3. The King’s Soon-To-Be Bride Was a Fake All Along
During the years between 1665 to 1678, the African Kongo kingdom was torn apart by civil war, with two dueling noble houses looking to take control. Manuel de Nobrega, a relative of a former king, and Pedro III from the opposite household were at odds, with both wanting to win the throne.
De Nobrega decided to trick Pedro III by initiating a marriage between him and a woman from de Nobrega’s clan, intent on settling the civil war and bringing peace to Kongo. Just as Pedro III came to claim his future wife, however, it became apparent that de Nobrega disguised himself as the bride. Through this camouflage, de Nobrega came within steps of Pedro III, close enough to shoot and kill him. This left the throne at de Nobrega’s feet, and ended the Kongo civil war.