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Marie Antoinette Never Said “Let Them Eat Cake”
Everyone knows the story of Marie Antoinette, the out-of-touch French queen who supposedly responded to starving peasants by coldly declaring “Let them eat cake.” But here’s the shocking truth: she never said those words, and the phrase is now generally regarded as a journalistic cliché. This infamous quote that sealed her reputation as a heartless aristocrat was actually nothing more than political propaganda. The phrase can actually be traced back to Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s Confessions in 1765, 24 years prior to the French Revolution, and when Antoinette was nine years old and had never been to France. The phrase was not attributed to Antoinette until decades after her death. Historical evidence suggests that Marie Antoinette was actually generous to charitable causes and displayed sensitivity toward France’s poor population. Fraser also points out in her biography that Marie Antoinette was a generous patron of charity and moved by the plight of the poor when it was brought to her attention, thus making the statement out of character for her. The woman history painted as a selfish monster may have been one of the most misunderstood figures of her era.
Christopher Columbus Never Set Out to Prove the Earth Was Round
Here’s a myth that millions of schoolchildren still learn today: Christopher Columbus bravely sailed west to prove the world wasn’t flat, defying medieval superstition about falling off the edge of the earth. The reality? He was about 2,000 years too late, as ancient Greek mathematicians had already proven that the Earth was round, not flat. It’s almost certain that in the 1490s, nobody thought the earth was flat, with no educated person in the history of Western Civilization from the third century B.C. onward believing that the Earth was flat. The flat-earth myth surrounding Columbus didn’t even exist during his lifetime. Rather, it was invented in 1828, when Washington Irving published The Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus. Columbus faced resistance not because people thought he’d sail off the edge, but because his math was terrible. Columbus, a self-taught man, greatly underestimated the Earth’s circumference and also thought Europe was wider than it actually was and that Japan was farther from the coast of China than it really was. His success came from lucky miscalculations, not from proving the earth was round.
Albert Einstein Didn’t Fail Math as a Student
One of the most persistent myths about genius is that Albert Einstein failed math in school, giving hope to struggling students everywhere. This comforting story is completely false. Albert Einstein was a lousy student who failed math, but the theoretical physicist did fine in math, though he did flunk the entrance exam to the Zurich Polytechnic Institute on his first try at age 16, with the exam given in French, which Einstein wasn’t fluent in. Records show he passed the math section but failed the language, botany, and zoology sections. Einstein himself once responded to this myth by saying “Before I was fifteen I had mastered differential and integral calculus.” The man who would revolutionize physics with his theory of relativity was actually exceptional at mathematics from a young age. This myth likely persists because it makes Einstein seem more relatable, transforming him from an intimidating genius into someone who overcame early academic struggles. The truth is that Einstein’s brilliance showed itself early, and his supposed mathematical failures are nothing more than wishful thinking.
Napoleon Wasn’t Actually Short
When people think of Napoleon Bonaparte, they often picture a tiny man with a massive ego, compensating for his height with military conquests. The “Napoleon complex” has become synonymous with short men who act aggressively to overcompensate. But Napoleon wasn’t short at all. For years, the history books listed Napoleon’s official height as 5 feet, 2 inches, indisputably in “shorty” territory, but that’s because they mistakenly believed that a French “foot” was the same as an English foot. When the measurements are properly converted, Napoleon stretches to a respectable 5 feet, 7 inches, which is 2 inches taller than former French President Nicolas Sarkozy and nearly a head above Russian Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev. At five feet five, Napoleon Bonaparte was above average height for French men in his day. The confusion arose from different measurement systems and was perpetuated by British propaganda that wanted to diminish their enemy’s stature. So the next time someone mentions having a “Napoleon complex,” remind them that Napoleon was actually taller than average for his time.
Cleopatra Was More Than Just a Seductress
History remembers Cleopatra VII primarily for her romantic relationships with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, reducing one of the ancient world’s most powerful rulers to little more than a beautiful seductress. This portrayal does a massive disservice to one of history’s most brilliant political minds. Cleopatra VII, often depicted as a mere seductress, was much more than her relationships with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, as she was a shrewd politician and a learned scholar, fluent in multiple languages. Cleopatra ruled as a co-regent of Egypt, effectively navigating the treacherous waters of Roman politics, with her reign characterized by a strategic blend of diplomacy and military might, despite her efforts to preserve Egypt’s independence. She spoke at least nine languages and was the first Ptolemaic ruler to learn Egyptian, connecting with her subjects in ways her predecessors never did. Cleopatra was also a patron of learning and the arts, maintaining Alexandria’s status as a center of scholarship. Her relationships with Caesar and Antony weren’t just romantic dalliances but calculated political alliances designed to protect Egypt’s independence from Roman conquest. Rather than the shallow beauty of popular imagination, Cleopatra was a formidable leader who held her own against the might of Rome for nearly two decades.
