History is full of strange, almost unbelievable events that seem like they could have been pulled from a fictional story. From odd rulers to outlandish customs, many moments from the past defy logic.
You’ll be shocked to learn about the weird, quirky, and downright bizarre historical facts that sound like fiction but are, in fact, completely true.
The Great Emu War
In 1932, Australia declared war on emus—yes, emus. The flightless birds were destroying crops in Western Australia, so the military was called in to handle the problem.
However, the emus outsmarted the soldiers, and the war ended with the birds winning. It’s one of the most ridiculous moments in Australian history.
Napoleon Was Once Attacked by Bunnies
Napoleon Bonaparte, the famed French emperor, had a peculiar encounter with bunnies. During a hunting event in 1807, hundreds of rabbits were released for a hunt.
However, instead of running away, the bunnies charged towards Napoleon and his men, overwhelming them. Napoleon fled the scene in fear.
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Cleopatra Was Not Egyptian
Cleopatra, the iconic queen of Egypt, wasn’t actually Egyptian. She was of Greek descent, belonging to the Ptolemaic dynasty that ruled Egypt after Alexander the Great’s death.
Despite ruling Egypt, Cleopatra was more Greek than Egyptian and spoke Greek as her first language.
A Pope Once Sold the Papacy
In the 11th century, Pope Benedict IX made a bizarre decision—he sold the papacy. Desiring wealth, he handed over the papal office to another man for a sum of money.
Later, he even tried to buy it back, proving that the church’s leadership wasn’t always as sacred as it seemed.
The First Olympic Athlete Was a Cook
The first Olympic champion in ancient Greece wasn’t a noble warrior or a famous athlete—it was a cook! His name was Coroebus, and he won the first Olympic Games in 776 BC.
He was a simple cook who entered the race out of curiosity and ended up as the first ever Olympic winner.
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Roman Emperor Who Made His Horse a Senator
Emperor Caligula, infamous for his eccentricity, once appointed his favorite horse, Incitatus, as a Roman senator. This bizarre act was likely a statement of how little he thought of the Senate, but it has since become a symbol of Caligula’s madness.
In Ancient Egypt, Slaves Were Paid in Beer
Ancient Egyptians didn’t pay their workers in money—they paid them in beer. The laborers who built the pyramids were provided with rations of beer as part of their daily pay.
Beer was considered a staple of the ancient Egyptian diet and was a key form of compensation.
A French King Was Killed by a Hot Chocolate
King Louis XIV of France, known as the Sun King, died from a wound caused by his hot chocolate. He had a painful boil on his leg that became infected, and doctors treating him gave him hot chocolate, which worsened his condition.
This bizarre chain of events ultimately led to his death.
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The Eiffel Tower Was Almost Torn Down
The Eiffel Tower, now a global icon, was almost dismantled after it was built in 1889. The French government had no plans to keep it, thinking it was an eyesore.
Only after realizing its value as a tourist attraction did it remain standing, eventually becoming one of the most famous landmarks in the world.
The Great Fire of London Started from a Single Bread Oven
In 1666, the Great Fire of London, which destroyed most of the city, began with a small spark from a bakery’s oven. A simple mistake in a bread oven caused a fire that rapidly spread across the city, becoming one of the most catastrophic fires in history.
The Shortest War in History Lasted 38 Minutes
The Anglo-Zanzibar War of 1896 holds the record for the shortest war in history, lasting just 38 minutes. The conflict arose between the British Empire and the Sultanate of Zanzibar, with the British easily overpowering the sultan’s forces, ending the war in less than an hour.
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A Man Tried to Kidnap the King of England with a Giant Cat
In 1824, a man named John Bellingham tried to kidnap the King of England, George IV, with the help of a giant cat. The bizarre plot, involving a large, trained cat and a series of convoluted plans, was foiled before it could even take off.
People Once Believed the Earth Was Flat—And Was Supported by an Elephant
In ancient times, many cultures believed that the Earth was flat and was supported by giant elephants. The elephants were thought to stand on the back of a massive turtle, which swam through the cosmic sea.
This odd view of the world was held by various ancient civilizations.
The Sinking of the Titanic Was Predicted in a Novel
Years before the Titanic sank, an author named Morgan Robertson wrote a novel called Futility, in which a ship called the Titan met a tragic end after striking an iceberg. The similarities between his fictional story and the real-life disaster of the Titanic were striking and eerie.
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Winston Churchill Was Once Arrested for Being Too Drunk
Winston Churchill, the famous British Prime Minister, was once arrested for public drunkenness. In 1899, as a young man in South Africa, he was thrown into jail after being caught drunk in public.
He was later released and went on to become one of the most influential figures in British history.
The London Underground Was Built with A Giant Rat
During the construction of the London Underground in the 19th century, workers allegedly discovered a giant rat in the tunnels. This colossal creature was reportedly as large as a human child.
It became a strange piece of urban legend in London’s history, though many believe it was merely an exaggerated story.
The Roman Empire Had a ‘Damnatio Memoriae’ Practice
The Romans practiced a strange ritual known as Damnatio Memoriae, where they would erase a person’s memory from history. If someone fell out of favor, their name would be removed from records, statues would be destroyed, and even their existence would be denied.
This ancient form of erasure has no modern equivalent.
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Queen Victoria Survived an Assassination Attempt—Twice in One Day
Queen Victoria was nearly assassinated on two separate occasions in the same day. In 1842, an assassin named John Francis tried to shoot her while she was in her carriage.
Later that day, another attempt was made by another man. Despite these attempts, she survived and went on to rule for decades.
People Used to Think Tomatoes Were Poisonous
Before the 19th century, people believed that tomatoes were poisonous. Early settlers in America avoided eating tomatoes because they thought the fruit would make them sick.
It wasn’t until later that people realized tomatoes were completely safe and nutritious, and they became a popular food.
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