She was the first Queen regnant of Portugal and the first monarch of Brazil. She showed promise as a leader but a decade into her reign mental illness, brought on by her family’s excessive inbreeding and an onslaught of personal tragedies caused the Queen to deteriorate into mental illness. She was known as Maria the Mad.
Join me every Tuesday when I'm Spill ... Show More
Oct 6
Royals, Nobles & Mistresses with Syphilis
From sex-crazed libertines, to noble courtesans, to innocent Empresses; syphilis was a devastating disease which ravaged many, and sometimes changed the course of history. Let’s meet 10 royal and noble victims of this sexually transmitted infection. Lorenzo de’Medici, Duke of Urb ... Show More
33m 44s
Jun 2020
The Bloody Queen of Madagascar
<p>Stories from history are not kind to Queen Ranavalona of the Kingdom of Imerina. They call her bloodthirsty, mad, a "female Caligula." People were killed under her rule—lots of them, and cruelly. But "madness" doesn't tell the whole story. Ranavalona was a canny political lead ... Show More
27m 18s
Mar 2025
Catherine of Braganza: Loyalty, Politics, and Heartbreak
<p>Catherine of Braganza, Charles II’s Portuguese queen, faced political turmoil, religious strife, and a scandalous court—yet her influence endured. In this episode, historian <strong>Susan Abernethy</strong> joins me to discuss her book on Catherine’s remarkable life, from roya ... Show More
53m 7s
Jun 2025
Queen Elizabeth I
Queen Elizabeth I—a monarch of unmatched intellect, resilience, and style, who led England through a golden age. Rising to power in a time of turmoil, she became a symbol of strength and stability, guiding her nation through political intrigue, cultural blossoming, and global exp ... Show More
56m 46s
Jun 2023
History of Everything: The Mad Queen of Madagascar
In 1828, after the death of her husband, Queen Ranavalona I. came into power by killing all other potential regents (wives, sons, mothers). At that time, she was between 30 and 40 years old. Ranavalona I. went down in history rather ingloriously and bears the surname “the cruel”. ... Show More
1h 2m