5 Memorable Abdications

Earlier this week, it was announced that, while the seemingly ageless Queen Elizabeth II keeps on plugging away in the UK, fellow monarchical matriarch Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands will step down on April 30th to allow her son to take over the role as the Dutch Head of State. While this transition in monarchy gives the impression that abdications are genteel and civilized affairs, that's not usually the case. It's always messy when power changes hands, especially with royalty. Case in point: the recent announcement of the discovery of remains positively identified as England's infamous Richard III, a man who very likely murdered his nephews to obtain power....and died from a smashed in skull. And while most kings and queens don't go out that violently, many who've left the throne before their death have done so surrounded by shameful and tawdry goings-on. Here's our list of the most memorable abdications in history, in reverse historical order.