Turko made history for being put to death for most likely licking, not biting, the Prince of Sweden.
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| Turko |
Turko, a mastiff, was born in England in the mid 1870s and later came to Sweden at a young age. In January 1880, Turko and his owner T. Amilon, a wholesaler, were standing outside the Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm when guests were arriving to attend Henrik Ibsen's play A Doll's House. Among the guests was the Crown Prince, Gustaf V, who later became the King of Sweden in 1907. According to initial reports, Turko bit the Prince as he walked pass him. However, several witnesses agreed that the dog only licked the Prince causing no harm.
Whether it was a bite or a lick, the victim was royalty and Turko was to be executed for his actions. Turko's owner pleaded for his dog's life, and the Prince seemed to agree that the attack was not vicious. But, for some reason, Amilon changed his mind and felt his dog should pay the ultimate price for what he did. Turko was put to death. His body was stuffed and sits in the National History Museum in Stockholm.
I want to thank Annika Kromsten, editor of the Swedish Mastiff Club magazine, for sending me the information/picture to this story.