A closer look
William the Conqueror literally exploded at his own funeral, showering the horrified royal guests in a putrid mixture of rotting flesh and bodily fluids. The famous Norman king had grown extremely obese in his later years, and after he died from battle injuries, his body was left to rot for weeks due to a series of chaotic political disputes. By the time they finally brought him to the church for burial, his massive corpse had swelled up like a balloon from the buildup of decomposition gases. When the monks tried to forcefully shove his swollen body into a stone sarcophagus that was severely too small, his abdomen violently ruptured under the pressure. The horrific explosion filled the cathedral with an unbearable stench that caused mourners to vomit and run for the exits, ensuring the conquering monarch went out with a terrifying, apocalyptic bang instead of the solemn, dignified send-off he actually paid for
