10 Bizarre Royal Deaths from History

10 Bizarre Royal Deaths from History

Author: Lindsay Holiday October 28, 2025 Duration: 31:45
With so much money and power, royals were able to invent some pretty unique and creative ways to slay their enemies, or accidentally seal their own doom. From a Chinese Emperor’s deadly elixir of life to a steamy Roman romance that got a little too scalding hot. From a court jester so hilarious he made a Spanish king litrally die laughing, to a Swedish King’s massive last meal of caviar, champagne and cream puffs. Let’s dig up 10 truly bizarre royal deaths. 1. Hatshepsut, Pharaoh of Egypt 1507–1458 BC, Toxic Lotion 2. Qin Shi Huangdi, Emperor of China 259 - 210 BC, Deadly Elixir of Life 3. Valerian, Roman Emperor 199 – 264, Forced to Drink Molten Gold 4. Fausta, Roman Empress 326, Boiled in the Bath 5. Henry I, King of England, 1068 – 1135, Over indulged in lampreys 6. Phillippe, Prince of France, 1116-1131, Horse tripped by a pig 7. Martin, King of Aragon & Sicily 1356 – 1410, Laughed to death 8. Charles II, King of Navarre 1332 – 1387, Soaked in brandy, caught fire 9. Adolf Frederick King of Sweden 1710 – 1771, Ate himself to death 10. Alexander King of Greece 1893 – 1920, bite by monkey Join me every Tuesday when I'm Spilling the Tea on History! Check out my Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/lindsayholiday Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091781568503 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyteatimelindsayholiday/ Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@historyteatime Please consider supporting me at https://www.patreon.com/LindsayHoliday and help me make more fascinating episodes! Intro Music: Baroque Coffee House by Doug Maxwell Music: Danse Macabre by Camille Saint-Saëns, Public Domain, Performed by Kevin MacLeod #HistoryTeaTime #LindsayHoliday Please contact ⁠advertising@airwavemedia.com⁠ if you would like to advertise on this podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every Tuesday, Lindsay Holiday pours a fresh cup and settles in to share the fascinating, often overlooked tales from our past. History Tea Time is built on the idea that history is best served with a generous helping of personality and a focus on the compelling narratives that textbooks tend to skip. Lindsay’s approach feels like a conversation with a knowledgeable friend who has a real knack for digging up the juiciest details. While you’ll often find episodes delving into the lives of queens and royalty from across the globe, there’s a consistent spotlight on women’s history, bringing forward the stories of figures who shaped the world from behind the throne or beyond the traditional spotlight. Listening to this podcast feels like uncovering a secret side of the past, one where the human drama, ambitions, and scandals are given center stage. Each episode is a deep dive into a specific story, told with clarity and a genuine enthusiasm that makes even the most complex historical moments accessible and utterly engaging. If you’ve ever wanted the real, unvarnished, and truly interesting stories behind the names and dates, this is your weekly invitation to listen in.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 218

History Tea Time
Podcast Episodes
Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Queen of Great Britain & Ireland [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:45
Queen Charlotte went from minor German country gentry to Queen Consort of Great Britain and Ireland. She and George III had a happy marriage and an astonishing 15 children. Charlotte stayed out of politics as her husband…
3 Royal Wedding Menus [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:13
Pin on your most fascinating fascination and don your most debonair mourning jacket, hop in your carriage to Buckingham Palace and let's enjoy the royal wedding feasts of... Princess Elizabeth & Prince Philip of Greece &…
Catherine Parr - The Real Firebrand [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:12
Catherine Parr is remembered as Henry VIII’s 6th and final wife, the one who survived the murderous monarch. But while earlier wives, who ended their Queenship more tragically are glamorized, Catherine is often hidden in…
Royals Romancing Actors 1950s – Today [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:18
Royals were the worlds first celebrities. Their wealth and power made them stand out from the mud-caked peasantry. People wanted to know them, or at least know all about them. As actors and eventually actresses started t…
Royals Romancing Actresses 1660s – 1950s [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:58
Royals were the worlds first celebrities. Their wealth and power made them stand out from the mud-caked peasantry. People wanted to know them, or at least know all about them. As actors and eventually actresses started t…
LGBTQ Emperors of Ancient Rome [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:47
In Ancient Greece and the Roman empire homosexual relationships were an accepted and common practice. In this hyper-masculine society the male form was revered for its physical perfection while women’s virtue was jealous…
Was Queen Victoria illegitimate? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:01
In recent years Queen Victoria's royal paternity has been called into question. Let’s take examine the evidence in this historic mystery. And take a look at the royal family tree to answer the question “If Victoria’s dec…
Debutantes & The Regency Social Season [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:02
From Jane Austen novels to Downton Abbey, to Bridgerton young debutantes dressed in white gowns with feathers in their hair curtsy before the Queen and then get down to the serious business of attending balls and bagging…
Marie Antoinette, Queen of France [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:24
Marie Antoinette, Queen of France was a naive young woman under a great deal of pressure and expectation. Her out-of-thouch excesses infuriated the people and contributed to the French Revolution and her downfall. Join m…
Henry VIII's Mother & Grandmothers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:28
Henry VIII’s is infamous for his relationships with women. The domineering King took 6 wives during his 36 years on the throne. And he disposed of them with as much scandal as he wooed them – Divorced, Beheaded, Died, Di…