These Doomed Royals Met Horrific Ends
Royalty is not always what it's cracked up to be. From tragic accidents to bloody executions, these doomed royals met the most disturbing ends possible. But that's not all.
With their lives playing out for all the world to see, these high-profile tragedies often morphed into so much more: conspiracies, rumors, and even the most perplexing mysteries.
1. Empress Elisabeth: Stabbed In The Heart
Privileged, precise, and punishingly beautiful, Elisabeth of Bavaria rose to become Empress consort of the Austrian Empire at the height of its power and has remained one of the nation’s most beloved figures. Yet behind her exquisite façade lies a lifetime of pain and an unbelievably twisted fate. Just before the turn of the 20th century, Elisabeth’s informality doomed her to a gruesome end.
2. She Was In Fatal Danger
In 1898, she was traveling anonymously through Geneva, Switzerland. Despite hearing reports of assassination plans, she decided to catch a ship to a nearby city without any entourage.
After all, this was right before WWI, and political tensions were at an all-time high. Because of her decision to forgo any pomp or circumstance, Elisabeth only had one lady-in-waiting with her when the Grim Reaper came knocking.
3. Her End Was Quick And Dirty
The anarchist Luigi Lucheni heard Elisabeth was in town, and quickly devised a chilling plan. Lucheni found her walking on a promenade toward her ship, almost entirely alone.
He went up, peered under her parasol, and struck her in the heart with a crude four-inch needle file. Within moments, Sisi collapsed and was weaving in and out of consciousness.
4. Her Last Words Were Tragic
Elisabeth’s last moments on Earth were full of confusion. After her collapse, attendants tore open her bodice laces but could only see a minuscule incision above her left breast.
Then, right before her end, Elisabeth regained consciousness for one last time. As she did, the once sharp woman was reduced to fear and confusion in the chaos.
Her rescuers asked her if she was in pain, and she replied “No.” Instead, her final words broke their hearts. The royal meekly asked as she ran out of breath, “What happened?” They pronounced her passing at 2:10 pm on September 10, 1898. She was 60 years old, and had ruled the Austrian empire for 44 years. Still, the aftermath was even more devastating.
