“Let us relieve the Romans from the anxiety they have so long experienced, since they think it tries their patience too much to wait for an old man’s death.”
The Carthaginian general and military genius reputedly left behind this letter before taking poison to escape Roman soldiers.
“Thanks be to God! For I shall now die in peace, since I know that the most valiant and accomplished knight of my kingdom will perform that for me which I am unable to do for myself.”
Robert the First King of the Scots, referring to the removal of his heart after he was dead and taking it to Jerusalem’s Holy Sepulchre, the reputed burial site of Jesus. He died at the Manor of Cardross, near Dumbarton Scotland.
“Youth, I forgive you. Loose his chains and give him 100 shillings.”
Fatally wounded by an archer, King Richard I of England gave orders for the killer to be released. His soldiers ignored this last request and had the archer executed after the King’s death in Châlus France.
“All my possessions for a moment of time.”
The last words of Elizabeth the First, Queen of England. She died at Richmond Palace during a severe bout of melancholy.
“O Lord, into your hands I commend my spirit.”
Queen of Scotland, quoting the words of Jesus before being executed by beheading at Fotheringhay Castle.
“Pardon me sir, I did not do it on purpose.”
Queen of France during the revolution, spoken after stepping on the executioner’s foot as she approached the guillotine to be beheaded at the Place de la Concorde.
“I die hard, but I am not afraid to go.. I am just going. Have me decently buried, and do not let my body be put into the vault in less than two days after I am dead. Do you understand me? ‘Tis well.”
The final words of the first President of the US, spoken to his private secretary – he wanted to be certain of not being entombed alive. George Washington died at his home from a ‘violent inflammation of the throat’ at the age of 84.
“Have I played the part well? Then applaud as I exit.”
The final words of Augustus, the first Roman Emperor, who was also known as Octavian. After several months of poor health he died while visiting the town of Nola, which was also the place of his father’s death.
“A dying man can do nothing easily.”
One of the founding fathers of the US, replying to his daughter when she suggested he may breathe easier by lying on his side. Benjamin Franklin died at his home in Philadelphia from pleurisy, aged 84.
“She won’t think anything about it.”
Reassuring his wife that their friend wouldn’t mind them holding hands, shortly afterwards he was fatally shot in the head from behind by assassin John Wilkes Booth.
