Matilda’s Top Women In History

Margaret Douglas was a Tudor Princess - Granddaughter of King Henry 7th, niece to Henry 8th, cousin to Elizabeth 1st and mother in law to Mary Queen of Scots. For decades she was at the centre of both English and Scottish affairs - and was locked up in the Tower of London 3 times for her troubles. Her story is a fascinating one; she witnessed some of the most famous events in English history.Sources/Further ReadingWeir, Alison: The Lost Tudor PrincessWeir, Alison: The Life of Elizabeth 1stWilliams, Kate: The Betrayal of Mary Queen of Scots- Elizabeth 1st and her Greatest RivalBibby, Dr Miriam: Margaret Douglas: The Women Who Defied Henry VIII – Twicehttps://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/Margaret-Douglas/Flantzer, Susan: Lady Margaret Douglas, Countess of Lennox https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/lady-margaret-douglas-countess-of-lennox/Tudor Times: Margaret Douglas - Life Story https://tudortimes.co.uk/people/margaret-douglas-life-story Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Margaret Douglas was a Tudor Princess - Granddaughter of King Henry 7th, niece to Henry 8th, cousin to Elizabeth 1st and mother in law to Mary Queen of Scots. For decades she was at the centre of both English and Scottish affairs - and was locked up in the Tower of London 3 times for her troubles. Her story is a fascinating one; she witnessed some of the most famous events in English history. Sources/Further ReadingWeir, Alison: The Lost Tudor PrincessWeir, Alison: The Life of Elizabeth 1stWilliams, Kate: The Betrayal of Mary Queen of Scots- Elizabeth 1st and her Greatest RivalBibby, Dr Miriam: Margaret Douglas: The Women Who Defied Henry VIII – Twicehttps://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/Margaret-Douglas/Flantzer, Susan: Lady Margaret Douglas, Countess of Lennox https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/lady-margaret-douglas-countess-of-lennox/Tudor Times: Margaret Douglas - Life Story https://tudortimes.co.uk/people/margaret-douglas-life-story Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sylvia Plath is today remembered as one of the most influential and popular writers of the 20th Century - she was called ‘the most gifted woman poet’ - a term that still manages to capture the sexism she encountered throughout her life. Growing up in the 1950s was a difficult time for women who wanted both a family and a career, and this is something Sylvia would struggle with for her entire life - how to reconcile her wish to be a writer with her desire to conform.Sources/Further ReadingClarke, Heather: Red Comet - The Short Life and Blazing Art of Sylvia PlathWagner-Martin, Linda: Sylvia Plath - A BiographySteinberg, Peter K: They Had to Call and Call - The Search for Sylvia Plath https://sylviaplath.info/documents/Steinberg_2010_Search.pdfSylvia Plath Blogspot https://sylviaplathinfo.blogspot.com/Poetry Foundation - Sylvia Plath https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/sylvia-plathWikipedia: Sylvia Plath https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sylvia_Plath Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sylvia Plath is today remembered as one of the most influential and popular writers of the 20th Century - she was called ‘the most gifted woman poet’ - a term that still manages to capture the sexism she encountered throughout her life. Growing up in the 1950s was a difficult time for women who wanted both a family and a career, and this is something Sylvia would struggle with for her entire life - how to reconcile her wish to be a writer with her desire to conform. Sources/Further ReadingClarke, Heather: Red Comet - The Short Life and Blazing Art of Sylvia PlathWagner-Martin, Linda: Sylvia Plath - A BiographySteinberg, Peter K: They Had to Call and Call - The Search for Sylvia Plath https://sylviaplath.info/documents/Steinberg_2010_Search.pdfSylvia Plath Blogspot https://sylviaplathinfo.blogspot.com/Poetry Foundation - Sylvia Plath https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/sylvia-plathWikipedia: Sylvia Plath https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sylvia_Plath Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Isabella of France was the daughter, sister, wife and mother to Kings; acutely conscious of her royal bloodline and dignity, she was not going to be pushed around. When her husband and his hated favourite insulted and belittled her, she took matters into her own hands and did something