The Weirdest Royals Throughout History
2. Emperor Nero of Rome (37-68 AD) – The Eccentric Performer
Nero is famous for his cruelty, but he was also known for his bizarre antics. He considered himself a great artist and forced people to watch his lengthy poetry recitals and musical performances. If anyone tried to leave, they risked their lives. He even once entered the Olympic Games and—unsurprisingly—won every event he participated in, whether he finished the race or not. His obsession with the arts and his extravagant spending contributed to the growing dissatisfaction among the Roman elite, which ultimately led to his downfall.
Nero’s reign was also filled with scandal and excess. He reportedly kicked his pregnant wife to death, married a young boy named Sporus (who resembled his late wife) and forced him to dress as a woman, and indulged in orgies and feasts while Rome suffered under heavy taxation. His most infamous act, however, was allegedly playing music while Rome burned during the Great Fire of 64 AD, an event for which he later blamed Christians, leading to their mass persecution.
3. Queen Christina of Sweden (1626-1689) – The Unconventional Queen
Queen Christina was one of the most unconventional monarchs in history. She refused to marry, dressed in men’s clothing, and preferred intellectual pursuits over traditional royal duties. She surrounded herself with philosophers, scientists, and artists, fostering a vibrant cultural atmosphere. However, her disinterest in ruling led her to abdicate the throne at just 28 years old. She later converted to Catholicism (in a staunchly Protestant country) and lived a free-spirited life in Rome, where she became one of the most talked-about figures of her time.
Christina also had a strong fascination with the arts and sciences, funding scientific explorations and philosophical discussions. Some accounts suggest that she may have been gender non-conforming or even lesbian, as she formed close relationships with female courtiers and dismissed the idea of marriage entirely. She later attempted (and failed) to become Queen of Naples and lived out the rest of her life in relative comfort, though still making headlines with her eccentric behavior.
4. King Ludwig II of Bavaria (1845-1886) – The Fairy Tale King
King Ludwig II is often called the “Mad King” of Bavaria, but he was more of a dreamer than a tyrant. He spent his entire reign building extravagant castles, including the famous Neuschwanstein Castle, which inspired Disney’s Sleeping Beauty castle. He preferred the company of imaginary characters over real people and once even had an entire opera performed just for himself in an empty theater.
Ludwig’s passion for fantasy and the arts led to financial ruin. His obsession with composer Richard Wagner resulted in excessive spending on elaborate productions and personal gifts to the composer. As his government struggled under the weight of his expenses, he withdrew further into his own world, hosting elaborate feasts for nonexistent guests and taking moonlit carriage rides through his forests. He was eventually declared insane and removed from the throne. Soon after, he was found dead under mysterious circumstances in a lake alongside his psychiatrist.
5. Emperor Caligula of Rome (12-41 AD) – The Insane Tyrant
Caligula is one of the most infamous Roman emperors, known for his erratic and cruel behavior. He allegedly tried to make his favorite horse, Incitatus, a consul of Rome, built a floating palace on the sea, and forced senators to worship him as a god. His excessive cruelty and bizarre actions made him deeply unpopular, and he was assassinated by his own guards after just four years of rule.
Caligula’s madness knew no bounds—he declared himself a living god, dressed in extravagant costumes, and forced wealthy citizens to leave him their fortunes in their wills. His lavish spending and humiliations of the Senate led to widespread resentment, culminating in a violent end when he was stabbed to death by his own Praetorian Guard.
6. Tsar Peter III of Russia (1728-1762) – The Puppet King
7. Queen Ranavalona I of Madagascar (1778-1861) – The Bloody Queen
Ranavalona I of Madagascar was a ruthless ruler known for her paranoia and cruelty. She ordered mass executions and made her subjects undergo deadly “ordeals by poison” to test their innocence. Despite her brutality, she successfully kept European colonizers at bay during her reign. She isolated Madagascar from the rest of the world and ruled with an iron fist, leading to severe economic decline and a dwindling population due to her harsh policies.
8. King George III of Britain (1738-1820) – The Mad King