History books often paint grand pictures of powerful rulers – their triumphs, their empires, their legacies. But beneath the polished veneer of power, some leaders hid dark secrets, including the ultimate betrayal: murdering their own spouse. It’s a grim reality that spans centuries and cultures, a chilling reminder that absolute power can indeed corrupt absolutely. Prepare to delve into the shocking stories of ten rulers, both real and legendary, whose reigns were forever stained by this terrible act.
King Henry VIII (1491–1547)
King Henry VIII of England is perhaps the most infamous name on this list. His quest for a male heir and his tumultuous love life led to a staggering six marriages. Not content with just divorce, Henry VIII had two of his wives executed. His desire to annul his first marriage to Katherine of Aragon, who had not produced a surviving male heir, led him to break from the Roman Catholic Church and establish the Church of England. Quite a move just to get a divorce!
Anne Boleyn, his second wife, was the first to face the executioner. After a long courtship, she also failed to give Henry the son he craved, providing only a daughter, the future Queen Elizabeth I. Disappointed and perhaps suspecting she couldn’t bear him a son, Henry had Anne charged with treason and adultery. She was beheaded on May 19, 1536. Later, his fifth wife, Catherine Howard, a young cousin of Anne Boleyn, met the same fate. Accused of adultery, she was executed on February 13, 1542. Her alleged last words, expressing she’d rather die the wife of Thomas Culpeper, were a final, defiant act.
King Herod the Great (37 BC–4 BC)
King Herod the Great, ruler of Judea, is another historical figure known for his brutality, even towards his own family. He had one of his ten wives, Mariamme I, executed in 29 BC. Mariamme was a Hasmonean princess, and their marriage was likely a political alliance. However, Herod became consumed by suspicion and jealousy.
He accused Mariamme of adultery and plotting to kill him. The tragic tale doesn’t end there; Herod also had their two sons, Alexander and Aristobulus, executed. His paranoia extended to other members of Mariamme’s family, including her mother, brother, and grandfather. It seems no one was safe from Herod’s deadly suspicions.
Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (AD 54–AD 68)
The Roman Emperor Nero’s name is practically synonymous with cruelty and tyranny. Initially, he appeared to be a reluctant ruler when it came to signing death warrants. However, this changed dramatically. In AD 59, he ordered the death of his own mother, Agrippina the Younger, who was herself a formidable and ambitious figure.
Nero’s cruelty extended to his spouses. He is said to have kicked his second wife, Poppaea Sabina (who was pregnant at the time), to death in a fit of rage in AD 65. He had previously divorced and executed his first wife, Octavia. Nero’s reign was marked by extravagance, alleged arson of Rome (which he blamed on Christians), and widespread persecution. He eventually committed suicide in AD 68 when faced with rebellion.
King Claudius (Hamlet)
Stepping into the realm of fiction, we encounter King Claudius from Shakespeare’s tragedy, Hamlet. Claudius is the play’s primary antagonist, having murdered his own brother (Hamlet’s father) to seize the throne and marry the widowed Queen Gertrude, Hamlet’s mother. While Claudius doesn’t directly murder Gertrude with his own hands, his actions lead to her demise.
In the play’s climactic scene, Claudius prepares a poisoned cup of wine intended for Hamlet. Gertrude, unaware of the poison, drinks from the cup despite Claudius’s weak attempt to stop her (“Gertrude, do not drink.”). His priority was clearly his own scheme rather than his wife’s safety. She dies, becoming another victim of Claudius’s treachery in a play where few survive.
Mayor Barry Waites (1990s)
Not all rulers are kings or emperors. In 1998, Barry Waites, the mayor of Lanett, Alabama, murdered his wife, Charlotte. Initially, Waites claimed he was at work when he received a call from his daughter informing him of her mother’s death. His story seemed plausible, and the case grew cold for three years.
