Do you know of any kings or queens who came into power because they killed off a sibling?

Question

Do you know of any kings or queens who came into power because they killed off a sibling?

Answer 1

Right off hand, the historical Richard III  (1452-1485) had his older brother, George Plantagenet, the Duke of Clarence, privately executed after trying him for treason for plotting against Edward IV.  Clarence's execution also conveniently removed an older brother who would have succeeded to the English throne before Richard.  

Of course, William Shakespeare's tragedy/history, "Richard III", has Clarence, who was a heavy drinker, drowned in a butt of malmsey. When Clarence's body was exhumed in modern times, it showed no signs of a traditional execution.  Richard also supposedly ordered the execution of his two young nephews within the confines of the Tower of London.  Josephine Tey's "The Daughter of Time" (1949), which questions whether Richard was as arch a villain as Shakespeare makes him out to be, makes for a really good read.

Answer 2

Modern European Royal Murder Victims

http://www.angelfire.com/in3/theodore/ro...

Answer 3

try the Pharoahs of Egypt, they were always killing off siblings, daughters sons, especially the Ptolemy group, not to mention incest,

Answer 4

I guess not!

Answer 5

King William II was killed in a so called "hunting accident" that his brother (later to be known as) King Henry I was on that same hunting trip in another part of the woods, the two brothers never really got along with each other.

Answer 6

There have always been rumours in the past.  Below is  a link that should help you.  This is a reference page to find circumstances of death for royal persons that died of non natural causes. Causes of death considered include murder, assassination, killed in action and other less common ones.

The time span considered goes from the fall of the Western Roman Empire to present. The term royal persons for the time being is strict in its significance, i.e. only individuals bearing the title of King, Queen or higher are considered. Crown princes are also included in the lists.

http://www.mazdakan.net/

Here's one that actually happened recently and it's quite sad:

Dipendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev (June 27, 1971 – June 4, 2001) was de facto King of Nepal from June 1 to June 4, 2001. He killed his family at a royal dinner on June 1, 2001. Dipendra was also mortally wounded by what the official report characterizes as a self-inflicted gunshot to the side of the head. After the murder of his father, he officially became king for three days as he lingered in a coma.

According to official accounts, Dipendra was denied his choice of a wife by his mother, and so he massacred his family in a much-publicised incident after indulging in a drinking binge. Among the dead were his father King Birendra, mother, brother, and sister. Dipendra survived comatose for three days, and was proclaimed king in his hospital bed. He died of his injuries on June 4 and was succeeded by his uncle, Prince Gyanendra.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dipendra_of...

And another of interest

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princes_in_...

best of luck to you!