The Queen becomes King. Throughout Akhenaten’s reign, the Great King’s Wife Neferet-Iti (Nefertiti) grew more and more prominent. By regnal year 16 (1437 BCE), she seemed to be an equal to her husband. Eventually, the Queen may have transitioned to a new role, and become a co-regent alongside Akhenaten. In this episode, we explore the evidence for Nefertiti ... Show More
Mar 9
229: The First Egyptologist? Khaemwaset & the Apis Bulls
In 1263 BCE, priests announced the death of the APIS BULL. Sacred to Ptah, the bull dwelled in the temple at Men-nefer (Memphis). Now, in year 30 of Ramesses II, the King's son KHA-EM-WASET would lead the funerary processions. Shortly after, the prince inaugurated the first phase ... Show More
24m 18s
Mar 2
228: Three Funerals & a Sed Festival
Loss and rejuvenation. Ramesses third decade in power was a time of death. The King's Great Wife Nefertari passed around year 25. Almost simultaneously, his mother Tuya, his second wife Iset-Nofret, and his eldest son Amun-her-khopeshef all passed to the west. We meet these figur ... Show More
31m 3s
Feb 16
227: The One Where Iset Poisons Ra
What is the true name of god? Once upon a time, Ra ruled the earth directly. But the great goddess Iset/Isis desired to know his private name, the one hidden from all outsiders. A name that, if known, would grant the knower magical power over the sun god. To gain the knowledge sh ... Show More
34m 20s
Jul 2022
15 minutes of fame: Queen Tiye, overshadowed ancient Egyptian royal
It’s the HistoryExtra podcast’s 15th birthday! To celebrate, we’ve asked 15 historians to nominate a figure from history they think deserves their ‘15 minutes of fame’. In this episode, Professor Joyce Tyldesley nominates the ancient Egyptian Queen Tiye. Speaking with Ellie Cawt ... Show More
17m 35s
Jun 2022
A History of Royal Incest and Inbreeding
From Egyptians Pharaohs marrying their own sisters, to the Hapsburgs’ notoriously oversized lower jaws. Here are the stories of some of the most shocking incestuous relationships and tragically inbred individuals in royal history. King Tut, Queen Juana the Mad of Castile, King Ch ... Show More
31m 50s
Jun 2022
The Safavid Princess in Power
<p>When the Shah of the Safavid empire died in 1576, three of his sons would eventually become Shah. But the real power behind the scenes was their sister, Pari Khan Khanum, a brilliant strategist and political thinker who maintained control of the kingdom until it led to her tra ... Show More
39m 17s
Jan 2024
Queen Margrethe II, King Frederik X & Queen Mary of Denmark
During her annual New Year’s eve speech in 2023, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark announced that she will retire. The 83 year old sovereign recently underwent back surgery and experienced a decline in health. On January 14th, 2024, the 52nd anniversary of her father’s death and her ... Show More
33m 9s
Aug 2022
Tutankhamun | 1. Unearthing the boy king’s lost tomb
One hundred years ago, in 1922, Egyptologist Howard Carter made one of the most spectacular discoveries in the history of archaeology, when he unearthed the tomb of Tutankhamun in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings. In the first episode in our new series on the life, death and legacy of ... Show More
45m 30s
Aug 2023
Æthelstan: First King of the English
<p>The grandson of Alfred the Great, Æthelstan the Glorious was the first King of England, reigning from 924 to 939. Æthelstan inherited the title King of Mercia from his father Edward the Elder, but was not immediately accepted as King of England. Shortly after his cro ... Show More
26m 49s