In Ancient Greece and the Roman empire homosexual relationships were an accepted and common practice. In this hyper-masculine society the male form was revered for its physical perfection while women’s virtue was jealously guarded to ensure the legitimacy of children. In Greece romantic and sometimes sexual relationships between older and younger men was seen as an initiation rite. The Romans modeled themselves after Greece in most things but had strong feelings that a roman citizen should...

In recent years Queen Victoria's royal paternity has been called into question. Let’s take examine the evidence in this historic mystery. And take a look at the royal family tree to answer the question “If Victoria’s decedents aren’t the rightful monarchs of the UK, then who is?” 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:...

From Jane Austen novels to Downton Abbey, to Bridgerton young debutantes dressed in white gowns with feathers in their hair curtsy before the Queen and then get down to the serious business of attending balls and bagging a rich husband. Debutantes balls and the London season have been highly romanticized. But who were these young women, what was the etiquette of court presentation and the social season? What was the upper class marriage market really like? How did it all come to be and is it...

Marie Antoinette, Queen of France was a naive young woman under a great deal of pressure and expectation. Her out-of-thouch excesses infuriated the people and contributed to the French Revolution and her downfall. 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: https://www.instagram.com/historyteatimelindsayholiday/ Tik...

Henry VIII’s is infamous for his relationships with women. The domineering King took 6 wives during his 36 years on the throne. And he disposed of them with as much scandal as he wooed them – Divorced, Beheaded, Died, Divorced, Beheaded, Survived. But three other women had an important impact on his childhood, his mother Elizabeth of York and his two Grandmothers Elizabeth Woodville and Margaret Beaufort. They have been dubbed by popular historical fiction author Philippa Gregory as the White...

Catherine de' Medici from the powerful Italian family married the future King Henry II of France at 13. When he was impaled through the eye during a joust Catherine ruled France as regent for three of her sons during civil and religious wars. She was also a patron and devotee of mystic Nostradamus. 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:...

Queen Victoria’s great-grand children, the children of King George V were a fascinating bunch. The two eldest brothers Edward VIII and George VI both took their turns on the throne. The four younger siblings never wore crowns but still got into plenty of mischief. They were: Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood who dedicated herself to improving the lives of women, Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester a stoic war hero Prince George, Duke of Kent, an artistic bisexual tomcat Prince John,...

Sibling fights are unavoidable, but what if every moment of tension – real or imagined – was under a microscope on a global scale? That’s the reality for the brothers from the House of Windsor: Prince William and Prince Harry. They were others’ closest friends and allies since the death of their mother. But, that all began to crack as they each Wondery’s podcast DISS AND TELL is hosted by comedians Sydney Battle and Matt Bellassai. Each episode unpacks one of pop culture’s most iconic...

Queen Victoria’s great-grand children, the children of King George V were a fascinating bunch. The two eldest brothers both took their turns on the throne. Edward VIII abdicated amid scandal because he wanted to marry a divorced woman, Wallis Simpson and because he never really wanted to be king anyway. He nearly toppled the British monarchy in the process. His younger brother picked up the pieces and became King George VI. He was a shy man with a stutter but he and his admirable wife,...

The story of George Villiers and King James I & VI reads like a stylish, sexy and scandalous historic drama series. It probably hasn’t been made into one before because, until recently, Hollywood wasn’t too keen on portraying homosexual characters and relationships, authentically. However, the new Starz series, Mary and George promises to finally introduce the wider world to the dashing country commoner who won the heart of a king and was raised so high he had no where to go but...

Throughout history, women have been feeding their babies from their bodies. Breastfeeding is portrait as the natural way. But since ancient times, women have been struggling to nurse, feeling societal pressures and shame to breast feed or to hand their infants to wet nurse or to bottle feed. And hearing a great many men’s opinions on what they should and shouldn’t do with their bodies. Let’s take a look at the complicated and fascinating history of breast feeding and infant feeding. Join me...

Throughout history, across cultures and in every walk of life, there have always been people whose identity went beyond the two-gender mold. And those who do not fit the gender assigned to them at birth. Though people in the past did not often have the concepts, terminology or relative freedom we have today, there are many notable historic figures whom historians speculate were likely transgender or non-binary. LGBT+ Elagabalus, Emperor of Rome (204 - 222) Nzinga of Ndongo and Matamba (1583 –...

Join me on my historic tour of Scotland, May 15th-21st. MARCH 25th is the LAST DAY TO BOOK: https://trovatrip.com/trip/europe/united-kingdom/united-kingdom-with-lindsay-holiday-may-2024 Whenever a royal dies under mysterious circumstances, conspiracy theory about what might really have happened inevitably spring up. And with them come pretenders claiming to be the long lost lord or lady. And claiming their right to royal riches. Today we’ll examine 4 cases of missing royals which led to...