no woman has done before or since - launched an invasion of England.Sources/Further ReadingWarner, Kathryn: Isabella of France, the rebel queen - the story of the queen who deposed her husband Edward IIWeir, Alison: Isabella, She Wolf of France, Queen of EnglandTurner, James: Battle, Betrayal and Baliol - the Struggle for Scotland and the Battle of Annan https://www.medievalists.net/2024/12/battle-betrayal-balliol-scotland/Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isabella_of_France#In_retirement,_1330–1358Isabella: She Wolf of France and the death of Edward 2nd https://www.timeref.com/episodes/isabella_shewolf_of_france_and_death_of_edward_ii.htmUsilton, Larry W.: Isabella of France:https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/biography/isabella-france Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Isabella of France was the daughter, sister, wife and mother to Kings; acutely conscious of her royal bloodline and dignity, she was not going to be pushed around. When her husband and his hated favourite insulted and belittled her, she took matters into her own hands and did something no woman has done before or since - launched an invasion of England. Sources/Further ReadingWarner, Kathryn: Isabella of France, the rebel queen - the story of the queen who deposed her husband Edward IIWeir, Alison: Isabella, She Wolf of France, Queen of EnglandTurner, James: Battle, Betrayal and Baliol - the Struggle for Scotland and the Battle of Annan https://www.medievalists.net/2024/12/battle-betrayal-balliol-scotland/Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isabella_of_France#In_retirement,_1330–1358Isabella: She Wolf of France and the death of Edward 2nd https://www.timeref.com/episodes/isabella_shewolf_of_france_and_death_of_edward_ii.htmUsilton, Larry W.: Isabella of France:https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/biography/isabella-france Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Isabella of France became Queen of England when she was only 12 years old, and she found a husband who was was not interested in her - both because of her age and her gender. From her first step on English soil she was consistently ignored by the King, who much preferred to spend time with his court favourites. Isabella grew up to be a strong and formidable character, and soon King Edward 2nd would push her too far.Sources/Further ReadingWarner, Kathryn: Isabella of France, the rebel queen - the story of the queen who deposed her husband Edward IIWeir, Alison: Isabella, She Wolf of France, Queen of EnglandTurner, James: Battle, Betrayal and Baliol - the Struggle for Scotland and the Battle of Annan https://www.medievalists.net/2024/12/battle-betrayal-balliol-scotland/Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isabella_of_France#In_retirement,_1330–1358Isabella: She Wolf of France and the death of Edward 2nd https://www.timeref.com/episodes/isabella_shewolf_of_france_and_death_of_edward_ii.htmUsilton, Larry W.: Isabella of France:https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/biography/isabella-france Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Isabella of France became Queen of England when she was only 12 years old, and she found a husband who was was not interested in her - both because of her age and her gender. From her first step on English soil she was consistently ignored by the King, who much preferred to spend time with his court favourites. Isabella grew up to be a strong and formidable character, and soon King Edward 2nd would push her too far.Sources/Further ReadingWarner, Kathryn: Isabella of France, the rebel queen - the story of the queen who deposed her husband Edward IIWeir, Alison: Isabella, She Wolf of France, Queen of EnglandTurner, James: Battle, Betrayal and Baliol - the Struggle for Scotland and the Battle of Annan https://www.medievalists.net/2024/12/battle-betrayal-balliol-scotland/Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isabella_of_France#In_retirement,_1330–1358Isabella: She Wolf of France and the death of Edward 2nd https://www.timeref.com/episodes/isabella_shewolf_of_france_and_death_of_edward_ii.htmUsilton, Larry W.: Isabella of France:https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/biography/isabella-france Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Carolyn Bessette Kennedy is a modern style icon - almost 3 decades after her early death. However she was much more that a fashionable socialite - friends and family all say she was kind, warm