Ever wonder if the history books got it all wrong? What if the Titanic didn't actually sink the way they say it did? Or maybe Shakespeare wasn’t even real? Yup, SAME. So, grab your popcorn because we’re about to go deep into some of the juiciest, most head-scratching conspiracy theories about famous historical events. And trust me—these will make you question everything.
1. The Titanic: Did It Really Sink?
Believability: 4/5
Creepiness: 5/5
Okay, we all know the Titanic story, right? April 15, 1912, it hit an iceberg and sank, leaving a lot of people—like, 1,500—dead. It's tragic, and Hollywood made it super romantic with Leo and Kate, but what if I told you… that might not have been the Titanic at all? Yup, there’s a theory out there that it was actually her sister ship, the Olympic, that went down instead.
Here’s the tea: The Olympic was seriously damaged a year before the Titanic was supposed to set sail, and some people believe that the two ships were secretly switched as part of an insurance scam. The idea is that the company deliberately sunk the Olympic (disguised as the Titanic) to collect the insurance money. So, yeah, maybe it wasn’t just an iceberg. What if it was an INSIDE JOB?
The Evidence For It: People point out the differences in the ships’ portholes in old photos, and some survivors even swear that they heard explosions, not just iceberg scraping. Plus, the fact that J.P. Morgan, one of the richest guys behind the company, just so happened to cancel his trip at the last minute? Hmm.
The Skeptics’ Take: Most historians are like, “Nah.” They say there’s no way to swap two giant ships without anyone noticing, especially with the massive crew and builders involved. Also, why would they kill hundreds of people for insurance money when they were already filthy rich?
2. Shakespeare: Was He Even Real?
Believability: 3/5
Creepiness: 4/5
William Shakespeare, the man, the myth, the LEGEND… but wait, was he actually a myth? Some people are convinced that the guy we know as Shakespeare didn’t actually write those plays and sonnets. Yup, buckle up because this theory is wild.
Apparently, Shakespeare was just a cover for someone else, possibly someone from the aristocracy who didn’t want to be associated with "common" theater. Some even suggest that it was multiple people using one pen name. Like, really? Maybe it was Sir Francis Bacon, or even… Queen Elizabeth I. (Yeah, that’s real.)
The Evidence For It: People who buy into this theory point out that there’s zero proof that Shakespeare had the education or life experiences to write such deep, complex plays. Also, there’s no solid evidence of any original manuscripts in his handwriting. Not to mention, how could one guy know so much about law, politics, and high society?
The Skeptics’ Take: Most scholars roll their eyes and say it’s nonsense. They argue that Shakespeare was definitely real and that other playwrights from his era had similar backgrounds and still wrote amazing stuff. Like, just because he was from a small town doesn’t mean he wasn’t smart.
3. The Moon Landing: Was It Staged?
Believability: 2/5
Creepiness: 5/5
Ah, the good ol’ moon landing debate. Did Neil Armstrong really take that “giant leap for mankind,” or was it all a big Hollywood production? Some people are CONVINCED that the whole thing was faked by NASA. And get this—they think Stanley Kubrick (yeah, the guy who directed The Shining) helped stage it. What?!
The theory goes that the U.S. was so desperate to beat the Soviet Union in the Space Race that they faked the whole moon landing. Instead of sending astronauts into space, they allegedly built a soundstage, filmed the whole thing, and sold it to the world. Why? To prove American dominance and stick it to the Soviets, duh.
The Evidence For It: Conspiracy theorists point to weird things in the moon landing footage, like shadows that don’t make sense, no stars in the background, and the American flag "waving" even though there’s no wind in space. Plus, why hasn’t anyone gone back to the moon since the '70s?
The Skeptics’ Take: NASA and actual astronauts laugh this one off, saying every “anomaly” has a scientific explanation. Like, shadows on the moon behave differently because there’s no atmosphere, and the flag only looked like it was waving because it was attached to a rod. Also, thousands of people were involved in the Apollo mission—do you really think thatmany people could keep a secret?
4. JFK Assassination: Was There a Second Shooter?
Believability: 4.5/5
Creepiness: 5/5
One of the OG conspiracy theories—the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Officially, Lee Harvey Oswald was the lone gunman, but A LOT of people aren’t buying it. The theory? There was a second shooter, maybe on the grassy knoll, and it was part of a bigger conspiracy to take JFK out. Some think the mafia was involved, others blame the CIA or even Lyndon B. Johnson (because power, duh). The theory centers on the idea that Oswald was a pawn, and there was a broader plot to assassinate Kennedy due to his policies and power struggles with certain elites.
