Weird history facts all gathered right here under our history category. Once you have had your fill of history facts head over to our random fact generator to learn more random factoids!
From 1513 to 1972, the Danish Kings were named Christian, Frederick, Christian, Frederick, Christian, Frederick, Christian, Frederick, Christian, Frederick, Christian, Frederick, Christian, Frederick, Christian, Frederick, Christian, Frederick (it ended with the current monarch Margrethe, a Queen).–WTF Fun Facts
Source:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Danish_monarchs
“War pigs” were used during the siege of Megara in 266BC to combat “war elephants”. The pigs were coated in oil, set on fire, and sent towards the enemy’s elephants. The squealing pigs terrorized the elephants, causing them to panic and trample and kill anyone close by. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: War pig – Wikipedia
Donald Trump was the first President in 168 years not to have a pet in the White House. The only other Presidents not to have a pet there were James K. Polk and Andrew Johnson. – WTF Fun Facts
World-famous French mime Marcel Marceau used his acting skills to save over 70 Jewish children during WWII. He smuggled them over the Swiss border and would mime to keep them happy and get them to stay quiet. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: The French Resistance’s Secret Weapon? The Mime Marcel Marceau – HISTORY
The Mayans constructed their temples so that a handclap at the base of the temple produces an echo that sounds like the call of the sacred Quetzal bird, which they believed was a messenger of the gods. The technique is now known as a “Bragg diffraction grating.” – WTF Fun Facts
Source: Here’s How This Ancient Mayan Pyramid Makes Bird Calls (gizmodo.com)
The first ever Roman fire brigade was created by Marcus Licinius Crassus. During fires, they would arrive and Crassus would offer to buy the burning building from the owner at a very low price. They would put out the fire if the owner agreed, but if they refused then they would simply let it burn. – WTF Fun Facts
In the 1700s, pills made out of the element antimony were taken orally as a laxative to relieve constipation. Once they passed through, they were retrieved from the excrement to be used again. Some families passed down the same pill from one generation to the next. – WTF Fun Facts
The car President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in was cleaned and upgraded to include a permanent bulletproof roof and then put into service as the presidential limo for Presidents Johnson, Nixon, Ford and Carter before being retired in 1977. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: What Happened to JFK’s Assassination Car? | Houston Press
In 1161, the Bishop of Winchester was the largest brothel owner in the UK and his prostitutes were known as the “Winchester Geese.” – WTF Fun Facts
Source: Liberty of the Clink – Wikipedia
A few days after the Allied invasion of Normandy on D-Day, British Spitfire planes were used to carry kegs of beer to those on the front line. – WTF Fun Facts
The world’s oldest known astronomical site, Nabta Playa, was built in Africa and is 2,000 years older than Stonehenge. Located in the Sahara desert, the 7,000-year-old stone circle was used to track the summer solstice and the arrival of the annual monsoon season. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: Nabta Playa: The world’s first astronomical site was built in Africa | Astronomy.com
“Deaf flights” were prescribed by doctors to cure hearing loss in the 1920’s and 30’s. Stunt pilots would take unsuspecting passengers up in planes and terrify them with loops, barrel rolls, and dives. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: Doctors Once Prescribed Terrifying Plane Flights to “Cure” Deafness | History | Smithsonian Magazine
One of the oldest known books of English poetry, the Exeter Book, which was inscribed in the 10th century, appears to have been used as both a coaster and chopping block at two different points in time. – WTF Fun Facts
In 1898, nearly 75% of Alabama’s entire annual state revenue came from convict leasing to private railways, mines, and large plantations. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: Convict leasing – Wikipedia
In 1999, a group of hackers identified a vulnerability in Microsoft’s Hotmail which allowed access to ~50 million email accounts. There was a login script called “start” which used “eh” as the password. – WTF Fun Facts
After George Washington read the Declaration of Independence on July 9, 1776, the crowd was so moved that they toppled the statue of King George III, decapitated it, and then later melted the body to make bullets. The head eventually made it’s way back to England. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/declaration-of-independence/
Peter Carl Fabergé, creator of the 50 Imperial Easter eggs known as Fabergé eggs, also carved a single Fabergé potato from pinkie-brown agate. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: Caroline Scheufele on a Fabergé potato | The Economist
A poor 19th century Chinese man failed the civil service exam, fell ill, reread a Christian pamphlet he had earlier ignored, and dreamed that he was Jesus’ brother. He led a cult/rebellion that conquered much of southern China, crowning himself as “Heavenly King.” – WTF Fun Facts
Source: Hong Xiuquan – Wikipedia