Being royal didn’t always mean luxury and long life. In fact, for centuries, wearing a crown often meant facing a messy, mysterious, or downright ridiculous end. Some of these stories were so awkward or horrifying that they quietly disappeared from popular history. Here’s a wild ride through some of the most bizarre royal exits we know.
Edmund Ironside – Ambushed in the Latrine
In 1016, Edmund Ironside headed to the royal latrine at night. It was essentially a wooden seat over a hole. Yet someone was hiding underneath, waiting. As Edmund settled in, they struck upward with a blade, and he didn’t survive. No one knows who did it, though his rival had plenty of motive.
George Plantagenet – Submerged in a Barrel
George, Duke of Clarence, was punished in 1478. Rumor has it he didn’t face the usual method—he chose to be submerged in a cask of Malmsey. Shakespeare liked the story enough to include it in Richard III, and other historical sources repeated it.
William the Conqueror – Too Big for the Tomb
After an injury in 1087, William’s remains were left unattended for days before being transported to France. By the time they arrived, natural changes had caused bloating. Officials tried to squeeze it into a tight coffin, but it didn’t go smoothly and led to an eruption, filling the church with an awful smell.
Henry I – Refused to Skip the Lampreys
Henry I had a soft spot for lampreys, a jawless sea creature not known for being gentle on the stomach. In 1135, while visiting Normandy, he ignored his doctor’s advice and ate a large helping. He felt unwell shortly after, likely due to infection.
Richard II – Locked Away and Forgotten
Richard II was taken into custody by his cousin in 1399 and sent to Pontefract Castle. He never came out. Rumors say he was deprived of food, while others debate that he had escaped. Historians agree he didn’t, but the mystery still lingers. A body believed to be his was buried at Westminster Abbey.
James IV – Trophy Turned Tragedy
James IV of Scotland fell at Flodden in 1513, as an arrow to the lower jaw brought him down. His body was found, but wasn’t buried in sacred ground due to his church status. It remained in storage, and decades later, workers reportedly opened the casket and used his skull in a game.
Edward II – Eliminated in Secret
Accounts suggest that Edward II’s captors used heat to cause internal damage without leaving visible marks. However, some historians argue he may have been smothered or died naturally. Either way, his burial in Gloucester Cathedral followed quickly, and the details remain one of medieval England’s mysteries.
Charles I – Public End, Private Mystery
In 1649, Charles I faced judgment and was removed publicly outside Whitehall. Witnesses say he was beheaded cleanly, but the aftermath took strange turns. Some in the crowd scrambled for mementos, like pieces of clothing. Later, when repairs were made to his tomb, the head and body were confirmed to still be together.
King John – Dysentery
In 1216, John fell ill after a long journey across marshland. Some sources blame contaminated food, others point to stress and fatigue. A later chronicle claimed a monk may have slipped him something dangerous in retaliation for a cruel comment. His condition worsened, and he didn’t recover.
Sigurd Eysteinsson – Tooth Trouble
The Norse earl Sigurd won a battle in the 800s and secured his rival’s head to his saddle. On the ride home, the head’s tooth scraped Sigurd’s leg. That tiny injury became infected, and he didn’t survive much longer. The tale marked one of history’s oddest examples of a victory gone wrong.
Henry VIII – Sealed and Still Leaking
Henry VIII’s health declined rapidly by 1547. Embalmers filled his body with herbs and sealed him in lead, but during an overnight stop at Syon Abbey, pressure inside the coffin caused it to burst. His body still made it to Windsor, where it rests beneath St. George’s Chapel.
Al-Musta’sim Billah – Wrapped and Trampled
When the Mongols stormed Baghdad in 1258, Al-Musta’sim Billah didn’t get a grand final stand. What actually happened is hard to pin down. One version says they rolled him up in a rug and had horses trample him to death. Another story claims they locked him inside a vault packed with gold and left him to die among the wealth he refused to spend on defense.
Duke Jing – Fell Into the Latrine
Duke Jing of Jin slipped and died in a latrine. After a disturbing dream and a dark prophecy, he had the shaman punished, then carried on with a feast like nothing had happened. Later, on his way to relieve himself, he reportedly fell straight into the cesspit and didn’t make it out.
Valentinian I – Collapsed in Anger
Roman Emperor Valentinian I lost his cool during a tense diplomatic meeting in 375 CE. Furious at what he heard, he shouted until a vessel in his head gave out. Ancient historian Ammianus Marcellinus recorded the scene, describing a sudden shift in color, slurred speech, and collapse.
Qin Shi Huang – Elixir Gone Wrong
China’s first emperor was obsessed with eternal life and ordered alchemists to prepare elixirs of mercury and herbs, which modern scientists now know are dangerous. He drank them often until mercury buildup eventually ended his life in 210 BCE. His massive tomb, discovered in 1974, allegedly contains rivers of the toxic metal.