Heretic History Podcast
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In 1878 archeologists were conducting expansive excavations on the island of Björkö in Sweden. A millennia before, this quiet spot had been a bustling port of international trade and one of the last bastions of Norse paganism in Viking culture. As they worked, the researchers soon uncovered a massive tomb, filled with weaponry. It was the final resting place of a great warrior and military leader, whose bones (greatly degraded) were discovered in the center of the tomb. In an age before DNA testing, the quickest way to determine the gender of a Viking grave was by observing the items contained in the tomb. Jewelry = the tomb of a woman and weapons = the tomb of a man (or warrior). In 1878 and for over a century afterward, it was taken for granted that the great warrior in Björkö was a man. Until a new study and DNA testing were undertaken in 2017... the results of which, would turn our assumptions of the Viking world on its head.
The Tudors may be one of Western history's most well-known families. Their real-life traumas, dramas, and intrigues still inspire plot lines in popular media today. One of the often overlooked members of this family is Mary Tudor, the youngest daughter of Henry VII. Although her story has been the inspiration for many a romance novel (she famously married for love rather than power) these fanciful tales fail to capture the character of the real woman. Mary Tudor was more than a swooning damsel. She was self-assured, determined, and fiercely loyal to those she loved. She may have also been the only person in England who would dare to defy the fearsome Henry VIII, her dearest big brother.
Another release from the Patreon vault! At its height, the Roman Empire stretched across the regions of what today makes up most of Western Europe, portions of Eastern Europe and West Asia, down into the Middle East, and across northern Africa. And at the farthest western reach of that great Empire was the island of Britannia. But in 60/61 CE, the unquestionable might of Rome was nearly upended by a band of rebellious tribes at the edge of the empire. This violent uprising would leave three Roman cities in ruins and thousands dead. The rebellion was eventually quashed, its leaders annihilated, and considering the war lasted one year, it should have been only a footnote in history. Instead, it captured the attention and imagination of chroniclers, rulers and historians across the world and down the generations. In part because this fierce and bloody rebellion was led by a woman: Boudica, Queen of the Iceni. Her name and her life have become the stuff of legends.
Something a little different for you this month... I'm releasing what was originally my first Patreon-exclusive episode, Rosa Parks P3. If you need a refresher on Parts 1 and 2, just scroll back to 2022 and give those episodes a listen. Otherwise, let's dive into the conclusion of this incredible story: The name Rosa Parks will be forever linked to the early years of the American Civil Rights Movement, particularly in the Deep South. But she would spend more than half of her life living in Detroit, fighting against the racist policies and oppressive systems that were often overlooked and downplayed in the North. In the decade following WW2 Parks, like many other African Americans, would flee racial violence in the South. Heading north, searching for the opportunity of a better way of life. What many of them would find was the same systems of segregation and degradation they had hoped to leave behind. Rosa would refer to Detroit as "The northern promised land that wasn't." But she would meet these challenges head-on, with the same grit and quiet determination that had made her famous in Montgomery.
Part 2 and conclusion of my Nur Jahan series. We pick up right where we left off: The year is 1608 and 31-year-old Mihr-un-Nissa has arrived in the capital of Agra. Recently widowed, she and her daughter will join the royal harem of Emperor Jahangir. But her place here is far from certain. Her late husband died a suspected traitor, her brother was also executed for treason, and her father has been imprisoned under suspicion of being the same. But, unlike the mostly sheltered women of the harem, Mirh was a woman of the world. Her noble upbringing, combined with her years in the untamed region of Bengal, had molded her into a woman of cunning intellect and unflinching boldness. She would soon climb high in the Emperor's affections, becoming his 20th (yet most beloved) wife. Within a few years of their marriage, Jahangir would raise her status from consort to co-regent. Crowned with a new name: Nur Jahan (Light of the World), ruled as Empress of Hindustan.
In the winter of 1577 a great comet lit up the skies across the globe. Scholars of the age from every kingdom, pondered what omen this celestial body might portend. Meanwhile, in a caravan camp along the road outside of Kandahar, a young refugee couple would welcome their fourth child. A daughter, whom they named Mihr-un-Nisa, meaning The family was making their way to the Mughal-ruled empire of Hindustan (India). Despite their refugee status they were of the noble ruling class of Persia and would find themselves welcomed in the court of Emperor Akbar. Hindustan of the late 16th and early 17th centuries was a land of wealth, power, philosophy and art. Nurtured by a ruler who embraced curiosity and rejected orthodoxy, the culture of Hindustan had become a melting pot, welcoming travelers and transplants from the East and West. It was also a land of strict moral codes, gendered segregation and violent retributions to those who stepped too far out of line. This is the world that would shape Mihr (Nur Jahan) into the woman she would one day become...
