They made an unexpected choice of a pet.
Many famous historical individuals were known Pets, however some people were not limited to dogs or cats.
10. Pope Leo H. White elephant
In many parts of South-East Asia white elephants were considered sacred. They say Pope Leo X (a member of the powerful Medici family and the last man, who became Pope without being a priest) received a white elephant Hanno a gift for your coronation. It gave him the Portuguese king Manuel I. Hanno was well trained and smart, understand and follow command on Indian and Portuguese. Hanno quickly became the darling of the Pope. Unfortunately, the elephant was not able to adapt to their new home. 3 years after moving to Rome he became ill and died. He was buried in Cortile de Belvedere, and the Pope commissioned Raphael to paint a commemorative fresco of Hanno (which has not survived).
9. Ivan The Terrible. Bears
Ivan the terrible was famous for his inventions in execution. Perhaps one of the most favorite kinds of punishment was to leave a man at the mercy of the bears. Often said that in the cellars of the king kept two or even more specifically underfed bears to which he gave the prisoners. Or sometimes pulled bears on innocent bystanders just for fun.
8. Josephine Bonaparte. Orangutan
The first wife of Napoleon Bonaparte, like many French aristocrats at the time, loved exotic animals. Her favourite was the female orangutan, which was even allowed to eat with her at the table. The orangutan was wearing a beautiful dress and surprisingly well behaved in the hotel. Besides, the Empress was exotic birds, kangaroos, EMUs and Australian black Swan.
7. Marquis Lafayette. American alligator
Often been said that the President of the United States John Adams had an alligator. It is not so. The alligator belonged to the Marquis Lafayette, who received a pet as a gift. When the Marquis arrived with his pet in the White house, the alligator was launched in the tub. So all of you who accidentally came into the room, a surprise awaited.
6. Licinius Murena. Moray
The Romans generally loved the eels, not only as a delicacy but also as Pets. No exception was the Consul Licinius Murena. He was kept in special pools 6000 Moray eels. But the forage fish often become poor servants. Some experts believe that Pets, Licinius was not of eels, and lampreys.
5. Nero. Tigress
It is sometimes said that the only being whom he loved Nero, was a tigress. For the first time the Emperor saw the beast in the gladiatorial fights. The tiger was more fierce than three other tigers combined. For it Nero built a Golden cage, but the tiger is almost not lived. Most often it was close to the Emperor, even during his meal with the guests. Anyone who could not please Nero, was hit in the stomach of the predator. Here is such a sad pun.
4. Ramses II. Leo
Ramses II was very fond of cats. He himself was in their hearts for Leo. The beast not only was a court pet, but also often helped during the battle. In General, Egyptians often took on the field of battle hungry lions and releasing them, spreading panic among the enemy’s cavalry and infantry.
3. Mozart. Starling
From musical genius could be just an animal. Preserved records that Mozart bought a Starling on the bird Bazaar and was keeping it as a pet for 3 years. The musician became very attached to the bird and admired its ability to mimic the sounds and melodies of Mozart.
2. Virgil. Fly
Virgil, the Roman poet, has always somehow been associated with flies. He even created a bronze statue of the flies guarding the Gates of Naples. According to the legend of Virgil’s bones protected Naples from the enemy, which flew swarms of flies. In fact, the poet was not pet-flies. But at that time he learned that the government planned to confiscate land from the rich and divide them among war veterans, except those whose lands are mausoleums. Then Virgil held an elaborate funeral for the fly, which, he said, was his favorite. The insect’s body was buried in an expensive mausoleum. The whole idea cost the poet at 800,000 sesterces, but he kept his ground.
1. Pope Alexander II. A hybrid chimp-human?
Probably the strangest exotic pet on this list, although it retains very little information, and some experts do consider him a legend. Say, count Gulielmus had a pet-a monkey (probably a chimpanzee). When the count was not at home, his wife had a dubious relationship with this primacy. One day the monkey brutalized and severely mortally injured the count. The woman gave birth to a strange creature. Somehow this hybrid was from Pope Alexander II. Although it is technically possible to obtain such a hybrid, in practice, such cases were not registered. So this story remains a mystery still.