The Evidence For It: Tons of people who were in Dealey Plaza that day claim they heard shots coming from multiple directions. There’s also the infamous “magic bullet” theory, which suggests that one bullet somehow caused several injuries to JFK and Texas Governor John Connally. People are like, “That’s just impossible.”
The Skeptics’ Take: Multiple investigations, including the Warren Commission and later inquiries, say that there’s no solid evidence of a second shooter. Ballistics experts claim that while the “magic bullet” seems wild, it’s not actually impossible. But still… people aren’t convinced.
5. Princess Diana: Was It Really an Accident?
Believability: 3.5/5
Creepiness: 5/5
Okay, this one’s heavy. Princess Diana’s death in 1997 was officially ruled a tragic car accident caused by speeding and a drunk driver. But ever since, there’s been speculation that it wasn’t an accident at all. Some people believe Diana was murdered, and the royal family or British intelligence was involved. Why? The theory goes that Diana was a threat to the monarchy. She had divorced Prince Charles, and there were rumors that she was pregnant with her boyfriend Dodi Fayed’s child. Some believe that certain people in power didn’t want her to have a new life that could potentially damage the royal image.
The Evidence For It: Supporters of this theory point to the paparazzi's erratic behavior that night, strange details about the crash itself, and the speed at which the investigation was closed. Dodi’s father, Mohamed Al-Fayed, has been one of the biggest proponents of this theory, claiming his son and Diana were murdered.
The Skeptics’ Take: Multiple official investigations, including a massive inquiry by French and British authorities, found that it was a tragic accident caused by the reckless actions of the driver. They concluded there was no foul play, but the speculation lingers on.
6. The Roswell UFO Incident: Was It a Weather Balloon?
Believability: 4/5
Creepiness: 4/5
Aliens. Need I say more? The Roswell UFO incident of 1947 is like the holy grail of extraterrestrial conspiracy theories. Something crashed in Roswell, New Mexico, and the U.S. military initially said it was a “flying disc.” Then they backtracked, claiming it was just a weather balloon. But was it, though? Or was it… a UFO?
The theory goes that the military recovered not just debris, but alien bodies, and they’ve been covering it up ever since. Area 51? Oh yeah, that’s where all the alien secrets are supposedly stashed.
The Evidence For It: Multiple witnesses over the years have come forward claiming to have seen the crash or been involved in the cover-up. Some say they saw alien bodies. Others point to the military’s sudden switch in their story and the fact that this whole thing is still pretty hush-hush, even decades later.
The Skeptics’ Take: In 1994, the U.S. government released documents showing that the object was actually part of a top-secret project designed to monitor Soviet nuclear activity. They insist it was not a UFO, and they’ve debunked most of the witness accounts as either hoaxes or exaggerations. But let’s be real—people are still like, “Yeah, right.”
7. Pearl Harbor: Did FDR Let It Happen?
Believability: 3/5
Creepiness: 4/5
On December 7, 1941, Japan launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, pulling the United States into World War II. But here’s where the conspiracy comes in: Some people believe President Franklin D. Roosevelt knew the attack was coming and let it happen to justify entering the war. Why would FDR do this? Well, the theory goes that he wanted the U.S. involved in the war but didn’t have enough public support. So, by letting Japan attack first, he ensured that Americans would rally behind him.
The Evidence For It: Conspiracy theorists claim that there were intercepted Japanese communications that suggested an attack was coming. Plus, some argue that military personnel in Pearl Harbor received confusing orders before the attack, which they think could’ve been intentional.
The Skeptics’ Take: Historians generally debunk this theory, saying that while there were signs of a possible attack, they were too vague and didn’t specifically indicate Pearl Harbor as a target. And even if FDR wanted to join the war, letting thousands of Americans die to make it happen? That’s a stretch.
8. The Great Fire of Rome: Did Nero Start It?
Believability: 3.5/5
Creepiness: 4/5
Picture this: Rome is on fire in 64 AD, and Emperor Nero is casually strumming his lyre while watching the city burn. That's the iconic image we all know, right? But what if I told you that some believe Nero didn’t just watch the fire—he started it? According to this theory, Nero wanted to clear land for a massive palace, a lavish "Golden House" (Domus Aurea), and the fire was his way of doing it.
The conspiracy suggests that Nero saw the fire as an opportunity to build his dream palace in the middle of Rome. And when it all started to look suspicious, he pointed the finger at Christians, blaming them for the catastrophe to divert attention from himself.
The Evidence For It: Some ancient historians, like Tacitus, described Nero’s shady behavior during and after the fire. They claim he did nothing to stop it, and instead used the disaster to build his new palace. Plus, Nero’s public blaming of the Christians and the subsequent brutal persecution makes it seem like he was trying to cover his tracks.
