In 1555, Ivan the Terrible ordered the construction of St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow. So thrilled was Ivan with the work of the project's architects, Postnik and Barma, that -- in order to ensure that neither would ever build anything more beautiful -- he had them both blinded.

[Ivan selected each of his wives from a pool to which every noble in his realm was required, on pain of death, to send his single daughters. The maidens, sent to Moscow where they slept 12 to a room, were individually inspected by Ivan before he made his decision. When she learned of his choice, one prospective wife became mortally ill and died before the marriage could be consummated.]