In many countries where polygamy is practiced, Kings and emperors have had harems of hundred or even thousands of wives and concubines. It’s good to be the King. But in Europe, Christianity has reigned for a millennia and the church is pretty sticked on their one woman at a time policy. But that didn’t stop a handful of monarchs from taking multiple trips do ... Show More
Jan 13
Lucrezia Borgia - The Pope’s Poison Princess?
For 500 years Lucrezia Borgia has been the focus of operas, novels, movies, and televisions shows. She was one of the inspirations for Cersei Lannister in Game of Thrones. Nearly all of these works further her reputation as a femme fatale and one of the most evil women in history ... Show More
32m 40s
Dec 30
A History of Time: Seconds, Minutes, Hours, Days, Weeks, Months & Years
Time, it marches on relentlessly outside of human control. But humanity has long found a variety of ways to mark our passage through the eons. Seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and years. But why do we count our collective journey through the ages in these integers? A ... Show More
29m 33s
May 2024
445. The Habsburgs: Secrets of a Dynasty
The Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, the Habsburg dynasty's mightiest ruler, was at once King of Spain, Archduke of Austria, Lord of the Netherlands and Duke of Burgundy. With a lineage supposedly stretching back to Noah’s Ark, and a name born in Ancient Rome, the Habsburgs are one ... Show More
56m 29s
Aug 2022
The 6 Wives of King Henry VIII Pt. 1
Divorced, beheaded, died. Divorced, beheaded, survived.
In our first two-part episode Tess and Claire cover the 6 wives of King Henry VIII. In part one, we start with Catherine of Aragon, Henry's first wife, and her unconventional journey to becoming queen and her struggle to pr ... Show More
1h 5m
Apr 2023
Six wives | 1. Catherine of Aragon
Catherine of Aragon’s 23-year-long marriage to King Henry VIII witnessed many twists and turns – triumph, tragedy, and, ultimately, betrayal. In episode one of our new series on the dramatic marital history of England’s most notorious monarch, Ellie Cawthorne is joined by Dr Nico ... Show More
56m 17s
May 2017
Catherine of Aragon part 1
Divorced, beheaded, died. Divorced, beheaded survived. The wives of Henry VIII, king of England are all famous, but sometimes his first queen, Catherine of Aragon can be overlooked. She was born in Spain in 1485 and was the daughter of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, who had u ... Show More
57m 10s
Aug 2018
The Most Powerful Women in the Middle Ages, Part 3: Elizabeth of Tudor and Ottoman Queen Mother Kösem Sultan
This is the third in our three-part series on the most powerful women in the Middle Ages. To wrap things up we will explore the lives of two female rulers — one very famous, the other almost unknown. They are Elizabeth I of Tudor and Ottoman Queen Mother Kösem Sultan.<br><br>Eliz ... Show More
58m 28s