5 Gruesome Royal Murders You Won't Believe

We all know the story of King Henry VIII and his unfortunate string of wives who met their tragic ends at Henry's request — they even made a musical about it. But would it surprise you to learn that this is actually a pretty common tale among monarchs? Here are five stories of royal rulers who orchestrated the demise of those closest to them.

1. Nero (A.D. 54-68)

Known for persecuting Christians in ancient Rome, Nero ascended to the throne at the young age of 17. Within five years, Nero became convinced that his own mother Agrippina threatened his rule — and he ordered her assassination in A.D. 59.

Three years later, Nero falsely suspected his wife Claudia Octavia of adultery — and so he divorced her and banished her, but that still did not satisfy Nero's ego. He then ordered his ex-wife to be bound, and her veins cut. She ultimately died from suffocation after being set inside a steam bath.

As a gift — and a warning — Nero ordered that Claudia's head be delivered to his new wife, Poppaea Sabina. However, she fared no better — in A.D. 65, Nero kicked his pregnant second wife to death.

2. Empress Wu Zetian of China (655-690)

Let's explore a different kind of ruler, one who killed her husband. Wu Zetian, the only woman ever to rule China, began as a concubine to Emperor Taizong of the Tang dynasty. Shrewd and ambitious, she caught the eye of Taizong's son while the emperor lay dying.

After the emperor passed away, the new emperor couldn't resist Wu's strong spirit and keen mind and decided to elevate her to a position as trusted counselor — and marry her. She soon became a powerful and ruthless leader, eliminating anyone who dared to challenge her authority.

For example, she had two princes executed and brought their heads to the palace, as well as forcing her own granddaughter and grandson to commit suicide.

To further solidify her position as the supreme ruler, Wu allegedly took the final step — she supposedly poisoned her husband and killed him. Her reign, marked by both effective governance and ruthless tactics, remains one of the most fascinating and debated periods in Chinese history.

3. King John of England (1199-1216)

You may remember this infamous King of England from the Robin Hood stories. But the real-life "Bad King John" took it to a much darker level than the Disney^® cartoon version suggests.

Among his many heinous acts, King John cruelly mistreated his wives, often raping them. He even went so far as to actually starve one of his wives to death — as well as 22 knights — in Corfe Castle.

Stories say he died from eating too many peaches, but it's more likely he died from dysentery in 1216, meeting a fittingly grim end.

4. Ivan the Terrible (1547-1584)

This Tsar of Russia earns the title of "Most Consistently Terrible Husband" on our list, as he allegedly subjected his many wives to terrible deaths and cruelties on an ongoing basis. He accused the nobles of the poisonings, but many believe he was actually to blame. Let's look at the receipts:

• Anastasia Romanovna (first wife): Died in 1560. Poisoning suspected. Lethal doses of arsenic, lead, and mercury were found in her remains.
• Maria Temryukovna (second wife): Died in 1569. Poisoning suspected.
• Marfa Sobakina (third wife): Died shortly after the wedding. Poisoning suspected.
• Anna Koltovsksya (fourth wife): Marriage was annulled. Shortly after, Ivan imprisoned her in a convent.
• Anna Vasilchikova (fifth wife): Married in 1575, sent to a convent in 1577, where she was brutally murdered, likely on Ivan's orders.
• Vasilisa Melentyeva (sixth wife): Forced to watch her lover being impaled. Shipped off to a convent and disappeared, likely murdered.
• Maria Dolgorukaya (seventh wife): Accused of infidelity. Drowned in 1580, allegedly based on Ivan's orders.
• Maria Nagaya (last wife): Survived Ivan. Exiled from court after his death.

5. Afzal Khan (17th Century)

This powerful 7-foot general from 17th century India reportedly killed all 63 of his wives before entering into battle. His motive? He had consulted astrologers, and they predicted the battle would not go well. Khan was worried his wives would remarry if he died in battle — so killing them seemed more palatable than imagining them with other men.

This mass execution occurred before a significant battle with the Maratha ruler. Sources disagree about how the unfortunate women met their doom. Some sources claim Khan had his wives pushed down a well, while others say he killed them with his own hands.

And true to the astrologers' predictions, Khan himself died in that very same battle.

These tragic tales remind us that the absolute power of royalty often comes with dark, brutal consequences.

References: Top 10 Rulers Who Killed Their Wives | 10 Fascinating Facts About Emperor Nero | How Nasty Was Nero, Really? | 7 fun facts and a brief look at Nero | The 8 Wives of Tsar Ivan the Terrible | Cruel husband & strange circumstances: How the 6 wives of Ivan the Terrible died