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History is full of fascinating monarchs, but some royals stand out not for their wisdom or bravery, but for their downright bizarre behavior. From kings who talked to animals to emperors who married the sea, here are some of the weirdest royals to ever wear a crown.
King Charles VI of France, also known as “Charles the Mad,” suffered from severe mental illness. One of his strangest delusions was that he believed he was made of glass. He was so afraid of breaking that he would wear reinforced clothing and refuse to be touched. At times, he would forget who he was and run wildly through the halls of his palace. His reign was marked by instability, and his erratic behavior led to internal conflicts that weakened France significantly during the Hundred Years’ War.
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Charles’ condition worsened over time, and he experienced fits of violent rage, paranoia, and amnesia. His periods of lucidity grew shorter, and his wife, Queen Isabeau of Bavaria, had to assume much of the political responsibility. His mental decline played a role in the eventual signing of the Treaty of Troyes, which disinherited his own son in favor of the English King Henry V, a move that would shape European history for decades.
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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.
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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.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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.
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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.
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Peter III of Russia was known for his childish and odd behavior. He had a strange obsession with playing with toy soldiers—even in bed. He also worshiped Frederick the Great of Prussia so much that he tried to make Russian soldiers dress in Prussian uniforms, angering his own military. His unpopular policies and lack of leadership skills led his wife, Catherine the Great, to overthrow him in a coup. He was later murdered under mysterious circumstances.
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Peter’s lack of political skill and poor decisions, such as pulling Russia out of the Seven Years’ War despite recent military successes, alienated both his court and the army. His short reign of six months was marked by embarrassing failures and erratic behavior, making it easy for Catherine to seize power.
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.
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King George III is famous for losing the American colonies, but he also suffered from a mysterious mental illness, possibly porphyria. He would have long bouts of madness where he talked nonstop, wrote nonsense, and even attempted to shake hands with trees, believing them to be important dignitaries. His mental health deteriorated to the point where his son had to rule as regent. Despite his madness, he remained popular among his subjects and was one of Britain’s longest-reigning monarchs.
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Royal history is filled with figures who defied expectations—sometimes in the strangest ways. Whether through madness, eccentricity, or outright cruelty, these rulers left a bizarre mark on history. Their stories remind us that power and privilege don’t always come with sanity. From kings who thought they were made of glass to emperors obsessed with the occult, these royals prove that history is often stranger than fiction.
Weird Royals
Strange Monarchs
Bizarre History
Royal Eccentricities
Mad Kings and Queens
Historical Oddities
Crazy Rulers
Unusual Royalty
Royal Scandals
Eccentric Leaders