and caring. She forged a successful career in a difficult industry, and fell in love with a man who happened to be in the public eye. Her struggle to get used to the frenzy of media attention was ongoing, and she was only just starting to manage it when she boarded a plane in July 1999.Beller, Elizabeth: Once Upon A Time - The Captivating Life of Carolyn Bessette KennedyConrieri, Stefania: Inside the Super-Secret, Ultra-Intimate Wedding of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessettehttps://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/secret-wedding-of-john-f-kennedy-jr-and-carolyn-bessette?srsltid=AfmBOoq7vIkf7B0Bmgl1BdHA9gMHmpGNy7bLOKPoi3ZUmz9PgP1VGJ8NGerhart, Ann: Who’s That Girl? Quite Possibly the Perfect Match https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-10-18-ls-54958-story.htmlArmstrong, Neil: Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy - The true story behind the mysterious and tragic US iconhttps://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20260212-carolyn-bessette-kennedy-the-true-story-behind-the-mysterious-and-tragic-us-iconComiter, Jordana: All About JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette's Honeymoon — and the Media Frenzy That Followed When They Returned https://people.com/all-about-jfk-jr-carolyn-bessette-honeymoon-11922444Gaffney, Adrienne: The Last Days of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette Kennedyhttps://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/tradition/a28187331/john-f-kennedy-jr-carolyn-bessette-last-days-plane-crash-true-story/The Life of JFK Jr: Crash and Search Timeline https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/jfkjr/recovery.htmWikipedia: Carolyn Bessette Kennedy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolyn_Bessette_Kennedy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Carolyn Bessette Kennedy is a modern style icon - almost 3 decades after her early death. However she was much more that a fashionable socialite - friends and family all say she was kind, warm and caring. She forged a successful career in a difficult industry, and fell in love with a man who happened to be in the public eye. Her struggle to get used to the frenzy of media attention was ongoing, and she was only just starting to manage it when she boarded a plane in July 1999.Beller, Elizabeth: Once Upon A Time - The Captivating Life of Carolyn Bessette KennedyConrieri, Stefania: Inside the Super-Secret, Ultra-Intimate Wedding of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessettehttps://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/secret-wedding-of-john-f-kennedy-jr-and-carolyn-bessette?srsltid=AfmBOoq7vIkf7B0Bmgl1BdHA9gMHmpGNy7bLOKPoi3ZUmz9PgP1VGJ8NGerhart, Ann: Who’s That Girl? Quite Possibly the Perfect Match https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-10-18-ls-54958-story.htmlArmstrong, Neil: Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy - The true story behind the mysterious and tragic US iconhttps://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20260212-carolyn-bessette-kennedy-the-true-story-behind-the-mysterious-and-tragic-us-iconComiter, Jordana: All About JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette's Honeymoon — and the Media Frenzy That Followed When They Returned https://people.com/all-about-jfk-jr-carolyn-bessette-honeymoon-11922444Gaffney, Adrienne: The Last Days of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette Kennedyhttps://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/tradition/a28187331/john-f-kennedy-jr-carolyn-bessette-last-days-plane-crash-true-story/The Life of JFK Jr: Crash and Search Timeline https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/jfkjr/recovery.htmWikipedia: Carolyn Bessette Kennedy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolyn_Bessette_Kennedy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Katherine Swynford was born an ordinary girl into an ordinary family. But she became the ancestor of Kings and Queens, and produced the family that became the Tudor Dynasty. Her story is, unusually for the times, a love story - and equally as unusually, she was not a woman after power and prestige. Sources/Further Reading:Amin, Nathan: The House of Beaufort, the Bastard Line that Captured the CrownWeir, Alison: Katherine Swynford, the Story of John of Gaunt and His Scandalous DuchessGoodman, Anthony: Katherine SwynfordLineage, Jeanette: Katherine Swynford, The History of a Medieval MistressWikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katherine_Swynford Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Katherine Swynford was born an ordinary girl into an ordinary family. But she became the ancestor of Kings and Queens, and produced the family that became the Tudor Dynasty. Her story is, unusually for the times, a love story - and equally as unusually, she was not a woman after power and prestige.Sources/Further Reading:Amin, Nathan: The House of Beaufort, the Bastard Line that Captured the CrownWeir, Alison: Katherine Swynford, the Story of John of Gaunt and His Scandalous DuchessGoodman, Anthony: Katherine SwynfordLineage, Jeanette: Katherine Swynford, The History of a Medieval MistressWikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katherine_Swynford Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marie Curie was one of the finest scientific minds of the 20th century. She was born in Poland - a country that didn’t technically exist - in a time and place where women were not even allowed to study at university. Through her own hard work and dedication, she became a highly respected physicist and the winner of two Nobel prizes - still the only person to have ever won in two science disciplines, Chemistry and Physics. She also promoted women in science, and through her development of mobile x-ray machines helped save the lives of countless soldiers in the First World War. She was a truly remarkable woman.Sources/Further ReadingSobel, Dava: The Elements of Marie Curie - How the Glow of Radium Lit a Path for Women in ScienceGunderman, Dr Richard: Marie Curie - The Pioneer, The Nobel Laureate, The Discoverer of RadioactivityWikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_CurieThe Nobel Prize: Marie Curie Biographical https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/physics/1903/marie-curie/biographical/Marie Curie and the Science of Radioactivity https://history.aip.org/exhibits/curie/polgirl1.htm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marie Curie was one of the finest scientific minds of the 20th century. She was born in Poland - a country that didn’t technically exist - in a time and place where women were not even allowed to study at university. Through her own hard work and dedication, she became a highly respected physicist and the winner of two Nobel prizes - still the only person to have ever won in two science disciplines, Chemistry and Physics. She also promoted women in science, and through her development of mobile x-ray machines helped save the lives of countless soldiers in the First World War. She was a truly remarkable woman.Sources/Further ReadingSobel, Dava: The Elements of Marie Curie - How the Glow of Radium Lit a Path for Women in ScienceGunderman, Dr Richard: Marie Curie - The Pioneer, The Nobel Laureate, The Discoverer of RadioactivityWikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_CurieThe Nobel Prize: Marie Curie Biographical https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/physics/1903/marie-curie/biographical/Marie Curie and the Science of Radioactivity https://history.aip.org/exhibits/curie/polgirl1.htm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mary of Burgundy was the ruling Duchesses of a vast territory, but when she came into her inheritance she faced invasions and rebellions. Luckily for her, she had a smart and sensible negotiator by her side - her stepmother, Margaret of York. These two women were able to stabilise a fractious territory and left a European legacy that lasted for centuries.Sources/Further ReadingWeightman, Christine: Margaret of York, Duchess of Burgundy, 1446-1503Van Loo, Bart: The Burgundians, A Vanished EmpirePotter, G.R (ed) The New Cambridge Modern History: Volume 1, the Renaissance, 1493-1520: The Burgundian Netherlands 1477-1521Today, Jacob: Burgundian Netherlands Court Life and Patronage https://www.metmuseum.org/essays/burgundian-netherlands-court-life-and-patronageWars of the Roses: Margaret of Burgundy https://www.warsoftheroses.com/people/margaret-of-york-duchess-of-burgundy/Unofficial Royalty: Margaret of York, Duchess of Burgundy https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/margaret-of-york-duchess-of-burgundy/Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_of_YorkWikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_of_BurgundyBritannica.com: Mary, Duchess of Burgundy https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mary-duchess-of-BurgundyEBSCO- Mary of Burgundy