Random Facts About Historical Royals We Just Learned In 2020 That Made Us Say ‘Really?’ (18 items)

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  (#9) Before It Took His Life, The Guillotine Was Modified At The Suggestion Of Louis XVI Of France

  Though Dr. Joseph-Ignace Guillotin was personally opposed to executing criminals, he designed the guillotine as a more humane method of capital punishment. This would be less prone to human error than a person wielding a sword or axe.

  Allegedly, King Louis XVI (1764-1793) offered some input into the machine as it was being developed in 1791. History Collection claims Louis "fancied himself a bit of a tinkerer, and rather than the crescent-shaped blade they were using, the king suggested an angled one instead."

  Two years later, Louis would meet his end on the point of the same machine he helped design.
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  (#17) Marie Antoinette

  • Noble person

  Many young people grow up playing make believe that they're princes or princesses, but what do you pretend to be if you're an actual princess? In the case of Marie Antoinette (1755-1793 AD), you ask your servants to build you a quaint little cottage on the grounds of Versailles where you can live the "simple" life.

  According to the Vintage News, "[Marie] brought her idyllic, picturesque village to life by stocking the barn with animals, and bringing in 'simple' people, such as milkmaids and herdsmen, to act like residents of the Hamlet. Marie Antoinette would stroll around her perfect world in simple shepherdess garb with her children, part of an idealized Nature." 

  You can still visit the queen's hamlet today.
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  (#11) In 1830, Marie Thérèse Was Queen of France For About 20 Minutes

  Royal successions can be immensely complicated, even during relatively peaceful eras. But during the French Revolution? Forget about it. 

  Marie-Thérèse Charlotte (1778-1851 AD) was the oldest child of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette. Her parents were executed during the French Revolution, which gave way to the First Republic in 1792, which was then overthrown by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1799, who was exiled in 1814 - and then again in 1815.

  Marie's uncle became Louis XVIII during the Bourbon Restoration, which started in 1814, but was interrupted for 100 days when Napoleon returned. After the emperor was exiled a second time, the Bourbons were reestablished in 1815. In 1824, Louis was succeeded by Charles X, Marie's father-in-law. Charles abdicated in 1830, which technically made his son, Louis Antoine, the new King of France - and Marie the queen - but Louis also was forced to abdicate in favor of his nephew. Thus, Louis and Marie were the French monarchy for all of 20 minutes.
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  (#6) Tsar Nicholas II Had A Tattoo Of A Dragon On His Forearm

  Nicholas II (1868-1918) received his tattoo in 1891 while visiting Japan. According to Town & Country, the large design required seven hours to complete. 

  And Nicholas was not the only royal to get inked. King George V, King Edward VII, Catherine the Great, and Peter the Great are all believed to have been tattooed at some point.
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  (#4) Justinian II Replaced His Mutilated Nose With A Gold One To Regain The Throne

  According to Byzantine tradition, emperors had to be free of physical imperfections. This was why Leontios cut off the nose of Emperor Justinian II (c. 668-711 AD) when he usurped the throne in 695 AD. Leontios then exiled Justinian from the kingdom and had his supporters burned alive.

  Justinian II was not a particularly popular emperor, but Leontios didn't fare much better. He himself was usurped in three years - and had his nose cut off as well. Justinian regained the throne in 705, this time wearing a golden nose prosthetic.

  Unfortunately, the new nose did nothing to improve Justinian's personality or style of leadership. He was removed again from the throne - and this time executed - in 711 AD.
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  (#1) A Hawaiian King Was The First To Travel The Globe

  David Kalakaua (1836-1891) reigned as King of Hawaii from 1874 to 1891. According to the Hawai'i Digital Newspaper Project, he embarked on his 1881 world tour "to study immigration, develop diplomatic relations with other countries, and observe how rulers led their countries."

  This was the first time a monarch had made such a journey, and the year-long trip included visits to San Francisco, Japan, China, India, Egypt, Italy, the German Empire, and England, among many other nations.

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