15 Historical Events That Sound Totally Fake (But Are 100% Real)
These wild historical events sound made up, but they actually happened.
- Daisy Montero
- 4 min read
Some stories from the past feel like they were pulled from a comedy sketch or a wild novel, but they really happened. These events are the kind of facts that make you pause, squint, and ask, “Wait—seriously?” Get ready to scroll through 15 of the strangest events that prove truth can be way weirder than fiction.
1. The Great Emu War of 1932
Unknown author on Wikimedia Commons
Australia once declared war on emus and lost. The military sent soldiers armed with machine guns to deal with a massive emu problem, but the birds outran and outsmarted them. In the end, the emus won, and the humans gave up.
2. The Cadaver Synod: A Trial for a Dead Pope
Artaud de Montor (1772–1849) on Wikimedia Commons
In 897, Pope Stephen VI put his predecessor’s corpse on trial. The deceased Pope Formosus was dressed in robes and propped on a throne while a deacon answered for him. Unsurprisingly, he was found guilty.
3. Napoleon Attacked by Bunnies
Andrea Appiani on Wikimedia Commons
Napoleon once organized a rabbit hunt for fun, but things went sideways. When hundreds of rabbits were released, they charged at him instead of running away, and the emperor had to flee a bunny stampede.
4. A War That Lasted 38 Minutes
The Illustrated London News on Wikimedia Commons
The Anglo-Zanzibar War of 1896 is the shortest in history. It ended in less than an hour after the British bombarded the palace and quickly won. That was one speedy surrender.
5. Dancing Plague of 1518
Unknown author on Wikimedia Commons
Dozens of people in Strasbourg started dancing uncontrollably for days. Some reportedly danced to their deaths. No one knew why it happened, but it was well-documented.
6. Exploding Whale in Oregon
PookieFugglestein on Wikimedia Commons
In 1970, Oregon officials used dynamite to dispose of a dead whale. The blast sent blubber flying everywhere, crushing a car in the parking lot. No one suggested that method again.
7. Battle of Los Angeles: Firing at Nothing
LA Times. on Wikimedia Commons
In 1942, the U.S. military fired thousands of rounds into the sky over Los Angeles. It was a false alarm triggered by fears of a Japanese attack. No enemy planes were found, but the city was left rattled and confused.
8. The Boston Molasses
The Bostonian Society on Wikimedia Commons
The town of Rabbit Hash, Kentucky, has had several dog mayors. The practice started as a joke in 1998, but residents fully embraced it. The current mayor is a French bulldog named Wilbur.
9. The Time Rome Sold the Throne
mharrsch on Wikimedia Commons
A theory suggests that 297 years of history never happened, and we are actually living in the 1700s. While not widely accepted, it has some bizarre support. Imagine everything from Charlemagne to the year 1000 being a hoax.
10. A Man Survived Two Atomic Bombs
Fg2 assumed (based on copyright claims). on Wikimedia Commons
Tsutomu Yamaguchi was in Hiroshima when the first bomb dropped. He survived, returned home to Nagasaki, and survived the second bomb too. He lived into his 90s and became a symbol of resilience.
11. The Eiffel Tower Gained and Lost a Secret Apartment
Benh LIEU SONG on Wikimedia Commons
Gustave Eiffel built a secret apartment at the top of the tower just for himself. He used it to host scientists and thinkers but never rented it out. Today, it is preserved so that visitors can peek inside.
12. The Pope Who Resigned by Flying Away
WDKrause on Wikimedia Commons
In 2013, Pope Benedict XVI resigned and left the Vatican in a white helicopter. It was the first papal resignation in nearly 600 years. The flight over Rome made it look like he was dramatically exiting the stage.
13. A Medieval Pig Was Put on Trial
Edouard CHASSAIGNE on Pexels
In 1386, a pig in France was tried and executed for killing a child. It was dressed in human clothes and put through a full legal process. Animal trials were not that uncommon back then.
14. The Cold War Balloon Leaflet Drop
mos.ru / Главархив Москвы on Wikimedia Commons
In the 1950s, the U.S. dropped millions of leaflets over Eastern Europe using balloons. The goal was to spread anti-communist propaganda. Some even carried candy and radios to win hearts and minds.
15. The Explosion That Made a Man Fly
Ross Dunn on Wikimedia Commons
In 1917, a man named Peter Lett was blown sky-high during the Halifax Explosion in Canada. He landed two miles away, broke a leg, and somehow lived. The blast was so powerful it temporarily created a vacuum in the harbor.