The Second Death of Marie Antoinette

In the reign of Henry VIII, religion in England became a minefield of confusing and shifting doctrine. Anne Askew, the daughter of a well-connected courtier, preached her interpretation of the Bible. Her punishment was more a matter of politics than of doctrine. Support Noble Blo ... Show More

In the new film Uprising, a ploughman played by Andrew Garfield joins in the 1381 Peasants' Revolt against Richard II of England. Historian Dan Jones served as the medieval consultant on the film, and joins us to discuss the movie, and his upcoming book, CASTLES. Support Noble Bl ... Show More

Leopoldina married into the royal family of Portugal, which meant moving to Brazil with her husband. But civil war was bubbling on both sides of the Atlantic, and while her husband was out of town and Leopoldina was serving as Princess Regent, she would be faced with making a fat ... Show More

The last Queen of France before the French Revolution, Marie Antoinette is best known today for her extravagant lifestyle and controversial legacy. Initially admired for her grace and charm, as revolutionary fervour gripped her adopted homeland, she became a symbol of royal exces ... Show More

<p>In 1770, 14-year-old Archduchess Maria Antonia of Austria arrived in France to marry Louis XVI. As Marie Antoinette, she became the ultimate diva of her time; rebelling against the the rigid protocols of court and crafting a unique visual identity; wearing men's clothing and s ... Show More

<p>Most people associate Marie Antoinette with towering wigs, bon bons, affairs, and the legendary “let them eat cake” line. And wasn’t she executed for living extravagantly while the French people were starving? The answer is no, no, and no – the truth is way more complicated th ... Show More

Married off at the age of 14 in her mother’s very own Game of Thrones, Austrian-born Marie Antoinette finds herself in a foreign country, shackled to the teenage future King of France - who's more interested in lock-making than love. How are they to produce an heir? Then in 1774, ... Show More

The famed Queen of France had several run-ins with underwear. She also had run-ins with smallpox, ladies-in-waiting, an awkward young prince, catty couriers, and ultimately, the guillotine. If nothing else, this episode will help you appreciate your privacy. 

<p>Today, we’ll study someone who was both a cause and a victim of the French Revolution: the cake-promoting queen, Marie Antoinette.</p><br><p>In <em>Assassin’s Creed Unity</em>, we glimpse Marie Antoinette living the high-life while the poor people of Paris starve. By walking t ... Show More

Madame Jeanne Du Barry was a poor, destitute sex worker who became the mistress of King Louis XV. She rose through the social echelons of Parisian court and was influential in leading the country. However, after the death of Louis XV, things started to spiral out of control for J ... Show More

In a programme first broadcast in November 2018, Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the Austrian princess Maria Antonia, child bride of the future French King Louis XVI. Their marriage was an attempt to bring about a major change in the balance of power in Europe and to undermine th ... Show More

While we work on some new Even the Rich episodes, check out the very first episode of our other show, Even the Royals. It's all about the OG Richie: Marie Antoinette. Most people associate Marie Antoinette with towering wigs, bon bons, affairs, and the legendary “let them eat cak ... Show More