Drowned in a vat of Malmsey Wine, getting a nosebleed while drunk (during consummation of his marriage) and trampled on by horses, while rolled up in a carpet – these are this weeks “Strange Deaths in History”.
A glimpse at the lives and deaths of some who have come before us.
A glimpse at the lives and deaths of some who have come before us.
George Plantagenet, Duke of Clarence
George Plantagenet. Died: 1478
Cause of Death: Drowned in a vat of Malmsey Wine.
George Plantagenet was brother to King Edward IV and Richard II, and played an important role in the War of the Roses before his death in 1478. After plotting against his brother (several times) and subsequently being convicted of treason (eventually, after being forgiven several times), he was privately executed in the Tower of London.
The typical method of execution at the time, for those of noble birth, was beheading, but this was not the case for George Plantagenet. His brother, The King, wanted him dead – but in a manner which would ‘please’ George.
Given his famous reputation for alcoholism, George was forcibly drowned in a large vat of Malmsey Wine, his favourite beverage, at his own request. His corpse was later transferred to the abbey in the same vat of wine, before his burial..... he was pickled!
Cause of Death: Drowned in a vat of Malmsey Wine.
George Plantagenet was brother to King Edward IV and Richard II, and played an important role in the War of the Roses before his death in 1478. After plotting against his brother (several times) and subsequently being convicted of treason (eventually, after being forgiven several times), he was privately executed in the Tower of London.
The typical method of execution at the time, for those of noble birth, was beheading, but this was not the case for George Plantagenet. His brother, The King, wanted him dead – but in a manner which would ‘please’ George.
Given his famous reputation for alcoholism, George was forcibly drowned in a large vat of Malmsey Wine, his favourite beverage, at his own request. His corpse was later transferred to the abbey in the same vat of wine, before his burial..... he was pickled!
Attila the Hun
Attila the Hun. Died: 453
Manner of death: Nosebleed during hanky panky
Attila the Hun was famous of being a brilliant tactician and warlord. He conquered all of Asia by 450AD, using a combination of mighty combat and assimilation.
Attila was known as being very thrifty when it came to eating and drinking – to put it in layman’s terms, he was a tight-arse!.
In 453 he married a young girl named Ildico (he had many wives, but this one was young and nubile) and in a complete contradiction of character, he decided to go all out and celebrate like crazy – and let’s be honest, which man wouldn’t if marrying a much younger, beautiful girl?
Drinking and eating up a storm, he took his new wife to bed, and during the consummation of his marriage, his nose started to bleed. He was so drunk he dismissed the nosebleed and carried on. Eventually he was so drunk that he passed out, and his new wife found him the following morning, drowned in his own blood.
Manner of death: Nosebleed during hanky panky
Attila the Hun was famous of being a brilliant tactician and warlord. He conquered all of Asia by 450AD, using a combination of mighty combat and assimilation.
Attila was known as being very thrifty when it came to eating and drinking – to put it in layman’s terms, he was a tight-arse!.
In 453 he married a young girl named Ildico (he had many wives, but this one was young and nubile) and in a complete contradiction of character, he decided to go all out and celebrate like crazy – and let’s be honest, which man wouldn’t if marrying a much younger, beautiful girl?
Drinking and eating up a storm, he took his new wife to bed, and during the consummation of his marriage, his nose started to bleed. He was so drunk he dismissed the nosebleed and carried on. Eventually he was so drunk that he passed out, and his new wife found him the following morning, drowned in his own blood.
Caliph Al-Musta’sim
Caliph Al-Mustasim. Died: 1258
Cause of Death: Rolled up in a rug and trampled by horses.
Caliph Al-Musta’sim was born in Baghdad and ruled from 1242 until his death sixteen years later in 1258.
In 1258 the Mongols invaded Abbasid, led by Hulagu Khan, sacking Baghdad and capturing Al-Musta’sim.
The Mongols held great stock in the superstition that spilling royal blood would bring bad luck, so refused to behead him as they normally would. Instead, they rolled him up in a Persian carpet, and he was then repeatedly trampled on by horses until he passed away.... squished to death.
It is believed it took over 15 minutes for Al-Musta’sim to die. It is also reported that he had many sons, most of whom also suffered the same fate.
Cause of Death: Rolled up in a rug and trampled by horses.
Caliph Al-Musta’sim was born in Baghdad and ruled from 1242 until his death sixteen years later in 1258.
In 1258 the Mongols invaded Abbasid, led by Hulagu Khan, sacking Baghdad and capturing Al-Musta’sim.
The Mongols held great stock in the superstition that spilling royal blood would bring bad luck, so refused to behead him as they normally would. Instead, they rolled him up in a Persian carpet, and he was then repeatedly trampled on by horses until he passed away.... squished to death.
It is believed it took over 15 minutes for Al-Musta’sim to die. It is also reported that he had many sons, most of whom also suffered the same fate.
Peet Banks 2013
Put together by Ashley Hall 2013
Put together by Ashley Hall 2013
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