Throughout their centuries-long dynasty, the Romanovs oversaw the transformation of Russia from a fragmented medieval state, into a vast empire. Despite their power though, the period of the Romanovs was plagued by violence, assassinations, and the heavy hand of autocratic rule. Then, in 1917, the course of Russian history took an irreversible turn, and the ... Show More
Jul 2025
The Russian Royal Family is Executed
<p>July 17, 1918. Following the Russian Revolution, the Romanov royal family are executed by Bolshevik revolutionaries in the basement of Ipatiev House, in Yekaterinburg, Siberia. This episode originally aired in 2023.</p><p><br></p><ul><li><strong>Support the show!</strong>  ... Show More
18m 4s
Mar 2025
Real Wives of Dictators | Nadya Alliluyeva, Stalin's Wife
<p>Nadezhda Alliluyeva was born into a revolutionary family, but was it always her fate to marry Joseph Stalin?</p><br><p>She was independent, intelligent and highly politicised. Indeed, Stalin was a hero of hers growing up.</p><br><p>What was it like to be so heavily involved in ... Show More
40 m
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
37m 15s
Feb 2025
4 Living Former Monarchs whose Thrones were Abolished
In the last episode we met 7 living former monarchs who chose to retire, hand their thrones to their children and enjoy their golden years. But not all living former monarchs chose to get off the throne, some were pushed off. In the 20th century, 28 national-level monarchies acro ... Show More
26m 48s
Sep 26
History's Worst F*ckboys: Rasputin
Rasputin presented himself as a mystic healer, and preached that the only way to salvation was through sin — which sometimes, if rumour is to be believed, manifested in orgies.It's definitely giving f*ckboy behaviour.How did he make his way from poverty to the Russian royalty inn ... Show More
29m 5s