The Book of the Bizarre: Freaky Facts and Strange Stories (23 page)

A couple in Toronto fought so viciously over who was the prettier actress on the TV sitcom
Married With Children
(Christina Applegate or Katey Segal) that the wife slashed the husband in the crotch with a broken
wine bottle. They eventually made up, only to get into the same fight again. The second time, she broke his shoulder and arm, and he stabbed her multiple times.

TINY ENEMIES

Queen Christina of Sweden, who ruled in the 1600s, had a tiny problem—she was absolutely terrified of fleas. She was so afraid, in fact, that she commissioned the construction of a tiny cannon for her bedroom, which used to fire itty-bitty cannonballs at the pesky critters. No word on how good a shot she was, but apparently it was an activity that she spent hours per day on.

BLOODY MARY

Queen Mary I of England and Ireland (1516–1558) was a Catholic who had Protestants tortured and killed. Her actions inspired the nickname Bloody Mary, which in turn inspired the cocktail.

ONE LUCKY FLOWER

Russia's Catherine the Great (1729–1796) once saw a primrose in her garden and fell in love with it, setting a guard over it to protect it from harm.

PRINCESS DELUSIONAL

When she was a child, Princess Alexandria of Bavaria (1826–1875) became convinced that she had swallowed a grand piano.

ENDURING LOVE

Spanish Queen Juana so loved her husband, Philip, that when he passed away in 1506, she kept his coffin with her for the rest of her life, refusing to allow him to be buried.

A DEADLY MARRIAGE