compiled by Susan Flantzer

Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease that causes symptoms that include fever, tiredness, vomiting, and headaches. In severe cases, it can cause yellow skin, seizures, coma, and death.

Of course, without modern medical diagnostic tools, it was impossible to accurately diagnose illnesses and so this does not purport to be a complete list. Until the development of antibiotics and other drugs, it was impossible to successfully treat many infectious diseases. Sir Alexander Fleming, a Scottish biologist, physician, microbiologist, and pharmacologist, developed Penicillin, the world’s first antibiotic in 1928. Antibiotics are only effective against diseases caused by bacteria. They are not effective against diseases caused by viruses.

All images are from Wikipedia unless otherwise indicated.

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Heinrich VI, Holy Roman Emperor

• Born: November 1165 in Nimwegen, Kingdom of the Franks, now in the Netherlands
• Parents: Friedrich Barbarossa I, Holy Roman Emperor and Beatrice I, Countess of Burgundy
• Married: Constance I, Queen of Sicily
• Died: September 28, 1197, aged 31, in Messina, Kingdom of Sicily, now in Sicily, Italy
• Buried: Palermo Cathedral in Palermo, Kingdom of Sicily, now in Sicily, Italy
• Wikipedia: Heinrich VI, Holy Roman Emperor

In the midst of making plans to quell a revolt in his wife’s Kingdom of Sicily, Heinrich fell ill with fever and chills and died of malaria although it was widely believed at the time that he was poisoned.

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Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor also Charles I, King of Spain, Charles I, Archduke of Austria, Charles II, Duke of Burgundy

• Born: February 24, 1500 at the Prinsenhof of Ghent in Ghent, Habsburg Netherlands, Holy Roman Empire, now in Ghent, Belgium
• Parents: Philip (the Handsome) of Habsburg and Joanna, Queen of Castile and Aragon
• Married: Isabella of Portugal in 1526
• Died: September 21, 1558, aged 58, at the Monastery of Yuste, Crown of Castile, Spain
• Buried: Pantheon of Kings in the Royal Crypt of the Monastery of El Escorial in El Escorial, Spain
• Wikipedia: Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor

Charles’ vast territories included the Holy Roman Empire, extending from Germany to northern Italy with direct rule over the Austrian hereditary lands and the Burgundian Low Countries, and a unified Spain with its southern Italian kingdoms of Naples, Sicily, and Sardinia and the Spanish colonization of the Americas. Physically exhausted after 40 years of ruling and suffering from severe gout, Charles abdicated in 1555 and retired to the peace of a monastery. Upon Charles’s abdications, the Holy Roman Empire was inherited by his younger brother Ferdinand (Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor) and the Spanish Empire, including the possessions in the Netherlands and Italy, was inherited by his son Philip (King Philip II of Spain). In August 1558, Charles became seriously ill with malaria. After a month of agony, he died holding in his hand the cross that his wife Isabella had been holding when she died.

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King Mongkut of Siam (Thailand)

• Born: October 18, 1804 at Thonburi Palace in Bangkok, Siam, now in Thailand
• Parents: Buddha Loetla Nabhalai, King of Siam and Sri Suriyendra
• Married: Queen Somanass Waddhanawathy, Queen Debsirindra, Princess Pannarai (had a total of 32 wives and concubines and 82 children)
• Died: October 1, 1868, aged 63, at the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Siam, now in Thailand
• Buried: His ashes are enshrined in the base of the Buddha statue at Wat Ratchapradit in Bangkok, Thailand
• Wikipedia: King Mongkut of Siam (Thailand)

Mongkut is best known as the fictionalized king in the musical play and film The King and I, the film Anna and the King of Siam and the novel Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Langdon about Anna Leonowens’ years (1862 to 1867) as the teacher to the children of Mongkut.

Mongkut was interested in astronomy and mathematics and developing his skills in astronomical measurement. He invited high-ranking European and Siamese officials to accompany him to Wakor village in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province of Siam where the solar eclipse that was to occur on August 18, 1868 could be best viewed as a total eclipse. During the trip, King Mongkut and his son Prince Chulalongkorn were infected with malaria. Mongkut died six weeks later and was succeeded by his son, who survived malaria.

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Prince Henry of Battenberg

• Born: October 5, 1858 in Milan, Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia, now in Italy
• Parents: Prince Alexander of Hesse and by Rhine and Countess Julia Hauke
• Married: Princess Beatrice of the United Kingdom in 1885
• Died: January 20, 1896, aged 37, aboard the HMS Blonde, near Sierra Leone in Africa
• Buried: St. Mildred’s Church in Whippingham, Isle of Wight, England
• Unofficial Royalty: Prince Henry of Battenberg

When Beatrice and Henry married, they promised to live with Beatrice’s mother Queen Victoria so that Beatrice could remain her full-time confidante and secretary. Henry was often bored by the lack of activity and in an effort to give him more to do, Queen Victoria appointed him Governor of Carisbrooke Castle and Captain-General and Governor of the Isle of Wight in 1889, Lieutenant-Colonel in the Army in 1887, Colonel in 1893, and a member of the Privy Council in 1894. In November 1895, Henry persuaded Queen Victoria to allow him to go to West Africa to fight in the Anglo-Ashanti Wars. Henry arrived in Africa on Christmas Day 1895. By January 10, 1896, Henry was sick with malaria and it was decided to send him back to England. Henry died aboard the ship HMS Blonde off the coast of Sierra Leone on January 20, 1896.

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Prince Amedeo of Italy, 3rd Duke of Aosta

• Born: October 21, 1898 in Turin, Kingdom of Italy, now in Italy
• Parents: Prince Emanuele Filiberto of Italy, Duke of Aosta and Princess Hélène of Orléans
• Married: Princess Anne of Orléans in 1927
• Died: March 3, 1942, aged 43, in Nairobi, Kenya Colony, now in Kenya
• Buried: Nyeri Italian Military Cemetery in Nyeri, Kenya
• Wikipedia: Prince Amedeo of Italy, 3rd Duke of Aosta

Amedeo was the commander of the Italian forces in the East African Campaign during World War II. On May 18, 1941, after being surrounded and besieged by British, Commonwealth, and Ethiopian forces, Amedeo surrendered. He was held in a prisoner-of-war camp in Nairobi, Kenya where he died as a result of complications from both tuberculosis and malaria.

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compiled by Susan Flantzer

Influenza, commonly known as “the flu”, is an infectious disease caused by an influenza virus. The most common symptoms include high fever, runny nose, sore throat, muscle and joint pain, headache, coughing, and feeling tired. Complications of influenza may include viral pneumonia, secondary bacterial pneumonia, sinus infections, and worsening of previous health problems such as asthma or heart failure. It is usually the complications that cause death. The January 1918 – December 1920 Spanish Flu pandemic death toll is estimated to have been 50 million, and possibly as high as 100 million, making it one of the deadliest epidemics in human history.

Of course, without modern medical diagnostic tools, it was impossible to accurately diagnose illnesses and so this does not purport to be a complete list. Until the development of antibiotics and other drugs, it was impossible to successfully treat many infectious diseases. Sir Alexander Fleming, a Scottish biologist, physician, microbiologist, and pharmacologist, developed Penicillin, the world’s first antibiotic in 1928. Antibiotics are only effective against diseases caused by bacteria. They are not effective against diseases caused by viruses.

All images are from Wikipedia unless otherwise indicated.

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Princess Sophie of Saxony, Duchess in Bavaria

• Born: March 15, 1845 in Dresden, Kingdom of Saxony, now in Saxony, Germany
• Parents: King Johann I of Saxony and Princess Amalie Auguste of Bavaria
• Married: Duke Karl-Theodor in Bavaria
• Died: March 9, 1867, aged 21, in Munich, Kingdom of Bavaria, now in Bavaria, Germany
• Buried: Tegernsee Abbey in Tegernsee, Kingdom of Bavaria, now in Bavaria, Germany
• Wikipedia: Princess Sophie of Saxony, Duchess in Bavaria

On December 24, 1865, Sophie gave birth to her only child, Duchess Amalie in Bavaria. The pregnancy and childbirth caused severe respiratory problems for Sophie, which progressively weakened her. In her weakened state, Sophie was unable to overcome a severe case of influenza and died six days before her 22nd birthday.

