logo
episode-header-image
Sep 2024
44m 15s

That Time Swedish Queen Became So Enligh...

iHeartPodcasts
About this episode

Christina wasn't your average monarch of her day -- while many rulers sought to subjugate and terrorize their kingdoms, she sought to acquire knowledge, and to empower the public with information. Often called the "Minerva of the North," this ruler skillfully navigated treacherous geopolitical waters while also seeking to establish Stockholm as an international center of intellectual and philosophical thought. Eventually, she quit the job altogether.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up next
Aug 23
CLASSIC: The Strange and Spectacularly Disgusting Story of the Great Kentucky Meat Shower
On March 3rd, 1876, residents of Bath County, Kentucky were startled to see what appeared to be chunks and flakes of meat falling from the clear, cloudless sky. The rain, which only lasted a few minutes, captured national attention. People across the country proposed various theo ... Show More
35m 55s
Aug 22
The Ridiculously Energetic History of Energy Drinks!
This episode is brought to you by our favorite cohost: coffee. These days, if you stroll into any convenience store across the planet, you're going to run into a selection of energy drinks -- whether we're talking Red Bull, NOS, Monster, or our favorite pal, the humble cup of joe ... Show More
47m 1s
Aug 19
Japan is Overrun By Raccoons Entirely Due to a Single Cartoon
While the legendary Japanese raccoon dog -- or tanuki -- may look like a raccoon, it's a very different beast. However, these days Japan is home to actual raccoons: they're considered an invasive species, wreaking havoc across the country as they destroy temples, consume crops, a ... Show More
40m 57s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2024
Catherine the Great: life of the week
Catherine the Great stands out from the rulers of Imperial Russia – a 'philosopher empress' whose wit, political savvy, and unyielding ambition transformed her empire into a European powerhouse. Seizing the throne through an audacious coup against her own husband, Catherine wield ... Show More
40m 15s
May 2010
Nefertiti and the Heretic Pharaoh
Today historians know very little about Nefertiti, but during her time as Egypt's queen she was revered as a goddess. In this episode, Sarah and Katie explore the reign of Nefertiti, and why her controversial husband Akhenaton was considered a heretic. Learn more about your ad-ch ... Show More
16m 6s
Oct 2021
S4 – 1: In Search of a Friend
When she traded her name for an empire, Alexandra faced a world that bewildered her—imperial Russia. Even her wedding was overshadowed by death. The darkness of those waters left her searching for a lineline. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.co ... Show More
42m 17s
Apr 2025
A Concubine Rises to Rule China
April 27, 1856. In Beijing’s Forbidden City, one of the emperor’s consorts, a woman named Cixi, has given birth to a son – the emperor’s first heir. This landmark event is met with mass celebration. But in just five years time, the emperor will be dead and Cixi will be planning a ... Show More
42m 10s
Jul 2024
The Six Wives of Henry VIII: Anne Boleyn Part 1 | 30
Anne Boleyn has been painted by history as a woman-hating vixen who weaseled her way into being Queen number two. But the real story is way more complicated. Anne started out as a pious lady-in-waiting who garnered the King’s attention. When Henry’s interest grows into a full-blo ... Show More
41m 44s
Mar 2025
Pourquoi fallait-il battre la princesse Khutulun pour se marier avec elle ?
Dans l’histoire mongole, peu de figures féminines sont aussi fascinantes que Khutulun. Cette princesse guerrière du XIIIe siècle, nièce de Kubilai Khan et fille du puissant Kaidu Khan, était célèbre pour sa bravoure, son talent exceptionnel au combat et surtout… son exigence uniq ... Show More
2m 14s
Jul 2
Asmahan: The Druze Diva
Asmahan was a rebel in a world of expectations. From a Druze Princess to exalted singer in 1930s and 40s Egypt – she lived in extremes and did exactly what she wanted. Asmahan also moonlighted as a messenger during the Second World War and when she was killed under mysterious cir ... Show More
43m 28s
Oct 2019
Jeanne de Saint-Rémy Pt. 1: Comtesse de la Motte
Jeanne de la Motte was an 18th-century French confidence artist. She eventually hoodwinked the members of the royal family in such a dramatic fashion, it ultimately contributed to the fall of the monarchy, and hastened the French Revolution. Learn more about your ad choices. Visi ... Show More
47m 52s
Nov 2015
Sophia Duleep Singh, Part 2: Suffragette Princess
Sophia Duleep Singh's education was focused on turning her into a proper lady, in line with her status as a princess. But she also became deeply involved in the Women's Social and Political Union, a radical arm of the women's suffrage movement in Britain. Learn more about your ad ... Show More
29m 24s
Oct 2021
S4 – 3: Made Manifest
The Tsar and his people wrestled for control of the empire. A voice whispering that control was his divine right was exactly what Nicholas wanted to hear. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
50m 54s