The Mad King of Britain, King George III, is often remembered for his recurring struggles with severe mental illness, which plagued him from 1788 until his passing. While the exact nature of his condition remains a subject of debate, it is widely acknowledged that he experienced three significant episodes of insanity.
Initially attributed to porphyria, recent research has cast doubt on this diagnosis, suggesting the possibility of bipolar disorder. The loss of the American colonies, a vast and critical part of Britain’s empire, dealt a devastating blow to the king’s psyche.
It was as if a massive piece of the world’s largest territorial empire since Rome had suddenly vanished. This profound loss triggered profound melancholy in the monarch, who was known to be deeply affected by such setbacks. George III viewed the American Revolution as a personal failure and even contemplated resigning, although he never followed through.
The private life of this monarch reveals a complex and challenging journey marked by personal and political struggles, making King George III a truly intriguing figure in history.
Top image: King George III, mad king of Britain. Source: Nikita / Adobe Stock.
