10 Royals Who Tragically Died in Battle

Royalty often conjures images of opulence and privilege. Palaces, servants, and gilded lifestyles are what many commoners dream of. However, being royal isn’t always a fairytale. With power comes conflict, and for many rulers throughout history, this meant facing enemies on the battlefield. Here are the stories of ten brave royals who tragically died in battle, defending their realms or pursuing their ambitions.

Rani Lakshmi Bai

Born in 1835, Lakshmi Bai was the Rani (queen) of the Jhansi city-state in northern India. Bucking tradition, she received an education alongside boys, learning horse riding, martial arts, and sword fighting at the court of Baji Rao II. After marrying Maharajah Gangadhar Rao of Jhansi, she assumed power upon his death.

At 22, the British sought to annex Jhansi, a proposition she vehemently opposed. When the Indian Mutiny erupted in 1857, she seized the opportunity to join the rebellion against British colonial rule, becoming a regional leader. When the British overwhelmed Jhansi, Lakshmi Bai escaped with loyal followers and seized Gwalior. She fought bravely against General Hugh Rose’s forces, but dressed as a man alongside her troops, the Rani was killed in battle. ^[1]

Richard I of England

Richard I of England, famously known as Richard the Lionheart, ascended to the throne in 1189 at age 32 and ruled for ten years. Remarkably, he spent only six months of his reign in England, dedicating the rest to crusading in the Middle East and battling enemies in Europe. He returned briefly in 1194 but soon departed for France, never to see England again.

In 1199, Richard besieged Châlus-Chabrol Castle in France, seeking a hoard of gold he believed was rightfully his. During the siege, a crossbow bolt fired by Pierre Basile struck Richard in the shoulder. Gangrene infected the wound, leading to his death. Before passing, Richard decreed that Basile should be rewarded for his skill, but his lieutenant Mercadier instead had the unfortunate archer skinned alive and hanged. ^[2]

James II of Scotland

James II inherited the Scottish throne at the tender age of six after his father, James I, was murdered in 1430. For nearly two decades, three powerful families squabbled for control of the young king until 1449, when James took charge. In 1452, he demonstrated his capacity for decisive action by stabbing his rival William, the 8th Earl of Douglas, to death. He then seized the Douglas lands and destroyed their castles.

Having stamped his authority on Scottish politics, James, like many Scottish monarchs before and after him, sought battle with the English. His enemies held an outpost in the Scottish borderlands, centered on the formidable Roxburgh Castle. In 1460, James besieged the castle, employing the unreliable artillery of the time. A cannon exploded, severely wounding the 29-year-old king, leading to his untimely death. ^[3]

Richard III of England

Richard III, a distant descendant of Richard I, ruled England nearly 300 years later. He was crowned in 1483 during the tumultuous Wars of the Roses, a civil conflict about who should rule England. Richard was deeply involved in the fighting.

The final confrontation of the Wars of the Roses, the Battle of Bosworth Field, occurred in 1485 near Leicester. Richard’s forces clashed with those backing Henry Tudor. The battle turned against Richard, who found himself surrounded by enemy troops with no escape. Shakespeare immortalized the king’s desperation in his play, Richard III, with the line, “A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!” No horse arrived, and Richard’s skull was fatally smashed with a halberd. His nemesis, Henry Tudor, became King Henry VII. ^[4]

King Charles XII of Sweden

Charles XII, described by Smithsonian Magazine as “austere and fanatical, intelligent yet foolhardy,” reigned from 1697. Much of his reign involved the Great Northern War, lasting 21 years from 1700. Many Swedes despised Charles because of the war’s expense and the dire poverty it caused. Playwright August Strindberg claimed Charles was “Sweden’s ruin, the great offender, a ruffian, the rowdies’ idol.”

Charles enjoyed several battlefield victories over the Poles, Saxons, and Russians. A turning point came with his invasion of Russia in 1708, where he was decisively defeated at the Battle of Poltava. However, this didn’t end his appetite for war. In 1718, he attacked his Danish neighbors. While overseeing trench building within range of the Danes, 36-year-old Charles was struck in the head by a bullet or grapeshot and died instantly. Some believe he was a victim of friendly fire, a controversy that continues to this day. ^[5]

James III of Scotland

James II died at Roxburgh Castle, and his son was crowned in nearby Kelso Abbey. Like his father, James III was a child when he became king in 1460 at age nine. His mother, Mary de Gueldres, acted as regent until her death in 1463. Rival Scottish noble families then fought for control of the young king, repeating his father’s plight.

James assumed real power in 1468 but faced opposition from rebellious nobles, including his brothers Alexander and John. John died mysteriously in Edinburgh, and Alexander was charged with treason and exiled. In 1482, Alexander returned at the head of a rebel army that failed to seize control of Scotland. Another rebellion erupted in 1488, led by James’s son, also named James. The conflict culminated in the Battle of Sauchieburn, near Stirling. The king’s forces were routed, and James was killed during the battle. ^[6]

King Harold II of England

Harold II was crowned upon the death of Edward the Confessor in January 1066. Harold quickly faced a national crisis when an army, led by an alliance between Tostig, Earl of Northumbria, and Harald Hardrada, King of Norway, threatened his throne. Harold marched north to York and won the Battle of Stamford Bridge, killing both Harald Hardrada and Tostig.

Just three days later, William the Conqueror landed on the south coast of England, staking his claim to the crown. Harold, still in the north, rushed south to confront William at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Harold’s forces were defeated, and the king was killed, likely by an arrow to the eye. William then seized the English throne. ^[7]

King James IV of Scotland

Scottish kings named James had a habit of dying in battle, and James IV was no exception. He became king when his father, James III, died at the Battle of Sauchieburn in 1488. Although only 15, James quickly began to exercise his royal authority.

Scotland was more peaceful under his rule than under his father and grandfather’s, but conflict with England persisted. James’s forces raided across the border, capturing four castles in 1513. Henry VIII of England decided to confront his northern neighbor, and an English army faced James’s forces at the Battle of Flodden. The English won the bloody clash, and James was killed by a blow from a billhook. Approximately 10,000 of his countrymen, including most of Scotland’s nobles, also died. ^[8]

Princess Gwenllian

Born in 1100, Gwenllian was a Welsh warrior princess descended from Brian Boru, the last High King of Ireland. In her teens, she married Prince Gruffydd ap Rhys, becoming Princess Consort of Deheubarth in South Wales. The region faced threats from the English, who had established military outposts there. Gwenllian and Gruffydd led raids against the invaders, becoming folk heroes by distributing plundered English goods to the populace.

England descended into chaos due to a civil war. The Welsh attacked the English, winning a victory at the Battle of Llwchwr against Maurice de Londres. However, de Londres retaliated and began to push back the Welsh. Gwenllian, alone as her husband fought elsewhere, resisted the English at the head of a guerilla army. In 1136, the English caught her small force, and she was captured and beheaded on the spot. ^[9]

Malcolm III of Scotland

Malcolm III is another Scottish king who died in battle, though not named James. You might recall Malcolm from Shakespeare’s Macbeth, where he kills Macbeth to claim the Scottish crown, avenging his father, Duncan I.

Once on the throne, Malcolm’s problems centered on his relationship with England. He raided northern England several times until a peace treaty was signed in 1072. However, Malcolm broke the agreement and continued his raids. After a 1093 raid on Alnwick, Malcolm was ambushed with a few knights and killed in the ensuing skirmish. ^[10]

These ten royals, from different eras and lands, all shared a similar fate: death on the battlefield. Their stories remind us that even the highest status offers no immunity from the risks of war.