Which families are considered cursed: top 8 dynasties with tragedies

Some families seem to attract misfortune. In India, they call it karma, in the Christian world, a family curse. You can laugh at superstitions as much as you like, but the stories of clans where tragedies follow one another make you wonder: what if there is something to it? Today we will tell you about eight famous families - Kennedy, Romanov, Gandhi and others, whose destinies seem to be marked by fate.

Curse: Death from terrible diseases and disasters

Who cursed: the women of the McNorman family

Reason: murder

The Kennedy family is a symbol of the American dream. But behind their success there is a dark shadow. It all began, they say, with Patrick Kennedy, an Irishman who came to the United States in 1840 and made his fortune in a not entirely honest way. He was a highwayman who robbed travelers. One day, his gang attacked Sir McNorman's stagecoach in Texas. Lady McNorman and her daughter Jill, who were carrying a dowry for a wedding, were riding in the carriage. The robbers didn't just take the gold - they killed everyone, including the women, after having abused them. Before they died, the mother and daughter cursed their tormentors.

Patrick died young, at 35, leaving his wife and son a sizable inheritance. But the curse seemed to have taken root. His descendants were plagued by illness, disaster, and murder. Patrick's grandson Joseph became an invalid, and his children died one after another. Rosemary died after a botched lobotomy, Kathleen died in a plane crash, and Joseph Jr. died during the war when his plane exploded. John Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States, was shot in 1963, and his brother Robert was shot by a fanatic in 1968. Even Edward, who lived to be 77, was not spared: his career collapsed after a scandal involving his drowned mistress.

The next generation inherited the same fate. Robert's son David died of an overdose, Michael died in a skiing accident, and John Fitzgerald Jr., John's son, died in a plane crash along with his wife. Is the Kennedy curse real or just a coincidence? There is no answer, but the facts speak for themselves.

Curse: Death in disasters and loneliness

Who cursed: enemies from the business world

Reason: Ruthless methods in business

Greek tycoon Aristotle Onassis built a shipping empire, but his family paid a high price. Rumor has it that his hard-line business practices turned him into an enemy. In 1973, his son Alexander died in a plane crash shortly after takeoff. His daughter Christina died in 1988 from a drug overdose, and his first wife Tina battled depression and died young.

His marriage to Jacqueline Kennedy in 1968 added fuel to the fire of rumors that the two "cursed" families had merged. Aristotle himself died in 1975, broken by grief. His granddaughter Athena, Christina's daughter, was the last of the family, but her life was also full of drama. Is the Onassis curse a myth or a price for ambition?

Curse: Bad luck in marriage and personal relationships

Who cursed: a witch from Holland

Reason: resentment and betrayal

The ruling family of Monaco, the Grimaldis, are famous not only for their wealth, but also for their failures in their personal lives. Legend has it that in the 13th century, Prince Rainier kidnapped a Dutch girl, dishonored her, and abandoned her. It turned out she was a witch. In her anger, she cursed the family: “No Grimaldi will ever know happiness in marriage!” And this has been true for centuries.

In 1956, Prince Rainier III married actress Grace Kelly, hoping to change his fate. Their wedding seemed like a fairy tale, but the happiness did not last long. Grace was sad in the palace, and in 1982, her car fell off the cliff. She died, leaving her daughter Stephanie in shock, but alive. Rainier never married again, and his children inherited the family "bad luck". Caroline survived three marriages: the first broke up, the second husband died, the third lives separately. Stephanie became famous for her stormy romances and two divorces. And Prince Albert II, the son of Rainier and Grace, became the hero of gossip: affairs with stars, illegitimate children and scandalous accusations. His marriage to Charlene Wittstock also began with drama - the bride almost ran away from the altar. Is the witch's curse still in force?

Curse: Violent death and loss of power

Who cursed: the people and Grigory Rasputin

Reason: cruelty of rule and mystical influence

The Romanovs ruled Russia for three centuries, but their end was tragic. Rumors of a curse are linked to Grigori Rasputin, whose influence on the last tsars provoked the people's anger. Others say that the trouble came earlier, because of the cruelty of their ancestors. Tsarevich Alexei, the son of Nicholas II, suffered from hemophilia, and the entire family was shot in 1918 in the basement of the Ipatiev House.

