned heads of their respective territories before reaching the age of majority. Like the young King Tut, these child rulers saw not only their reigns but also their lives come to a startlingly and tragic early end.

10 Lungtok Gyatso, Ninth Dalai Lama (1805–1815)

The Ninth Dalai Lama, Lungtok Gyatso, was born in 1805 in a little village called Dan Chokhor in Kham, Tibet. Interestingly, a number of sources list Lungtok’s parents as Tenzin Choekyong and Dhondup Dolma, although many sources state that he was, in fact, an orphan. Lungtok was selected over another to be the reincarnation of the Eighth Dalai Lama, Jampel Gyatso.

Around the time of his reign, major regional power shifts took place. The Qing Dynasty struggled to retain power and influence in Tibet, and Tibetan leadership and aristocrats were at odds with Qing officials. The selection of the Dalai Lama was overseen by a Qing official, something that was contested by some Tibetan leaders. This was because the Qianlong Emperor mandated that selection be made from a golden urn supplied by the emperor, effectively giving control of the selection process to the Qing dynasty. The Tibetans managed to forego using the urn after the emperor announced his retirement. At the tonsure ceremony in 1808, the child was given the name Lobzang Tenpai Wangchuk Lungtok Gyatso. He took the throne at the end of that year.

In 1815, Gyatso, who was described as having sharp intellect, taking great interest in dharma, and memorizing lengthy prayers, allegedly fell ill with a cold. It is also reported that the Ninth Dalai Lama was actually assassinated due to the turmoil that ensued during the time of his reign. Notably, the three Dalai Lamas who followed all died young, raising suspicions that they were also murdered.^[1]

9 Alexander IV of Macedon (323–309 BC)

Having to follow in very large footsteps, Alexander IV of Macedon was born in 323 BC, the son of Alexander the Great, after his father died in Babylon the same year. Alexander IV’s rise to the throne was neither immediate nor easy. The young king’s uncle, Arridaeus (who also went by Phillip), succeeded his brother as king but was soon found to be mentally incapable of acting as ruler. The regent to Arridaeus, Perdiccas, campaigned to put a hold on selecting a new successor in an effort to hold onto power and influence for himself. His efforts were met with a lot of resistance, however, and Alexander IV was born soon after.

Perdiccas was killed in 320 BC, and the then-guardian of the royal family, Antipater, was later killed in 319 BC. Antipater’s son, Cassander, plotted his way to the regency, forcing Roxane to flee Epirus with her young son and Polyperchon (a family guardian). There, the pair united with Olympias, the mother of Alexander the Great. Alexander IV’s status as successor and true king to the Macedonian throne was realized after Olympias retook Macedon and was named regent. In 316 BC, Cassander eventually managed to besiege and execute Olympias, and Cassander was accepted as regent.

In an effort to end the Third Diadoch War in 311 BC, a peace treaty that recognized Alexander IV’s rights and claim to the throne was established. Cassander, however, decided not to honor the treaty and imprisoned the young king and his mother in the citadel of Amphipolis. In 309 BC, the then thirteen-year-old king and his mother were assassinated by poisoning.^[2]

8 Ptolemy XIII, Theos Philopator (62–47 BC)

In 51 BC, the father of twelve-year-old Ptolemy XIII and his older and more famous sister, Cleopatra VII, died. In the wake of his father’s death, Ptolemy was named senior ruler by the de facto regent, Pothinus, much to the dismay of co-ruler Cleopatra. Under the influence of Roman general Pompey the Great, Pothinus, and Theodotus, Ptolemy’s strong-willed older sister was eventually expelled from Egypt in 48 BC.

Not long after her expulsion, Cleopatra wielded an Arab army to help her siege the Egyptian city of Pelusium, sparking a civil war with her brother. Pompey, unfortunately, sealed his fate after losing to Julius Caesar at the Battle of Pharsalus in Greece. To win the favor of Caesar, Ptolemy set a trap for Pompey in Alexandria and ambushed him.

