Noble Blood
Kanal-Details
Noble Blood
Author Dana Schwartz explores the stories of some of history’s most fascinating royals: the tyrants and the tragic, the murderers and the murdered, and everyone in between. Because when you’re wearing a crown, mistakes often mean blood.
Neueste Episoden
262 Episoden
Æthelstan and a United England (with David Woodman)
Why does William the Conqueror get all of the credit when Æthelstan was king of a united England in 927? David Woodman (Professor of History at Cambri...
Introducing: SNAFU with Ed Helms - Season Four!
Hi Noble Blood listeners! We're excited to share with you a sneak peek at iHeartPodcasts’ newest season of SNAFU with Ed Helms.
SNAFU with Ed H...
Sentencing His Son to Death
When Peter the Great's son and heir was on trial for treason, the emperor instructed the jury to treat him as they would any other man. If he were to...
The Princess Onstage at the Moulin Rouge
Clara Ward was a "dollar princess" from Michigan who married a Belgian prince. But her adventurous spirit soon had her eloping with a Hungarian musici...
More Malatesta Murders
The bloody murder of an adultrous brother and wife was just the beginning for the Malatesta family, whose family tree would be dotted with murders and...
Very Special Episodes: When Big Bird Went to China
During one of the most delicate periods for international relations, the United States sent Bob Hope to China with the ultimate wingman. Together, the...
The First Malatesta Murder
In Dante's Inferno, Dante meets two lovers, Paolo and Francesca. Francesca was married to Paolo's brother, but the two had a secret affair, until they...
Renaissance Man (with Peter Weller)
Frederick II was celebrated as a "renaissance man" who championed education and the arts. But his conflicts with the Pope would lead to multiple excom...
An Earl, a Priest, and Martha Ray
When Martha Ray was 18, she met the Earl of Sandwich. The married Earl took Martha as his mistress, and they spent years living together as husband an...
The Drillmaster of Valley Forge
When Baron von Steuben arrived at Valley Forge, he was met with a dismal sight. The soldiers were starving, undisciplined, and freezing. The Baron had...
Who's Afraid of the Duchess of Newcastle (Part Two)
Virginia Woolf compared her to a giant cucumber plant. Had she read that, Margaret Cavendish might have thought it a compliment.
Support...
Who's Afraid of the Duchess of Newcastle (Part One)
In 'A Room of One's Own,' Virginia Woolf writes of Margaret Cavendish's reputation: "Evidentally the crazy Duchess became a bogey to frighten clever g...
The Real King Arthur
King Arthur is arguably the most famous monarch in British history, the subject of countless films and books of both non-fiction and fantasy. But ther...
Hoax! | E1 | Cottingley Fairies
In 1917, two young cousins returned from the creek behind their house with thrilling news: they had photographed fairies! Their parents were skeptical...
A Smoking Gun in the Spanish Royal Family
King Juan Carlos I had an astonishingly eventful life and ruled as King of Spain for nearly four decades. But a tragic event when he was a teenager ma...
Beethoven's Immortal Beloved, Part 2
Beethoven wrote an effusive, romantic letter, to a woman identified only as his "Immortal Beloved." Her (or his!) identity remains a matter of debate,...
Beethoven's Immortal Beloved, Part 1
After Beethoven died, his secretary published an effusively romantic letter the composer had written to someone identified only as his "Immortal Belov...
Pope of Math and Dark Magic
Continuing the theme of exploring Papal history, we discuss Gerbert of Aurillac, AKA Pope Sylvester II, who's scientific and mathmatical mind lead him...
The Thousand-Day Conclave
Continuing the theme of exploring Papal history, we discuss Gerbert of Aurillac, AKA Pope Sylvester II, who's scientific and mathmatical mind lead him...
Teaching People Manners
In 1921, Katherine Mansfield wrote a letter to Princess Bibesco which began, "I am afraid you must stop writing these little love letters to my husban...
The Murder of the Last Korean Queen
Queen Min was the de facto power behind the throne in Korea, and so she had plenty of enemies. Eventually, a coup would come to the palace.
Supp...
Count and Cavalry Commander
Through sheer force of will, Polish nobleman Casimir Pulaski came to America and forced the Continental forces to allow him to create a cavalry unit....
The "Wild" Nobleman of French Court
Petrus Gonsalvus was born with a rare genetic condition that meant he was entirely covered in hair. His life took him to French court, where he lived...
A Scandal at Tranby Croft
Queen Victoria's son, Albert Edward, was gambling with his friends at a country estate when the host's son noticed one of the guests cheating. Eventua...
Vasa, Sunken and Resurrected
In 1688, a royal ship was embarking from Stockholm harbor on its maiden voyage. The Vasa was incredibly grand and intricate; it was also incredibly to...
The Witches of Belvoir Castle
The Earl and Countess of Rutland were dealing with unimaginable tragedy - their eldest son had died and their second son began suffering from the same...
The Life and Prophecies of Nostradamus
Nostradamus's names and predictions are famous, centuries after his death. But the man behind the predictions is still largely unknown. Was he a true...
Petronilla of Aquitaine Had Chosen Her Husband
Eleanor of Aquitaine's younger sister Petronilla was attractive and wealthy, but she remained unmarried until she was 19 and met the charming Ralph of...
The King's Alphabet
King Sejong the Great is considered, well, the greatest king in Korean history. And his greatest contribution of all might have been twenty-four lette...
Rival Queens (Part 2)
The 6th-century feud between Brunhild and Fredegund would last the rest of their lives, defining their kingdoms for generations as the women went from...
Rival Queens (Part 1)
Queen Brunhild married Sigeburt I of Austrasia. Her sister married Sigebert's brother. At least, they were married, until Brunhild's sister died under...
More Blood Than You Can Drink
Cyrus the Great of Persia wanted to conquer the Massengetae people and, through cunning, he killed the son of their warrior-queen, Tomyris. It was a b...
Agnes, Mary, and Mary Magdalene
Agnes Sorel was the first official mistress in France, the lover of King Charles VII. But with her official position came a target on her back. Her in...
The Pope's Kidnapped Child
In 1858, a Jewish child was taken from his family. They said that because the boy had been secretly baptized, he was now a ward of the Papal States. A...
The Coquette Avenged
Most women in 17th century France were faced with a choice: marriage, or a convent. Ninon de l'Enclos chose her own path.
Support Noble Blood:
Will the Real Tsar Dmitri Please Stand Up? (Part 2)
Tsar Dmitri I was murdered by assassins, but he wouledn't be the last to use the name of Ivan the Terrible's son claiming to be the rightful ruler of...
Will the Real Tsar Dmitri Please Stand Up? (Part 1)
In 1605, Dmitri — the son of Ivan the Terrible — became the Tsar of Russia. Less than a year leader, he was brutally deposed. But one question remaine...
Count Orlok's Coat (with Linda Muir)
From leg-of-mutton sleeves to fur overcoats, the costumes in Robert Eggers's Nosferatu are extraordinarily detailed and, thanks to the research of Osc...
“No one else in the world but her!”
Prince Wilhelm of Prussia had fallen in love with Elisa von Radzwill, and wanted to marry her. Unfortunately, even though she was a princess, her rank...
The Myth and Making of Lawrence of Arabia
Most people know of the famous "Lawrence of Arabia" thanks to the iconic imagery of the Oscar-winning film. But far fewer people know of the real man...