Royal Murders : Hatred, Revenge and the Seizing of Power

by Ashdown, Dulcie M.

• ISBN13: 9780750920537
• ISBN10: 075092053X
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1999-04-01
• Publisher: Sutton Pub Ltd

Summary

Covering more than a thousand years of European history, this book explores the motives, means and consequences of the murders of -- and sometimes murders by -- members of Europe's reigning families. In early centuries murder was usually a "family matter, " such as that of Richard II by his cousin Henry Bolingbroke. In the 16th century monarchs fell victim in religious fanatics or fought those practicing witchcraft. In the 17th century, "judicial murder" as part of a revolutionary process became the motivez Political motives dominated the 19th century, among them the assassination of Alexander II in Russia in 1881 and the death of the Austrian Empress Elizabeth, stabbed by an anarchist. A compelling compendium of "who-dunnits," gruesome fellings, witchcraft, infanticide and assassinations that have changed the course of history, including the mysterious deaths of President John F. Kennedy and Princess Diana.

Author Biography

Dulcie M. Ashdown is a writer of popular history and historical biography, and a freelance copy-editor of non-fiction

Table of Contents

List of Plates	ix
Picture Credits	x
A Note on Names	xi
Acknowledgements	xii
Introduction	xiii
Sword and Arrow	1	(18)
A Woman's Weapons	19	(13)
A Family Affair	32	(16)
Scotland	48	(12)
Murder by Magic	60	(12)
For God's Sake	72	(21)
Killing No Murder	93	(8)
Russia	101	(17)
Marksmen, Madmen and the Infernal Machine	118	(17)
Crowned Killers	135	(8)
Propaganda by Deed	143	(14)
The Assassin's Heyday	157	(9)
The Bullet that Started a War	166	(9)
A Few Among Many	175	(10)
Echoes of Bomb and Bullet	185	(20)
Sources and Further Reading	205	(8)
Index	213