There in Alexandria, a peace treaty was attempted between the warring siblings but failed to produce a positive outcome. While the siblings were detained by Caesar, Pothinus pushed their youngest sister Arsinoe to the forefront and took Alexandria. Arisinoe, however, did not get along with the heads of the Egyptian forces and was successfully offered in exchange for Ptolemy. The young king was no match for Caesar and was defeated in battle. While running for his life, Ptolemy drowned, and Caesar asserted his dominance over Egypt.^[3]

7 Emperor Antoku (1178–1185)

On December 22, 1178, Tokohito was born in Kyoto, Japan, to Emperor Takakura and his wife, Tokuko. The emperor’s son was named Crown Prince soon after his birth that same year. Although Tokohito took the throne a few years later in 1180 under the Taira clan at the tender age of two, it was his grandfather and warrior Taira Kiyomori who had sway and held control over the government. Tokohito took the name Antoku Tennō as the 81st emperor of Japan.

In 1183, the Taira clan was forced out of Kyoto City by men under the control of Minamoto Yoshinaka. Antoku and his clan eventually made their way to Yashima, where they would establish a temporary palace. Here, Minamoto and Antoku’s clans clashed in the Battle of Yashima. The shame of defeat caused Antoku to flee to the sea.

Two years later, the clans waged war against each other in the Battle of Dannoura, where the Taira clan would once again taste defeat and ruin at the hands of Minamoto’s naval fleet. Rather than die at the hands of the Minamoto fleet, many of the Taira clan’s commanders and fighters committed suicide by throwing themselves into the sea. Antoku’s grandmother followed suit, taking not only two of the three imperial regalia with her but the young emperor as well. Antoku and his grandmother plunged into the sea and drowned.^[4]

6 Peter II of Russia (1715–1730)

The grandson of Peter I the Great, Pyotr Alekseyevich was born in 1715 in St. Petersburg, Russia. Sadly, Pyotr’s mother died only 10 days after giving birth to him. Peter I’s son from his second marriage, Tsarevitch Peter Petrovitch, had died, making way for his grandson, Pyotr, to eventually become the Emperor of Russia. This was only made possible after a close adviser to Peter I and Catherine I, A.D. Menshikov, influenced Catherine to include young Pyotr in her will in 1727. Catherine I died, and Pyotr, who took the name Peter II, was declared emperor.

Menshikov wasted no time manipulating the young ruler once he had moved him into his house within the first few months of his reign. Peter II, who was promised to marry Menshikov’s daughter, was not pressed under the adviser’s thumb for much longer as he fell ill and was eventually exiled to Siberia by the aristocratic Dolgoruky family. Peter was instead betrothed to Yekaterina Alekseyevna Dolgorukaya in 1729. With a stroke of horrible luck, however, Peter II died of smallpox on the day set for the wedding. He was only fourteen years old.^[5]

5 Edward VI (1537–1553)

Sixteenth-century England fell prey to the rule of one of the most infamous and ruthless monarchs to have lived, Henry VIII, for more than 30 years. After his death in 1547, he was succeeded by his son, Edward VI. Because the king was a mere nine years of age, a council of nobles had the task of managing the affairs of the kingdom. This group included the king’s uncle, Edward Seymour—until he was overthrown by the Earl of Northumberland, John Dudley.

The political and religious climate at this time was one of Protestant reformation and economic instability. Furthermore, the king’s place as ruler was on rocky ground as the ambitious Northumberland moved to secure the future of his family by hastily marrying his son to Henry VIII’s great-niece, Lady Jane Grey, who was widely accepted by the people as heir to the throne. During this time, Edward VI was discovered to be suffering from tuberculosis. Edward, the last Tudor baby to be born, never married and died at the age of fifteen.^[6]

4 Emperor Zhao Bing (1272–1279)

Emperor Bing of Song, born Zhao Bing in 1272 to a concubine of Emperor Duzong, was destined to become the last emperor of China’s Song dynasty. Before holding the title of emperor, he was given the title “Prince of Xin” in 1274, after which it was changed to “Prince of Guang.”

Bent on conquest and glory, Mongol forces led by general Bayan took the Song capital of Lin’an and, with it, the then-Emperor Gong. Gong’s brothers, four-year-old Zhao Bing and Zhao Shi, fled to Jinhua with the help of their officials. There, Zhao Shi was named Grand Marshal, and his brother Zhao Bing, Vice Grand Marshal. By 1276, a seven-year-old Zhao Shi became the new Song emperor, Emperor Duanzong.