In 1931 Hattie McDaniel arrived in Los Angeles with only a few dollars in her pocket. After over a decade of singing in jazz clubs and touring the vaudeville circuit, she was ready to try her hand in the booming film industry. Already familiar with the prejudices and limitations placed on black entertainers, McDaniel was well-equipped to navigate the expectations of white Hollywood, and quickly found herself booking featured parts. Then, in 1939, her fame would be catapulted to new heights when she was cast in one of the most anticipated films of all time. From there, Hattie would ascend to the heights of critical acclaim and popularity. But her rise would come at a steep cost to her reputation, health and career. Leaving behind a legacy that is as profound as it is complex.
Before MGM, the Oscars, and fame, Hattie McDaniel was a struggling stage actress and singer. The daughter of a Union soldier, her family endeavored to find a better way of life in the aftermath of the Civil War. But injustice, poverty, and discrimination hindered them at every turn. Amid the strife and uncertainty of their youth, the McDaniel children would find salvation through performance. As a black woman, strict societal standards regulated every facet of her life. But up on the stage, Hattie found the freedom to express her desires, anger, heartache, and laughter.
Since its founding, the city of Alexandria had been the pinnacle of wisdom in the ancient world. A beacon of knowledge and research, it boasted the largest library the world had ever seen and attracted the greatest scholars of every generation. But in the spring of 415 CE, a brutal slaying would irrevocably shatter this pristine image, when the city's leading philosopher was dragged through the streets and murdered by a mob of enraged fanatics. This tragedy, and the events leading up to it, would lay bare the deep divides that threatened to tear the city apart. A clash of religions and social castes would culminate in the death of the woman who had dedicated her life to keeping the city whole.
The third and final chapter of my Caterina Sforza series! We follow our heroine through the final trials and tribulations of her life: After nearly losing herself to vengeance in the aftermath of her second husband's murder, she will find redemption through acts of service. Eventually, she will learn to love and learn to grieve all over again. With unflinching nerve, she will withstand continued plots against her family, another foreign invasion, and the desertion of those who were supposed to be her closest allies. Abandoned and left to her fate, she will nonetheless face her destiny with the strength and resolve that made the Sforza name famous. Her refusal to submit will lead her toe-to-toe in a final showdown with the 'Antichrist' himself.
We pick up right where we left off... Caterina, after holding the Vatican hostage, is forced to relinquish her post and follow her hapless husband north to Florì. Although now far removed from the intrigues of the Roman court, political plots and vendettas follow them, threatening retribution at every turn. As the next ten years unfold, the Countess will face horrors and triumphs: wars, shifting alliances, forbidden love and unimaginable devastation. From this, Caterina Sforza will emerge transformed; the woman known to history as the Tigress of Florì. Be warned: This episode is going to get bloody.
Italy in the 1400's was a land of contradictions. The cradle of the Renaissance was encapsulated with bloody warfare and nefarious plots; beautiful and deadly. Only a backdrop such as this could produce a woman like Caterina Sfroza. Born the illegitimate daughter to one of the wealthiest men in Romagna, her upbringing was on par with any prince of Europe. She was trained to observe, calculate, hunt and fight. But most of all, she was conditioned to be loyal to her family above all others. In Part 1 of this series, we will discuss her youth. Her evolution from a child-bride to a young mother. And from a sweet and beguiling Countess to the adversary of the Vatican itself.
The Iranian or Isalmic Revolution of 1979 is now synonymous with far-right/religious extremism, but it was almost something completely different. Many revolutionaries were progressives, marching for democracy. Cheifly amoung these were Iranian women, who had made great advances over the previous five decades. By 1978 they had gained the right to vote and joined the workforce in droves. They were running thier own companies, attending university, even being elected to serve in public office. When the revolution unfolded they marched in the streets, firmly believing that a new age of equality was on the horizon. At that time, they could not fathom that they stood on the precipice of losing everything they had worked so hard to gain.
