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The Prince's Marriage Test
Episode 55
Vincenzo Gonzaga's first marriage ended in a humiliating divorce by non-consummation,. His next set of would-be in-laws wanted to make sure the same …
4 years, 8 months ago
Lovers and La Maupin
Episode 54
A bisexual, sword-fighting, opera-singing, 17th century arsonist... no wonder there are so many stories about her. [Side note: I wrote a book! It's a…
4 years, 8 months ago
The Later Life of Bloody Mary
Episode 53
When Mary rode into London to claim her crown, she was met with celebration the likes of which had never been seen before in the city streets. Five y…
4 years, 9 months ago
The Early Life of Bloody Mary
Episode 52
The oldest daughter of Henry VIII, Mary Tudor, is commonly known today as "Bloody Mary" for her persecution of Protestants in England during her reig…
4 years, 9 months ago
Queen Christina Removed Her Own Crown
Episode 51
Christina of Sweden is one of the most compelling figures of the 17th century, a queer Catholic convert who rejected social norms and stepped down as…
4 years, 10 months ago
Historical Mythbusting Spectacular!
Episode 50
For our 50th (!) episode, Noble Blood is tackling historical rumors: "Let them eat cake," Elizabeth I being a man, the lost dauphin of France, and...…
4 years, 10 months ago
The Mad Tyrant, Hey Hey!
Episode 49
In American history books, King George III is painted as the despotic villain keeping us from our independence. That he was "mad," then, makes perfec…
4 years, 11 months ago
The Double Agent
Episode 48
The Chevalier d'Éon was a diplomat, spy, traitor, and international celebrity. She's also sometimes regarded as one of the most prominent transgender…
4 years, 11 months ago
In the Shadow of the Great
Episode 47
Catherine the Great's son, Paul I, idolized his deceased father Peter III and resented his powerful mother. Unfortunately for him, when he finally be…
4 years, 11 months ago
The First and Last Emperor of America
Episode 46
At the end of the 19th century, a man in San Francisco declared himself the Emperor of the United States. Was he mad? Possibly. But he also became a …
5 years ago