Abdications, gluttony, world wars, and child tantrums! This special greatest hits episode of History's Greatest Idiots celebrates the season with four legendary monarchs who proved that unlimited power and terrible judgment make the perfect recipe for spectacular failure.

First up: King Adolf Frederick of Sweden, the 18th-century monarch who literally ate himself to death at a royal feast, proving that even kings should know when to stop at dessert number fourteen. His final meal included lobster, caviar, sauerkraut, kippers, champagne, and a staggering amount of semla pastries served in hot milk. He died of digestive problems so severe they're still taught in Swedish schools as a cautionary tale about gluttony.

Then we meet Edward VIII, the British king who chose love over the crown, abdicating after just 326 days to marry American divorcée Wallis Simpson. His decision triggered a constitutional crisis, gave Britain an unexpected king (his brother George VI), and led to decades of exile, Nazi sympathies, and becoming the world's most expensive royal footnote.

We'll explore Kaiser Wilhelm II, the German Emperor, whose combination of insecurity, aggressive foreign policy, and terrible judgment helped trigger World War One. Born with a withered arm he spent his entire life compensating for, Wilhelm alienated Britain, Russia, and France while building a massive navy nobody needed, ultimately fleeing to the Netherlands where he spent 23 years in exile chopping wood and blaming everyone but himself.

Finally, Richard II rounds out our line-up: crowned King of England at age 10, he faced the Peasants' Revolt at 14, developed a massive persecution complex, and spent his reign oscillating between tyranny and incompetence until his nobles had enough and deposed him. He died in captivity, possibly murdered, possibly starved, definitely regretting his life choices.

From fatal desserts to world wars, these royal catastrophes prove that absolute power combined with zero common sense creates historically epic disasters.

Perfect for history buffs, monarchy enthusiasts, and anyone who's ever wondered how someone can wear a crown and still make monumentally stupid decisions.

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Artist: Sarah Chey

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Animation: Daniel Wilson

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Music: Andrew Wilson

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