https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/mary-burgundy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mary of Burgundy was the ruling Duchesses of a vast territory, but when she came into her inheritance she faced invasions and rebellions. Luckily for her, she had a smart and sensible negotiator by her side - her stepmother, Margaret of York. These two women were able to stabilise a fractious territory and left a European legacy that lasted for centuries.Sources/Further ReadingWeightman, Christine: Margaret of York, Duchess of Burgundy, 1446-1503Van Loo, Bart: The Burgundians, A Vanished EmpirePotter, G.R (ed) The New Cambridge Modern History: Volume 1, the Renaissance, 1493-1520: The Burgundian Netherlands 1477-1521Today, Jacob: Burgundian Netherlands Court Life and Patronage https://www.metmuseum.org/essays/burgundian-netherlands-court-life-and-patronageWars of the Roses: Margaret of Burgundy https://www.warsoftheroses.com/people/margaret-of-york-duchess-of-burgundy/Unofficial Royalty: Margaret of York, Duchess of Burgundy https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/margaret-of-york-duchess-of-burgundy/Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_of_YorkWikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_of_BurgundyBritannica.com: Mary, Duchess of Burgundy https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mary-duchess-of-BurgundyEBSCO- Mary of Burgundy https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/mary-burgundy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bonnie and Clyde are sometimes viewed as a romantic story - the couple who lived life on the road, outside the norms and laws of society and without any regrets. In reality, their lives were not like this at all - neither glamorous nor romantic. It was a life of campsites and small cabins, living in their car and constantly looking over their shoulders for the police who were, eventually, only one step behind them. Bonnie Parker got swept into this life of crime, and although she (probably) didn’t kill anyone herself she was definitely an accomplice to both murder and bank robbery. She was well aware that, in choosing to stand with Clyde, she was dooming herself to a short life - but she didn’t care.Sources/Further Reading[Letter to Alice Sheppard describing the post-mortem condition of Bonnie Parker's body.] https://digitalcollections.smu.edu/digital/collection/gcd/id/155/Historynet.com: Bonnie and Clydes Revenge on Eastham https://www.historynet.com/bonnie-clydes-revenge-on-eastham/Milner, E.R: The LIves and times of Bonnie and ClydeTreherne, J.E: The Strange History of Bonnie and ClydeBarrow, Blanche Caldwell: My Life with Bonnie and ClydeGilmore, John: On the run with Bonnie and ClydeWikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonnie_and_Clyde Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bonnie and Clyde are sometimes viewed as a romantic story - the couple who lived life on the road, outside the norms and laws of society and without any regrets. In reality, their lives were not like this at all - neither glamorous nor romantic. It was a life of campsites and small cabins, living in their car and constantly looking over their shoulders for the police who were, eventually, only one step behind them. Bonnie Parker got swept into this life of crime, and although she (probably) didn’t kill anyone herself she was definitely an accomplice to both murder and bank robbery. She was well aware that, in choosing to stand with Clyde, she was dooming herself to a short life - but she didn’t care.Sources/Further Reading[Letter to Alice Sheppard describing the post-mortem condition of Bonnie Parker's body.] https://digitalcollections.smu.edu/digital/collection/gcd/id/155/Historynet.com: Bonnie and Clydes Revenge on Eastham https://www.historynet.com/bonnie-clydes-revenge-on-eastham/Milner, E.R: The LIves and times of Bonnie and ClydeTreherne, J.E: The Strange History of Bonnie and ClydeBarrow, Blanche Caldwell: My Life with Bonnie and ClydeGilmore, John: On the run with Bonnie and ClydeWikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonnie_and_Clyde Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Charlotte Bronte always considered herself plain and awkward - but behind her plain and pious exterior was an intelligent, curious and open mind. She and her sisters grew up in rural England - a literary backwater - but they produced some of the greatest English novels. Charlotte was more than just an author - her life was one of great tragedy, unexpected