New Orleans is a city of history and myth, and often the two become intertwined. No where is this more apparent than in the legend of the most notorious female figure in the city's history... Marie Laveau, the "Voodoo Queen" of New Orleans. In her lifetime she was both haled as a spiritual leader and condemned as vial sinner (depending on who you asked). In the century or so since her death her myth has only grown. In this episode I will be parsing out the real Marie Laveau, separating fact from myth, as much as is possible. Exploring the life of the real woman who lived, loved and lost, and who served as a healer and leader among her people in a time of upheaval and uncertainty. I will also be delving into the history and practice of the greatly misunderstood and often misrepresented religion of Voodoo.
A sneak peak at my latest Patreon Exclusive episode! At its height, the Roman Empire stretched across the regions of what today make up most of western Europe, portions of eastern Europe and west Asia, down into the Middle East and across northern Africa. And at the farthest western reach of that great Empire was the island of Britannia. But in the 60/61 CE the unquestionable might of the Rome was nearly upended by a band of rebellious tribes at the edge of the empire. This violent uprising would leave three Roman cities in ruins and thousands dead. The rebellion was eventually quashed, it’s leaders annihilated, and considering the war had only lasted one year, it should have just been footnote in history. Instead it captured the attention and imagination of chroniclers, rulers and historians across the world and down the generations. In part because this fierce and bloody rebellion was led by a woman: Boudica, Queen of the Iceni. Her name and her life have become the stuff of legends.
As a special holiday treat we are taking a look back at my first two episodes Elizabeth Tudor Part 1 & 2 (Royal Bastard). Examining the tumultuous background and early years of her life before she became the powerful figure we remember her as today. Way back in 2018 I started this podcast with little idea what I was doing; a lot of heart without much technical know-how. We have done our best to brush up and remaster these early episodes for your listening enjoyment. Cheers!
* * Anne of Cleves was not born to be a queen... but by chance or fate she found herself married at the age of 24 to Henry VIII of England, arguably the most infamous ruler of his day. * * * Anne's arrival in England should have been the start of a real-life fairy tale, instead it was the beginning of a nightmare. Separated from her family in a strange new land and unhappily married to a King with a ferocious reputation. She would have to rely on herself to navigate the dangerous terrain of the English court, where one wrong move might cost you your reputation, your freedom or even your life.
* * The cards were stacked against Sarah Breedlove from the start. Born in 1867 to formerly enslaved parents and growing up along the cotton fields of the deep south during the Reconstruction Era. She was orphaned at 7, married at 14 and widowed at 20, leaving her utterly alone in the world with a small child to raise. * * * But Sarah had learned from an early age to be her own advocate and her own savior. Dragging herself up from the dredges of poverty to become one of the wealthiest business owners in America. In turn she would set out to use her wealth and influence to better the lives of black citizens, specifically black women and girls across the nation.
In the early morning hours of July 17th, 1918 the Romanov family and their four servants were awoken and told they needed to be moved for their own protection. Escorted by armed guards, they were brought to a tiny, dimly lit cellar room. Completely unaware of what was about to happen. Much had changed for the Romanovs in the last four years. War and revolution had rendered the world a strange and terrifying place. But bound by duty and love, the four sisters Romanova would hold fast to each other and their family. Following their parents to the ends of the earth and straight into the inferno.
Part 2 of my Romanova series. In this episode I discuss the childhoods of the often over-looked Romanov daughters: Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia. Spending much of their youth sequestered away at the family palace or aboard the imperial yacht, their world was simple, idyllic and profoundly isolated. To the press and the public, they were nothing more than four pretty faces. And in the century since that view has continued, their own personalities and experiences forgotten in the infamous story of their family's downfall. The reality is that these four sisters each had their own hopes, desires and humors. Extremely devoted to their parents and little brother, but hungry to see the world. Coming of age against a backdrop of family illness, sinister plots, and rising political violence.
For over a century the strange and tragic story of the Romanovs (the last imperial rulers of Russia) has captivated the world. It is a story of courtly intrigue, political uprisings, assassinations and the occult. But at the center of it all is the story of a family. In this two part series I will be discussing the Romanov women, Alexandra and her daughters. Alexandra, or Alix, not cut out for the role of Empress, devoted herself instead to motherhood. Believing that through sheer devotion and piety she might overcome the tragedies of her past and provide a life of sheltered tranquility for her family. But despite her many good intentions, nothing could keep out the "family curse" that flowed in her veins, or the creeping dread and paranoia that would begin to consume her every waking moment.
