logo
episode-header-image
Jan 2020
24m 24s

The Swan King Went Mad

iHeartPodcasts and Grim & Mild
About this episode
Only days after he was deposed, King Ludwig II of Bavaria died in an apparent suicide. But was it murder? Or was it just the final act of a king who had gone mad with love and with passion, born into the wrong century? 
Up next
Jan 27
The Real Cyrano
Cyrano de Bergerac is a larger-than-life figure in pop culture, whose story has been adapted countless times. But it turns out, Cyrano was a real man, albeit possibly with a smaller nose than media has led you to believe. Support Noble Blood:— Bonus episodes, stickers, and script ... Show More
31m 17s
Jan 24
The Disastrous Arctic Balloon Mission of 1897
In 1897, a Swedish engineer set out to reach the North Pole ... by balloon. With two companions, a crate of champagne, and the faith of a nation, he rose into the Arctic fog — and vanished. Decades later, their frozen journals and undeveloped film emerged from the ice, revealing ... Show More
53m 29s
Jan 20
The Missing Diamond in Case XIII
The Florentine Diamond was one of the crown jewels (sorry) of the Habsburgs—a 137-carat diamond that had come from the court of the Duke of Tuscany. But after World War I, when the Austrian Empire collapsed, the royal family fled to Switzerland, taking the diamond with them. From ... Show More
19m 59s
Recommended Episodes
Jan 2022
Death of a King [1]
Who killed Martin Luther King, and why? While some answers have emerged over the past 50 years, others have been hiding in plain sight. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
44m 45s
Sep 2010
The Death of Mozart
<p>Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart died in December of 1791, bringing his profound career to an untimely end. But how exactly did he die? Join Katie and Sarah as they examine the life of Mozart -- and the questions surrounding his death -- in this podcast.</p><p> </p> Learn more about yo ... Show More
14m 32s
Sep 2010
Who was King Tut... really?
<p>When Egyptologists studied King Tutankhamen's DNA, they learned some surprising things: In addition to being disabled, the king was inbred. And this is just the beginning. Learn more about the real King Tut -- and where he came from -- in this podcast.</p><p> </p> Learn more a ... Show More
16m 4s
Dec 2012
Who was Good King Wenceslas?
<p>King Wenceslas is best known as a Christmas carol, but he was a real 10th-century Bohemian prince. Wenceslas was known for his kindness to children and promotion of Christianity, but he was murdered at only 22. Listen in to learn more about the Good King.</p><p> </p> Learn mor ... Show More
18m 39s
Nov 2019
The Murder Mystery of Ötzi the Iceman
<p>About 5,300 years ago a Copper Age shepherd was murdered. He just happened to die in a place where his body was so well preserved that gave researchers an actual shot at determining the course of his final day on Earth.</p><p> </p> Learn more about your ad-choices at <a href=" ... Show More
53m 28s
Jul 2020
Mozart’s Death Pt. 1
On December 5th, 1791, one of the greatest composers of all time died at the age of 35. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s death immediately sparked questions about what befell him. Some wondered if it was a strange illness, while others believed there was a more sinister cause… Learn mor ... Show More
43m 59s
Jun 2024
Death and mourning in Britain: everything you wanted to know
Why did people start cremating bodies? When did black become the colour of mourning? And who are the 'invisible dead'? Speaking to Charlotte Hodgman, historian Douglas Davies answers your top questions about traditions surrounding death and mourning in Britain through the centuri ... Show More
52m 23s
Apr 2012
Who was the real Professor Moriarty? Part 1
<p>Professor Moriarty was based on a real man: Adam Worth. After being falsely reported as dead during the Civil War, Worth began a life of crime. When Worth moved to London he began his Moriarty phase, but his peculiar criminal quirks led to his near ruin.</p><p> </p> Learn more ... Show More
24m 11s
Jun 2019
SYMHC Classics: Sisi - The Empress of Austria and Her Cult of Beauty
We're traveling back to 2011 for this one! Empress Elisabeth of Austria, better known as Sisi, is often considered the public's "favorite" member of the Habsburgs. She only reluctantly carried out her duties, but her murder created an outcry across Europe -- and the story doesn't ... Show More
30m 17s
Nov 2011
Sisi: The Empress of Austria and Her Cult of Beauty
<p>Empress Elisabeth of Austria, better known as Sisi, is often considered the public's "favorite" member of the Habsburgs. She only reluctantly carried out her duties, but her murder created an outcry across Europe -- and the story doesn't end there.</p><p> </p> Learn more about ... Show More
30m 4s