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4 Medieval Rulers Who Committed Horrific Acts of Evil
Their crimes will never be forgotten
After the fall of the Roman Empire, Europe entered the Medieval era. This period of history, also known as the Middle Ages, featured several bloodthirsty rulers who murdered the innocent for their own gain.
Unfazed by the misery and pain they inflicted, these men committed horrific acts of evil that are now an infamous part of human history.
1. King William I
William I (also known as William of Normandy) defeated Harold II at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 and became the new King of England.
In the wake of his victory, William allowed his army to pillage and rape the southeast of England. He then imposed new laws, raised taxes, and introduced harsh punishments against those who stepped out of line.
The people of England were infuriated by William’s new laws, and a series of revolts sprung up in the north of the country. In response, William and his army attacked the northern villages by killing men, women, and children. They also slaughtered livestock and burned down barns.
The rebels who survived the initial onslaught hid in marshes and forests. The lack of livestock led to starvation and disease, and the countryside started to reek of corpses. Food was so hard to find that many people sold themselves into slavery in order to survive.
This event, which was known as the Harrying of the North, led to a death toll of 100,000.
2. Emperor Andronikos I
Andronikos I became the new Emperor of the Byzantine Empire in 1183 after overthrowing Alexios II, who was strangled with a bowstring and dumped into the Bosphorus.
Andronikos murdered anyone who was a threat to his power, including his cousin Maria of Antioch. The new emperor then turned on feudal landowners, the…