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Prince Baudouin of Belgium

• Born: June 3, 1869, at the Palais de la Régence in Brussels, Belgium
• Parents: Philippe, Count of Flanders and Marie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen
• Died: January 23, 1891, aged 21, at the Palace of the Count of Flanders in Brussels, Belgium
• Buried: Church of Our Lady of Laeken in Laeken, Brussels, Belgium
• Unofficial Royalty: Prince Baudouin of Belgium

Baudouin’s birth was met with great celebration in the Belgian royal family. Earlier that year, Prince Leopold, Duke of Brabant, Baudouin’s nine-year-old cousin and the only son of King Leopold II, had died of pneumonia after falling into a pond. His death left no other male heirs aside from Baudouin’s father so Baudouin was seen as the eventual heir to the Belgian throne.

In early 1891, Baudouin became ill with influenza that had made its way through most of the members of the Flanders family already. He likely caught the illness from his sister Henriette, whom he insisted on visiting during her illness despite warnings from doctors. At first, he appeared to be weathering the illness better than his sister but then Baudouin’s condition suddenly deteriorated on January 22, 1891. He died early the following morning. Baudouin’s death left his younger brother, the future Albert I, King of the Belgians, as the heir to the Belgian throne. Baudouin, King of the Belgians from 1951 until 1993, was named in honor of his deceased great-uncle.

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Prince Erik of Sweden, Duke of Västmanland

• Born: April 20, 1889 at the Royal Palace in Stockholm, Sweden
• Parents: King Gustav V of Sweden and Victoria of Baden
• Died: September 20, 1918, aged 29, at Drottningholm Palace in Drottningholm, Sweden
• Buried: Riddarholm Church in Stockholm, Sweden
• Wikipedia: Prince Erik of Sweden, Duke of Västmanland

Erik had epilepsy and mild intellectual disability and because of his condition, he was seldom seen in public. He died during the Spanish influenza pandemic.

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Prince Umberto of Savoy, Count of Salemi

• Born: June 22, 1889 in Turin, Kingdom of Italy, now in Italy
• Parents: Prince Amadeo of Savoy, Duke of Aosta and Maria Letizia Bonaparte
• Died: October 19, 1918, aged 29, in Crespano del Grappa, Kingdom of Italy, now in Italy
• Buried: First buried at Crespano del Grappa Cemetery in Crespano del Grappa, Kingdom of Italy, now in Italy; In 1926 his remains were moved to the Sacrario Militare del Monte Grappa in Monte Grappa, Kingdom of Italy, now in Italy
• Wikipedia: Prince Umberto of Savoy, Count of Salemi

Umberto’s father Amedeo briefly reigned as the only King of Spain from the House of Savoy from 1871 – 1873. His grandfather was Vittorio Emanuele II, the first king of a united Italy. Umberto served in the Royal Italian Army during World War I. He died from Spanish influenza a month before the end of World War I.

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Turki I bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince of Najd and Hejaz

• Born: February 8, 1900 in Kuwait City, Sheikhdom of Kuwait, now in the State of Kuwait
• Parents: Abdulaziz ibn Abdul Rahman Al Saud, King of Saudi Arabia 1932 – 1953 and Wadhah bint Muhammad bin ‘Aqab
• Married: (1) Nuwair bint Obaid Al Rasheed (2) Muneera bint Obaid Al Rasheed (3) Fatmah bint Abdulrahman Al Dakhil
• Died: January 2, 1919, aged 18, in Riyadh, Emirate of Nejd and Hasa, now in Saudi Arabia
• Wikipedia: Turki I bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince of Najd and Hejaz

Turki was the eldest son of Abdulaziz ibn Abdul Rahman Al Saud, the first King of Saudi Arabia. He died during the Spanish influenza pandemic which claimed many lives in the Emirate of Nejd and Hasa, including that of his mother, his brother Prince Fahd I and another of his father’s wives, Princess Al-Jawhara bint Musa’id bin Gallawi Al Saud.

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Prince Alexis Karađorđević of Serbia

• Born: June 10, 1859 in Paris, France
• Parents: Prince George Karađorđević and Sarka Anastasijević
• Married: Daria Pankhurst Wright Pratt
• Died: February 15, 1920, aged 60, in St.Moritz, Switzerland
• Buried: Saint-Georges Cemetery in Geneva, Switzerland
• Wikipedia: Prince Alexis Karađorđević of Serbia

Alexis was born five months after his grandfather Alexander Karađorđević, Prince of Serbia was forced to abdicate by the rival House of Obrenović. In 1903, the House of Karađorđević regained power. Alexis was the head of the senior non-reigning branch of the House of Karageorgevich and a claimant to the Serbian throne. When Alexis died during the Spanish influenza pandemic, the older branch of the House of Karađorđević became extinct in the male line.

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Grand Duke Michael Mikhailovich of Russia

• Born: October 16, 1861 at Peterhof Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia
• Parents: Grand Duke Michael Nikolaevich of Russia and Princess Cecile of Baden (Grand Duchess Olga Feodorovna)
• Married: Countess Sophie of Merenberg in 1891
• Died: April 26, 1929, aged 67, in London, England
• Buried: Hampstead Cemetery in West Hampstead, London, England
• Wikipedia: Grand Duke Michael Mikhailovich of Russia

Michael was a grandson of Nicholas I, Emperor of All Russia. He made a morganatic marriage and because of that, Michael would spend the rest of his life living in exile in England, France, and Germany. Three of his brothers were killed by the Bolsheviks but Michael escaped the Russian Revolution because he was living abroad. He became a prominent member of British society. One of his daughters married into the British aristocracy and another married George Mountbatten, 2nd Marquess of Milford Haven, a great-grandson of Queen Victoria and the maternal uncle of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Michael died from influenza complications.

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compiled by Susan Flantzer

This does not purport to be a complete list. All images are from Wikipedia unless otherwise indicated.

King William II Rufus of England

• Born: circa 1056 in the Duchy of Normandy, now in France
• Parents: King William I (the Conqueror) of England and Matilda of Flanders
• Died: August 2, 1100, aged circa 43 – 44, in the New Forest, in Hampshire and Wiltshire, England
• Buried: Winchester Cathedral in Winchester, England
• Unofficial Royalty: King William II Rufus of England

On August 2, 1100, King William II Rufus rode out from Winchester Castle on a hunting expedition to the New Forest, accompanied by his brother Henry (the future Henry I) and several nobles. His elder brother Richard, in 1099, and his nephew Richard, the illegitimate son of his brother Robert, in May 1100, had both been killed in hunting accidents in the New Forest.

According to most contemporary accounts, William Rufus was chasing after a stag followed by Walter Tirel, a noble. William Rufus shot an arrow but missed the stag. He then called out to Walter to shoot, which he did, but the arrow hit the king in his chest, puncturing his lungs, and killing him. Walter Tirel jumped on his horse and fled to France.

The next day, William Rufus’ body was found by a group of local farmers. The nobles had fled to their Norman and English lands to secure their possessions and ensure law and order following the death of the king. The farmers loaded the king’s body on a cart and brought it to Winchester Cathedral where he was buried under a plain flat marble stone below the tower with little ceremony.

It is still unsure whether William Rufus’s death was an accident or a planned assassination. See Unofficial Royalty: Suspicious Death of William II Rufus, King of England for more information.

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King Christian V of Denmark

• Born: April 15, 1646 at Duborg Castle in Flensburg, Denmark. now In Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
• Parents: King Frederik III of Denmark and Sophie Amalie of Brunswick-Lüneburg
• Married: Charlotte Amalie of Hesse-Kassel
• Died: August 25, 1699, aged 53, at Copenhagen Castle in Copenhagen, Denmark
• Buried: Roskilde Cathedral in Roskilde, Denmark
• Wikipedia: King Christian V of Denmark

Christian V died from the after-effects of a hunting accident that occurred on October 19, 1698. Christian was hunting with his two sons and his half-brother. While they were taking a break, they received the news that the hunting dogs had exhausted and surrounded a deer. Christian immediately left to give the deer the death blow. Instead, he missed and the deer kicked him. The injuries were severe and Christian never recovered, dying on August 25, 1699.