However, the truth began to surface during re-election season. Waites’s running mate accused him of killing Charlotte—strangling her, beating her, and causing a fatal head injury. Investigations revealed Waites was in deep financial trouble and had even cheated his daughters after Charlotte’s death. Justice eventually caught up with him, and in 2006, he was sentenced to 40 years in prison.
King John of England (1199–1216)
Often remembered as “Bad King John” from the tales of Robin Hood, King John of England’s reputation for cruelty was well-earned. While his brother, Richard the Lionheart, was famed for his chivalry, John was known for his treachery and harsh rule, which led to the baronial revolt and the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215, limiting monarchical power.
Among his many cruel acts, King John is said to have starved his first wife, Isabella of Gloucester (though they were divorced and she was imprisoned), to death. Other accounts suggest he imprisoned Matilda de Braose, the wife of a rebellious baron, along with her son, and starved them to death in Corfe Castle. He also ordered the murder of his nephew, Arthur of Brittany. This king’s reign was marked by ruthlessness and a disregard for human life, including those closest to him.
Afzal Khan (17th century)
While not a king or emperor, Afzal Khan was a formidable general in the Bijapur Sultanate in 17th-century India. His story is particularly horrifying due to the sheer number of wives he reportedly had killed. Legend says Afzal Khan had 63 wives.
Before embarking on a critical military campaign against the Maratha ruler Shivaji Maharaj, Khan consulted astrologers about his fate. They predicted his defeat and death. Fearing that his wives would remarry after his demise, he allegedly ordered all 63 of them to be killed, either by being pushed into a well or slain by other means. The astrologers proved to be correct; Afzal Khan was indeed killed in the ensuing battle.
King Shahryar (One Thousand and One Nights)
Another fictional but unforgettable ruler is King Shahryar, whose brutal actions form the premise of the classic collection of tales, One Thousand and One Nights. After discovering his first wife’s infidelity, Shahryar becomes convinced that all women are deceitful. In his bitterness and rage, he vows to marry a new virgin each day and have her executed the following morning.
This horrific cycle continues until he marries Scheherazade, the clever daughter of his vizier. To save her own life and the lives of other women, Scheherazade begins telling the king captivating stories each night, always ending on a cliffhanger. For 1,001 nights, the king spares her life to hear the end of the stories. By the end, Shahryar is transformed, his cruelty softened, and his faith in women restored. However, the memory of the countless brides he murdered before Scheherazade remains a dark part of his legend.
Caligula (AD 12–AD 41)
The Roman Emperor Caligula (Gaius Caesar Germanicus) is infamous for his alleged cruelty, sadism, and eccentricity. While he didn’t personally murder his last wife in the same way others on this list did, his tyrannical reign directly led to her death. Caligula was a ruthless ruler who reportedly believed himself to be a living god and engaged in numerous acts of brutality.
After just four years of a wild and terrifying rule, Caligula was assassinated by members of the Praetorian Guard. In the chaotic aftermath of his assassination, the angry mob also murdered Caligula’s fourth wife, Milonia Caesonia, and their young daughter, Julia Drusilla. Her death was a direct consequence of being married to one of Rome’s most despised emperors.
Empress Wu Zetian (624–705)
For a change of pace, our final entry features an empress who allegedly killed her husband. Wu Zetian was the only female emperor in China’s history, ruling during the Tang Dynasty. She began her court life as a concubine to Emperor Taizong. After his death, she managed to return to court and eventually became the empress consort of his son, Emperor Gaozong.
Wu Zetian was known for her political acumen, decisiveness, and utter ruthlessness in consolidating and maintaining power. She eliminated rivals, including members of her own family and high-ranking officials. While historical accounts vary, some sources suggest she poisoned Emperor Gaozong to clear her path to supreme power. Whether true or not, she ruled effectively, if cruelly, for many years, first as empress and regent, and then as emperor in her own right.
These stories, though disturbing, offer a glimpse into the darker side of power and human nature. They remind us that behind titles and thrones, rulers are still subject to the same emotions—jealousy, rage, paranoia—that can drive anyone to commit terrible acts.
What did you find most shocking about these stories? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
