When you think of history and the events that changed the course of history, you generally think of wars or important pacts and treaties. But the course of history has often been changed by things we cannot even imagine. Just imagine you fall sick and that changes the course of history. Well, it is exactly what has happened a few times.
Here is a look at few times how history was changed because someone fell ill.
1. Napoleon
Napolean might not have lost at Waterloo if he was not sick.
Napoleon Bonaparte is a name you all must be aware of. If know about him, then you would also know about the famous battle of Waterloo, which is said to mark the end of his conquests.
He was actually suffering from hemorrhoids and it was causing him much pain and trouble. Due to his illness, he was no longer able to lead his troops. What made it worse, he was accidentally prescribed an overdose which made him drowsy and in fact he actually fell asleep during the battle.
2. John F. Kennedy
Kennedy would have survived if he was not wearing the back braces.
Much like Napolean, JFK also meet his end because of an illness. It is said that Kennedy would have survived if he was able to just duck or bend forward. Days before the assassination, Kennedy suffered a groin problem and the pain was so much that he was suggested to wear back braces. The braces kept him upright and did not allow him to bend.
Thus, when shots were fired he was unable to move and was killed.
3. Sophie Tucker
Her illness paved the way for Mamie Smith to became the first black blues singer.
Well, you might not know her, but it in a way she is responsible for giving voice to millions. Tucker once became ill and had to back out of a recording session. This made way for Mamie Smith.
Mamie Smith created history by becoming the first becoming the first black blue singer to record a song.
4. Margeret Mitchell
It was actually an injury that led to the birth of the ‘Gone With The Wind’.
Margeret Mitchell, as you all know, is the author of the famous book ‘Gone with the Wind’. The book was later into a film of the same name and the film is now considered a classic.
She developed arthritis in her knees and was unable to move. It was during this time that her husband gave her a typewriter and jokingly told her that if she needs a book, then she should write one herself.
Thus, one of the greatest novels of the 20th century was born.
5. Richard Nixon
Nixon lost his chance to become the President because of an injury.
It is said that Nixon once lost his chance to become president because of a door. It so happened that Nixon was seriously injured by a door and he had to be actually hospitalized.
He almost came straight down from the hospital to participate in the first televisioned debate in U.S. history. Nixon was not only in a lot of pain but he was also suffering from high fever. This made Nixon sweat a lot and looked like he was nervous.
This made people believe he was not confident and finally the verdict went against him.
6. Julius Caesar
His health problems had taken away his desire to live and therefore he did not pay much attention to all the warnings.
We all know that Caesar was assassination. He was betrayed by his own friend. However, what makes his assassination more intriguing is the fact that he was actually warned by several people but he did not pay any heed to these warnings.
Caesar was suffering from epilepsy and it had made him weak.
It is said that before he was assassinated, Caesar had actually confessed that he longer had any desire to live.
7. Mahatma Gandhi
He fell sick and was released from prison, which in turn changed the course of India’s independence.
You cannot imagine India’s struggle for Independence without Gandhi. Gandhi was arrested and sent to jail in the year 1922. Gandhiji was to serve a 6-year sentence but he soon fell ill and was released after 2 years. The following years were one of the most important years of his life.
It was during this time that he became president of the Congress and declared the need for complete independence.
8. General Leclerc
Leclerc got affected by yellow fever as unable to lead and defeat the slave rebellion in Haiti. Haiti later became the first Latin American country to become independent.
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General Leclerc was one of the most important generals of Napolean. Leclerc was in charge of a French army that was sent to curb a slave uprising in Haiti. Napolean thought that his forces would be easily able to curb the rebellion.
But as it happened, General Leclerc got affected by yellow fever and was unable to lead them. The people of Haiti took advantage of this situation and were able to force the french troops to retaliate.
9. Fredrick III
If he had not fallen sick, World War I could have been avoided.
Of all the people in the list Fredrick III’s case probably stands out. He was the ruler of Germany and had managed to deal with all other volatile political forces in Europe with tact and diplomacy.
Unfortunately for him and the world, he died because of a larynx cancer, which was actually treatable. After his death, there was no one who could maintain peace among the nations. Which, in turn, resulted in the first World War.
10. Alexander the Great
It was actually his fever that led to the end of his empire.
There have been many conspiracies about his death but it unquestionably agreed that Alexander was suffering from high fever. He actually had no legal heir to the throne. So, at his death bed when he was asked who should be the next ruler, he famously replied ‘the strongest’.
And this actually led to a series of power struggles between his generals which brought an end to his kingdom. The interesting fact is, he later had a son who was born posthumously and was killed in his teens. So, maybe if Alexander had not suffered from that fever then would have lived to raise and train his son to be the next heir to the throne.
Well, next time you fall sick, you never know, it might just change the course of history.