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compiled by Susan Flantzer

This does not purport to be a complete list. All images are from Wikipedia unless otherwise indicated.

King Louis III of West Francia

• Born: circa 863-864
• Parents: King Louis II of West Francia and Ansgarde of Burgundy
• Died: August 5, 882, aged 18-19, in St. Denis, Île-de-France, now near Paris, France
• Buried: Basilica of St. Denis near Paris, France
• Wikipedia King Louis III of France

While mounting his horse to chase a girl who was running to seek refuge in her father’s house, Louis hit his head on the lintel of a low door and fell and fractured his skull.

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King Louis IV of West Francia

• Born: September 920 or September 921 in Laon, France
• Parents: King Charles III of West Francia and Eadgifu of Wessex, daughter of Edward the Elder, King of England
• Married: Gerberga of Saxony
• Died: September 10, 954, aged 33-34, in Reims, France
• Buried: Saint-Remi Abbey in Reims, France
• Wikipedia: King Louis IV of France

Louis IV went riding with some friends on the road from Laon to Reims. As he went through a forest, he saw a wolf and attempted to capture it but fell from his horse. He was carried to Reims, where he died from his injuries.

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King Louis V of France

• Born: circa 966
• Parents: King Lothair of West Francia and Emma of Italy
• Married: Adelaide-Blanche of Anjou
• Died: May 21, 987, aged 20-21, in the Forest of Halatte in Oise, France
• Buried: Abbey of Saint-Corneille in Compiègne, France
• Wikipedia: King Louis V of France

Louis died from injuries after falling from his horse while hunting.

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William I the Conqueror, King of England, Duke of Normandy

• Born: circa 1027-1028 at the Château de Falaise in Falaise, Duchy of Normandy, now in France
• Parents: Robert I the Magnificent, Duke of Normandy and his mistress Herleva of Falaise
• Married: Matilda of Flanders
• Died: September 9, 1087, aged circa 59, at the Priory of Saint Gervais in Rouen, Duchy of Normandy, now in France
• Buried: Abbaye-aux-Hommes (St. Stephen’s) in Caen, Duchy of Normandy, now in France
• Unofficial Royalty: King William I of England (the Conqueror)

Towards the end of 1086, William traveled from England to Normandy where the marriage of his daughter Constance was celebrated. In 1087, the French garrison at Mantes made a raid into Normandy. William retaliated by sacking the town. While he was urging on his soldiers. William’s horse stumbled and he was violently flung against his saddle pommel. He received serious internal injuries, most likely a ruptured bladder. William was taken to the Priory of St. Gervais in Rouen where peritonitis developed, resulting in his death.

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Philippe, Co-King of France

• Born: August 29, 1116
• Parents: King Louis VI of France and Adélaide of Maurienne
• Died: October 13, 1131, aged 15, in Paris, France
• Buried: Basilica of St. Denis near Paris, France
• Wikipedia: Philippe of France

From 1129, Philippe reigned with his father as co-king. Philippe was out riding with friends along the Seine River in Greve, a Paris market area. A black pig darted out in front of Philippe and his horse was tripped. The horse fell forward and Philippe was thrown over the horse’s head. Philippe died the next day without regaining consciousness.

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Fulk, Count of Anjou, King of Jerusalem

• Born: circa 1089-1092 in Angers, County of Anjou, now in France
• Parents: Fulk IV, Count of Anjou and Bertrade de Montfort
• Married: (1) Erembourg, Countess of Maine in 1100 (2) Melisende, Queen of Jerusalem
• Died: November 13, 1143 in Acre, Kingdom of Jerusalem, now in Israel
• Buried: Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, now in Israel
• Wikipedia: Fulk, Count of Anjou, King of Jerusalem

Fulk’s eldest child with his first wife, Geoffrey V, Count of Anjou, was the father of King Henry II of England. While hunting, Fulk’s horse stumbled and fell. Fulk’s skull was crushed by the saddle, “and his brains gushed forth from both ears and nostrils”, as the chronicler William of Tyre described. Fulk was carried back to Acre, where he lay unconscious for three days before he died.

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Geoffrey II, Duke of Brittany

• Born: September 23, 1158
• Parents: King Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine
• Married: Constance, Duchess of Brittany
• Died: August 19, 1186, aged 27, in Paris, France
• Buried: Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, France
• Unofficial Royalty: Geoffrey II, Duke of Brittany

Geoffrey was thrown from his horse during a tournament and trampled to death. King Philippe II of France was so overcome with grief for his friend that he had to be restrained from throwing himself upon Geoffrey’s coffin in the open grave. Geoffrey’s half-sister from his mother’s first marriage to King Louis VII of France, Marie, Countess of Champagne, attended his funeral and contributed funds to pay for masses for his soul.

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Leopold V, Duke of Austria

• Born: 1157 in Austria
• Parents: Heinrich II, Duke of Austria and Theodora Komnene
• Married: Helena of Hungary
• Died: December 31, 1194, aged 37, in Graz, Duchy of Styria, now in Austria
• Buried: Heiligenkreuz (Holy Cross) Abbey in Heiligenkreuz, Austria
• Wikipedia: Leopold V, Duke of Austria

Leopold’s suffered an open leg fracture when his horse fell on him at a tournament in Graz. He died a few days later from gangrene.

Leopold is credited with the origin of the Austrian flag. His white coat of arms is said to have been red with blood in the battles during the Siege of Acre in 1191. When he took off his wide belt, a white streak was visible. Since his banner was lost during the battle, Holy Roman Emperor Heinrich VI gave Leopold the right to use the red-white-red colors as a new banner – which later became the flag of Austria. It can be seen in the picture above.

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Enguerrand III, Lord of Coucy

Born: circa 1182 in Marle, Picardy, France
Parents: Ralph I, Lord of Coucy and Alix de Dreux
Married: (1) Beatrix de Vignory in 1201 (2) Matilda of Bavaria, a granddaughter of King Henry II of England, in 1204 (3) Marie de Montmirail
Died: 1242 in Coucy, Picardy, France
Wikipedia: Enguerrand III, Lord of Coucy

Enguerrand’s eldest child Marie de Coucy was the mother of Alexander III King of Scots, below. Enguerrand was killed when he fell from his horse onto his sword.

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Isabella of Aragon, Queen of France

• Born: 1248
• Parents: King Jaume I of Aragon and Violant of Hungary
• Married: King Philippe III of France
• Died: January 28, 1271, aged 22-23, in Cosenza, Kingdom of Sicily, now in Italy
• Buried: Basilica of St. Denis near Paris, France
• Wikipedia: Isabella of Aragon, Queen of France

Isabella accompanied her husband on the 8th Crusade against the city of Tunis, now in Tunisia. On January 11, 1271, on the way back from Tunis, Isabella, who was six months pregnant, had a serious fall from her horse in Cosenza, Calabria, now in Italy. She gave birth to a premature stillborn son. Isabella never recovered from her injuries and childbirth and died seventeen days later.

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Alexander III, King of Scots

• Born: September 4, 1241 at Roxburgh Castle, Roxburghshire, Scotland
• Parents: Alexander II, King of Scots and Marie de Coucy
• Married: (1) Margaret of England in 1251 (2) Yolande de Dreux in 1285
• Died: March 19, 1286, aged 44, in Kinghorn Ness, Fife, Scotland
• Buried: Dunfermline Abbey in Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland
• Wikipedia: Alexander III, King of Scots

Alexander planned to ride from Edinburgh Castle to visit his wife Queen Yolande at Kinghorn in Fife for her birthday. He was to ride at night and was advised to postpone the trip because of bad weather conditions. However, Alexander decided to proceed with his travel plans. Alexander became separated from his guides and it is assumed that in the dark his horse lost its footing. The king was found dead the next morning with a broken neck.

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Marjorie Bruce

• Born: 1296
• Parents: Robert I, King of Scots (Robert the Bruce) and Isabella of Mar
• Married: Walter Stewart, 6th High Steward of Scotland
• Died: March 2, 1316, aged 20
• Buried: Paisley Abbey in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland
• Wikipedia: Majorie Bruce

The traditional story is that Marjorie was riding in Gallowhill, Paisley, Renfrewshire while very pregnant. Her horse was suddenly startled and threw her to the ground. Majorie went into premature labor, had her baby, and died. Her baby survived to become Robert II, King of Scots, the first Stewart (later Stuart) monarch of Scotland. Majorie is the ancestor of the current British royal family and several other European royal families.

