King Adolf Frederick Of Sweden Who ‘Ate Himself To Death’
DeAgostini/Getty ImagesKing Adolf Frederick is best known for his rather embarrassing royal death.
King Adolf Frederick of Sweden was a middling king who would have likely left little mark on history if not for the way he died. On Feb. 12, 1771, the Swedish monarch apparently ate himself to death.
Until that point, Adolf Frederick hadn’t accomplished much. According to Ancient Origins, he was born a younger son of a Swedish noble who, thanks to maneuvering by Elizabeth of Russia, ended up as heir to the Swedish throne. Once there, he was more a figurehead than a ruler.
But though Adolf Frederick had little power, he had a royal appetite. And as the monarch prepared for Lent in 1771, he sat down for a feast fit for a king.
Getty ImagesAfter tucking into a generous feast, Adolf Frederick allegedly enjoyed more than a dozen semlas, a cream-filled Swedish pastry.
On Fettisdagen, or Fat Tuesday, Adolf Frederick tucked into a meal that included lobster, caviar, kippers, sauerkraut, boiled meats, and turnips, all washed down with generous pours of champagne. He might have survived the night if he’d stopped there, but the king also called for a dessert.
After his feast, Adolf Frederick enjoyed semlas, Swedish pastries filled with cream that were traditionally eaten on Fat Tuesday. Not only did the king feast on 14 of these pastries, but he also enjoyed them alongside a bowl of hot milk flavored with cinnamon and raisins.
Unsurprisingly, he complained of a stomachache soon afterward. The king’s stomachache got worse and worse, until Adolf Frederick died, apparently from severe digestive problems. His embarrassing royal death cemented the king in history and, indeed, he’s remembered for little else.
