Having a large number of children is quite rare in modern times, but historically there have been some figures who claimed to have parented over 1,000 offspring. In this article, we’ll explore some of the famous stories of people who had extremely large families throughout history and mythology.
King Solomon in the Bible
One of the earliest recorded cases of someone claiming to have over 1,000 children is King Solomon from the Bible. According to 1 Kings 11:3 in the Old Testament, Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines. While the exact number is not specified, the Bible indicates that Solomon had many children by these women:
“He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray. As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been.” (1 Kings 11:3-4)
Having such a large harem was seen as a sign of power and prestige in ancient times. As the wisest and wealthiest king of Israel, Solomon was in a position to acquire many spouses and have many potential heirs. Though the Bible portrays his large number of foreign wives as a negative influence that turned him from the Jewish god Yahweh, it also demonstrates his substantial means to support so many royal women and children.
Estimating Solomon’s Number of Children
While the Bible does not provide an exact figure, historians have estimated that Solomon could have had hundreds or even over 1,000 children based on the size of his harem:
- With 700 royal wives, if each bore Solomon just one heir on average, he would have had 700 children.
- The 300 concubines may have provided Solomon with several more hundred offspring.
- The “many children” mentioned indicates he likely fathered over 1,000 progeny during his lifetime.
Though concrete figures are lacking, the Bible portrays Solomon as having had an extraordinarily large number of wives, concubines, and resulting children – definitely placing him in the 1,000+ kids category.
Emperor Fei Ti of China
In Chinese history, one of the most notorious cases of a ruler claiming to have 1,000 children is Emperor Fei Ti of the Northern Qi dynasty. Reigning from 559-560 CE, Fei Ti was known for his obsession with the pursuit of pleasure and his unusually large harem.
According to chronicles written during or shortly after his reign, Fei Ti had a harem consisting of over 10,000 women. It was also documented that he claimed to have fathered over 1,000 children via his concubines.
“The emperor maintains a seraglio of ten thousand persons, and every one who is born to him – no matter of what caste – he brings up.” – Topography of Fuyu, 648 CE
As an emperor, Fei Ti would have had virtually unlimited access to women and no restrictions on how many concubines he could possess. While the number of children likely contains some exaggeration, it seems within the realm of possibility that his harem of thousands could have produced over 1,000 kids.
Criticism and Downfall
However, Fei Ti’s lavish lifestyle and neglect of state affairs did not sit well with others:
- Court officials and Confucian advisers warned Fei Ti that his extravagance and pursuit of carnal pleasures would undermine his power and legitimacy as ruler.
- The people resented the heavy taxes levied to support his excesses.
- In 560 CE, Fei Ti was overthrown in a coup and later assassinated, ending his reign after just a year on the throne.
Fei Ti’s story illustrates that while having over 1,000 children may seem impressive, being a responsible ruler requires more than just the ability to produce heirs. Pursuing such extreme carnal excess can ultimately bring downfall.
Ismail the Bloodthirsty of Morocco
Shifting to early modern history, another case of someone reputed to have over 1,000 children is Ismail Ibn Sharif, the second ruler of the Moroccan Alaouite dynasty. Known as “Ismail the Bloodthirsty,” he reigned from 1672-1727 and was infamous for his wealth, ruthlessness, and very large harem.
Chroniclers noted Ismail had hundreds of wives and an even larger number of concubines, some estimating over 500 women in his harem. While the totals vary, it was often claimed Ismail fathered over 1,000 children in his lifetime, earning him notoriety alongside his bloody exploits:
“[Ismail] left behind an enormous number of children – it is said that he had at least a thousand sons and daughters by his wives and concubines.” – Dominique Busnot, History of the Reign of Muley Ismail, 1714.
Though the number likely contains some inflation, it seems plausible the prolific ruler could have reached the 1,000 offspring mark with access to so many partners.
Consolidating Power
Some reasons why Ismail Ibn Sharif might have wanted to father so many children include:
- Producing many heirs helped prevent succession disputes and palace coups after his death.
- It limited the influence of his wives’ families at court.
- He followed the example of previous sultans who equated manhood with sexual potency and having many children.
This demonstrated Ismail’s great wealth and power to produce such an abundance of progeny. But it also made controlling his many heirs a constant challenge for the remainder of his reign.
Unofficial Records
While kings and emperors hold some of the highest documented totals, there are also modern cases of men fathering extreme numbers of children unofficially:
Moulay Sharif
– Sharif reportedly fathered over 800 children, though only a fraction were officially recognized. He accomplished this through an organized system of concubines.
Raghib al-Sirgani
– An Iraqi religious scholar who died in 1970, al-Sirgani claimed to have fathered over 800 children via an institutionalized system of temporary marriage.
Sarda Prasad Pandey
– Also known as “Baba Sarda,” this Indian man lived from 1918-2012 and supposedly fathered 90 children by 46 wives, though over 300 paternity claims were made after his death.
While none of these cases have been definitively verified, they illustrate that fathering 1,000+ children, while very rare, is at least within the realm of human possibility under certain conditions.
Conclusion
Throughout history and around the world, there have been incredible accounts of men fathering upwards of 1,000 children. Kings such as Solomon had immense wealth and harems of hundreds of women, while modern examples like Moulay Sharif employed institutionalized systems to produce progeny on a massive scale.
While the exact figures are uncertain and likely embellished in some accounts, it appears within the bounds of plausibility that certain men with sufficient means could reach the 1,000 child milestone across long lifespans. However, one thing is clear – being able to produce over 1,000 heirs does not guarantee success as a leader or positive treatment by history. Fathering such extreme numbers of children is an astonishing feat, but how one uses power and wealth for the greater good matters far more.