Ridley Scott’s epic historical sequel, Gladiator II promises to be a dramatic and spectacular, if not particularly historically accurate roller-coaster ride through the Roman Empire. And while there are already some excellent videos out there discussing the authenticity of the battle scenes, dramatic deaths and exactly which era saw the flooding of the Colosseum, I want to take a look at something different – the cast of characters and their real historic counterparts. Today let’s explore the...

The deliciously witty drama series ‘The Great’ tells the occasionally true story of Catherine II, Empress of Russia. It’s a wonderful example of why historic dramas should be taken as entertainment, not a history lesson. While playing fast and loose with history it actually sanitizes a lot of the scandal in her life by transforming Peter into a romantic antihero and making Catherine fall in love with him. In reality Catherine didn’t keep Peter around for a ‘will they, won’t they’ Hollywood...

Who were the first 10 non-royal women elected or appointed to be Head of State (President) or Head of Government (Prime Minister)? 1. Khertek Anchimaa-Toka, Chair of the Presidium of Little Khural of the Tuvan People’s Republic 1940 2. Sirimavo Bandaranaike, Prime Minister of Ceylon 1960 3. Indira Gandhi, Prime Minister of India 1966 4. Golda Meir, Prime Minister of Israel 1969 5. Isabel Perón, President of Argentina 1974 6. Elisabeth Domitien, Prime Minister of the Central African Republic...

The public loves a good story about the salacious private lives of the rich and famous. And royals often really did get up to some jaw-dropping behaviors. But sometimes a grain of rumor can be so enthralling that it snowballs into an unshakable myth. If you ask the average person what they know about Catherine the Great they are likely to say “Isn’t she the one who was crushed under a horse?” Many are still convinced that Queen Elizabeth I was really a man. And Marie Antionette will forever...

Happy Halloween, Boils and Ghouls! One of the few things I enjoy as much as Halloween are fascinating random facts from history and pop culture! So I’m resurrecting one of my favorite series, Fun Sized Spooks! These 10 episodes are each as short and sweet and Trick r Treat candy! Today’s plastic pumpkin full with explore spooky topics from pop culture, including the tragic celebrities of the 27 club, the story behind hit song, The Monster Mash, and my 3 favorite femme fatals, Vampire,...

Fun Sized Spooks: Historic Spooks! Happy Halloween, Boils and Ghouls! One of the few things I enjoy as much as Halloween are fascinating random facts from history and pop culture! So I’m resurrecting one of my favorite series, Fun Sized Spooks! These 10 episodes are each as short and sweet and Trick r Treat candy! Today’s plastic pumpkin full with explore spooky topics from history, including Davy Jone’s locker, Japanese Vampire lore and Cats through the ages. So dim the lights, light some...

When infidelity, early death, suicide, or murder strike a royal family, they are not just tragedies, they can be national or even global catastrophes. And when repeated calamities strike a dynasty generation after generation, legends of long ago curses are bound to be unearthed. From a witch poisoning the love lives of 800 years of Princes, to supernatural ravens forewarning early deaths. From a grief-striken mother cursing a young emperor to a life of tragic losses, to spilled milk dooming a...

Register to Vote & see your local ballot here: https://www.vote.org/ The ability to decide when or if we have children has been an essential human struggle for all of recorded history. Some may believe that abortion is a modern phenomenon. But people have been finding ways to end unwanted pregnancies for thousands of years. And ancient people were often more accepting of it than we are today. From an herb in ancient Greece that was so popular it went extinct, to medieval Popes who argued...

On September 19th, 2022 over 4 billion people watched as the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II was lowered into the royal vault at St. George’s chapel, Windsor Castle. The monarch who had reigned for 70 years thus became part of history. And she was in astonishing historic company. She joined 10 monarchs, 8 consorts and over 30 other members of the royal family dating as far back as the 1400s, who are also interred below St. George’s chapel, in the royal vault and in other crypts around the...

Being a part of a royal family might seem enticing. But more often than not, it comes at the expense of everything else – like your freedom, your privacy, and sometimes, even your head. Even the Royals is a podcast from Wondery that pulls back the curtain on royal families, past and present from all over the world, to show you the darker side of what it means to be royalty. This is just a preview of Even the Royals. Listen to the full episode wherever you get your podcasts, or...

Queens of the World Series: Irene of Athens ruled as regent for her son, Easter Roman Emperor, Constantine VI. But when he rose up against her and threatened her religious conviction, she had his eyes gouged out. Thus she became the first Roman Empress to rule in her own right. But because the Pope did not believe a woman could hold the title, he awarded it to Charlemagne, thus creating two rival Roman empires, one in the east and the other in the West. Join me every Tuesday when I'm Spilling...

Episode originally aired in 2019, I have added a 2024 update. Of the 66 monarchs who have ruled over England since the Norman conquest only 8 have been Queens. These women have had to fight to gain and hold power. Through most of English history men outranked women in the line of succession so the only way for a woman to inherit the throne was if she had no living brothers. The wives of Kings, while called Queens are not monarchs in their own right and are referred to as Queen Consorts. Some...