But the tragedies began even before the revolution. Alexander I died alone, surrounded by secrets, and his brother Nicholas I lost his son in the war. Alexander II, the "tsar-liberator", was killed by a bomb in 1881. Even those Romanovs who survived after 1917 faced exile and poverty. Curse or price for the throne? History is silent.

Curse: Unexplained Deaths and Financial Collapses

Who cursed: deceived competitors

Reason: unfair deals and lust for power

The Rothschild family is a legend in the financial world. Their empire began in the 18th century with Mayer Amschel Rothschild, who rose from humble beginnings as a money changer to become the banker of European kings. But with success comes rumors. The Rothschilds' wealth is said to be "cursed" because of dodgy deals or grievances against competitors. In the 19th century, one of their sons, Mayer Amschel Jr., died under mysterious circumstances while hunting. His brother Nathan died of an infection in 1836, and in the next generation, suicide and illness became common.

For example, Baron Alfred Rothschild died alone and depressed in 1918, and his relative Leopold died of tuberculosis in his youth. In the 20th century, Evelyn Rothschild lost his daughter Anna in a car accident in 1996. A curse or the envy of enemies? No one knows, but the shadow of misfortune still hovers over this dynasty.

Curse: Madness and premature death

Who cursed: rivals for the throne

Reason: deception during land seizure

The Habsburgs ruled half of Europe, from Spain to Austria, but their greatness was marred by misfortune. Legend has it that in the 13th century, Rudolf I deceived his rivals into taking their lands, angering them so much that they cursed his line. From then on, madness and premature deaths haunted the Habsburgs. Juana the Mad, Queen of Spain, went mad after losing her husband, and her descendants suffered from genetic diseases caused by inbreeding.

Archduke Franz Ferdinand was shot in 1914, sparking World War I. His brother Maximilian became Emperor of Mexico, but was executed by rebels in 1867. Marie Antoinette, daughter of the Habsburgs, ended her life on the guillotine during the French Revolution. Even in the 20th century, the last emperor, Charles I, died in exile from illness. Their famous “Habsburg jaw” became a symbol not only of power but also of fate. The curse of deceived enemies seems to still haunt them.

Curse: Death and loss of heirs

Who cursed: unknown (possibly the people or enemies)

Reason: collaboration with fascists

The Agnelli family, owners of FIAT and Juventus, are the Italian equivalent of Kennedy. They are also haunted by fate, and it all began with a terrible story. In 1935, Edoardo, the son of the company's founder, Giovanni Agnelli, died in an absurd and horrific way: a seaplane propeller cut off his head. Since then, people have been talking about a curse. They say the reason is Giovanni's connection with the fascists, thanks to whom FIAT became a giant.

After Edoardo's death, the company was headed not by a relative, but by a family friend. Only in 1966 did Gianni Agnelli, Edoardo's son, take over. But things were going badly, and there were no heirs. His son Eduardo was into drugs and religion, and in 2000 he committed suicide. Giovanni's nephew Alberto died of cancer at 33, Gianni himself died of the same disease in 2003, and his brother Umberto a year later. Today, Gianni's grandson John is in charge of FIAT. Will he be able to break the cycle of misfortune?

Curse: Murders and Sudden Losses

Who cursed: the people and the clergy

Reason: violation of traditions and sacred things

The Gandhis are India's political dynasty, but their rise to power is littered with tragedy. It all began with Indira, the daughter of the first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. She defied tradition by marrying a Parsi, Feroze Gandhi, in 1942. In India, where caste and faith are sacred, it caused a storm of anger. People and priests cursed her for her impudence.

Feroz died of a heart attack, Indira's father of a heart attack. Her youngest son Sanjay died in a plane crash, and her eldest, Rajiv, who married an Italian woman, Sonia, became prime minister after his mother. Indira brought even more troubles by violating Sikh holy sites and introducing forced sterilization. In 1984, she was shot by her bodyguards - 20 bullets were found in Indira's body. Rajiv was killed in 1991 by a terrorist. Their son Rahul continues the business, but the shadow of the curse still hovers over the family.

Identical scenarios, recurring fates and inexplicable losses - all this makes one think about the legacy not only material, but also energetic. And how do you yourself explain the series of tragedies that are passed down from generation to generation?