The Corpse Who Was Crowned Queen

In 1357 Dom Pedro became King Dom Pedro of Portugal.  In 1355 Pedro's father, then the King of Portugal, had had Pedro's wife/lover, Ines, assassinated.  She was stabbed to death and she was the love of Pedro's life.  Rumor is that when Pedro became King he exhumed her body, placed it on a throne next to his, put the crown on her skull and forced the entire court to swear allegiance to the dead Queen by kissing her bony hand.  He found 2 of the 3 murderers.  As they were tortured to death in a public square King Pedro watched from a balcony of the Royal Palace while he ate dinner.  One's heart was eventually pulled out of his body through his back and the other's heart was pulled out of his body through the chest.  Thereafter King Pedro became known as Pedro the Cruel.  Ines and Pedro have inspired poems, stories, literature, songs, etc. through the centuries.  Many call them the Romeo and Juliet of Portugal.  They are still remembered to this day in Portugal.  There is a Portuguese saying used in everyday life:  "Agora e tarde; Ines e morta" (It's too late; Ines is dead").