History, But Strange

Overthrown While Under the Knife: A King Loses His Throne During Surgery
Strange RoyalsModern

July 17: Overthrown While Under the Knife: A King Loses His Throne During Surgery

Strangeness
10/10

What Happened on This Day in History?

On July 17, 1973, King Mohammed Zahir Shah of Afghanistan was deposed by his own cousin Mohammed Daoud Khan while he was literally on a surgical operating table in Italy, completely unaware his 40-year reign had just ended. He never returned to power.

Why It's Strange

Being overthrown while under general anesthesia during surgery abroad is perhaps the most uniquely helpless way a monarch has ever lost a throne - his cousin essentially waited for the perfect moment of total vulnerability to seize the country.

Overthrown While Under the Knife: A King Loses His Throne During Surgery — historical illustration depicting Jul 17, 1973

Sources & References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammad_Zahir_Shah
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Overthrown WhileUnder the Knife: AKing Loses HisThrone During…Mohammed ZahirShah
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Mohammed Zahir Shah
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Mohammed Zahir Shah

The last King of Afghanistan, he was deposed by his own cousin while he was lying on a surgical operating table in Italy, unaware of the coup taking place.