Join me on my historic tour of Scotland, May 15th-21st. MARCH 25th is the LAST DAY TO BOOK: https://trovatrip.com/trip/europe/united-kingdom/united-kingdom-with-lindsay-holiday-may-2024 Fans of the hit show Outlander or of Scottish history in general have likely heard of Bonnie Prince Charlie, the Battle of Culloden and the Jacobite succession. This 18th century feud between members of the British royal family over the throne led to a massacre of Scotsman and the outlaw of highland culture....

Join me on my historic tour of Scotland, May 15th-21st. MARCH 25th is the LAST DAY TO BOOK: https://trovatrip.com/trip/europe/united-kingdom/united-kingdom-with-lindsay-holiday-may-2024 Today we assume that all the daughters of a monarch are called Princesses. But in the middle ages this wasn’t the case. The title Princess was not officially used in England for the daughter of the monarch until 1643. Since then there have been 7 women who have held the title of Princess Royal; Mary, Anne,...

Join me on my historic tour of Scotland, May 15th-21st. MARCH 25th is the LAST DAY TO BOOK: https://trovatrip.com/trip/europe/united-kingdom/united-kingdom-with-lindsay-holiday-may-2024 Queen Victoria’s eldest son and heir was a man of great appetites. He loved food, he loved drink and he loved women. Dirty Bertie’s licentiousness flew in the face of his mother’s regime of uptight morality. The jolly Prince of wales was so popular with the ladies that he became known as Edward the Caresser....

Elizabeth I of England and Ireland reigned for 45 years over a golden age of peace, prosperity and flourishing art and culture. And she shocked the medieval world by doing it all without a man. But that certainly wasn’t for lack of proposals. Elizabeth had at least 16 suitors in her lifetime. In the last episode we met the suitors of her youth, whose ambitions twice landed Elizabeth in the tower. At her coronation Elizabeth declared that she was married to her kingdom and would live and die a...

Elizabeth I of England and Ireland reigned for 45 years over a golden age of peace, prosperity and flourishing art and culture. And she shocked the medieval world by doing it all without a man. But that certainly wasn’t for lack of proposals. Elizabeth had at least 16 suitors in her lifetime. In her youth men were eager to take advantage of her and their ambitions landed Elizabeth in the tower of London. But when she was Queen, Elizabeth turned the table on the many men eager to win her hand....

Popular historic dramas like Bridgerton, Hamilton and Sanditon sometimes receive criticism that their diverse casts are historically inaccurate. But in fact there have been people of color in Britain and France since Roman times. By the 18th century the trans Atlantic slave trade brought more people of African decent to Europe then ever before. In 1768 there were about 15,000 black people living in London. Many were brought their as enslaved servants and sailors. But some had the right...

Known as the SheWolf of France. At just 12 years old Isabella married King Edward II of England. He had no interest in a wife, preferring the company of his male favorites. After suffering 20 years of ill treatment, she hatched a plot, invaded England with her lover, seized the throne in the name of her son and had her husband murdered. 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:...

In many countries where polygamy is practiced, Kings and emperors have had harems of hundred or even thousands of wives and concubines. It’s good to be the King. But in Europe, Christianity has reigned for a millennia and the church is pretty sticked on their one woman at a time policy. But that didn’t stop a handful of monarchs from taking multiple trips down the aisle. Royal brides were under a lot of pressure to produce as many heirs as possible, and they died often in childbirth or...

On January 14th, 2024 Queen Margrethe of Denmark, the second longest reigning monarch in Danish history and the last remaining female monarch in the world abdicated. She handed the throne to her son who is now King Frederik X. Let’s take a look at the history of this small but happy Scandinavian country. And met the most significant rulers of Europe’s oldest monarchy. Along the way, we’ll see when their crown jewels were crafted, and how their how their coronation rituals changed. Finally...

Admit it: you’re obsessed with royal families – watching them, gossiping about them, wanting to be them. It’s the stuff of fantasy. But for real life royals, the crown jewels can be more like shiny handcuffs. There are expectations and rules – and if you break them, the consequences are big, and very public. And no, we’re not just talking about Harry and Meghan. There are royal families and wild royal tales from around the world and throughout history that you have never heard before. From...

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 own ascension, Margrethe abdicates in favor of her son, now King Frederik X. His Australian wife, Mary will be Queen Consort, and their son, Christian will become Crown Prince. Let’s take a look at the fascinating and...

As the indulgence of the Holidays comes to an end and a new year begins, many make resolutions to shed a few pounds. For hundreds of years people have felt pressured to attain the ideal body type of their time. And they’ve come up with some eyebrow-raising, stomach turning and even deadly methods of loosing weight. Let’s explore body ideals through the ages and some of the most unbelievable diets people put themselves through to attain them. DO NOT try any of these historic weight loss...