10. The Madman of Tournai
In the chaos of 12th-century France, a mysterious figure appeared in Tournai, claiming to be Charles the Good, Count of Flanders, who was widely believed to have been assassinated. His bold proclamation gathered a following among locals yearning for stability. Though his identity was soon revealed as a fraud, the Madman of Tournai’s brief success highlighted how easily desperate times could foster belief in miraculous royal survivals. Medievalists.net