marriage proposals and an uneasy relationship with her newfound fame.Sources/Further ReadingHarman, Claire: Charlotte Bronte, A LifeWatson, Graham: The Invention of Charlotte BronteGaskell, Elizabeth: The Life of Charlotte BronteTalbot, Dean: Charlotte Bronte Statistics https://wordsrated.com/charlotte-bronte-statistics/Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlotte_Bront%C3%AB Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Charlotte Bronte always considered herself plain and awkward - but behind her plain and pious exterior was an intelligent, curious and open mind. She and her sisters grew up in rural England - a literary backwater - but they produced some of the greatest English novels. Charlotte was more than just an author - her life was one of great tragedy, unexpected marriage proposals and an uneasy relationship with her newfound fame.Sources/Further ReadingHarman, Claire: Charlotte Bronte, A LifeWatson, Graham: The Invention of Charlotte BronteGaskell, Elizabeth: The Life of Charlotte BronteTalbot, Dean: Charlotte Bronte Statistics https://wordsrated.com/charlotte-bronte-statistics/Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlotte_Bront%C3%AB Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1776 the work of the English parliament and law courts paused for a week to hear the unusual case of a woman being tried for bigamy. Elizabeth Chudleigh had married the Duke of Kingston, but before that she had married - and never divorced - the Earl of Bristol. The entire country was agog to see the outcome - was she a Duchess or a Countess? For Elizabeth, there was more at stake than just a title - her husband the Duke had left her an enormous fortune, and his relatives wanted it back. Sources/Further Reading:Chudleigh, Elizabeth: An Authentic Detail of Particulars Relative to the Late Duchess of KingstonGervat, Claire: Elizabeth - the Scandalous Life of the Duchess of KingstonOstler, Catherine: The Duchess Countess, the Woman Who Scandalised 18th Century LondonA Most Scandalous Lady https://janeaustenslondon.com/2016/01/22/a-most-scandalous-lady/The Bigamous Duchess of Kingston https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/manuscriptsandspecialcollections/exhibitions/online/fromparchmenttopixels/duchessofkingston.aspxWikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Pierrepont,_Duchess_of_Kingston-upon-Hull Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1776 the work of the English parliament and law courts paused for a week to hear the unusual case of a woman being tried for bigamy. Elizabeth Chudleigh had married the Duke of Kingston, but before that she had married - and never divorced - the Earl of Bristol. The entire country was agog to see the outcome - was she a Duchess or a Countess? For Elizabeth, there was more at stake than just a title - her husband the Duke had left her an enormous fortune, and his relatives wanted it back. Sources/Further Reading:Chudleigh, Elizabeth: An Authentic Detail of Particulars Relative to the Late Duchess of KingstonGervat, Claire: Elizabeth - the Scandalous Life of the Duchess of KingstonOstler, Catherine: The Duchess Countess, the Woman Who Scandalised 18th Century LondonA Most Scandalous Lady https://janeaustenslondon.com/2016/01/22/a-most-scandalous-lady/The Bigamous Duchess of Kingston https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/manuscriptsandspecialcollections/exhibitions/online/fromparchmenttopixels/duchessofkingston.aspxWikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Pierrepont,_Duchess_of_Kingston-upon-Hull Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nancy Wake was a New Zealand born Australian journalist working in France when Germany invaded her beloved adopted country. Unwilling to watch as France became overrun with foreign soldiers, she joined up with the secret band of guerrilla fighters known as the French Resistance. Embedded with a group of fighters in the mountains of Central France, Nancy played an invaluable role in obtaining weapons and money for the Resistance as well as laying explosives and leading a charge on a machine gun station. Sources/Further ReadingFitzsimmons, Peter: Nancy Wake - A Biography of Our Greatest War HeroineWake, Nancy: The White MouseBraddon, Russell: Nancy Wake - SOE’s greatest HeroineThe Story of Nancy Wake https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/explore-the-collection/stories/nancy-wake/Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_WakeAustralian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P332 