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King Juan I of Castile

• Born: August 24, 1358 in Épila, Kingdom of Aragon, now in Spain
• Parents: King Enrique II of Castile and Juana Manuel of Castile
• Married: (1) Eleanor of Aragon in 1375 (2) Beatrice of Portugal in 1383
• Died: October 9, 1390, aged 32, in Alcalá de Henares, Kingdom of Castile, now in Spain
• Buried: Toledo Cathedral in Toledo, Kingdom of Castile, now in Spain
• Wikipedia: King Juan I of Castile

Juan was killed when he fell off his horse while riding in a fantasia. A fantasia, a tradition from Muslim northern Africa, consists of a group of horse riders, all wearing traditional clothes, who charge in a line along a straight path at the same speed, and then at the end of the charge, they fire into the sky using muskets (in Juan’s time) or rifles (in modern time). Juan’s death was kept secret by Cardinal Pedro Tenorio for several days, claiming that he was only wounded, until the cardinal resolved issues to the regency of Juan’s eleven-year-old son who succeeded to the throne of Castile as King Enrique III.

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Mary I, Queen of Hungary

• Born: 1371
• Parents: Louis I, King of Hungary and Elizabeth of Bosnia
• Married: Sigismund of Luxembourg in 1385
• Died: May 17, 1395, aged 23 – 24, in Buda, Kingdom of Hungary, now in Budapest, Hungary
• Buried: Cathedral of Várad, now in Oradea, Romania
• Wikipedia: Mary I, Queen of Hungary

Mary became Queen of Hungary in her own right at the age of eleven upon the death of her father. While pregnant, Mary decided to go hunting alone in the Buda Hills. Her horse tripped, threw her, and then landed on top of her. The accident induced premature labor and Mary gave birth to a son who died. Mary’s injuries were fatal.

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François II, Duke of Brittany

• Born: June 23, 1435 at Château de Clisson in Clisson, Duchy of Brittany, now in France
• Parents: Richard of Brittany and Margaret of Orléans
• Married: (1) Margaret of Brittany in 1455 (2) Margaret of Foix in 1471
• Died: September 9, 1488, aged 55, in Couëron, Duchy of Brittany, now in France
• Buried: Nantes Cathedral in Nantes, France
• Wikipedia: François II, Duke of Brittany

François’ biggest goal during his life was to maintain the Duchy of Brittany’s semi-independence from the Kingdom of France. He also unexpectedly became the protector of England’s House of Lancaster in exile from 1471–1484. Anne of Brittany, his daughter with his second wife, made three important marriages to Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor (marriage annulled), to King Charles VIII of France, and to King Louis XII of France. François died after falling from his horse during a leisurely ride.

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Mary, Duchess of Burgundy

• Born: February 13, 1457 in Brussels, Duchy of Burgundy, now in Belgium
• Parents: Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy and Isabella of Bourbon
• Married: Archduke Maximilian of Austria (the future Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor) in 1477
• Died: March 27, 1482, aged 25, at the Prinsenhof in Bruges, Flanders, Duchy of Burgundy, now in Belgium
• Buried: Church of Our Lady in Bruges, Flanders, Duchy of Burgundy, now in Belgium
• Wikipedia: Mary, Duchess of Burgundy

Mary was Duchess of Burgundy in her own right. Mary participated in at a hunt in the woods near Wijnendale Castle in Flanders, Duchy of Burgundy now in Belgium. Mary was an experienced rider and she held her falcon in one hand and the reins in the other hand. However, her horse stumbled over a tree stump while jumping over a newly dug canal. The saddle belt under the horse’s belly broke causing Mary to fall out of the saddle and into the canal with the horse on top of her. Mary was seriously injured and was transported to Prinsenhof, her palace in Bruges, where she died several weeks later from internal injuries.

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Prince Afonso of Portugal

• Born: May 18, 1475 in Lisbon, Portugal
• Parents: King João II of Portugal and Eleanor of Viseu
• Married: Isabella, Princess of Asturias, heir presumptive of King Ferdinand II of Aragon and
• Queen Isabella I of Castile
• Died: July 13, 1491, aged 16, in Santarém, Portugal, near the River Tagus
• Buried: Monastery of Batalha in Batalha, Portugal
• Wikipedia: Prince Afonso of Portugal

Afonso was the heir apparent to the Portuguese throne. During the summer of 1491, the Portuguese royal family spent time in Santarém, Portugal, near the River Tagus. King João II invited his son to swim with him in the river. Afonso refused, but after seeing his father’s disappointment, he changed his mind. Afonso got on his horse and with great speed, rode to the river. His horse stumbled and fell, pulling Afonso underneath the horse.

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William III, King of England, Prince of Orange

• Born: November 14, 1650 at the Binnenhof in The Hague, Dutch Republic, now in the Netherlands
• Parents: Willem II, Prince of Orange and Mary, Princess Royal, eldest daughter of King Charles I of England
• Married: Mary II, Queen of England, his first cousin and co-monarch, in 1677
• Died: March 19, 1702 at Kensington Palace in London, England
• Buried: Westminster Abbey in London, England
• Unofficial Royalty: King William III of England

William went riding on his horse Sorrel at Hampton Court Palace. The horse stumbled on a molehill and fell. William tried to pull the horse up by the reins, but the horse’s movements caused William to fall on his right shoulder. His collarbone was broken and was set by a surgeon, but instead of resting, William insisted on returning to Kensington Palace that evening by coach. A week later, it was discovered that the fracture was not mending well and William’s right hand and arm were puffy and did not look right. His condition continued to worsen and he developed a fever and had difficulty breathing. William died 2 ½ weeks after the fall, apparently from an infection.

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Charles of France, Duke of Berry

• Born: July 31, 1686 at the Palace of Versailles in France
• Parents: Louis, Dauphin of France (son of King Louis XIV of France) and Marie Anne Victoire of Bavaria
• Married: Marie Louise Élisabeth d’Orléans
• Died: May 5, 1714, aged 27, at the Palace of Versailles in France
• Buried: Basilica of Saint-Denis near Paris, France
• Wikipedia: Charles of France, Duke of Berry

While hunting, Charles’ horse slipped and fell, causing Charles to be injured internally. He died of internal bleeding.

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Ferdinand-Philippe, Duke of Orléans, Prince Royal, Prince of Orléans

• Born: September 3, 1810 in Palermo, Kingdom of Sicily, now in Italy
• Parents: Louis Philippe I, King of the French and Maria Amalia of Naples and Sicily
• Married: Duchess Helene of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
• Died: July 13, 1842, aged 31, in Sablonville, France
• Buried: Royal Chapel of Dreux in Dreux, France
  Unofficial Royalty: Ferdinand-Philippe, Duke of Orléans, Prince Royal, Prince of Orléans

In July 1842, Ferdinand, the heir to the French throne, was scheduled to leave on a trip to review troops of which he had recently been made commander. Before he left on the trip, he planned to travel from the Tuileries Palace in Paris to nearby Neuilly-sur-Seine where his wife and two sons were staying. On July 13, 1842, he left Paris in an open carriage. During the short trip, the horses became out of control and Ferdinand either jumped or was projected out of the carriage, resulting in a skull fracture. Despite the best attention of the doctors, Ferdinand died a few hours later, surrounded by family members who had rushed to the scene.

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Friedrich August II, King of Saxony

• Born: Weissensee, Electorate of Saxony, later in the Kingdom of Saxony, now in Thuringia, Germany
• Parents: Prince Maximilian of Saxony and Princess Caroline of Parma
• Married: (1) Marie Caroline of Austria in 1819 (2) Maria Anna of Bavaria in 1833
• Died: August 9, 1854, aged 57, in at the Gasthof Neune in Karrösten, Austria
• Buried: Dresden Cathedral, formerly known as the Katholische Hofkirche (Catholic Church of the Royal Court of Saxony) in Dresden, Kingdom of Saxony, now in Saxony, Germany
• Unofficial Royalty: Friedrich August II, King of Saxony

On August 8, 1854, while traveling in Brennbüchel, Tyrol, Austria, Friedrich August fell from the carriage into the path of one of the horses which stepped on his head. He died the next day in an inn in a nearby town.

