While trying to demonstrate how the victim could have killed himself while drawing a gun, he did the same. One time, he went too far, accidentally though. Clement VallandighamĬlement was a 19th-century lawyer, who was so passionate about defending his clients. Of course, so much dancing is not good for anyone and it proved to be very bad for about 30 people, who died from stroke, heart attack, or exhaustion. They danced, with only moments of rest, for a full month. No one knows what caused the Dance Epidemic of 1518, but it affected more than 400 people. We stay in Austria, but we got to go to the early 16th century. It wouldn’t be a surprise if it didn’t trip on his own beard, which was 4.5 feet (1.4 m). What he did for his city is forgotten, but the way he died isn’t – Hans broke his neck when he fell. Hans Steininger was the burgomaster, that is, the mayor, of a town in today’s Austria. Forget about beheading, George Plantagenet chose to be drowned in a barrel of his favorite wine, Malvasia. That’s when George showed a level of creativity for which he’ll be remembered forever. As a true example of brotherly love, Edward let him pick the way he would be killed. After losing in the War of the Roses, George was to be executed by the orders of his brother, Edward IV. Other most bizarre deaths on the list were accidental, but George Plantagenet chose his own destiny. His lavish throne fell apart beneath him, causing him injuries that later claimed his life. The way he died is not thought in Hungarian schools, but saying it’s interesting would be an understatement. However, fighting pagans isn’t the only thing interesting about Béla. Béla I of Hungaryīéla I was the man responsible for the eradication of paganism in Hungary, for which he’s still celebrated in this country. He didn’t become immortal, but he did end up on our list. Unfortunately, someone told him he would achieve immortality by drinking deadly mercury poison.

Who wouldn’t like to be an emperor? Qin Shi Huang liked it so much that he wanted to be the emperor forever. It’s because he was the first Emperor of China and one of the most successful rulers of his time. The name Qin Shi Huang awakens respect in Chinese people every time he’s mentioned. As eagles actually do drop tortoises on rocks, the story of Aeschylus’ death might not be a lie after all. An eagle dropped a tortoise on his bold head, mistaking it for a rock that would break the tortoise shell. You’re now probably thinking that this can’t possibly be true, but wait till you read about how it happened. According to a Roman author, who lived a few centuries after Aeschylus, the Greek tragedian was killed by a tortoise falling from the sky! His death, though, can be described as a comedy, rather than tragedy. Known as one of the wisest men of the Ancient Greece, Aeschylus is best remembered by the tragedies he wrote.

Bizarre Deaths by BH & VHM McKechnie