Most Brutal Queens in History

From the queen who used birds to burn down an entire town to the woman who may have been the world's most prolific serial killer, today's show delves into the dark side of individuals who wielded great power. Let's begin with a chilling tale that involves eye-gouging because every ancient story of royalty seems to include someone losing their eyes. Our protagonist in this saga is Irene of Athens, born around 750.

While Irene's early life remains shrouded in mystery, her family held considerable political influence, setting her on a path entwined with the treacherous landscape of politics in that era. She was likely adopted into this family, led by Constantine Sarantapechos, a prominent figure in the Athenian ruling class. Irene's life took an unexpected turn when she married Leo, the son of Byzantine ruler Emperor Constantine V. This union elevated her to empress when Leo ascended to the throne.

Irene's ascent to power was marked by the intrigue and whispered scandals of Byzantine court politics. When Leo passed away, leaving her young son in a precarious position, Irene assumed the role of regent. This period was fraught with power struggles, with various factions vying for the imperial throne. In response, Irene summoned the Byzantine-era special forces known as the Excubitors to secure her position.

As regent, Irene displayed a ruthless side, banishing those who opposed her and employing the whip to maintain control in the royal court. Loyalty to Irene was rewarded with favor, while disloyalty often led to banishment or corporal punishment. She even had coins minted with her image, a privilege typically reserved for emperors, demonstrating her power-hungry nature. Being a female regent in those times was exceptionally challenging, as numerous threats to her life loomed.

A notable example of the danger she faced was Empress Martina, who met a gruesome end just one year into her regency. Martina was accused of poisoning individuals and harboring a lust for power, resulting in the horrific punishment of tongue-cutting, nose-cutting, and castration for her sons, followed by banishment.

Irene, well aware of Martina's fate, ruled astutely and forged crucial alliances. However, her son grew resentful as he matured, leading to open rebellion. Although Irene initially forgave her son, his subsequent rebellion culminated in a brutal confrontation. Irene's troops captured him, and she ordered his eyes to be gouged out, an excruciating procedure that may have proved fatal given the limited medical knowledge of the time.

In assessing Irene's rule, it is essential to recognize the perpetual presence of potential adversaries surrounding her. Observing her son's eyes being ripped out is undeniably brutal, but such acts were not uncommon in that era. After a period in power, Irene was eventually deposed and exiled to an island, where she lived as a wool spinner, marking a profound fall from her regal past. Her life came to a close in her mid to late 40s.

As we transition to the next character, we delve into the life of Maria Eleonora, whose story unfolds in the early 17th century. During her youth, she became a pawn in the political landscape of Sweden, as she was wed to King Gustavus Adolphus. Maria, originally desiring a union with another, became known for her love of extravagant spectacles, often featuring actors with various physical and mental challenges. This penchant for mocking those different from herself foreshadowed darker aspects of her personality.

Tragedy struck when she experienced a miscarriage, leading to a descent into madness characterized by foul language, screaming, paranoia, and violent outbursts. Her mental instability persisted after the birth of her child, who died after a year, intensifying her longing for a male heir due to her husband's perilous military campaigns.

Amid her husband's frequent absences for battles, Maria resorted to torturing her child, fostering numerous accidents and near-fatal incidents, effectively amounting to attempted murder. When her husband passed away, she blamed her daughter for his death, subjecting her to a year of solitary confinement in a dark room alongside her father's open casket, a harrowing ordeal underscoring Maria's severe mental health issues.

The subsequent ruler, Queen Marie-Antoinette, occupies a unique place in history. As the queen of France during a period of stark social inequality and impending revolution, she became infamous for her ostentatious lifestyle, which she seemed oblivious to the suffering of her starving subjects. The popular but likely apocryphal quote attributed to her, "Let them eat cake," underscores her disconnect from the hardships endured by her people. Her extravagance and perceived indifference led to her becoming one of the most reviled queens in history.

Elizabeth Báthory, a countess rather than a queen, is the next figure in our exploration. Her sadistic cruelty is legendary, as she relentlessly tormented and killed her servants over minor transgressions. Notorious for bathing in the blood of virgins, she sought to retain her youth. Her actions escalated to the extent that she lured young women to her castle to become victims, indulging in gruesome acts, such as tearing at their flesh with her teeth.

Báthory's penchant for brutality eventually raised suspicions, as the mounting number of corpses and difficulties in disposing of them became increasingly conspicuous. Her notoriety also extended to her ruthless treatment of her servants, some of whom were beheaded, while she faced a life of luxurious confinement in her castle.

In contrast, Wu Zetian, a Chinese empress who assumed control of the Tang Dynasty, displayed traits of ruthlessness in her rise to power. She began her journey to authority by entering Emperor Gaozong's harem, where she orchestrated the removal of rivals, ultimately securing her position as empress.

Wu Zetian's rule, marked by measures against corruption and positive economic reforms, exhibited authoritarian tendencies, stifling dissent through exile and execution. Her history remains mired in ambiguity, with accounts suggesting the possibility of her involvement in the deaths of her own children, a claim emerging long after her lifetime.

Wu Zetian's approach to maintaining her hold on power involved harsh retribution against those who criticized her, often leading to exile or execution. While her reign coincided with a period of brutality typical of the era, her leadership was far from benevolent.

Maria I of Portugal, known as Maria the Pious in her native country but dubbed "Maria the Mad" in Brazil, ascended to the throne in both regions. Initially, her rule was characterized by periods of relative stability. However, she suffered from recurring melancholic episodes and exhibited erratic behavior. Her deep mourning for her husband led her to disrupt the lives of her subjects, dampening festivities and engendering a tyrannical atmosphere.

As her mental health deteriorated, Maria's eccentricities and violent outbursts made her increasingly unpredictable. Her refusal to eat, lack of personal hygiene, and paranoid delusions added to the chaos of her reign, creating a fraught environment for her subjects. Maria's behavior deteriorated to the point that she was confined to her chambers, where her anguished screams echoed through the palace. In Brazil, where she held a dual monarchy, she earned the epithet "Maria the Mad" as she descended into madness, leaving a legacy of a terrible queen once her mental stability waned.