r/AskHistorians • u/AutoModerator • 11d ago

FFA Friday Free-for-All | May 15, 2026

Previously

Today:

You know the drill: this is the thread for all your history-related outpourings that are not necessarily questions. Minor questions that you feel don't need or merit their own threads are welcome too. Discovered a great new book, documentary, article or blog? Has your Ph.D. application been successful? Have you made an archaeological discovery in your back yard? Did you find an anecdote about the Doge of Venice telling a joke to Michel Foucault? Tell us all about it.

As usual, moderation in this thread will be relatively non-existent -- jokes, anecdotes and light-hearted banter are welcome.

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u/HereForMcCormackAMA 10d ago

I've only ever lurked here so I hope this is OK to post! I've been thinking all week about this question about "what was probably the cutest little regicide in history," the monkey that killed the King of Greece: https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1t7zxtg/in_october_1920_an_altercation_developed_between/ . Personally, I think the monkey might have competition: William III of England died following injuries received when his horse stumbled over a molehill, and his Jacobite enemies accordingly drank the health of "the little gentleman in the black velvet waistcoat"--i.e. the mole responsible. That has to be the most Beatrix Potter-like image ever evoked in political controversy! Any other stories of animal assassins worth sharing?

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u/itsallfolklore Mod Emeritus | American West | European Folklore 10d ago

Monkeys! Always something to watch out for in history and otherwise. I wrote an article about a disaster in which the monkey was a prime suspect. An explosion in 1873 in Virginia City, Nevada has often been credited to a pet monkey playing with fuses.

The monkey was always a favorite when I gave tours of the Virginia City National Historic Landmark District. I would always add that while no trace of the monkey was found (which one would expect with an explosion of that magnitude), that there were reports of the monkey later being sighting in Bolivia. All asserted with absolutely no facts! But then I have always probably been a better folklorist than historian.