Byzantine emperors loved blinding their political rivals instead of killing them because Orthodox Christian theology dictated that a mutilated person could never rightfully sit on the throne.

A closer look

Byzantine emperors loved blinding their political rivals instead of killing them because Orthodox Christian theology dictated that a mutilated person could never rightfully sit on the throne. This gruesome loophole allowed them to eliminate threats without committing the mortal sin of murder, essentially treating aggressive eye-gouging as a totally ethical and pious administrative strategy. Entire royal families were subjected to having their noses slit or their eyes ripped out to politely remove them from the line of succession. It beautifully demonstrates how deeply religious political figures have always excelled at finding violent, terrifying technicalities to maintain their own power while simultaneously claiming the absolute highest moral ground