There aren't many women like Olga of Kiev — thank goodness.
While we certainly admire Olga's cunning mind and wonderfully strategic thinking, we have to admit she's a bit of a psychopath.
Now, Olga ruled Kiev circa the year 960, so it's hard to judge her (We're pretty sure every ruler during that time was about as ruthless as Olga). But there weren't many women back in the day who were allowed to roll with the big dogs…which was sort of the problem.
You see, Olga didn't take too well to the idea of being forced into marriage after her husband died. She was happy to rule Kiev herself. Way back then — and sadly, even today — people were not into a woman ruler.
But much like Claire Underwood from House of Cards, Olga wasn't one to sit comfortably in the shadow of any man. She took matters into her own hands and went absolutely bonkers. And by bonkers, we mean she killed a whole bunch of people (and used birds to do it).
Around the 900s, Princess Olga was the wife of Igor of Kiev. When Igor was killed by the Drevlians, Olga was determined to remain in power.
However, the Drevlians, unsupportive of a female ruler, sent twenty of their best male ambassadors to convince Olga to marry the Drevlian Prince Mal.
When the twenty men arrived, Olga had them buried alive.
She sent a message to Prince Mal saying she had accepted a marriage proposal. There was only requirement: that he send the Drevlians’ most distinguished men to escort her on her journey to Prince Mal.
Click to the next page to see what Olga did once the men arrived at her home…
When the men arrived at her home, she offered them the hospitable chance to clean up in a bathhouse.
...And after the men entered the bathhouse, she locked the door and set the building on fire, burning them all alive.
With the most distinguished Drevlians gone, Olga was set on destroying the rest.
She invited the Drevlians to a feast. When they got drunk, her soldiers killed over 5,000 of them.
You won't believe how Olga reacted when she was begged for mercy…click to the next page to find out!
She prepared an army to destroy the Drevlians but they begged for mercy. Olga told them that if each one offered three pigeons and three sparrows as tribute, she would let them go. The Drevalians agreed.
Olga instructed each soldier to tie a piece of cloth with sulfur onto the leg of each bird. Each piece of cloth was then lit on fire and, when the birds were freed at night to return to their homes, things got messy.
The birds went straight to their owners with flaming cloths still in tow. When each bird landed, they set fire to their owners' homes. The entire city was ablaze thanks to Olga’s maniacal plan.
Olga is credited for creating the first legal reform in Eastern Europe’s recorded history. She remained ruler by evading marriage proposals until 968.
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