Jan 13

Antoine Lavoisier's Head

Antoine Lavoisier was a French chemist, who gave us the name for oxygen and other terminology that we still use today. But he was also a wealthy man who collected taxes and served the Ancien régime, and when the revolution came, the elements were ripe for explosion. Support Noble ... Show More

36m 59s

Jan 6

Cruelty and Murder, War and Peace

Natasia Minkin was the mistress of one of the cruelest men in tsarist Russia. She apparently tried to give him a run for his money. Support Noble Blood:— Bonus episodes, stickers, and scripts on Patreon— Order Dana's book, 'Anatomy: A Love Story' and its sequel 'Immortality: A Lo ... Show More

26 m

Dec 30

The Affair of the Poisons

In the 17th century, aristocratic France was set on high alert—women were procuring poisons and using it for nefarious, murderous means. It was a scandal that mortified the nobility, quite literally. And it all seemed to come back to one woman, known as La Voisin. Support Noble B ... Show More

49m 54s

Jan 2016

Eleanor of Aquitaine

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the life, times and influence of Eleanor of Aquitaine (c1122-1204) who was one of the most powerful women in Twelfth Century Europe, possibly in the entire Middle Ages. She inherited land from the Loire down to the Pyrenees, about a third of modern ... Show More

44m 49s

Mar 2020

Eleanor of Aquitaine

Greg Jenner is joined by historian Gabby Storey and comedian Rachel Parris to take a look at the action-packed life of Eleanor of Aquitaine. She was the only woman ever to be queen of both England and France. She took to the seas on a crusade and packed her entire household with ... Show More

49m 39s

Aug 2023

Anne Boleyn part 1 for Tudor Week!

Who's that girl? It's Anne! Anne Boleyn is one of the most infamous figures in British history. Her short life is often defined by her marriage to King Henry VIII, her role in the English Reformation, and ultimately, her execution. However, in this episode (part of our Tudor Week ... Show More

58m 36s

Mar 2023

The Gorgeous Legacy of Egyptian Queen Nefertiti

Friend of the podcast Gina Berry joins us to talk about one of her favourite women from history: Nefertiti! In this incredibly long conversation, we get into exactly how long ago Nefertiti lived (VERY LONG AGO), how unusual her husband Akhenaten's reign was (VERY), and how messed ... Show More

2h 38m

Jun 2023

Achilles

This episode contains themes of a sexual nature Achilles is one of the greatest heroes in Greek mythology. The son of Peleus, a Greek King, and Thetis, a divine sea nymph, Achilles was a demigod with extraordinary strength and courage. The perfect combinatio ... Show More

40m 42s

Aug 2012

A Medici Marriage: Marguerite-Louise d'Orléans

Marguerite-Louise d'Orléans was the grandchild of the King of France, cousin of Louis XIV and eventually betrothed to Cosimo III de Medici. Her marriage was (to say the least) unstable. But how did she finally find herself back in France? Learn more about your ad-c ... Show More

19m 35s

Feb 2023

Shirin: Heroine of Iran

Princess, Queen, and political influencer - Shirin should be a name as famed as Cleopatra, but how come so few know of her? Coming to influence in Iran during the early 7th Century, Shirin was the Christian wife of the Sasanian King Khosrow II, and was forced to flee to Syria ... Show More

48m 48s

Feb 2023

Cleopatra's Daughter

Cleopatra VII is one of the most famous individuals from the ancient world. The final Queen of Ancient Egypt, and a woman who used her position to directly influence Roman politics and society, there's more to her than Shakespeare plays would suggest. And while Cleopatra's sto ... Show More

36m 16s

Nov 2018

Marie Antoinette

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

49m 7s

Nov 2022

Hortense and Marie Mancini

Hortense and Marie Mancini tried to make a place for themselves in 17th-century Europe, defying all kinds of conventions along the way. Their lives were full of adventure and daring, but they were also both stuck in abusive marriages. Research: <u ... Show More

46m 55s

Eleanor of Aquitaine Imprisoned