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In the heart of every man lies an abiding curiosity about what it would be like to possess unlimited power and a devoted harem of sexual servants. History tells us there is one man who experienced that sort of wonderment for five days, while carrying out a ruse that fooled an entire nation.

Ninety-five years ago today, Otto Witte -- acrobat, sword swallower and sometime lion tamer -- was crowned king of Albania. The way he took the throne is the stuff of storybooks.

While traveling with a circus, Witte's sword-swallowing pal, Max Schlepsig, noticed that Witte bore a striking resemblance to Prince Halim Eddine, a Turkish sultan whom Albanian Muslims wanted as their king. Seeing his opportunity, Witte forged a pair of telegrams, announcing that the prince would be coming to Albania to assume command of the military.

Days later, Witte arrived in the city of Durres sporting a uniform and medals. Playing the part to a T, he was coronated in front of a cheering crowd and foreign diplomats, and given the title: King Otto I.

Find out about Witte's five days of partying and declaring war after the jump.

The newly crowned Otto I is thought to have spent the next five days thoroughly enjoying his rule. During this time, he and Schlepsig were "entertained" by the royal harem. Somehow, Witte was able to stop banging long enough to declare war on Albania's neighbor to the north, Montenegro.

Like all good things, Witte sensed his rule coming to an end when authentic telegrams began arriving that suggested he was not who he claimed to be. He and Schelpsig escaped Albania with large sums of state treasure, and legend has it that they were assisted by devotees from the harem.

"It was a shame," Witte is quoted as saying in a 1958 Time magazine article. "I would have established a fine, wise government."

Witte lived out the end of his life in Germany insisting that he be addressed as the "onetime King of Albania." He even refused to accept any mail that was not addressed to "Otto I, ex-King of Albania." When he eventually died and was laid to rest in Hamburg, his tombstone read the same.