We recently asked members of the BuzzFeed Community to tell us about an unsolved mystery they just can't stop thinking about...and a number of them were actually ~old~ historical mysteries! So, we decided to round them up in a post of their own. Check it out...
Warning: Graphic content ahead, viewer discretion advised.
1. The princes in the tower. (1483)
What happened:
As explained above, Princes Edward (12) and Richard (9) were placed in the Tower of London by their uncle, Richard, the Duke of Gloucester in 1483. For a little more context, the young boys were born during the infamous Wars of the Roses (1455-85), which was essentially a series of wars between two rival sides of a family fighting for the throne of England. Suffice it to say, there was a lot of family drama and killing going on at the time. So, when their uncle put Edward in the tower, he claimed it was for "protection," and it didn't raise suspicions. According to reports at that time, the boys were seen less and less over time, and eventually never again. It's suspected they were murdered, but no one knows for sure, and if they were, by who.
2. The man in the iron mask. (1703)
What happened:
In the late 1600s to early 1700s, an unknown man who wore a black velvet mask (not iron!) was imprisoned at the Bastille in Paris until he died there in 1703. From the 18th century onward, many people have had theories as to who he was, ranging from an English nobleman to a brother of King Louis XIV. Apparently, though, most historians believe that he was a man named Eustache Dauger who was likely a valet, and that he didn't actually wear the mask all the time.
3. The Dyatlov Pass incident. (1959)
What happened:
In February 1959, nine hikers died in the mountains of Russia under very bizarre circumstances. Their bodies were found scattered around the mountain and some in horrifying states: skulls and chests smashed open, eyes missing, and one person even was missing their tongue. Apparently, an investigation at the time suggested the cause of death was an "unknown natural force." There have been many theories over the years as to what happened, but it's a mystery that still remains unsolved.
4. The Villisca axe murders. (1912)
What happened:
Sometime between June 9 and 10, 1912, the Moore family — parents Josiah and Sarah, and their four children — and two guests (also children), were bludgeoned to death in the night at the Moores' home in Villisca, Iowa. The eight victims were killed with an axe that the killer(s) had found in the backyard. According to reports, the killer(s) had searched the house for pieces of clothing to cover the mirrors in the house and glass in the doors. Authorities also found a slab of bacon next to the axe, a plate of uneaten food, and a bowl of bloody water in the kitchen. Several leads were followed over the years, but it remains a cold case.