Anna, who ruled as Empress of Russia from 1730 – 1740, was not born to the throne – she was made Empress by the Supreme Privy Council of Russia. The council had hoped that she would feel indebted to them for her position & act as a puppet ruler – but Anna had other plans in mind. 
One of her first acts was to restore the secret police, to do her bidding. Finding favor with the Royal Guards, her power became uncontrollable, and she began a ten year reign tormenting the aristocrats who made her ruler.
In the most famous example of her insanity, Anna hooked up one of the old princes with her maid, because she had discovered that his, now dead, wife had been Catholic.
What happened next is mad: Anna organized the wedding and had a special palace made of ice for the occasion.
What happened next is mad: Anna organized the wedding and had a special palace made of ice for the occasion.
Empress of Russia Anna made the wedding party dress as clowns and spend the night in the ice-palace… in the middle of one of the harshest winters Russia had seen in years.
Fortunately for Russia, her reign was cut short by her death at the age of 47.
Fortunately for Russia, her reign was cut short by her death at the age of 47.
Then there was King Charles VI.
Accounts of the king’s first fit of madness state that King Charles VI became agitated at the sound of a dropped spear, while traveling with his men. He then murdered one of his own knights and, reportedly, a few other men.
Accounts of the king’s first fit of madness state that King Charles VI became agitated at the sound of a dropped spear, while traveling with his men. He then murdered one of his own knights and, reportedly, a few other men.
Ibrahim of the Ottoman Empire is known to have had an obsession with obese women, urging his agents to find the fattest woman possible.
A candidate was tracked down in Egypt, who weighed over 330 pounds, and was given the pet name Sheker Pare (literally, “piece of sugar”).
A candidate was tracked down in Egypt, who weighed over 330 pounds, and was given the pet name Sheker Pare (literally, “piece of sugar”).
When Ibrahim heard a rumor that his concubines were compromised by another man, he had 280 members of his harem drowned in the Bosporus Sea.
He was seen feeding coins to fish living in the palace’s pool. These feats earned him the nickname “mad” – for rather obvious reasons.
He was seen feeding coins to fish living in the palace’s pool. These feats earned him the nickname “mad” – for rather obvious reasons.
As the Byzantine Emperor from 565 to 576 Justin reportedly began to lose his mind near the end of his reign. He was pushed around the palace on a wheelchair snapping at attendants as he passed and even reportedly ate a few of them.
Known for being insanely paranoid, Erik XIV of Sweden was known to have people executed simply for laughing in his presence. He even believed he was his own brother for a while. Eventually though his worst fears came true and he died of poisoning.
When she was 23 years old, Princess Alexandra Amelie of Bavaria (1826-1875) was observed walking awkwardly sideways down the corridors of her family palace.
When questioned by her worried royal parents, she announced that she had swallowed...a glass grand piano.
When questioned by her worried royal parents, she announced that she had swallowed...a glass grand piano.
A product of inbreeding, Ferdinand I of Austria was epileptic, encephalitic, and rarely talked.
In fact, it has been stated that the only words he ever said were “I am the Emperor, and I want dumplings”.
In fact, it has been stated that the only words he ever said were “I am the Emperor, and I want dumplings”.
The last ruling king of Egypt, Farouk was known as a “stomach with a head” after grew to over 300 pounds.
He even stole a watch from Winston Churchill once.
In his most famous act, however, he went to the zoo and shot all the lions after having nightmares.
He even stole a watch from Winston Churchill once.
In his most famous act, however, he went to the zoo and shot all the lions after having nightmares.
Remembered for his affection towards the military, Friedrich Wilhelm I of Prussia was obsessed with creating the biggest fighting unit ever. And by biggest we mean tallest. He was even recorded as forcing tall men and women to have kids.
Qin Shi Huang was the first emperor of a unified China.
Known for being terrified of being assassinated he never slept in the same place twice. It wasn’t just humans he was wary of though. Apparently he feared a giant sea monsters as well.
Known for being terrified of being assassinated he never slept in the same place twice. It wasn’t just humans he was wary of though. Apparently he feared a giant sea monsters as well.
Joanna of Castile was so scared that her husband would cheat on her that even after he died she wouldn’t let any women come near his corpse, not even nuns.
This is Fyodor I of Russia. Also known as Fyodor the Bellringer, when his daughter died at two years old he took to wandering across Russia ringing every church bell he came across.
Enough about mad kings and queens. Let's move to insane dictators.
Saparmurat Niyazov of Turkmenistan is often cited as one of the world’s most deranged dictators.
Giving Narcissus a run for his money, Niyazov named landmarks, streets and other public entities after himself.
Giving Narcissus a run for his money, Niyazov named landmarks, streets and other public entities after himself.
Niyazov also changed the name for the month of April and his country’s word for ‘bread” to “Gurbansoltan edzhe”, in honor of his own staple, his mother.
He encouraged young people in Turkmenistan to chew on bones to preserve their teeth instead of seeking dental treatment.
He encouraged young people in Turkmenistan to chew on bones to preserve their teeth instead of seeking dental treatment.
As one of a series of measures to establish a personality cult, Saparmurat Niyazov had a gold statue of himself put on top of a building in the capital, Ashgabat. The statue revolves so it always faces the sun.
Niyazov outlawed ballet and opera and banned men from listening to car radios; he also banned the use of recorded music at weddings and other public events.
When he gave up smoking after major heart surgery in 1997, he banned smoking in public places.
When he gave up smoking after major heart surgery in 1997, he banned smoking in public places.
Saparmurat Niyazov tapped Turkmenistan's vast wealth from gas for outlandish projects including a huge manmade lake in the Kara Kum desert, a vast cypress forest to change the desert climate, an ice palace outside the capital, a ski resort and a 130ft pyramid.
Turkmens were supposed to take spiritual guidance from his book, Rukhnama (which translates as Book of the Soul), a collection of thoughts on Turkmen culture and history. The book is required reading in schools, where children must pledge allegiance to him every morning.
Interestringly, in 2006, Niyazov announced he would provide citizens with natural gas and power free of charge until 2030.
Young men were banned from having beards or wearing long hair. Citizens were also ordered to get gold teeth extracted.
Young men were banned from having beards or wearing long hair. Citizens were also ordered to get gold teeth extracted.
Saparmurat Niyazov replaced by another crackpot
I wrote a whole thread about him:
I wrote a whole thread about him:
By 1974, former Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu created an executive presidency and even had a scepter made for himself like a king, which was later mocked by artist Salvador Dali.
Nicolae Ceaușescu destroyed 19 churches, six synagogues and 30,000 homes to build a palace to himself that required the work of some 700 architects at a cost of $10 billion.
I'm gonna end this thread with this quote:
“The measure of a man is what he does with power.”
― Plato
“The measure of a man is what he does with power.”
― Plato
