Year: 1872

The cruelty OF Media Karu, King ot


Cor n, towards his female subjects was


notable A strict supervision was kept


over all the women of his ration, and his
cruelty to them ultimately the cause


Of his death. II seems they were forbid.


den to appear at the windows OF their
own homes or TO walk out even in their
own gardens after sunset. The sandel-


makers were forbidden TO make coverings


for their feet, in order that they might


not be able TO trnvel about.


Toward the last of his terrible reign


when his carriage was to pass through u
seaport town female effigy was posted
in one of the princi u streets.


The royal carri \ neared 1t and his
majesty, seeing rs he supposed a woman
standing in his very presence, in great
fury ordered his guards to advance and
sever her head fr M her body. Upon
approaching to execute this order the


imposition was discovered, and the


guards conveyed this fac. to the occu.
pant of the royal carriage. This so en-.
ragged Media Karu that he ordered the
town to be leveled and its inhabitants
put to the sword


1t was fired in several places, but the
frantic inhabitants, goaded to despair
defended their homes with all the fury
OF lunatics, and thus the battle lasted foI
nearly n week, when having gained but
slight advantage, the king "a coward al
heart withdrew from the contest with
the loss of nearly half his force. He
even sent word to the besieged thai We
had not ordered pilage to commence ana
endeavored to convince them of the
truth Of his assertion by Staying the com
mander of his guards but IN reality
doing it from chagrin at being defeated
IL his murderous ack.


Retiring to his capital after the most
inglorious struggle, he fercely upraided
his own wife, alleging that she with all
her sex were to blame because the affair
was first brought about by female efligy.
Well indeed did the queen understand
this conduct of her brutal consort well
did she know that from that time forth
her own life was in danger, ,ond she deter
mined to avert the impending blow by
being herself the first to strike


To this end she consulted with an Off
Ger of inferior grade, attached to the body
guard, who had recently fallen under the
kings displeasure, representing to him
the danger both were in, and promising
he would aid in sending the monster
by "quick transit to the other world,
he should be placed high in power for
the balance of his life.


The offer was accepted, and the services
)f two trrlsty servants were procured by |
.he use of large sum of ready money, |
md further encouraged by the promise
Of future reward. Each was armed with
| Gair of daggers of the keenest edge.
The queen herself directed them to n
title valley at the rear of the palace to
which the king often resorted, accom-
panied only by single attendant, for
he purpose of bathing. While here he
vas set upon, the attendant put to flight,
md Media Karu killed while in the act of
And thus perished at the
,arly age of AZ, one of the most infamous
that ever sat upon barbarian
hrone. Meantime, the soldiery, the sole
upport of all despots, had either been
weaned or bought over, and
he young prince, then scarcely u years
# age, ascended the blood. stained throne
# his father.