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(#18) James II Of Scotland Was Blown Up By His Own Cannon
James II, who ruled Scotland from 1437 to 1460, was an early enthusiast of artillery, using it against both rebellious Scots and English occupiers.
When laying siege to a castle held by the British, a cannon exploded, sending metal everywhere. By some accounts, his thigh was gravely injured by a shard and he passed soon after.
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(#8) Emperor Tiberius Perished Twice
Tiberius was one of the oldest emperors of Rome. He reached the advanced age of 77, and appeared to perish of natural causes after an injury and long illness in 37 CE... except he actually didn't - he was simply unconscious for a time.
The cruel, gloomy, and paranoid Tiberius was so hated by the end of his reign that the people rejoiced when his passing was announced. But Tiberius awoke soon after, leading his successor, Caligula, to have a guard smother him with a pillow. Supposedly, another round of rejoicing broke out.
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(#4) Sigurd The Mighty Was Killed By A Severed Head
Sigurd the Mighty was the second Viking Earl of Orkney and led the Viking conquest of what is now northern Scotland. Bizarrely, he was killed by the severed head of one of his enemies, Máel Brigte, who he had slain in arranged combat. The pair agreed to meet for combat, each with 40 men. But Sigurd showed up with twice that many and slaughtered the Scots.
Eager to make the Scottish leader an example, Sigurd strapped Máel Brigte's head to his saddle as a trophy of conquest. But as he rode, Máel Brigte's distinctive buck teeth grazed against Sigurd's leg (or in some legends, bit him), opening up a wound. The gash became infected with pestilence from the head, and Sigurd perished of blood poisoning.
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(#12) Bela I, The King Literally Slain By His Own Throne
After a lifetime spent at war with the enemies of Hungary, Bela finally took the throne in 1060, ending a rebellion led by his brother.
But Bela's reign didn't last long as he perished when his wooden throne collapsed and he was gravely injured.
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(#16) Roman Usurper Joannes Was Paraded On A Donkey After His Hands Were Cut Off
Joannes was a senior civil servant in the Roman Empire at a time of instability. He was briefly elevated to emperor of the Western Empire as a usurper to the rightful emperor. Joannes was finally captured by elements of the Eastern Empire. His right hand was cut off and he was strapped to a donkey, which was paraded around and mocked.
Joannes was finally put out of his misery by being beheaded.
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(#3) Sicilian Tyrant Phalaris Was Roasted Alive In His Own Bronze Bull
One of the most tyrannical leaders of the ancient world, Phalaris ruled the small kingdom of Acragas (now in Sicily) with not just an iron fist, but a bronze bull. He would lock his foes in a giant bronze statue of a bull, then set a fire underneath it, roasting the poor souls alive and listening to their screams.
Phalaris was finally overthrown and said to have been burned in the same bull where he tormented his victims. He passed around 554 BCE.
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About This Tool
From a mayor with a long beard to a woman swallowed by a bunch of crazy dachshunds, when we looking back at history, there are many incredible and unusual deaths. Although most people will not die under unusual circumstances, things such as monsters and poisonous spiders are obviously scary and deadly. However, sometimes death comes in ways that people cannot predict, some seemingly harmless things may cause unusual deaths.
Humans have never stopped exploring the strange history of the ancient world about bloody wars, cruel rulers, and strange social behaviors and operations. Some people died so strangely in ancient times, the random tool shares stories about 18 weird ancient deaths.
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