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Archduke Wilhelm Franz of Austria-Teschen

• Born: April 21, 1827 in Vienna, Austrian Empire, now in Austria
• Parents: Archduke Charles of Austria, Duke of Teschen and Princess Henrietta of Nassau-Weilburg
• Unmarried
• Died: July 29, 1894, aged 67, in Weikersdorf, Austrian-Hungarian Empire, now in Austria
• Buried in the Imperial Crypt at the Capuchin Church in Vienna, Austria
• Wikipedia: Archduke Wilhelm Franz of Austria-Teschen

While out riding, Wilhelm Franz’s horse was frightened by a motor car. The horse bolted and Wilhelm Franz was thrown. However, one of his feet remained stuck in the stirrup, and he was dragged more than 300 feet. He died the same day without regaining consciousness.

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Prince Albert of Saxony

 

• Born: February 25, 1875 in Dresden, Kingdom of Saxony, now in Saxony, Germany
• Parents: Georg I, King of Saxony and Infanta Maria Ana of Portugal
• Unmarried
• Died: September 16, 1900, aged 25, in Wölkau, Kingdom of Prussia, now in Saxony, Germany
• Buried: Dresden Cathedral, formerly known as the Katholische Hofkirche (Catholic Church of the Royal Court of Saxony) in Dresden, Kingdom of Saxony, now in Saxony, Germany
• Wikipedia: Prince Albert of Saxony

On September 16, 1900, Miguel was returning home after attending a dinner, when he crashed his carriage into Albert’s carriage. The collision was so strong that Albert’s carriage overturned and fell into a ditch, and he died a few hours later. There were rumors that Miguel had done this on purpose. Since it could not be determined whether this collision was accidental or intentional, Miguel escaped a trial but was forced to resign from his commission in the army and was exiled from Portugal.

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compiled by Susan Flantzer

This does not purport to be a complete list. All images are from Wikipedia unless otherwise indicated.

James II, King of Scots

• Born: October 16, 1430 at Holyrood Abbey in Edinburgh, Scotland
• Parents: James I, King of Scots and Lady Joan Beaufort, a great-granddaughter of King Edward III of England
• Married: Mary of Guelders in 1449
• Died: August 3, 1460, aged 29 at Roxburgh Castle in Roxburgh, Scotland
• Buried: Holyrood Abbey in Edinburgh, Scotland
• Unofficial Royalty: James II, King of Scots

In 1460, James II besieged Roxburgh Castle near the English border in support of King Henry VI of England. On August 3, 1460, James II was accidentally killed when a cannon nearby where he was standing exploded.

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Hercule Grimaldi, Marquis of Baux

• Born: December 16, 1623 in Paris, France
• Parents: Honoré II, Prince of Monaco and Ippolita Trivulzio
• Married: Maria Aurelia Spinola in 1641
• Died: August 2, 1651, aged 27, in Monte Carlo, Monaco
• Buried: Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate (St. Nicholas Cathedral) in Monaco
• Wikipedia: Hercule Grimaldi, Marquis of Baux

Hercule was the heir apparent to the throne of Monaco. Along with his family, he went on a visit to the Convent of Carnoles in Mentone, then in Monaco but now in France. After the visit, he engaged in some recreational shooting with some guards in the garden of the convent. Hercule was interested in how the gun worked and asked one of the guards to show him. The guard mishandled the gun and accidentally shot it toward Hercule and two other guards. All three were wounded. Fatally wounded in the spine, Hercule died the next day. Hercule’s son Louis became heir apparent and succeeded his grandfather Honoré II as Louis I, Prince of Monaco.

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Infante Alfonso of Spain

• Born: October 3, 1941 in Rome, Italy
• Parents: Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona and Princess Maria Mercedes of Bourbon-Two Sicilies
• Died: March 29, 1956, aged 14, in Estoril, Portugal
• Buried: Municipal Cemetery in Cascais, Portugal, reburied in 1992 at the Pantheon of Princes in the Royal Crypt of the Monastery of El Escorial in San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Spain
• Unofficial Royalty: Infante Alfonso of Spain

While on Easter vacation from school, Infante Alfonso, the youngest of the four children of Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona, was killed in a gun accident. The Spanish Embassy in Portugal issued an official statement: “While His Highness the Infante Alfonso was cleaning a revolver last evening with his brother, a shot was fired hitting his forehead and killing him in a few minutes. The accident took place at 20.30 hours, after the Infante’s return from the Maundy Thursday religious service, during which he had received Holy Communion.”

The brother mentioned in the statement was the future King Juan Carlos of Spain. Only Juan Carlos and his brother were in the room and it remains unclear how Alfonso was shot.  Several people close to the family said Juan Carlos pulled the trigger unaware that the pistol was loaded.

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compiled by Susan Flantzer

This does not purport to be a complete list. All images are from Wikipedia unless otherwise indicated.

Henri II, Count of Champagne

• Born: July 29, 1166
• Parents: Henri I, Count of Champagne and Marie of France (daughter of King Louis VI of France and Eleanor of Aquitaine)
• Married: Queen Isabella I of Jerusalem in 1192
• Died: September 10, 1197, aged 31, in Acre, Kingdom of Jerusalem, now in Israel
• Buried: Holy Cross Church in Acre, Kingdom of Jerusalem, now in Israel
• Wikipedia: Henri II, Count of Champagne

Henri was the ruler of Jerusalem but he never used the title King. He died after falling from a  window at his palace in Acre. Chronicles from the time say that a window lattice or balcony gave way as he leaned against it.

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Gruffydd ap Llywelyn Fawr of Wales

• Born: circa 1196
• Parents: Llywelyn Fawr (Llywelyn the Great), Prince of Gwynedd (in Wales) and Tangwystl
• Died: March 1, 1244, aged about 48, at the Tower of London in London, England
• Buried: Aberconwy Abbey in Wales
• Wikipedia: Gruffydd ap Llywelyn Fawr

Gruffydd’s father Llywelyn Fawr was the de facto Prince of Wales and dominated Wales for 45 years. Gruffydd was held a prisoner by his half-brother Dafydd, who took over Gwynedd upon his father’s death. Following a successful invasion of the Welsh borders by King Henry III of England in 1241, Dafydd was obliged to hand over Gruffydd into Henry III’s custody. Gruffydd was taken to London and imprisoned in the Tower of London. On March 1, 1244, Gruffydd died while attempting to escape from the Tower of London. He used an improvised rope made from bedsheets and lowered himself from his window but the rope broke and he fell to his death.

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Carlo II, Duke of Savoy

• Born: June 23, 1489 in Turin, Duchy of Savoy now in Italy
• Parents: Carlo I, Duke of Savoy and Blanche of Montferrat
• Died: April 16, 1496, aged 6, at the Castle of Moncalieri in Moncalieri, Duchy of Savoy now in Italy
• Buried: Collegiate Church of Santa Maria della Scala in Moncalieri, Duchy of Savoy now in Italy
• Wikipedia: Carlo II, Duke of Savoy

Carlo II became Duke of Savoy at the age of seven months upon the death of his father. He died from injuries after falling out of his bed.

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Friedrich Franz III, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin

• Born: March 19, 1851, at Ludwigslust Palace, in Ludwigslust, Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, now in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany
• Parents: Grand Duke Friedrich Franz II and Princess Augusta of Reuss-Köstritz
• Married: Grand Duchess Anastasia Mikhailovna of Russia in 1878
• Died: April 10, 1897, aged 46, at Villa Wenden in Cannes, France
• Buried: Helena Pavlovna Mausoleum on the grounds of Ludwigslust Palace in Ludwigslust, Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, now Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany
• Unofficial Royalty: Friedrich Franz III, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin

From an early age, Friedrich Franz suffered from asthma and severe breathing difficulties.  The official version of his death is that during an asthma attack, while he was gasping for air on the garden terrace, he fell down the terrace stairs. Friedrich Franz was found by servants and carried back to the villa where he died shortly thereafter in the presence of his family.  However, rumors quickly spread that he had died by suicide.

