Death comes to us all, it is an undeniable fact. We can try everything for immortality, but the only true way to become immortal is to have your life recorded.
For these three unfortunates, their deaths left an undeniable mark on the world – in that they truly were very strange.
For these three unfortunates, their deaths left an undeniable mark on the world – in that they truly were very strange.
Charles II, King of Navarre
Charles II Died: 1387
Cause of death: Set on fire by accident
Charles II, King of Navarre, also known as “Charles the Bad” was not a terribly nice man (as his nickname foretells). He is well known for murdering anyone in his path to glory and greatness, and it is for this reason that his death is quite a fitting one!
It has been said that he contracted a form of skin disease, variously considered to be leprosy, syphilis or psoriasis, and his death has been quoted throughout history as:
“Charles the Bad, having fallen into such a state of decay that he could not make use of his limbs, consulted his physician, who ordered him to be wrapped up from head to foot, in a linen cloth impregnated with brandy, so that he might be enclosed in it to the very neck as in a sack. It was night when this remedy was administered. One of the female attendants of the palace, charged to sew up the cloth that contained the patient, having come to the neck, the fixed point where she was to finish her seam, made a knot according to custom; but as there was still remaining an end of thread, instead of cutting it as usual with scissors, she had recourse to the candle, which immediately set fire to the whole cloth. Being terrified, she ran away, and abandoned the king, who was thus burnt alive in his own palace.”
Cause of death: Set on fire by accident
Charles II, King of Navarre, also known as “Charles the Bad” was not a terribly nice man (as his nickname foretells). He is well known for murdering anyone in his path to glory and greatness, and it is for this reason that his death is quite a fitting one!
It has been said that he contracted a form of skin disease, variously considered to be leprosy, syphilis or psoriasis, and his death has been quoted throughout history as:
“Charles the Bad, having fallen into such a state of decay that he could not make use of his limbs, consulted his physician, who ordered him to be wrapped up from head to foot, in a linen cloth impregnated with brandy, so that he might be enclosed in it to the very neck as in a sack. It was night when this remedy was administered. One of the female attendants of the palace, charged to sew up the cloth that contained the patient, having come to the neck, the fixed point where she was to finish her seam, made a knot according to custom; but as there was still remaining an end of thread, instead of cutting it as usual with scissors, she had recourse to the candle, which immediately set fire to the whole cloth. Being terrified, she ran away, and abandoned the king, who was thus burnt alive in his own palace.”
Jim Fixx
Jim Fixx Died 1984
Manner of death: Too much exercise
In 1977, Jim Fixx published the book “The Complete Book of Running“, and is credited with bringing the fitness craze to America.
He started running when he was 35 years old, in 1967. He was overweight, at 110kg, and smoked two packets of cigarettes a day. By the time his book was published he had quit smoking and was 27kg lighter.
In his book and during interviews, he spoke strongly of the virtues of physical exercise and how it increased the average life expectancy.
Unfortunately for him, it was not to be… Mr Fixx died at age 52 of a fulminant heart attack, after his daily run… I knew there was a reason I don’t exercise!
Manner of death: Too much exercise
In 1977, Jim Fixx published the book “The Complete Book of Running“, and is credited with bringing the fitness craze to America.
He started running when he was 35 years old, in 1967. He was overweight, at 110kg, and smoked two packets of cigarettes a day. By the time his book was published he had quit smoking and was 27kg lighter.
In his book and during interviews, he spoke strongly of the virtues of physical exercise and how it increased the average life expectancy.
Unfortunately for him, it was not to be… Mr Fixx died at age 52 of a fulminant heart attack, after his daily run… I knew there was a reason I don’t exercise!
George Herbert
George Herbert Died 1923
Manner of Death: Mummys Curse
Lord Porchester – born George Edward Stanhope Molyneux Herbert, 5th Earl of Carnarvon in 1866, was a member of the English aristocracy, and a very wealthy man. He is best remembered as the financial backer in the search for, and excavation of King Tutankhamun’s Tomb in Egypt.
Lord Porchester grew up as all wealthy aristocratic males did back then, thoroughly educated and thoroughly spoiled. After dabbling in automobiles (in which he had a serious accident which left him severely injured), he moved on to Egyptology, and sponsored the excavation of a nobles tomb in 1907.
In 1914 he received permission to excavate in the Valley of the Kings – and although this sounds like the start of the Stargate movie, I don’t believe a gate to other planets, ruled by Goa'uld was discovered... instead, he discovered the tomb of the young king Tutankhamun – smack bang in the Valley of the Kings. This tomb had treasures unlike any ever recorded being found in a tomb.
Due to grave robbing over the centuries, not many tombs were intact when discovered by relatively modern day excavators, so King Tut’s tomb, to be in the state it was in, was a marvel!
In March, 1923, Lord Porchester was bitten by a mosquito. To aggravate matters further, he then shaved over the bite, which led to infection.
Although it is supposed he died of blood poisoning which progressed to pneumonia, the “Curse of Tutankhamum” claimed its first official victim when he died on 25 March.
Manner of Death: Mummys Curse
Lord Porchester – born George Edward Stanhope Molyneux Herbert, 5th Earl of Carnarvon in 1866, was a member of the English aristocracy, and a very wealthy man. He is best remembered as the financial backer in the search for, and excavation of King Tutankhamun’s Tomb in Egypt.
Lord Porchester grew up as all wealthy aristocratic males did back then, thoroughly educated and thoroughly spoiled. After dabbling in automobiles (in which he had a serious accident which left him severely injured), he moved on to Egyptology, and sponsored the excavation of a nobles tomb in 1907.
In 1914 he received permission to excavate in the Valley of the Kings – and although this sounds like the start of the Stargate movie, I don’t believe a gate to other planets, ruled by Goa'uld was discovered... instead, he discovered the tomb of the young king Tutankhamun – smack bang in the Valley of the Kings. This tomb had treasures unlike any ever recorded being found in a tomb.
Due to grave robbing over the centuries, not many tombs were intact when discovered by relatively modern day excavators, so King Tut’s tomb, to be in the state it was in, was a marvel!
In March, 1923, Lord Porchester was bitten by a mosquito. To aggravate matters further, he then shaved over the bite, which led to infection.
Although it is supposed he died of blood poisoning which progressed to pneumonia, the “Curse of Tutankhamum” claimed its first official victim when he died on 25 March.
By Peet Banks 2013
Put together by Ashley Hall 2013
Put together by Ashley Hall 2013
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