8 lies we were told about famous historical people

Published on January 2, 2018, 5:52 pm

Written by Straker Julia in Unusual

We're taught history at school, but much of our education comes from urban myths and legends. Whether it was to make stories more interesting for kids, to ruin someone's reputation or to hide a nasty truth, a number of famous faces had their good name destroyed by malicious, wagging tongues!

Illustration : "8 lies we were told about famous historical people" — Photo d'illustration

Here are 8 historic personalities who weren't at all like what we've often been led to believe!

1. William Wallace was far from being a commoner

A lot of accounts state that Wallace came from a poor background, when in fact he had a very middle class upbringing. This rebellious Scot was not the heathen we were led to believe when he rallied his army against the English. A veritable knight in shining armor, Wallace's role in Scottish Indepedence is undeniable - his roots, however, were very different from what many tales claim!

2. Cleopatra was not a dumb bimbo

Cleopatra certainly knew how to launch a charm offensive when needed, but her aim was to rule and conquer rather than simply seduce! Often portrayed as an ass milk-loving diva, she was actually a brilliant politician who even secured the loyalty of Ancient Rome thanks to her influence over Julius Caesar and Mark Antony (Marcus Antonius). One of Ancient Egypt's most successful rulers, she was both worshipped by her people and respected by her peers... Although we're sure she did enjoy the comforts that her wealth and power brought!

3. No, Buddha wasn't fat

The word 'Buddha' refers to someone who's attained 'nirvana' - a transcendent state where there is neither suffering, desire, nor a sense of self. There can, therefore, be numerous Buddha's. One of the most popular Buddha's is the jovial, plump, long ear lobed 'Laughing Buddha', which again is a deceptive image. The origins of the Laughing Buddha was not a spiritual leader, but a Chinese monk called Budai. According to legend he loved kids and would often repair their toys! One of the first spiritual leaders to be called 'Buddha' was Siddharta Gautama, a Nepalese man who was considered perfectly pure and a far cry from his portly, chortling counterpart.

4. Gandhi wasn't the pacifist we're led to believe

Famous for his non-violent protests, according to fairly recent allegations, Mahatma Gandhi had racist tendencies. This stems from his time in South Africa, where he campaigned for the rights of Indians, but openly promoted racial segregation between his native brothers and the black population. In 1895 he fought for separate entrances to post offices, in 1896 he protested against blacks being given the same rights as Indians and in 1905 he opposed the Zulu uprising. His own great grandson said that he used derogatory language when referring to black people. Apart from his overt racism, Gandhi was also unpopular with his own staff, who found him overbearingly authoritarian.

5. Louis XVI wasn't power-hungry

Louis-Auguste (AKA the Duke of Berry) never expected or wanted to be in a position of power and was happy to let his brother, the Duke of Burgundy, steal the limelight. His older brother was due to inherit the throne, but died from tuberculosis, obliging Louis to leave his frivolous life behind and be crowned the King of France. Once in power, he pretty much let his people do as they wish, much to the annoyance of his allies. His decision to flee to Varennes proves he sensed the upcoming rebellion that eventually led to his untimely death.

6. Christopher Columbus didn't discover the New World and was responsible for a dreadful massacre

Columbus didn't discover the New World - it was already inhabited by native civilizations - although he is described as the first European to set foot on American soil. This too is not quite true as evidence shows that the Vikings discovered and colonized parts of Canada long before Columbus set sail! There's even a museum dedicated to the Viking colony in Canada.

It's true that Christopher Columbus was the first explorer to document his journey to America and once he'd landed, his troops went on to commit genocide of the native Indian population under the orders of the Spanish government. In other words, Columbus wasn't the hero that history books sometimes describe, but rather someone who deserved to be put behind bars!

7. Galileo, Copernicus and Kepler weren't the first scientists to claim the world is round

It's thanks to these three scientific geniuses that most of us know that the world is round, that it rotates over the course of a day and that it orbits the sun. What you may not know is that the ancient Greek Aristarchus of Samos had already figured this out, although his theories were pretty much dismissed at the time. In all due fairness, Galileo, Copernicus and Kepler lived at a time when the inquisition, the church and general beliefs would have led to their bloody downfall if they'd openly discussed their findings, meaning they only spoke about their research within their close-knit, loyal circles.

8. Cardinal de Richelieu wasn't as a bad as all that

As the French king's advisor, Richelieu was responsible for keeping his monarch in power and it was thanks to him that the Habsbourgs didn't manage to overthrow the throne. He also created the world famous Academie Francaise and prevented a number of French dukes from taking over the country. He modernized France in many ways; he did his job and was not the arch villain we see in the Three Musketeers movies.

Source: Cracked, Atlantico

By Straker Julia
Writer

Passionate about writing, I write articles on the subjects that I love. Creativity and Animals themes are my favorites!