Medieval Monarchs Who Died In The Most Embarrassing Ways Imaginable
When we think of British monarchs, we probably picture a reserved ruler with a stiff upper lip and a regal sense of dignity. Queen Elizabeth, with her famously tempered smiles and polite waves, is a perfect example of this.
What we don't think about is these "great" rulers dying on the toilet or accidentally blowing up themselves with cannons in a bid to impress a girl. Yet, as history has shown us, British monarchs have died in all sorts of embarrassing ways, and the stories are so graphic, that they don't even tell them in school!
Here are 10 unusual—and mostly embarrassing—ways that British kings have kicked the bucket!
1. King Alexander III of Scotland: This monarch insisted on making a solo trek to return to his wife, Yolande, after a time away. Unfortunately for all parties involved, he was thrown from his horse and killed, since there was no one around to help.
2. King William II: While out hunting with a group of his peers, this son of William the Conqueror was accidentally shot and killed by his friend who was clearly a lackluster huntsman. Everyone panicked, with the friend taking off, and his other compatriots fled back to the castle. William rotted for several days until they came back.
3. King George V: This ruler was dying slowly from pulmonary failure. When the end was near, his doctor killed him by injecting him with cocaine and morphine. His reason for offing the leader of the nation with fatal doses of drugs? It was all about timing: if the king died in the morning, his death would feature in the morning papers, not the evening ones.
4. King James II of Scotland: This Scottish king was killed by his own cannon, which he decided to stand close to and fire to impress his lady love. He completely underestimated the power of the cannon; his thigh was cut in half and he bled out immediately.