General Bayan was determined to rid China of any remaining Song dynasty members and led an attack on Southern China. The Song army hit a major roadblock in this fight as the young Emperor Duanzong would not live past 1278 due to illness. With low morale, the number of Song soldiers started to diminish. Lu Xiufu, one of the officials who previously helped the brothers escape peril, would once again step in and flee with Zhao Bing to Guangzhou, where he would eventually be named emperor.

Facing imminent defeat in 1279 at the hands of the Mongol naval forces, Lu Xiufu took the seven-year-old Emperor Zhao Bing to a cliff and plunged into the depths of the ocean together. With this act, the Song dynasty had come to a tragic end.^[7]

3 Alexios II Komnenos, Byzantine Emperor (1169–1183)

The life of Alexios II was a turbulent one. The future emperor was born in Constantinople (now Istanbul, Turkey) in 1169. Eleven years later, his father, Manuel I, died, leaving behind his son and Alexios II’s mother, Maria. Because it was determined that the new emperor, Alexios II, was too young to rule, his mother took up the regency alongside Alexios II’s cousin, who also shared the name Alexios.

Turmoil would soon follow as friends of Alexios II attempted a coup intended to secure the young emperor’s place on the throne. In response to the coup attempt, however, rioting took place in Constantinople, and the failed attempt was capitalized upon by Emperor Manuel’s first cousin, Andronikos Komnenos. Andronikos seized control of the Constantinople government, and a slaughter of thousands of Roman Catholic inhabitants ensued.

In a bid to eventually seize power for himself, Andronikos isolated Alexios II by killing his mother, older sister, and his cousin Alexios. What’s worse is that the young emperor was apparently made to forcibly sign off on the death warrants himself. By 1183, Andronikos made himself co-emperor. In October of that year, the plot to gain absolute power came to a head when Andronikos gave the order to assassinate Alexios II. He was strangled to death with a bowstring.^[8]

2 Edward V of England (1470–1483)

Edward was born at Westminster Abbey in 1470, a time when the War of the Roses raged on. In 1471, at a mere one year old, Edward was deemed Prince of Wales by his father, King Edward IV, who was living in Holland in exile at the time. The young prince lived a very strict and structured upbringing as dictated by his father. Receiving an education, exposure to religion, and having positive influences around him were the order of the day. A betrothal to the Duke of Brittany’s young daughter Anne was also arranged as a means of strengthening political and military ties. Sadly, this marriage union would never come to fruition.

At age twelve, Edward learned of the death of his father in April of 1483. The fallen king’s son became King Edward V soon after. The former king’s brother, Richard, Duke of Gloucester, was appointed Edward’s protector. Conflict soon arose between the protectorate and the royal council, which was mainly comprised of the family of Edward’s mother, the Woodvilles, who wanted the young king to take the throne right away. In reality, the Woodvilles wanted a regency for their own benefit instead of Edward V under the protection of the Duke of Gloucester.

The duke eventually arrested the Woodville leadership and took custody of Edward V and his younger brother, who were taken to the Tower of London. Gloucester later claimed that the marriage of the king’s father was not valid, and the king and his brother were illegitimate. On June 26, parliament declared Gloucester as King Richard III. The young monarch was ruler for a mere two months and seventeen days.

The disappearance of the young king and his brother is shrouded in a cloud of mystery. It is believed that they were murdered at the Tower of London after being held in heavily guarded captivity. Sir Thomas More later wrote that the young king and his brother were smothered to death. In 1674, two remains believed to be that of the boys were discovered by King Charles II and laid to rest at Westminster Abbey.^[9]

1 John I of France (1316)

John I of France goes down in French history as being the youngest to ever hold the title of king, having the shortest recorded reign in French history, and being the only French monarch to have reigned from the day of his birth to his last.

The only son of King Louis X and Clémence of Hungary was born in Paris on November 15, 1316. Because the child king was born after the death of King Louis X, he was known as “John the Posthumous” (Jean le Posthume).

Tragically, John I only lived to see five days on Earth and was dead on November 20. The infant was buried in Saint-Denis Basilica. It is speculated that John I was killed by his uncle and future king Philippe V as a means of gaining power and control of the throne for himself. Other rumors state that Philippe replaced the still-living child with a dead infant. This claim has never been proven. Decades later, a man claimed to be the supposed king John I but was swiftly detained, imprisoned in Naples, and died there.^[10]