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
LGBTQ Queens, Princesses & Duchesses [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:01
Happy Pride! 🏳️‍🌈 Through most of history homosexuality and gender non-conformity were met with misunderstanding and intolerance. And while men in power had some modicum of freedom to pursue their own desires, women’s se…
Royalty 101: Harems & Palace Women [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:36
The royal and imperial courts of Asia had complex systems of female hierarchy. The ruler’s wives and female relatives were at the top, and a great many other ladies were there to serve them. Similar to the ladies in wait…
Royalty 101: What is a Lady in Waiting? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:38
When discussing the history of royalty, ladies in waiting pop up frequently. King Henry VIII left his first wife Catherine of Aragon for her lady-in-waiting, Anne Boleyn, and then beheaded her for her lady-in-waiting Jan…
Royalty 101: British Titles of Royalty & Nobility [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:59
Who gets to be a Prince or Princess? What does it mean to be a Duke or Duchess? Which noble titles are ranked higher? Why are Kate and Meghan duchesses when they’re married to Princes? Why are the Queen’s eldest children…
Queen Charlotte & King George III's 15 Children [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:25
King George III of Great Britain and of Ireland and his German wife, Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz had a close and loving relationship which resulted in an astonishing 15 Children! The couple preferred a quiet life a…
Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Queen of Great Britain & Ireland [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:19
Just in time for Queen Charlotte: A Bridgeton Story - here is the real story of the iconic Queen! Queen Charlotte went from minor German country gentry to Queen Consort of Great Britain and Ireland. She and George III ha…
Problematic Crown Jewels & Coronation Controversies [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:10
The coronation of King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla is a once in a generation event which will go down in history. But will it go down for all the wrong reasons? The coronation has been surrounded by a number of…
What to Expect at the Coronation of King Charles III & Queen Camilla [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:55
Please take my listener survey to help improve the podcast: www.surveymonkey.com/r/airwave The coronation of King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla will take place on the 6th of May, 2023. The Palace has announced th…
A History of English & British Coronations [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:22
Please take my listener survey to help improve the podcast: www.surveymonkey.com/r/airwave The coronation of King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla is unique in modern times. The United Kingdom is the only monarchy i…
Titanic's Final Meal [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:35
Please take my listener survey to help improve the podcast: www.surveymonkey.com/r/airwave The RMS Titanic is probably the most famous ships ever to set sail on the seven seas. She voyaged during the Edwardian Era, a tim…