Outrageous Moments in History: A Journey From Fact To Myth

The Defenestration of Prague

Let’s kick things off in the 17th Century, during a period of religious discord in Europe. The Catholics and Protestants were perpetually at loggerheads in Bohemia. In 1618, the long-standing friction boiled over in what is now known as the Defenestration of Prague. A group of Protestants, cornered a couple of Catholic regents and their secretary, and hurled them out of a window 70 feet above the ground! Unlike what you might think, the defenestrated men survived, with Catholics claiming angels saved them and Protestants asserting they fell on a dung heap. This outrageous event fueled the flames that led to the Thirty Years War.

Emperor Nero’s Olympic Reign

A shift to ancient Rome introduces us to one of history’s most notorious leaders—Emperor Nero. Known for his dramatic staging of the Olympic Games in 67 AD, Nero was the only participant in the chariot race, and despite falling off his chariot during the race, he was still declared the winner! As the Emperor, his outrageous behavior didn’t stop at that; he proclaimed himself victorious in contests he didn’t even attend, highlighting the absurdity that political power can bring.

The Year Without A Summer

Rewind to the 19th century and we have our most chilling event—literally. The “Year Without A Summer,” 1816, was characterized by heavy snowfall in June and unseasonably cold temperatures through the year. This anomaly, due to the volcanic eruption of Mount Tambora in Indonesia the previous year, resulted in food shortages throughout the Northern Hemisphere. This year is also linked to Mary Shelley’s creation of the seminal horror novel “Frankenstein,” conceived during gloomy summer holidays.

Tarrare: The Man of Insatiable Appetite

Back in the 18th century France, a man named Tarrare baffled physicians. He had an insatiable appetite and could consume any and every kind of food, or even non-food items, in vast quantities without experiencing any ill effects or significant weight gain. Stories circulate that he consumed live animals, wooden boxes, and even a jewel-encrusted box commissioned by Napoleon! Although some details of Tarrare’s life might have been over-amplified over the years, his tale remains one of the most outrageous historical anecdotes.

The Dancing Plague of 1518

In 1518, in Strasbourg, modern-day France, one woman began dancing without any apparent reason. Over a week, 34 others had joined, and within a month, the count rose to around 400 dancers. People were literally dancing themselves to death with heart attacks, strokes, and exhaustion being common outcomes. This event, referred to as the Dancing Plague of 1518, still boggles historians and doctors. Theories range from food poisoning to mass hysteria as potential causes, yet the truth remains a mystery.

Pope Gregory IX Vs. Cats

The Middle Ages bring us a shocker as Pope Gregory IX issued a papal bull, effectively condemning black cats as incarnations of Satan. This led to widespread culling of these innocent creatures throughout Europe and, paradoxically, may have exacerbated the rat infestation that ultimately caused the Black Death! It is indeed outrageous how a single belief, albeit baseless, can heavily impact the course of human history.

The War of the Bucket

Just when you thought things couldn’t get weirder, in 1325, the Italian cities of Modena and Bologna went to war over a stolen bucket! This dispute, incited by deep-seated political and social tensions, resulted in a full-blown military engagement known as “The War of the Bucket”. The Modenese triumphed and, as a clapback, took a bucket from a Bolognese well which is still displayed in Modena today!

Events such as these, outrageous and unbelievable, serve as gentle reminders that history isn’t simply the dull rote-learning of facts and dates. It’s full of absurdities, humorous anecdotes, and puzzling mysteries, each contributing in its own bizarre way to the fascinating tapestry of human civilization. As we’ve seen, the border between reality and legend is often blurred, with influence from the victor’s perspective, exaggeration over time, and the lack of reliable documentation, leading to fascinating narratives that continue to captivate us.