From beheadings to abdications: a brief history of royal redundancies
As Emperor Akihito stands aside, Simon Tisdall looks back at other notable departures
Redundant royals have been disposed of in various grisly and ingenious ways over the centuries. Beheading was fashionable at one time, as Mary, Queen of Scots, discovered in 1587. Revolution, assassination and death in battle were other popular methods.
Cleopatra, the queen of Egypt, poisoned herself with an asp, according to popular belief. Julius Caesar was stabbed in the back by colleagues. In
