Random Historical Leaders Who Were Conned by Their Closest Advisors (18 items)

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  (#1) Elizabeth I of England

  • Dec. at 70 (1533-1603)

  While Elizabeth I was content to imprison her cousin Mary, former Queen of Scotland, Elizabeth's secretary, Sir Francis Walsingham, was convinced Mary needed to be executed to ensure Elizabeth's was safe from plots to overthrow her and install Mary as queen. While intercepting letters between Mary and her co-conspirators during the famous Babington Plot, Walsingham forged a postscript from Mary authorizing Elizabeth's execution. He then successfully used it as proof that Elizabeth needed to have Mary executed. 
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  (#2) King Ludwig II of Bavaria

  • Dec. at 41 (1845-1886)

  The eccentric and handsome King Ludwig II of Bavaria, known as Mad King Ludwig, angered the nobility of Bavaria by spending extravagantly on art, building fairytale castles, doing really weird stuff such as bowing to and stroking the cheek of a bust of Marie Antoinette every time he walked by it, and (maybe) being gay. Using nothing but interviews with Ludwig's advisors and servants as evidence, the psychiatrist Von Gudden declared Ludwig unfit to rule. He was deposed, only to die mysteriously soon thereafter.  
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  (#3) Nicholas II of Russia

  • Dec. at 50 (1868-1918)

  Nicholas II, last Czar of Russian, was tricked by the famous mystic Rasputin, who won favor with the Czar and his wife by convincing them he cured their son of hemophilia, which is scientifically impossible. The Czarina considered him one of her closest advisors. Though his political influence was relatively minor, Rasputin made several correct predictions, including the death of Nicholas and his entire family, which came when the Russian Revolution toppled the Czarist government.  
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  (#4) Elagabalus

  • Dec. at 19 (203-222)

  Elagabus became Emperor of Rome at 14, only to be murdered at 19. The vastly unpopular ruler was known for sexual perversion, lavish spending, attempts to force his own religion on Rome, and pretending to be a prostitute. His family convinced him to name an heir in the hopes of replacing him. Elagabus then ordered a Praetorian guard to execute his heir. The guard, who was probably bribed, killed Elagabalus instead. 
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  (#5) Ibrahim I

  • Dec. at 33 (1615-1648)

  Ibrahim I was Sultan of the Ottoman Empire in the 17th century. Known as The Crazy One, he spent his childhood locked in a windowless building called The Cage. When he was set free in order to become Sultan, he went on a sex spree to make up for lost time, amassing a 280-woman harem, the members of which he later had drowned. Ibrahim was known for excessive violence and debauchery, and was enabled by his mother, who did the actual running of the empire while her son strutted about nailing virgins. Eventually, Ibrahim's supporters turned on him; he was put back in The Cage and executed. 
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  (#6) Eric XIV of Sweden

  • Dec. at 44 (1533-1577)

  A promising young king with a talent for music and languages, Eric XIV fell victim to what some historians believe to be schizophrenia. He had nobles and servants murdered for offenses he invented, experienced violent and depressive episodes, and even disappeared into the woods and was later found living as a peasant. He was dethroned by his brothers during one of his depressive episodes, imprisoned, and poisoned to death by pea soup laced with arsenic by his former supporters. 
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  (#7) Mary, Queen of Scots

  • Dec. at 45 (1542-1587)

  In the wake of a deadly upheaval in Scotland, Mary, Queen of Scots, sought protection from her cousin Elizabeth I, Queen of England. Rather than protect Mary, Elizabeth imprisoned her. From her prison cell, Mary became embroiled in a complex plot (The Babington Plot) to replace Elizabeth I on the throne. News of the plot was intercepted by a double agent, who got hold of coded letters detailing Mary's plans. Mary's secretary confirmed the plot. Mary and her conspirators were executed. 
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  (#8) Christian VII of Denmark

  • Dec. at 59 (1749-1808)

  Christian VII was a frail, unstable, stupid, self-centered monarch, and universally disliked. As his physical and mental state declined, his doctor, Johann Friedrich Struensée, seized control of the country. Struensée got himself appointed Cabinet Secretary to the King and oversaw all official documents, while having a torrid affair with Christian's wife, Queen Caroline Mathilde, who bragged about their relationship to anyone who would listen. It's rumored Struensée fathered one of the royal children. 
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  (#9) Ivan V of Russia

  • Dec. at 30 (1666-1696)