William Howard Taft Never Got Stuck in the White House Bathtub
President William Howard Taft’s supposed bathtub incident has become one of America’s favorite presidential anecdotes. The story goes that the hefty 27th president got stuck in the White House bathtub and required assistance to get out. It’s a humorous tale that plays into stereotypes about Taft’s size, but it’s completely fabricated. William Howard Taft, the 27th U.S. president, once got stuck in the White House bathtub, but there’s no proof this ever happened—in fact, the myth did not circulate until around 20 years after Taft’s term ended. However, Taft is known to have bathed in a supersized tub in the White House that was seven feet long. This myth likely arose from the fact that Taft was indeed a large man who had a specially designed bathtub installed, but there are no contemporary accounts of him ever getting stuck in it. The story appears to be nothing more than a way to poke fun at a president who struggled with weight issues. Taft’s real legacy includes being the only person to serve as both President and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, achievements far more significant than any imaginary bathtub mishaps.
Walt Disney Wasn’t Cryogenically Frozen
One of the most persistent urban legends about Walt Disney claims that the animation pioneer was cryogenically frozen after his death, waiting for technology to advance enough to bring him back to life. Some versions even suggest his frozen head is stored beneath Cinderella Castle at Disney World. This macabre fairy tale has captivated imaginations for decades, but it’s completely false. Despite popular myth, Walt Disney was never cryogenically frozen, with Walt Disney dying from acute circulatory lung collapse on December 15, 1966, and two days later, Walt was cremated and interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, CA. There was a rumor around the time of Walt’s death and ever since he died there’s been rumors that he was into cryogenics, but it is absolutely not true that his head is underneath Cinderella’s castle, as he was cremated a couple days after he died. The myth likely arose because Disney was interested in futuristic technology and because the first human cryogenic freezing actually occurred just one month after Disney’s death. Walt Disney’s actual final resting place can be visited at Forest Lawn Cemetery in California, where he rests in peace rather than in some frozen state awaiting resurrection.
Walt Disney Wasn’t Anti-Semitic
Accusations of anti-Semitism have dogged Walt Disney’s reputation for decades, with claims that he discriminated against Jewish employees and harbored Nazi sympathies. These allegations have been thoroughly debunked by those who actually worked with him and by documented evidence of his actions. Disney Legend and animator Floyd Norman has been quoted saying: “It’s like the old ruse that Walt didn’t hire Jews, which was also ridiculous. There were plenty of Jews at Disney. Personally, I never felt any prejudice from Walt.” “As far as I’m concerned, there was no evidence of anti-Semitism,” said legendary storyman and concept artist Joe Grant, who was Jewish, adding “I think the whole idea should be put to rest and buried deep. He was not anti-Semitic. Some of the most influential people at the Studio were Jewish.” Disney’s actions speak louder than unfounded rumors. Walt regularly donated to a number of Jewish charities, like the Yeshiva College, the Jewish Home for the Aging, and the Hebrew Orphan Asylum of the City of New York, and in 1955, the Beverly Hills chapter of B’nai B’rith declared Walt its “Man of the Year” after extensive investigation. These false accusations appear to stem from the same sources that created other Disney myths, often motivated by attempts to tear down an American icon.
Vikings Never Wore Horned Helmets
Thanks to countless movies, TV shows, and comic books, everyone “knows” that Vikings wore intimidating horned helmets into battle. This iconic image is so embedded in popular culture that it’s nearly impossible to imagine Vikings without their distinctive headgear. The problem is, it’s completely wrong. This one has a clear culprit: Professor Carl Emil Doepler, the costume designer for the very first production of Richard Wagner’s epic opera cycle “Der Ring de Nibelungen” in 1876, with thousands of stagings of “The Ring” cycle worldwide making horns the de facto Viking helmet. So what did real Viking helmets look like? Truth is, we’re not too sure, as Viking remains have been dug up across Scandinavia, but archaeologists have found only one helmet, a rounded iron cap with a nose guard, but nary a horn in sight. The practical reasons for avoiding horned helmets are obvious – they would catch on branches, provide handholds for enemies, and serve no protective purpose. Doepler may have taken his inspiration from pre-Viking cultures in Northern Europe that used helmets with horns or antlers in religious rites. The horned helmet myth shows how a single artistic choice can create a “historical fact” that persists for centuries.
