THE KING WHO WANTED TOO MUCH

Friendly Sweden was not so friendly in the 1600s. The country was fighting Poland, Russia, Denmark, and Germany.

The King, Gustav Adolph II, had a plan. To build the most powerful warship, and being King, he’ll name it after his family: the Wasa.

The shipbuilder presents plans for a vessel with 36 cannons. No ship has more firepower.

Gustav says: “Thirty-six? I want seventy-two!” Being the King of Sweden, he says it in Swedish.

The shipbuilder mumbles something, also in Swedish, and draws new plans with two gundecks -- two floors of cannons. The ship will be top-heavy and weigh too much, but it’s what the King wants.

The shipyard starts building. Gustav screams, “Faster!!”, and the Wasa is finished in record time.

A noisy crowd gathers to watch the maiden voyage of the mightiest warship in the world.

Such a feeling of pride.

Until a slight breeze makes the top-heavy boat tilt, and the gun ports, which are open to show off the cannons inside, fill with water, and the Wasa sinks just 400 feet from shore.

The cheering stops.

The furious King screams: “who is responsible for the Wasa sinking?!”

Knowing it’s because he rushed construction, and ordered too many cannons, they tell the King who is to blame.

Someone who recently passed away and cannot be punished. 

Gustav nods.

 ?! SERIES

The wildest, craziest, most unbelievable stories that cannot be true. But somehow are.