  Ivan was only 16 when made co-Czar of Russia with his half brother, Peter. He required a co-Czar on account of his mental and physical disabilities, which made it impossible for him to rule. His mother, Sophia, used him as a puppet, and had herself named regent. It was not long until Peter, who would become known as Peter the Great, and his supporters overthrew Ivan and mother dearest. 
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  (#10) Wladyslaw III of Poland

  Wladyslaw III of Poland was only 10 when he was crowned king, and during his 10 year reign virtually all decisions were made or manipulated by his advisor,  Zbigniew Oleśnicki, nobleman and bishop. Oleśnicki managed to install Wladyslaw as King of Hungary, and guided him through making peace with the Ottomans, only to break the accord days later. This breach led to Wladyslaw's death at the hands of the Turks, during the battle of Varna. 
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  (#11) Adolf Hitler

  • Dec. at 56 (1889-1945)

  The success of the critical Allied D-Day victory of WWII came down to Juan Pujol, a Spanish double agent who convinced the Nazis the Allies would attack Calais, not Normandy. This led to Hitler holding back for months after the D-Day landing, as he believed a million-man army would appear at Calais at any moment. Pujol was awarded an Iron Cross by the Germans for his outstanding spy work, while building a network of 30 double agents to feed them bad information. 
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  (#12) Charles II of Spain

  • Dec. at 39 (1661-1700)

  Charles II is famous for being so physically and intellectually disabled he could barely chew, talk, or walk. Thanks, inbreeding! His family kept him alive so they could continue rule Spain with him as their puppet. Chuck's Austrian mother, Anamarie, and her favorite clergymen forced Charles to sign away his power to them. His family's maniacal schemes and his early death lead to hundreds of years of violent political instability in Spain.
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  (#13) Afonso VI of Portugal

  • Dec. at 40 (1643-1683)

  Afonso VI was a gluttonous, self-indulgent, violent, and mentally and physically disabled man who alienated the entire government of Portugal. His wife, Maria Francesca, and younger brother, Pedro, first wrested control of the throne from him, then forced him to officially abdicate and annul his marriage. Maria Francesca married Pedro less than a week after her marriage to Afonso ended. 
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  (#14) Charles IX of France

  • Dec. at 24 (1550-1574)

  Charles IX was a mentally unstable sadist who demanded thousands of Protestants be murdered during his sister's wedding celebrations, in what became known as the Saint Bartholomew’s Day Massacre. He was prone to sores, weakness, and dementia. He was crowned at the age of 10, and his mother, Catherine de' Medici, controlled his rule obsessively. She took advantage of her mad son by managing all state decisions, reading all documents before he signed them, and never letting him be alone, even while sleeping. 
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  (#15) Henry VI of England

  • Dec. at 50 (1421-1471)

  A naive and pious king who never lied, Henry VI dedicated almost all of his time to prayer and religious studies; he was not interested in politics or state affairs at all. Due to this, a small group of advisors had full run of the country. Henry was prone to fits of psychosis and depression and eventually declared unfit to rule. This led to relatives and advisors fighting for control of England in what became known as The War of the Roses. 
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  (#16) Nero

  • Dec. at 31 (37-68)

  Infamous Nero thought he was an artist, and would lock Romans in theaters, forcing them to witness his long, bizarre performances. He was famous for violent and erratic behavior, such as killing his pregnant wife then castrating a man who resembled her and forcing the man to marry him and wear his wife's clothes. Read that again if you need to.  

  Despite Nero's popularity amongst the common people of Rome, the senate convinced him that he was universally hated. When they ordered his execution, he attempted to kill himself. One of Nero's personal secretaries finished his attempt by slashing his throat.  
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  (#17) Edward II of England

  • Dec. at 43 (1284-1327)

  Over the course of his rule, Edward II managed to undo nearly all the accomplishments of his famous father, Edward "Hammer of the Scots" Longshanks. As a result, England fell into total ruin. Edward was eventually betrayed by not only by the nobility, but his wife, Isabella of France. Isabella became the mistress of one of her husband's exiled opponents in France, who subsequently invaded England. Edward was deposed and killed without opposition. 
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  (#18) Commodus

  • Dec. at 31 (161-192)

  Commodus's horrible decisions as Emperor of Rome ended almost 100 year of peace and prosperity in less than 20 years. After a failed assassination attempt by his sister and a group of senators, Commodus became erratic and vicious, having people murdered at random. He thought he was the demigod Hercules, and would fight lions in the gladiator's arena. Commodus's advisors eventually had him strangled to death by a champion wrestler. 

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