Catherine the Great Didn’t Die Having Sex with a Horse
Perhaps no historical figure has been subject to more scandalous rumors than Catherine the Great of Russia. The most notorious claim is that she died while attempting to have sex with a horse, crushed by the animal during the act. This salacious story has persisted for centuries, whispered in schoolyards and repeated in crude jokes. It’s also completely false and represents one of history’s most successful character assassinations. The legend learned in the playground by all British school children is that Catherine the Great was crushed while trying to have sex with a horse, but when people tackle this myth, they often perpetuate another one: that Catherine died on the toilet, which is better, but still not true. The truth is far more mundane: Catherine died of a stroke at age 67. Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia, was a formidable ruler whose reign was often marred by scandalous rumors, but her contributions to Russian culture, politics, and expansion were substantial, with Russia experiencing a cultural renaissance under her rule. These sexual myths were created by her political enemies to undermine her authority and legacy. Catherine was one of the most successful rulers in Russian history, expanding the empire, founding cities, and corresponding with Enlightenment philosophers. The persistence of these false stories says more about historical sexism than it does about Catherine herself.
Benjamin Franklin Didn’t Discover Electricity
The image of Benjamin Franklin flying a kite in a thunderstorm and discovering electricity is one of America’s most beloved origin stories. Like many beloved stories, it’s not quite true. Franklin didn’t discover electricity – it had been studied for decades before he was even born. Though he didn’t discover electricity, Benjamin Franklin coined most of the words we use today to describe it, including battery, conductor, and positive and negative charges, but one thing that he definitely didn’t discover was electricity. What Franklin actually did was much more sophisticated: he proved that lightning was electrical in nature and developed practical applications for this knowledge, including the lightning rod. His famous kite experiment was designed to test his theory about lightning, not to discover electricity itself. American statesman and Renaissance man Benjamin Franklin was a compulsive problem-solver, and among his many inventions were rudimentary “swim fins” and his famous bifocals. The man was indeed a genius, but his genius lay in understanding and applying electrical principles rather than discovering the phenomenon itself. This myth persists because it fits our narrative of American ingenuity and the self-made man conquering nature through determination and intelligence.
The Salem Witch Trials Didn’t Involve Burning at the Stake
When most people think of the Salem Witch Trials, they imagine women being burned at the stake, consumed by flames as punishment for their alleged supernatural crimes. This dramatic image has been reinforced by countless movies, books, and artistic depictions. However, this commonly held belief is wrong. The Salem Witch Trials certainly did happen and are an example of the subjugation and torment women faced at the time, but the whole burning-at-the-stake thing is false, with the women dispatched in more traditional means. In reality, most of the accused were hanged, while one man was pressed to death with heavy stones. The burning myth likely comes from European witch trials, where burning was indeed used, but it wasn’t the method employed in Salem. The Salem trials were horrific enough without embellishment – twenty people died, and hundreds more were accused and imprisoned. The confusion between American and European practices has created a false narrative that makes an already tragic chapter in American history seem even more barbaric than it actually was. This historical inaccuracy doesn’t diminish the real horror of what happened in Salem, but it does show how easily dramatic fiction can replace factual history in our collective memory.
Sir Isaac Newton’s Apple Didn’t Fall on His Head
The story of Isaac Newton’s discovery of gravity is one of science’s most famous moments: the great physicist sitting under an apple tree when suddenly, an apple falls and hits him on the head, leading to his revolutionary insights about gravitational force. It’s a perfect narrative of accidental discovery, the kind of serendipitous moment that makes science seem magical. Unfortunately, it’s not true. Sir Isaac Newton is credited for discovering gravity, and while this discovery did involve an apple falling from a tree, it didn’t fall on his head but instead simply in his family’s garden. Newton himself told the story differently: he observed an apple falling from a tree in his family’s garden and began to wonder why it fell straight down rather than at an angle or upward. This observation led him to contemplate the forces acting on objects and eventually to his law of universal gravitation. The head-bonking version makes for a better story because it suggests that great discoveries happen in sudden moments of inspiration, but the reality is that Newton’s insights came from careful observation and deep thinking over time. His apple story shows how scientific breakthroughs often start with simple observations of everyday phenomena, but they require brilliant minds to recognize their significance.
Medieval People Bathed Regularly and Weren’t Dirty
One of the most persistent myths about the Middle Ages is that people rarely bathed and lived in filthy conditions, contributing to disease and a generally miserable existence. This stereotype has been used to contrast our “civilized” modern world with the “barbaric” medieval period. The truth paints a very different picture of medieval hygiene.
Besides founding Festivaltopia, Luca is the co founder of trib, an art and fashion collectiv you find on several regional events and online. Also he is part of the management board at HORiZONTE, a group travel provider in Germany.