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Albert I, King of the Belgians

• Born: Palais de la Régence in Brussels, Belgium
• Parents: Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders and Princess Marie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen
• Married: Duchess Elisabeth in Bavaria in 1900
• Died: February 17, 1934, aged 58, climbing on the Roche du Vieux Bon Dieu in Marche-les-Dames, Namur, Belgium
• Buried: Church of Our Lady of Laeken in Laeken, Brussels, Belgium
• Unofficial Royalty: Albert I, King of the Belgians

Albert was an avid mountain climber. Sadly, this would bring about his early death. While climbing alone on the Roche de Vieux Bon Dieu at Marche-les-Dames, in the Ardennes region of Belgium, Albert fell to his death. According to official investigations, there are two possible explanations for his death: (1) Albert leaned against a boulder at the top of the mountain, which became dislodged causing him to fall. (2) The rock formation where his rope was tied broke causing him to fall about sixty feet.

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compiled by Susan Flantzer

This does not purport to be a complete list. All images are from Wikipedia unless otherwise indicated.

Dysentery is a bacterial or parasitic infection. The bacteria or parasites reach the large intestine through the mouth after eating contaminated food, drinking contaminated water, or by oral contact with contaminated objects or hands. Dysentery causes intestinal inflammation leading to excessively frequent and uncontrollable diarrhea. Other symptoms include vomiting, fever and abdominal pain.

Also called the bloody flux, dysentery was the scourge of armies for centuries. As late as the nineteenth century, it killed more soldiers than did combat. Dysentery decimated Napoleon’s army when he invaded Russia. More than 80,000 Union soldiers died of dysentery during the American Civil War.

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Henry the Young King

• Born: February 28, 1155 at Bermondsey Abbey in London, England
• Parents: King Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine
• Married: Marguerite of France in 1160
• Died: June 11, 1183, aged 28 at the Castle of Martel in Lot, Viscount of Turenne, now in France
• Buried: Rouen Catherdral now in Rouen, France
• Unofficial Royalty: Henry the Young King

Henry was the eldest surviving son and heir of King Henry II of England, whose vast empire consisted of an area covering half of France, all of England, and parts of Ireland and Wales. When Henry was 15, his father decided to adopt the French practice of ensuring the succession by declaring his heir the junior king. Henry was crowned at Westminster Abbey on June 14, 1170.

In 1182–83, Henry had a falling out with his brother Richard (later Richard II) when Richard refused to pay homage to him on the orders of King Henry II. As he was preparing to fight Richard, Henry became ill with dysentery. It was clear that Henry was dying and he repented his sins by prostrating himself naked on the floor before a crucifix. Henry the Young King died holding a ring his father had sent as a sign of his forgiveness.

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King John of England

• Born: December 24, 1166 at Beaumont Palace in Oxford, England
• Parents: King Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine
• Married: (1) Isabella, Countess of Gloucester in 1189, annulled 1199 (2) Isabella, Countess of Angoulême in 1200
• Died: October 19, 1216, aged 49, at Newark Castle in Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire, England
• Buried: Worcester Cathedral in Worcester, England
• Unofficial Royalty: King John of England

In the midst of the First Barons’ War, John became ill with dysentery. He was taken by a litter to Newark Castle where he died. At his request, John was buried in Worcester Cathedral in Worcester, England as close to the shrine of St. Wulfstan as possible. A new tomb was built in 1232, during the reign of his son and heir King Henry III.

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King Louis VIII of France

• Born: September 5, 1187 in Paris, France
• Parents: King Philippe II of France and Isabelle of Hainaut
• Married: Blanche of Castile in 1200
• Died: November 8, 1226, aged 39 at the Château de Montpensier in Montpensier, France
• Buried: Basilica of Saint-Denis near Paris, France
• Wikipedia: King Louis VIII of France

While returning to Paris after a three-month siege at Avignon during a dispute against Raymond VI, Count of Toulouse and Roger Bernard the Great, Count of Foix, Louis VIII developed dysentery. He was unable to make it all the way to Paris and died at the Château de Montpensier.

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Friedrich II, Holy Roman Emperor, King of Germany, King of Sicily

• Born: December 26, 1194 in Jesi, Imperial Italy, now in Italy
• Parents: Heinrich VI, Holy Roman Emperor and Constance, Queen of Sicily
• Married: (1) Constance of Aragon in 1209 (2) Yolande, Queen of Jerusalem in 1225 (3) Isabella of England in 1235
• Died: December 13, 1250, aged 55, at Castel Fiorentino near Lucera, Kingdom of Sicily, now in Italy
• Buried: Cathedral of Palermo in Palermo, Kingdom of Sicily, now in Italy
• Wikipedia: Friedrich II, Holy Roman Emperor

Friedrich developed dysentery during the war between the Holy Roman Empire and the Lombard city of Parma. After a period of illness, he died peacefully wearing the habit of a Cistercian monk.

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King Louis IX of France (Saint Louis)

• Born: April 25, 1214 at Château de Poissy in Poissy, France near Paris
• Parents: King Louis VIII of France and Blanche of Castile
• Married: Margaret of Provence in 1234
• Died: August 25, 1270, aged 56, in Tunis, now in Tunisia in North Africa
• Buried: Basilica of Saint-Denis near Paris, France
• Wikipedia: King Louis IX of France

Louis IX died during a dysentery epidemic while commanding his troops during the Eighth Crusade in North Africa. His remains were subject to Mos Teutonicus, which involved boiling the remains to remove the flesh from the bones so the bones could be hygienically transported back to the deceased’s home country. Louis IX’s bones were carried in a lengthy processional across Sicily, Italy, the Alps, and France, until they were interred at the Basilica of Saint-Denis in May 1271. His father, Louis VIII, had also died from dysentery. (See above.) Louis IX was canonized in 1297 under the name of Saint Louis of France by Pope Boniface VIII. St. Louis, Missouri is named after him.

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King Philippe III of France

• Born: April 30, 1245 at Château de Poissy in Poissy, France near Paris
• Parents: King Louis IX of France (Saint Louis) and Margaret of Provence
• Married: (1) Isabella of Aragon in 1262 (2) Maria of Brabant in 1274
• Died: October 5, 1285, aged 40, in Perpignan, Kingdom of Majorca, now in France
• Buried: Basilica of Saint-Denis near Paris, France
• Wikipedia: King Philippe III of France

Like his father Louis IX and his grandfather Louis VIII (see above), Philippe III died of dysentery while commanding his troops. Following a rebellion started by King Pedro III of Aragon against Philippe’s uncle King Charles I of Naples, Philippe led an unsuccessful Aragonese Crusade in support of his uncle. Philippe’s army was affected by an epidemic of dysentery. His remains, like his father’s remains, were subject to Mos Teutonicus and transported back to France for burial.

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King Edward I of England

• Born: June 17, 1239, at the Palace of Westminster in London, England
• Parents: King Henry III of England and Eleanor of Provence
• Married: (1) Eleanor of Castile in 1254 (2) Margaret of France in 1299
• Died: July 7, 1307, aged 68, in Burgh by Sands, Cumbria, England
• Buried: Westminster Abbey in London, England
• Unofficial Royalty: King Edward I of England

During the reign of Edward I, the Scots refused to tolerate English rule and the result was the Wars of Scottish Independence, a series of military campaigns fought between Scotland and England, first led by William Wallace and after his execution, led by Robert the Bruce who became Robert I, King of Scots in 1306. In the summer of 1307, Edward I was on his way back to the Scottish border when he developed dysentery. His condition deteriorated and on July 6, 1239, Edward’s army encamped at Burgh by Sands, just south of the Scottish border. When his servants went to him the next morning, he died in their arms.

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King Philippe V of France

• Born: circa 1293 in Lyon, France
• Parents: King Philippe IV of France and Queen Joan I of Navarre
• Married: Joan II, Countess of Burgundy in 1307
• Died: January 3, 1322, aged 29, at the Abbey of Longchamp in Bois de Boulogne, Paris, France
• Buried: Basilica of Saint-Denis near Paris, France
• Wikipedia: King Philippe V of France

Philippe first developed malaria and then dysentery which hastened his death. He died at the Abbey of Longchamp while visiting his daughter Blanche, who had taken her vows as a nun there.

