20 Entitled Figures Known For Throwing The Biggest Tantrums In Human History
20 Entitled Figures Known For Throwing The Biggest Tantrums In Human History
When Absolute Power Meets Absolute Meltdown
History is packed with powerful people who were used to getting their way every single second of the day. When things didn't go exactly according to their grand plans, they didn't just sigh and move on like everyone else. Instead, these spectacularly privileged individuals threw fits so massive that they shook empires and left historians scratching their heads. From spoiled emperors to modern billionaires, you will find that immense wealth and power often result in shockingly poor coping skills.
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1. Xerxes I of Persia
Whenever project deadlines were disrupted by natural disasters, you could expect Xerxes I to react in some very ridiculous ways. When one storm destroyed the floating bridge he built to connect Asia and Europe, he threw a tantrum so epic that historians are still amused by his reaction. He commanded engineers to be flogged and actually had his military whip the sea with three hundred lashes.
2. Caligula
This famously unhinged Roman emperor took royal petulance to a whole new level during his short reign. After a long military march to the English Channel, he abruptly changed his mind about invading Britain and ordered his troops to gather seashells instead. He claimed these random shells were the spoils of a hard-won victory over Neptune, the god of the sea.
3. King John of England
The monarch responsible for signing the Magna Carta was not exactly known for his emotional stability or calm negotiation tactics. Whenever his barons defied his wishes or demanded rights, he would regularly throw himself onto the floor in a blind rage. Eyewitnesses recorded that he would literally gnaw on straw and wood scraps just to vent his immense frustration.
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4. Ivan the Terrible
Ivan earned his terrifying nickname because his legendary temper swings frequently ended in absolute disaster for everyone around him. In a particularly brutal fit of rage over how his daughter-in-law dressed, he ended up accidentally striking his own son with a heavy iron staff. The blow proved fatal.
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5. Nero
While attending a party, Nero’s pregnant wife confronted him about staying out late. Enraged by her accusations, he forced his foot into her abdomen, doing far more damage than intended. The unpopular ruler spent years crying over what he had done, going as far as replacing her with doubles for public events.
6. Henry VIII
King Henry felt very passionately about marriage. When the pope denied his request for an annulment, he just created his own religious institution that allowed him to divorce. Henry VIII continued to rage and rebel whenever he didn’t get his way.
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7. Alexander the Great
Even the most successful military commanders in history are not immune to alcohol-fueled meltdowns of epic proportions. During a rowdy banquet, Alexander got into a heated shouting match with Cleitus the Black, a trusted general who had previously saved his life. In a split second of absolute fury, the young conqueror snatched a spear and fatally pierced his loyal friend through the heart. He immediately regretted the act.
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8. Louis XIV of France
Workers at Louis’ palace were terrified to make him upset, as the Sun King would rage like no other. When one of his chefs failed to deliver fresh seafood on time, he had the man fatally punished. The perfectionist mindset of this powerful ruler prevented his staff from ever making mistakes.
9. Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt
If someone crossed the Commodore, he’d spend years coming after them to settle the score. When business partners attempted to steal one of his companies, Vanderbilt simply decided to crush them. He sabotaged their careers and incomes just to assert his dominance.
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10. Attila the Hun
Hunnic leader Attila decided to invade France when the Western emperor refused to give him his sister. As ruler of one of the greatest armies in history, his demands were never negated, which fed his ego. When Rome denied his request to take half of their land, he took what he wanted instead.
11. Commodus
Caligula definitely didn’t have a monopoly on narcissistic rage, especially compared to Emperor Commodus. He saw himself as a reincarnation of Hercules and forced Rome to admire his prowess as a performer. Whenever the crowd didn’t cheer loud enough, he would fatally punish them.
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12. Christian VII of Denmark
Nothing was safe from this incompetent madman’s vicious tantrums. Furniture, windows, the streets—you name it, he probably destroyed it in a fit of childish rage. Christian would run around wreaking havoc and throw objects at any dissenters who tried to reason with him.
13. Charles XII of Sweden
Charles was an incredibly stubborn military leader who absolutely refused to accept defeat, even when the odds were completely stacked against him. After losing a major battle to Russia, he fled to the Ottoman Empire and stayed there for years as an unwanted guest. When the Sultan finally asked him to leave, the Swedish king barricaded his house and engaged in a literal attack with his hosts.
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14. George IV of the United Kingdom
Before he officially took the throne, this prince regent was notorious for his wildly extravagant lifestyle and massive spending habits. When Parliament hesitated to clear his astronomical gambling debts, he would throw dramatic crying fits and pretend to be on his deathbed. His manipulative behavior usually worked because his royal father wanted to avoid a massive public scandal.
15. Empress Wu Zetian
As the only female emperor in Chinese history, Wu Zetian kept a tight grip on her authority through absolute ruthlessness and zero tolerance for dissent. When a group of officials dared to question her radical political appointments, she established a brutal secret police force to eliminate them. Anyone who bruised her immense ego or questioned her right to the throne was swiftly exiled or executed without a proper trial.
16. Elagabalus
Teenage Emperor Elagabalus decided to turn the empire into his own reality show for fun. One of his favorite "pranks" was locking guests in a room with hungry lions as entertainment. Whenever anyone gave him a hard time, he would loudly demand they worship him as a god.
17. Leona Helmsley
Leona was so uptight about how housekeepers straightened her pillows that she had everyone fired. When her employees failed to arrange the hospitality materials to her liking, she lost her mind. She treated her staff like disposable property until her financial crimes finally caught up with her in court.
18. Ibrahim I of the Ottoman Empire
Ibrahim earned the title of "The Mad" because his erratic behavior and explosive mood swings terrorized his own court. In a fit of paranoid jealousy over a rumor, he ordered his entire harem of two hundred and eighty women to be tied in sacks and drowned in the sea. He could not tolerate the thought of anyone defying him or keeping secrets within his palace walls.
Konstantin Kapıdağlı（18世紀 - 19世紀） on Wikimedia
19. Edward VIII
According to biographers, Edward acted more like a petulant child than the average ruler. He would throw tantrums if schedules were made too early or if he was woken up on time. He ultimately chose to abandon his entire country because he couldn't have his way regarding his marriage choices.
20. Richard Nixon
The Watergate scandal revealed that the highest office in America is not immune to paranoia-induced meltdowns. When the press began uncovering his administration's secrets, Nixon started compiling a literal enemies list to get revenge on his critics. He used his executive power to order tax audits and wiretaps on anyone who bruised his fragile ego.
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