The Skeptics’ Take: Modern historians argue that there’s no solid proof Nero started the fire and that Tacitus’ account may have been exaggerated to fit anti-Nero propaganda. They also point out that fires were common in ancient Rome due to the crowded conditions and wooden buildings, and the Great Fire could have been a tragic accident rather than a sinister plot.
9. The Phantom Time Hypothesis: Are We Missing 300 Years of History?
Believability: 2/5
Creepiness: 4/5
Okay, get ready for a total mind-bender. This theory suggests that we're actually living in the year 1724, not 2024, and that nearly 300 years of our history never happened. What?! This is known as the Phantom Time Hypothesis, proposed by German historian Heribert Illig in the 1990s. Illig claims that a huge chunk of the Middle Ages (614–911 AD) was fabricated by the Catholic Church and Holy Roman Emperor Otto III to legitimize his reign and align the calendar with the year 1000.
According to this theory, the early Middle Ages were basically a historical mirage. The argument points to a lack of archeological evidence from that period and claims that events like the reign of Charlemagne were either exaggerated or entirely fictional.
The Evidence For It: Supporters of the theory argue that there’s suspiciously little documentation and few artifacts from the early Middle Ages. They also claim that the introduction of the Gregorian calendar in 1582 was an attempt to correct discrepancies in the historical timeline.
The Skeptics’ Take: Most historians call this theory ridiculous. They point to the vast amounts of historical evidence from different regions of the world that align with the traditional timeline, including documents, buildings, and even astronomical events like solar eclipses. It would take an enormous, well-coordinated effort to fake 300 years of history, which seems pretty unlikely.
10. Amelia Earhart: Did She Survive?
Believability: 4/5
Creepiness: 4.5/5
Amelia Earhart’s disappearance in 1937 is one of the most famous mysteries of all time. She was attempting to become the first woman to fly around the world when her plane vanished over the Pacific. The official explanation is that she ran out of fuel and crashed into the ocean, but some people aren’t convinced. Could she have survived? Or was she captured by the Japanese?
There are a few major theories about what really happened to Amelia. One suggests that she crash-landed on a remote island and lived out her days as a castaway. Another posits that she was captured by Japanese forces, who suspected her of being a spy. Some even think she returned to the U.S. under a new identity.
The Evidence For It: A 2017 photo resurfaced that supposedly shows Earhart and her navigator Fred Noonan alive on a dock in the Marshall Islands, sparking renewed interest in the Japanese capture theory. There’s also the fact that bones were discovered on the Pacific island of Nikumaroro, which some believe could belong to Earhart.
The Skeptics’ Take: Critics argue that the photo doesn’t definitively show Earhart and that it was likely taken years before her disappearance. The bones found on Nikumaroro have been tested multiple times, and while some claim they could be Earhart’s, the results have been inconclusive. Most experts still believe the simplest explanation: her plane crashed, and she was lost at sea.
Conclusion
From Titanic insurance scams to Shakespeare being a total fraud, these historical conspiracy theories are wild, eerie, and sometimes strangely believable. Whether or not you think any of these theories hold water, they all share one thing in common: they make us question the narratives we've been told. Sometimes, the scariest part isn’t the theory itself—it’s the possibility that history might not be as concrete as we think.
These stories have been whispered about, argued over, and debunked for decades, but they still linger in the back of our minds. Who knows? Maybe in a few years, new evidence will pop up, and we’ll finally have the truth… or maybe we’ll just end up with more questions. Either way, we’ll be watching, questioning, and keeping the conspiracy theories alive.
So, what do you think? Which theory blew your mind the most? Have you heard of any other wild theories? Let’s keep the conversation going, because seriously, this stuff never gets old.
Our conspiracy theory coloring book
44 conspiracy theories laid out along with coloring pages. 111 colorable pages in total.
Our two sticker sheets
Explore captivating literary worlds within the pages of our thoughtfully curated books. Apollo Libraries, a proud subsidiary of Apollo Imperium, is committed to delivering literary excellence that ignites imagination and nurtures knowledge. Our extensive collection spans diverse genres, encompassing both timeless classics and contemporary masterpieces, all meticulously crafted with a dedication to the art of storytelling. We also proudly present "Neuroasis", a meditation, science and neurology based mental health branch; many artists; home decor and art & design; music & more.
Work with us
Review our books
If you're interested in becoming a reviewer, contact us at info@apolloimperium.com with the subject REVIEW. If we think you're a good fit for us, you will receive the books you wish to review for free, either as an EBook or a physical copy for you to keep, depending on the book. In case of a physical copy, we will cover shipping costs, too.
Contact Us
For inquiries, collaboration opportunities, or any assistance, please don't hesitate to get in touch:
Email: info@apolloimperium.com
Phone: +31 6 18714584
留言