10 Unintentional Deaths That Changed History

10-Unintentional-Deaths-That-Changed-History

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’ll be looking at completely unexpected deaths that had enormous consequences for the future of humanity. We’ll be excluding people who were murdered or who died after the events they were responsible for.

Menes

Menes is the oldest entry on our list, an Egyptian Pharaoh who ruled around 5,000 years ago. He’s credited as being the founder of the First Dynasty, and the first unifier of Upper and Lower Egypt. After dying, his model of a unified nation under one single ruler became a blueprint for civilizations across the globe. We don’t know for certain how he died; however, some legends say he was snatched and killed by a hippopotamus. Egypt would reach the height of its power under Ramesses II, who died in 1213 BCE, triggering the intermediate period, which brought a massive decline in Egypt.

Mansa Musa

The ninth Mansa of Mali Empire was the richest person to ever exist, and has remained that way since the 14th century. He was so rich he handed out gold to everyone he met while traveling, causing mass inflation and almost destroying the economy in Cairo. Some estimate that his pilgrimage to the Middle East caused $1.5 billion of economic losses. His death was probably due to natural causes, but we can’t say for certain. After his death, his successors lacked his skill, and the Mali Empire entered a period of decline from which it would never recover.

Charles the Bold

Charles the Bold was the last Duke of Burgundy, and lived in the 15th century. In his later years, he was attempting to unify the Low Countries, a feat never before accomplished in history. This ambition caused the Burgundian Wars, and at the Battle of Nancy, Charles faced the Duke of Lorraine’s forces on the battlefield. This battle was a disaster, and resulted in the death of Charles. With no male heir, Burgundy was disintegrated and the land was divided between France and Austria. If Charles had survived, then he may have unified the Low Countries a century earlier than they actually did.

King Tutankhamun

Tutankhamun is one of the most famous pharaohs of Egypt, but had little historical impact during his life. We often call him the “Boy King”, since he died due to natural causes when about 19 years old, after only a nine-year reign. He died in 1323 BCE, but he only became impactful in 1922, when his tomb was discovered by Howard Carter. It was the most intact pharaonic tomb ever found, which was a monumental discovery, and completely reshaped archaeology. His golden funerary mask is now on display in the Egyptian Museum of Cairo, and is one of the most iconic artifacts in all of history.

Henry II of France

Not only did Henry II die in a famously tragic and unusual manner, but his death also had major political repercussions for the European balance of power. During a jousting tournament in 1559, his opponent’s lance shattered on impact with the King, and a splinter penetrated Henry’s eye. It then entered his brain, became infected, and killed him 10 days later. His 15-year-old son then took charge, but he was not a capable ruler. Not long after, the French Wars of Religion in 1562 would begin, and it wouldn’t end until 1598. If it wasn’t for his untimely end, this tumultuous period might have been avoided entirely.

Alexander the Great

Alexander created one of the largest empires ever seen in an incredibly small timeframe. He died in 323 BCE at the age of 32 in Babylon. We don’t know exactly what killed him, but it was certainly natural causes. This death initiated a series of events that shaped the world for centuries to come. Alexander did little to consolidate his empire and didn’t come up with a plan for what would happen to it after he died. His realm ended up divided into separate kingdoms, led by his generals, which resulted in a series of wars and conflicts over the territories. If not for his early death, his realm could have endured longer, and maybe even stopped the rise of Rome.

Marie Curie

Marie Curie was a pioneering scientist who completed groundbreaking research on radioactivity. Her contributions to science were significant, but she eventually died in 1934, due to aplastic anemia. This is a condition linked to prolonged exposure to radiation, something we were completely oblivious to during her lifetime. Her passing raised massive amounts of awareness of the dangers associated with radiation exposure and led to improved safety regarding radioactive materials. Her death was tragic, and was caused by the discovery that made her successful. Despite her untimely end, she was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, and the only person to win Nobel Prizes in two scientific fields. Her legacy will endure forever, and continues to inspire generations to advance the field of science.

Kublai Khan

Grandson of Genghis, Kublai Khan was maybe the most successful Mongol Emperor. He died due to illness in 1294, after ruling for 34 years. In his lifetime, he formed the Yuan Dynasty in China, which would last until 1368. He ruled the Mongol Empire while it was at its greatest extent, but unfortunately, his death would be its downfall. After dying, a succession crisis began, and the empire split into four separate states. It had already begun to fragment after the death of Mongke Khan in 1259, but Kublai’s death was the final nail in the coffin, marking the end of Mongol dominance in Asia.

Genghis Khan

Genghis died in 1227, which was a turning point in history, marking the transition from a unified Mongol Empire into a series of powerful khanates. In the winter of 1226, Genghis fell from his horse, which caused him to become seriously ill. We don’t know exactly what killed him, but whatever it was, no one intended it to get him. Following his death, the empire’s succession would cause significant power struggles in the 13th century. During his life, he was considered a brutal conqueror; however, over time his legacy evolved, and we now believe Mongol contributions to culture, trade, and governance to have been significant. None of this would have happened, were it not for Genghis Khan.

Vladimir Lenin

Lenin was a revolutionary leader, famous for fighting for democracy in Russia, and then immediately becoming a dictator after losing the first election. He created the Soviet Union, a communist state which would exist until 1991. He died in 1924, due to numerous strokes. His death triggered a power struggle that led to the rise of Joseph Stalin, one of the most brutal men in all of history. Stalin’s death was also fascinating, and was turned into a black comedy in recent years - “The Death of Stalin.” Both these men’s deaths changed history, but Lenin’s passing would send Russia into decades of turmoil and poverty.


Were there any other impactful and woefully unintentional deaths we missed? Head on down to the comments section, and let us know!