# Tycho Brahe's Death **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 22, 1999, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tycho-brahes-death/4151 "1999-10-22T23:02:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cabbage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@Cabbage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cabbage)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 1999, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tycho-brahes-death/4151/1 "1999-10-22T23:02:00Z")
I’ve heard this story from several people, all of whom assured me it was true, though I find it hard to believe. Anybody else heard it/know anything about it? It seems that Tycho Brahe was at some social function at which the king was present. Tycho had to go to the bathroom, but it was improper to leave while the king was still there, so he held it. Too long, as fate would have it, and his bladder erupted, killing him. Something to that effect, anyway. Is it even possible to die this way, period? Seems to me at some point the urine would take the “path of least resistance” and you’d simply wet yourself, instead of destroy a body part. Anybody? ---
**Author:** ![Poto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ab992/32.png) [@Poto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poto)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 1999, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tycho-brahes-death/4151/2 "1999-10-22T23:05:00Z")
It’s possible. I don’t know if it was the same guy, Tyco, but there is some historical person that died this way. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 1999, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tycho-brahes-death/4151/3 "1999-10-23T03:06:00Z")
An overly full bladder can, under certain circumstances, burst, and kill you. For some reason I want to say Pierre Curie died this way, but I don’t think that I have that right. I was on a commercial airline flight once when the landing gear got stuck half-up and half-down (how’s this for hijacking this thread, huh? ;)). We had to turn back for an emergency landing at O’Hare. Firetrucks, ambulances, foam on the runway, all that nice stuff. (Chris? Honey, don’t read this thread!) Anyway, the flight attendants told us all to use the bathroom and empty our bladders before we made what could be a very rough landing. Think of a balloon. Throw an empty, deflated balloon on the ground. Nothing happens. Now think of that balloon filled to its stretching point with water. Toss it on the ground. BOOM! Same idea. -Melin ---
**Author:** ![AzRaek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/azraek/32/16739_2.png) [@AzRaek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AzRaek)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 1999, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tycho-brahes-death/4151/4 "1999-10-23T04:14:00Z")
Pierre Curie was run over by a horse and carriage. Or was it a horseless carriage? I’ve also heard that Tycho froze to death in his observatory. He was very focused and polite, so either death is appropriate. * * * I’ll be there Where I’ll teach what I’ve been taught And I’ve been taught… ---
**Author:** ![Jonathon\_David\_Palinor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@Jonathon\_David\_Palinor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathon_David_Palinor)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 1999, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tycho-brahes-death/4151/5 "1999-10-23T05:07:00Z")
The following site might help shed some light to the questions surrounding Tycho Brahe’s death: [http://www.urbanlegends.com/death/brahe\_death\_of.html](http://www.urbanlegends.com/death/brahe_death_of.html) Here is a partial quote: > [@](#): > > "Holding his urine longer than he was accustomed to doing, Brahe remained seated. Although he drank a bit overgenerously and felt pressure on his bladder, he had less concern for the state of his health than for etiquette. By the time Brahe returned home, he could no longer urinate. > > This was on October 13th, 1601. The log indicates that he spent the next 5 days in sleepless agony before finally urinating, thereby finding some small relief. Still, his strength was spent, and he spent 5 more days in increasing delirium. The night before the 24th, he was repeatedly heard to call out words to the effect of “he did not wish his life to have been in vain,” which have since often been attributed as his deathbed words. On the 24th he died a peaceful death." The source to which the site refers is apparently a 1990 translation of an 1890 text entitled _Tycho Brahe: A Picture of Scientific Life and Work in the Sixteenth Century_ which contains excerpts from Brahe’s observation logs, in Latin. The site itself, by the way, is full of useful and fascinating information. [The AFU & Urban Legends Archive](http://www.urbanlegends.com) I hope this helps! * * * \>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>\>-(o)-\<\<\<\<\<\<\<\<\<\<\<\<\<\<\< Life is a tapestry. Each new day brings with it the opportunity to sew by word and deed within the heart of someone around us. Let us choose our colors with care. ---
**Author:** ![Cabbage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@Cabbage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cabbage)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 1999, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tycho-brahes-death/4151/6 "1999-10-23T23:22:00Z")
Thanks everybody.