Anyone who has spent time around a newborn baby knows that while adorable, they are mostly preoccupied with milk, sleep and soiling themselves and don’t exactly have the skills to govern a nation. Though some my argue that a baby might make a better head of state than a politician. Throughout history, the combination of hereditary monarchy and brutally short life expectancy meant that many rulers did inherited their thrones when they were mere infants. Some were even unfortunate enough to...

Alexandra Feodorovna, Granddaughter of Queen Victoria and Tsarina of Russia whose guilt over passing hemophilia on to her son made her dependent on crude mystic Rasputin and contributed to the downfall of the Romanov dynasty and the murder of her family. Join me every Tuesday when I'm Spilling the Tea on History! Check out my Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/lindsayholiday Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091781568503 Instagram:...

Episode originally aired in 2022, I have added a 2024 update. You can’t be a King without the bling, and you can’t be a Queen without the sheen. Let's learn about the artistry, history and gob-smacking value of over 20 tiaras previously owned by Queen Elizabeth II. They are printed on stamps, coins and bank notes across the globe and have been seen on millions of screens gracing the foreheads of Princess Diana, Catherine Middleton, Meghan Markle and other British royals on their wedding days....

You can’t be a King without the bling, and you can’t be a Queen without the sheen. Royal women have long donning glittering headgear to make them stand out from the crowd. Tiaras are works of art and are fitted with pricey diamonds, pearls and other precious stones. As these heirlooms are often passed down female family lines it is fascinating to see how they bounced across Europe with royal brides. Today, let's gawk at 7 of the most impressive and historic European royal Tiaras. Empress...

Agrippina was the great granddaughter of the first Roman Emperor, Augustus; the grand niece of the second Emperor, Tiberius, the sister of the third, Caligula, wife of the fourth, Claudius and mother of the fifth, Nero. After several personal tragedies, Agrippina became ruthless in her pursuit of security and power. As a woman, she couldn’t rule herself, so she manipulated and murdered her way into the Emperors bed; then secured her own son’s place on the throne. Only to have him turn on her...

Every 4 years the Olympics draws the very best elite athletes from around the world to it’s host city. The games attract many other elites as well. From its origins in ancient Greece, to it’s modern revival in 1896, the Olympics long has been closely associated with royalty. In last week’s episode we met 40 royal athletes who practiced or purchased their way onto the Olympic field. But even more Kings, Queens, Princes and Princesses flock to the games to cheer on their home teams, and rub...

Every 4 years the Olympics draws the very best elite athletes from around the world to it’s host city. The games attract many other elites as well. From its origins in ancient Greece, to it’s modern revival in 1896, the Olympics has long been closely associated with royalty. There have even been a handful of Princes, Princesses and Kings who’ve made their way onto the field of competition as Olympic athletes. A few have even won gold, silver or bronze medals to go with their golden crowns....

Charlotte of Belgium was the beautiful and bright only daughter of the first King of Belgium. Her life looked to be joyous too, when she fell in love with a Hapsburg Archduke, Maximilian of Austria. The couple’s numerous royal connections even got them a incredible job opportunity, to become the rulers of the newly established Empire of Mexico. They crossed the Atlantic full of tropical, turquoise dreams of being hailed as heroes. But they quickly discovered that they were philosophically...

Today I’m dropping a bonus episode to introduce you to one of my favorite history podcasts, History Daily. Every weekday host Lindsay Graham takes you back in time to explore an event that happened ‘on this day’ in history. The show covers everything from famous battles to fashion firsts; medicine, science, technology, religion, politics and sports. January 10, 49 BC. A provincial governor named Julius Caesar marches his army across the Rubicon river, invading Italy and plunging the Roman...

If you google “Princess Charlotte of Wales” you will be greeted by pictures of William and Catherine’s adorable daughter, born in 2015. But there was another Princess Charlotte of Wales, born over 200 years earlier who had a much different life. She endured the neglect of parents who hated each other and the abuse of a father who saw her as competition. She grew up resilient and brash. After dragging several young men along, she escaped into a happy love match with a dashing German Prince....

Queen Charlotte went from minor German country gentry to Queen Consort of Great Britain and Ireland. She and George III had a happy marriage and an astonishing 15 children. Charlotte stayed out of politics as her husband lost the American revolution, and she lost her dear friend, Marie Antoinette in the French revolution. Charlotte made numerous cultural contributions including introducing the Christmas tree to Britain and throwing the first debutante ball. In her later years she had to watch...

Pin on your most fascinating fascination and don your most debonair mourning jacket, hop in your carriage to Buckingham Palace and let's enjoy the royal wedding feasts of... Princess Elizabeth & Prince Philip of Greece & Denmark Charles, Prince of Wales & Lady Diana Spenser Prince William & Catherine Middleton Join me every Tuesday when I'm Spilling the Tea on History! Check out my Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/lindsayholiday Follow me on Facebook:...