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King Henry V of England

• Born: September 16, 1386 at Monmouth Castle in Monmouth, Wales
• Parents: King Henry IV of England and Mary de Bohun
• Married: Catherine of Valois in 1420
• Died: August 31, 1422, aged 35, at the Château de Vincennes in Vincennes, France
• Buried: Westminster Abbey in London, England
• Unofficial Royalty: King Henry V of England

Henry V was the last great warrior king of the Middle Ages. He had many military successes in the Hundred Years’ War against France, most notably the Battle of Agincourt. The warrior king, determined to conquer France once and for all, succumbed to dysentery, a disease that killed more soldiers than battle, leaving a nine-month-old son he had never seen to inherit his throne.

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compiled by Susan Flantzer

This does not purport to be a complete list. All images are from Wikipedia unless otherwise indicated.

William Ætheling

• Born: August 5, 1103 in Winchester, England
• Parents: King Henry I of England and Matilda of Scotland
• Married: Matilda of Anjou in 1119
• Died: November 25, 1120, aged 17 years, in the English Channel near Barfleur, Duchy of Normandy, now in France
• Wikipedia: William Ætheling

William Ætheling was the only surviving son of King Henry I of England and therefore, was the heir to the English throne. After the successful military campaign in which King Henry I of England had defeated King Louis VI of France at the Battle of Brémule, the English were finally preparing to return to England. King Henry I was offered the White Ship for his return to England, but he had already made other arrangements. Instead, Henry suggested that his son William sail on the White Ship along with his retinue which included William’s half-brother Richard of Lincoln, his half-sister Matilda the Countess of Perch, Richard d’Avranches the 2nd Earl of Chester and many of the heirs of the great estates of England and Normandy.

By the time the ship was ready to set sail, there were about 300 people on board. William and his retinue ordered the captain of the White Ship to overtake the ship of King Henry I so that the White Ship would be the first ship to return to England. Unfortunately, the White Ship hit a submerged rock and capsized. William’s bodyguard quickly got the heir to the throne into the safety of a dinghy. However, William Ætheling heard the screams of his half-sister Matilda and ordered the dinghy to turn back to rescue her. At this point, the White Ship began to sink and the many people in the water desperately sought the safety of William’s dinghy. The chaos and the weight were too much causing William Ætheling’s dinghy to capsize and sink without a trace. The chronicler Orderic Vitalis claimed that only two people survived the shipwreck by clinging to a rock all night.

• Unofficial Royalty: The Sinking of the White Ship and How It Affected the English Succession

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Friedrich I Barbarossa, Holy Roman Emperor, Duke of Swabia,

• Born: 1122
• Parents: Friedrich II, Duke of Swabia and Judith of Bavaria
  Married: (1) Adelheid of Vohburg circa 1147, marriage annulled (2) Beatrice I, Countess of Burgundy in 1156
• Died: June 10, 1190, aged 67 – 68, in the Göksu River near Silifke in present-day Turkey
• Buried: body in the Church of St. Peter, now in Turkey in Antioch, bones in the cathedral of Tyre, now in Lebanon, his heart and inner organs in Tarsus, now in Turkey
• Wikipedia: Friedrich I Barbarossa, Holy Roman Emperor, Duke of Swabia

The nickname Barbarossa (Italian for red beard) was given to Friedrich because of his red hair and beard. Friedrich drowned in the Saleph River near Silifke Castle in present-day Turkey on his way to the Holy Land to fight in the Third Crusade. The story that is most widely told is that Friedrich was thrown from his horse and the shock of the cold water caused him to have a heart attack and weighed down by his armor, he drowned. However, there are other stories that say he died while attempting to swim across the river, he died while enjoying a refreshing swim or he died on the banks of the river.

According to a “king in the mountain” legend, Friedrich Barbarossa is not dead but sleeps in a hidden chamber under the Kyffhäuser Mountains in Germany. There he awaits his country’s hour of greatest need when he will emerge once again from under the mountains. The presence of ravens circling the mountain is said to be a sign of Friedrich Barbarossa’s continuing presence.

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King Magnus IV of Sweden

• Born: April or May 1316 in Norway
• Parents: Eric, Duke of Södermanland and Ingeborg of Norway
• Married: Blanche of Namur
• Died: December 1, 1374, aged 58, in the Bömmelfjord near Lyngholmen, Norway
• Buried: Varnhem Abbey in Varnhem, Västergötland, Sweden
• Wikipedia: King Magnus IV of Sweden

Magnus was King of Sweden until 1364 when he was deposed. He then sought refuge with his son King Haakon VI of Norway. On December 1, 1374, while traveling from Bergen, Norway to Tønsberg, Norway for Christmas, Magnus’ ship was shipwrecked in the Bömmelfjord. His servants managed to get him to shore but he was already dead. Twenty-five people died in the shipwreck.

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George Plantagenet, 1st Duke of Clarence

• Born: October 21, 1449 at Dublin Castle in Dublin, Ireland
• Parents: Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York and Lady Cecily Neville
• Married: Lady Isabel Neville
• Died: February 18, 1478, aged 28, at the Tower of London in London, England
• Buried: Tewkesbury Abbey in Tewkesbury, England
• Wikipedia: George Plantagenet, 1st Duke of Clarence

George was a son of Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York, whose claim to the English throne led to the Wars of the Roses, and the brother of King Edward IV and King Richard III from the House of York. Although originally supporting his family’s House of York during the Wars of the Roses, George switched sides to support the Lancastrians, before reverting to the Yorkists. His brother Edward IV never trusted him again and George was eventually found guilty of plotting against Edward, imprisoned in the Tower of London and privately executed. Tradition says George was drowned in a butt of Malmsey wine at his request but some modern historians believed he was beheaded.

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King Louis II of Hungary

• Born: July 1, 1506 in Buda, now Budapest, Hungary
• Parents: King Vladislaus II of Bohemia and Hungary and Anne of Foix-Candale
• Married: Mary of Austria
• Died: August 29, 1526, aged 20, in Mohács, Hungary
• Buried: Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Székesfehérvár, Hungary
• Wikipedia: King Louis II of Hungary

At the Battle of Mohács, fought against Suleiman I (the Magnificent), Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, nearly the entire Hungarian Royal army was killed. During the retreat, King Louis died when he fell backward off his horse while trying to ride up the steep ravine of a stream. He fell into the stream and because of the weight of his armor, he was unable to stand up and drowned.

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Johan Willem Friso, Prince of Orange

• Born: August 14, 1687, in Dessau, Principality of Anhalt-Dessau, now in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany
• Parents: Henry Casimir II, Prince of Nassau-Dietz and Henriëtte Amalia of Anhalt-Dessau
• Married: Princess Marie Louise of Hesse-Kassel
• Died: July 14, 1711, aged 23, in the Hollands Diep, a wide river in the Netherlands, between Dordrecht and Moerdijk, now in the Netherlands
• Buried: Grote of Jacobijnerkerk in Leeuwarden, Friesland now in the Netherlands
• Unofficial Royalty: Johan Willem Friso, Prince of Orange

In July 1711, Johan Willem Friso traveled from the battlefields of the War of the Spanish Succession to The Hague to meet with King Friedrich I of Prussia about a succession dispute. To cross the Hollands Diep, a wide river in the Netherlands, Johan Willem Friso and his carriage traveled on a ferry. The captain had trouble with the sails and suddenly a great gust of wind filled the sails, the ferry capsized and Johan Willem Friso drowned. His body was found floating in the river eight days later.

Johan Willem Friso, Prince of Orange and his wife Princess Marie Luise of Hesse-Kassel hold the distinction of being the most recent common ancestors to all currently reigning European monarchs. In addition, they are the ancestors of many formerly reigning families

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Prince Friedrich of Prussia
Embed from Getty Images 
Prince Friedrich of Prussia, on left, in 1965

• Born: December 19, 1911 in Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire, now in Brandenburg, Germany
• Parents: Wilhelm, German Crown Prince (son of Wilhelm II, King of Prussia, German Emperor) and Duchess Cecilie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
• Married: Lady Brigid Guinness in 1945
• Died: April 20, 1966, aged 54, in the Rhine River near Ersbach, Germany
• Buried: At the family cemetery at Hohenzollern Castle in Bisingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
• Wikipedia: Prince Friedrich of Prussia

Prince Friedrich was the owner of Reinhartshausen Castle in Ersbach, Germany. While staying at the castle in 1966, he went missing and was found two weeks later in the Rhine River. It is unknown whether the death was an accident or suicide.

