The weirdest royals throughout history
There were some seriously bizarre people throughout the history of the world, and they include monarchs. It wasn't all beautiful princesses and charming princes—history shows us that some of them had a few eccentricities, while others were ruthless individuals.
From making noblemen kiss their bed for poison, to forcing all men to shave off their beards, check out the gallery to discover some strange royals throughout history.
Louis XIV
King Louis XIV of France had a thing for enemas, an injection of fluids into the lower bowel via the rectum. The fluid would often be scented with rose, bergamot, and angelica.
Qin Shi Huang
Perhaps China’s most influential ruler, Qin Shi Huang was a Qin dynasty emperor who famously built the Terracotta Army. He became obsessed with immortality.
Peter I
Also known as Peter the Great, the Russian tsar implemented a "beard tax" in an attempt to mirror Western Europeans. He lined up his staff and the Russian military and shaved all their faces.
Zhengde
Emperor of the Ming dynasty from 1505 to 1521, Zhengde installed eunuchs in all positions of his government. They handled governing matters, and he was able to devote his life to pleasure-seeking.
George III
King of England and Ireland, George III is believed to have suffered from various mental ailments brought on by a hereditary blood disorder called porphyria. In his later years, he would have severe violent episodes, which forced his staff to put him in a straight jacket.
Joanna of Castile
Also known as Joanna the Mad, she was the Queen of Castile from 1504, and Queen of Aragon from 1516 to her death in 1555. She earned the title of "mad" due to her obsession with her husband. She even kept his deceased body next to her at all times.
Ludwig II of Bavaria
The German king spent most of his reign building fairy-tale castles. One of his most famous is Neuschwanstein Castle, which today is a popular tourist attraction.
Paul I
The Russian tsar was an eccentric character who was obsessed with the uniforms his royal guards wore. He would also throw unnecessary military parades for his own entertainment.
Peter III of Russia
Catherine the Great’s husband, Peter III didn't match her drive and intellect. They didn't get along, and it's even unclear whether they ever consummated their relationship. Instead, he was known for playing with toy soldiers in bed.
Elagabalus
Probably one of Rome's most vicious, self-indulgent, and cruel rulers of all time, Elagabalus' has an endless list of evil acts. One notable perversity of his was when he tied dinner guests to a water wheel and watched them slowly drown.
George IV
Before becoming King of Great Britain and Ireland, George IV had accumulated a lot of debt and illegally married a Catholic woman. He formally married his cousin, Caroline, whom he hated and went to great lengths to keep from being crowned queen.
Rudolf II
The Roman emperor was an eccentric figure who was known for being a patron of the arts, sciences, and pseudo-sciences. As a ruler, he would often go weeks without speaking to the court. Instead, he spent his time supporting astrologers and alchemists.
Vlad III
Born in 1431 in what is modern-day Transylvania, Vlad III loved to impale his enemies, which is where he got his nickname, Vlad the Impaler. Dracula, the fictional character, created by author Bram Stroker, was based on him.
Nero
The fifth emperor of Rome, Nero was a complete narcissist who had his own mother killed. He also married a random man who looked like his second wife, whom he murdered. The man was forced to dress in female clothes and act like a woman.
