10 Weirdest People in History You Should Know About
History is full of colorful characters, and some of the most interesting are those who were considered to be eccentric, or even outright strange. While it’s impossible to say definitively who the weirdest people in history were, here are ten individuals who certainly would have made the list. From a woman who claimed to have given birth to two rabbits to a man who became convinced that it’s necessary to kill children and eat them, their stories are bizarre, fascinating, and often tragic. But above all, they offer a unique window into the past.
Here are the ten weirdest people in history you should know about:
1. Chang and Eng Bunker: The Siamese Twins
Born in Siam (now Thailand) in 1811, Chang and Eng Bunker were joined at the sternum by a band of cartilage and lived for 63 years as conjoined twins. They toured Europe with their manager P.T. Barnum and married two sisters, had 21 children between them, worked as farmers near Mt. Airy, North Carolina, and lived long enough to be photographed in their old age.
They were joined at the chest, and had two separate heads, but shared a single torso and arms. They became famous due to their extreme rarity — they were the first documented case of conjoined twins in the world who survived into adulthood. Chang and Eng toured America as a freak show attraction, before settling down to start a family. They died within hours of each other in 1874.
2. Lillian Alling: The Wandering Woman
Lillian Alling was a Russian immigrant who became famous in the 1920s for her bizarre journey across America. She had fled Russia during the Revolution and traveled across Canada and the United States in search of her father, whom she had never met. Along the way, she became known for her erratic behavior and strange dress sense. She was often arrested for vagrancy but always managed to escape custody. In 1927, she finally reached her father’s home in New York City — only to be turned away by him. She died penniless in a hospital a few months later.
3. Grigori Rasputin: The Mad Monk
Grigori Rasputin was a Russian monk who became notorious for his strange powers and links to the royal family. He was said to possess hypnotic eyes, which he used to control those around him. He also had a reputation for sexual debauchery and was often accused of orgies and drinking binges. In 1916, he was assassinated by a group of noblemen who believed he was controlling Tsar Nicholas II too much. His body was mutilated after death to prevent him from coming back to life.
4. Adolf Hitler: The Mad Dictator
Adolf Hitler is one of the most infamous figures in history, renowned for leading Nazi Germany throughout World War II and orchestrating the Holocaust. But what is less known about him is that he was actually quite mad. He suffered from numerous mental health problems, including bipolar disorder and paranoia. He also believed that he had supernatural powers, and was convinced that he was destined to lead Germany to glory. His mental health issues eventually led to his downfall — he committed suicide shortly after Germany’s capitulation in 1945.
5. Vlad the Impaler: The Bloodthirsty Prince
Vlad the Impaler was a 15th-century prince of Wallachia (now Romania) who is best known for his extreme cruelty. He became infamous for his habit of impaling captured enemies on stakes and leaving them to die slowly in public view. His violent nature earned him the nickname “Vlad the Impaler”.
6. Lizzy Borden: The Ax Murderess
Lizzy Borden was an American woman who became famous in 1892 when she was accused and then acquitted of murdering her father and stepmother. She had been seen near the crime scene with an ax, which further strengthened suspicions that she was guilty. Her case inspired countless books, films, and TV shows — and her name has become synonymous with a grisly murder.
7. Mary Toft: The Faked Pregnancy
Mary Toft was an English woman who became famous in 1726 after she claimed that she had given birth to rabbits. She fooled many doctors into believing this incredible story, and word of her unusual “pregnancy” spread quickly throughout England. After a few months, however, it was discovered that she had faked her pregnancy and all of the “rabbit births” were in fact illusions. She became a laughingstock and eventually faded into obscurity.
8. The Fox Sisters: The Spooky Mediums
The Fox sisters were three American sisters who gained fame in the mid-19th century for their apparent ability to communicate with spirits. They claimed that they could hear mysterious knocks and even voices from beyond the grave. For a time, their séances were popular — until it was revealed that the sisters had been faking their supernatural powers. They eventually confessed and ended up dying in obscurity.
9. The Hinterkaifeck Murders: The Unsolved Mystery
The Hinterkaifeck murders were a series of unsolved killings that took place in Germany in 1922. Six people — four adults and two children — were killed in cold blood on their farm near Munich. To this day, the case remains unsolved and has become a source of fascination for many true crime enthusiasts. It is believed that the perpetrator was someone close to the family, but they have never been identified. The mysterious deaths remain a chilling reminder of mankind’s capacity for evil.
10. Gilles de Rais: The Serial Killer
Gilles de Rais was a 15th-century French nobleman and military leader who is best known for committing some of the most heinous serial killings in history. He was accused of killing hundreds of children, whom he would torture and then eat. After being arrested and put on trial, he confessed to his crimes and was burned at the stake in 1440.
Conclusion
The Hinterkaifeck murders, the Fox sisters, Vlad the Impaler…each of these cases is a chilling reminder of mankind’s capacity for evil. Whether it’s Gilles de Rais’ brutal serial killings or Lizzy Borden’s ax murder of her own father and stepmother, these true crime stories are sure to send a shiver down your spine. They remind us that even in today’s world, there are still people capable of committing unspeakable crimes. So be sure to keep an eye out — you never know who might be capable of such atrocities.
As you can see, history is full of murderers and madmen who have committed despicable crimes. Some of these killers are well-known, while others remain a mystery to this day. What do they all have in common? Aside from the obvious — that they’re all murderers — they’re also fascinating characters with intriguing backstories. Reading about their lives and crimes is both horrifying and captivating, and it’s hard to look away even though you may want to.
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