The Chinese Empire lasted nearly four thousand years. It saw the rise and fall of numerous dynasties and hundreds of Emperors. But only one woman who would rise to sit upon the imperial throne and rule over all of China in her own name... Empress Wu Zhao According to ancient chroniclers she was a vicious tyrant, monstrous and inhuman. But modern archeological finds paint a more complicated picture: that of a woman who, ruling over the largest empire in the world, did what she believed was necessary for her own glory the glory of China.
From dime novels to Hollywood, Calamity Jane has long been a staple of American lore and legend. A wild amazon of the frontier, a female adventurer in men’s clothes, bucking the status quo and living her life on her own terms. But the life of the real Calamity Jane was quite different from many of the stories we know about her. In this episode I will explore some of her representations in popular media throughout the years, and delve into the true story of Martha Canary.
In the aftermath of her arrest, Rosa Parks makes the choice to step into a symbolic role, becoming both a martyr and a champion for her community to rally around. From this, the long brewing Civil Rights Movement will explode onto the national stage and a young, unknown reverend will rise up to become its new leader. Parks will be thrust into the spotlight herself. While doing everything she can to support the movement she will watch her own life, and the lives of those dearest to her, unravel. As a friend of hers observed, “It is fine to be a heroine but the price is high.”
On the evening of December 1, 1955 in Montgomery AL, Rosa Parks, a black woman, refused to give up her seat to a white man because her feet hurt and she was tired. Her arrest and the subsequent Montgomery bus boycott, kicked off the Civil Rights Movement which eventually led to desegregation and ended institutional racism in America…. At least, that’s the story we all learned in school; simple and easy with a happy ending. Of course, there is much more to this story (and to its heroine) than you might imagine. TW: discussion of SA, violence
We have long been obsessed with tales of swash-buckeling pirates and their many sea-fairing adventures. And there is a special fascination with the rare and domineering women who have donned the role of ‘pirate.’ But what if I told you female pirates were not nearly as rare a phenomenon as we have been led to believe? In this episode I share the stories of five great pirate women, from the Bronze Age all the way to the dawn of the 20th century. As well as exploring (and dismantling) the notions that have long separated a woman at sea from being considered ‘a real pirate.’
Following her brutal attack at the hands of the popular and well liked Jacques Le Gris, Marguerite de Carrougues had a choice… remain silent or speak the truth. She chose to speak up. What would follow would be a sensational court case, culminating in a trial by combat between Le Gris and her husband (and champion) Jean de Carrougues on December 29, 1386. The events surrounding this case are still discussed and debated to this day. It was even recently made into a hollywood film (The Last Duel). But beneath the legends and the rumors, still lies the steadfast account of Marguerite herself. TW: Sexual assault, rape, gore
On a cold December day in 1386, Paris, a crowd of thousands gathered for a spectacle of blood. Among them were peasants, royalty and all walks of life in between, but one figure was set apart... Marguerite de Carrouges, seated on a solitary platform, awaited her judgment and her fate. By publicly accusing the man who had violated her she had sought justice, no matter the cost. Her case would soon be decided by the “ultimate power” and her own life now hung in the balance. TW: Sexual assault, rape
In 1802 a near forgotten rebellion unfolded on the tiny island of Guadeloupe in the French Caribbean. Freedom fighters, soldiers and civilians, took up arms against Napoleon's army in a desperate fight for liberty. Among them was a small and peculiar woman. At times she was beautiful and at times she was terrifyingly ferocious. She danced into battle carrying her unborn child, laughing in the face of her own death. She was Solitude, and to this day her story remains a blend of history, myth and legend.
Before Sophia Loren, Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe or Greta Garbo, there was Theda Bara, the original VAMP of the silver screen. She made a career playing the embodiment of female sexual empowerment, the original femme fatale. Before the fame, she was a bookish theatre nerd from Ohio. Plucked from obscurity and rocketed into stardom overnight. But as quickly as her star rose it would fall, and her name has become nothing more than a footnote in cinema history. Let’s fix that.