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compiled by Susan Flantzer

Diphtheria is a serious bacterial infection affecting the mucous membranes of the nose and throat. Diphtheria typically causes a sore throat, fever, swollen glands and weakness but the determining sign is a thick, gray membrane covering the back of the throat. The membrane can block the windpipe so that the patient has to struggle for breath. Today, diphtheria is extremely rare in developed countries thanks to widespread vaccination against the disease. However, before the advent of modern medicine, diphtheria could be epidemic and it often killed its victims.

Of course, without modern medical diagnostic tools, it was impossible to accurately diagnose illnesses and so this does not purport to be a complete list. Until the development of antibiotics and other drugs, it was impossible to successfully treat many infectious diseases. Sir Alexander Fleming, a Scottish biologist, physician, microbiologist, and pharmacologist, developed Penicillin, the world’s first antibiotic in 1928. Antibiotics are only effective against diseases caused by bacteria. They are not effective against diseases caused by viruses.

This does not purport to be a complete list. All images are from Wikipedia unless otherwise indicated.

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Princess Marie of Hesse and by Rhine

• Born: May 24, 1874, at the Neues Palace, in Darmstadt, Grand Duchy of Hesse and by Rhine, now in Hesse, Germany
• Parents: Ludwig IV, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine and Princess Alice of the United Kingdom
• Died: November 16, 1878, aged 4, at the Neues Palais in Darmstadt, Grand Duchy of Hesse and by Rhine, now in Hesse, Germany
• Buried: Neues Mausoleum at Rosenhöhe Park in Darmstadt, Grand Duchy of Hesse and by Rhine, now in Hesse, Germany
• Unofficial Royalty: Princess Marie of Hesse and by Rhine

In November 1878, the Grand Ducal Family of Hesse and by Rhine began to fall ill with diphtheria. The family had already suffered tragedy in 1873 when 2 1/2-year-old hemophiliac Friedrich, known as Frittie, fell and died from a brain hemorrhage. Grand Duke Ludwig and his children Victoria, Irene, Ernst Ludwig, Alix, and Marie all came down with diphtheria. Elisabeth, known as Ella, was the only member of the family to remain unaffected. Grand Duchess Alice quickly slipped into her role as caregiver, nursing her husband and children. Marie, known as May, was the youngest child in her family. May fell ill with diphtheria on November 12, 1878, and sadly was the only one of the children not to recover. She died on the morning of November 16, 1878.

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Princess Alice of the United Kingdom, Grand Duchess of Hesse and by Rhine

• Born: April 25, 1843 at Buckingham Palace in London, England
• Parents: Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom
• Married: Ludwig IV, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine in 1862
• Died: December 14, 1878, aged 35 at the Neues Palais in Darmstadt, Grand Duchy of Hesse and by Rhine, now in Hesse, Germany
• Buried: Neues Mausoleum at Rosenhöhe Park in Darmstadt, Grand Duchy of Hesse and by Rhine, now in Hesse, Germany
• Unofficial Royalty: Princess Alice of the United Kingdom, Grand Duchess of Hesse and by Rhine

After the death of her youngest child May from diphtheria (see above), Alice tried to keep the news from her husband and the other children until they were in better health. May’s death devastated her brother Ernst Ludwig. Alice broke the one rule of nursing this horrible illness – she comforted him with hugs and a kiss. Soon Alice herself fell ill and was also diagnosed with diphtheria. Her condition quickly deteriorated and in the early morning of December 14, 1878, the 17th anniversary of her father’s death, Alice died.

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Prince Waldemar of Prussia

• Born: February 10, 1868 at the Crown Prince’s Palace in Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia, now in Brandenburg, Germany
• Parents: Friedrich III, German Emperor, King of Prussia and Victoria, Princess Royal
• Died: March 27, 1879, aged 11, at the Neues Palais in Potsdam, Kingdom of Prussia, now in Brandenburg, Germany
• Buried: Friedenskirche (Church of Peace) in Potsdam, Kingdom of Prussia, now in Brandenburg, Germany
• Unofficial Royalty: Prince Waldemar of Prussia

Four months earlier, Waldemar’s maternal aunt Alice, Grand Duchess of Hesse and by Rhine and her daughter May had died of diphtheria. (See above.) Waldemar complained of a sore throat, and unfortunately, he had come down with diphtheria. His mother took all the precautions known at that time to avoid spreading the disease. She washed Waldemar with hot vinegar and water, changed his sheets and clothes, and put them in a pail of carbolic acid. While tending him, Victoria covered her own clothing and sprayed herself with carbolic acid after she left Waldemar’s room. No one else in the family developed diphtheria. Waldemar seemed to be improving but on March 26, 1879, at around 9 PM, the doctors summoned his parents to his room. Waldemar’s breathing had worsened, and he died shortly after midnight.

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compiled by Susan Flantzer

Cholera is a bacterial infection of the small intestine. The classic symptom is large amounts of watery diarrhea that lasts a few days. Vomiting and muscle cramps may also occur. Diarrhea can be so severe that it leads within hours to severe dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. Prevention methods against cholera include improved sanitation and access to clean water. In the past, because of the lack of clean water and proper sanitation, cholera outbreaks and epidemics were frequent. Today, cholera is rare in the developed world.

Of course, without modern medical diagnostic tools, it was impossible to accurately diagnose illnesses and so this does not purport to be a complete list. Until the development of antibiotics and other drugs, it was impossible to successfully treat many infectious diseases. Sir Alexander Fleming, a Scottish biologist, physician, microbiologist, and pharmacologist, developed Penicillin, the world’s first antibiotic in 1928. Antibiotics are only effective against diseases caused by bacteria. They are not effective against diseases caused by viruses.

All images are from Wikipedia unless otherwise indicated.

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King Charles X of France

• Born: October 9, 1757 at the Palace of Versailles in Versailles, France
• Parents: Louis, Dauphin of France (son of King Louis XV of France) and Maria Josepha of Saxony
• Married: Princess Maria Teresa of Savoy
• Died: November 6, 1836, aged 79, at Strassoldo Palace in Görz, Austrian Empire, now in Italy
• Buried: Kostanjevica Monastery, now in Pristava, Slovenia
• Unofficial Royalty: King Charles X of France

King Charles X was the last King of France from the House of Bourbon. He was a brother of the ill-fated King Louis XVI but Charles escaped the French Revolution and fled to Great Britain. When Napoleon was overthrown in 1814, Louis XVIII, Charles’ brother was formally made King of France. Charles succeeded his brother but was forced to abdicate in 1830 and Louis-Philippe, Duke of Orléans became King of the French. Charles spent the remainder of his life in exile. He escaped a cholera epidemic in Germany in 1835, only to die from the disease a year later.

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Grand Duke Konstantin Pavlovich of Russia

• Born: May 8, 1779 at Tsarskoye Selo near St. Petersburg, Russia
• Parents: Paul I, Emperor of All Russia and Sophie Dorothea of Württemberg (Empress Maria Feodorovna)
• Married: (1) Princess Juliane of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld in 1796, marriage annulled in 1820 (2) Joanna Grudzińska in 1829
• Died: June 27, 1831, aged 52, at the Governor’s Palace in Vitebsk, Russia, now in Belarus
• Buried: Peter and Paul Cathedral in St. Petersburg, Russia
• Wikipedia: Grand Duke Konstantin Pavlovich of Russia

Konstantin was Governor of the Kingdom of Poland, which was controlled by Russia. He arrived in Vitebsk, then part of the Kingdom of Poland, on June 15, 1831, became ill with cholera on June 26, and died fifteen hours later. From 1830 – 1832, there was a serious cholera epidemic in Russia that caused unrest among citizens, peasants, and the military throughout the Russian Empire.

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