What's the most disturbing story in history?

The brutality of history, in general, is what disturbs me. For thousands of years, history was painted. Kings were mighty, Queens were regal, and when they died, all that remained of them were the grand palaces and magnificent temples they behind for us mere mortals to gawk at.

Sometimes the King would fall. His Kingdom replaced by another. Still, the paintings only remained, and in them he would look… powerful. In control of himself, and his destiny. Along comes this pesky little invention called photography. And now, for the first time ever, we get to see the mighty, Godlike rulers for who they truly are. Take the Mughal Empire for instance — the Mughals are always painted as strong, bearded men, dressed to the nines, pointed shoes, elaborate robes and their strong hand always on the handle of their sword, ready to strike at an enemy…

And here we see Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last Mughal Emperor. He is 87 years old, his throne taken from him by the British who now Lord over all of India. Most sons and grandsons of the old ruler are dead. His daughters and granddaughter live in poverty. It’s the 1860s, and photography is now around to show what remains of the old boss of all that was… a depressed, disillusioned ancient figure, well aware of having lost all that he was held dear. Next to him, an opium pipe — drugs are all that keeps him sane. All that keeps the nightmares of what once was and is now forever lost, at bay.

What disturbs me most about history is how unforgiving it is. How even the greatest and mightiest of Kings can end up a depressed and miserable drug addict, a shadow of his former self. That the final ruler of a Kingdom that once built the Taj Mahal can die a broken man on a pile of pillows, a pipe of opium his only solace and companion…