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nancy Wake was a New Zealand born Australian journalist working in France when Germany invaded her beloved adopted country. Unwilling to watch as France became overrun with foreign soldiers, she joined up with the secret band of guerrilla fighters known as the French Resistance. Embedded with a group of fighters in the mountains of Central France, Nancy played an invaluable role in obtaining weapons and money for the Resistance as well as laying explosives and leading a charge on a machine gun station.Sources/Further ReadingFitzsimmons, Peter: Nancy Wake - A Biography of Our Greatest War HeroineWake, Nancy: The White MouseBraddon, Russell: Nancy Wake - SOE’s greatest HeroineThe Story of Nancy Wake https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/explore-the-collection/stories/nancy-wake/Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_WakeAustralian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P332 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lady Caroline Lamb is famous - or infamous - for her affair with the poet Lord Byron and for being the wife of Queen Victoria’s favourite Prime Minister Lord Melbourne. But she was also a novelist in her own right, helping to create a new genre of fiction called the silver fork novel which allowed ordinary people a glimpse into the lives of the rich aristocracy. Throughout her life she suffered from mental illness, possibly bi-polar disorder, which in a time with limited understanding of mental illness and limited treatment made life difficult for herself and those around her. Her mother referred to Caroline as the ‘joy and torment of my life’ and many others probably felt the same.Sources/Further Readinghttps://scispace.com/pdf/the-madness-of-writing-lady-caroline-lamb-s-byronic-identity-28d17t2bmv.pdfhttps://www.theguardian.com/culture/2015/jun/17/duke-wellington-mud-streaked-waterloo-cloak-up-for-auctionDouglass, Paul: Lady Caroline LambFraser, Antonia: Lady Caroline Lamb, A Free SpiritCaro: The Lady Caroline Lamb Website https://sites.google.com/sjsu.edu/caro/biographyWikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Caroline_Lamb Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lady Caroline Lamb is famous - or infamous - for her affair with the poet Lord Byron and for being the wife of Queen Victoria’s favourite Prime Minister Lord Melbourne. But she was also a novelist in her own right, helping to create a new genre of fiction called the silver fork novel which allowed ordinary people a glimpse into the lives of the rich aristocracy. Throughout her life she suffered from mental illness, possibly bi-polar disorder, which in a time with limited understanding of mental illness and limited treatment made life difficult for herself and those around her. Her mother referred to Caroline as the ‘joy and torment of my life’ and many others probably felt the same.Sources/Further Readinghttps://scispace.com/pdf/the-madness-of-writing-lady-caroline-lamb-s-byronic-identity-28d17t2bmv.pdfhttps://www.theguardian.com/culture/2015/jun/17/duke-wellington-mud-streaked-waterloo-cloak-up-for-auctionDouglass, Paul: Lady Caroline LambFraser, Antonia: Lady Caroline Lamb, A Free SpiritCaro: The Lady Caroline Lamb Website https://sites.google.com/sjsu.edu/caro/biographyWikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Caroline_Lamb Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jadwiga of Poland was a woman, but she ruled with the title of King. Although short lived, her reign is seen as a pivotal one in the history of Poland as it ushered in an age of increasing wealth and military might. Known for her diplomatic skills and ability to negotiate, Jadwiga was beloved by her people and venerated by her church.Sources/Further ReadingHalecki, Oskar: A History of PolandZamoyski, Adam: Poland, A HistoryKellogg, Charlotte: Jadwiga, Polands Great QueenWikipedia: Jadwiga of Poland https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jadwiga_of_Poland#HolinessOgrodnik-Fujcik, Katarzyna: The Four Great-Grandaughters of King Ladislaus the Elbow High https://historytheinterestingbits.com/tag/jadwiga-of-poland/Encyclopedia.com: Jadwiga https://www.encyclopedia.com/women/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/jadwiga-1374-1399A Young Girl And A Mighty Queen: The Exceptional Jadwiga of Anjou - An interview With Prof Tomasz Grafhttps://polishhistory.pl/a-young-girl-and-a-mighty-queen-the-exceptional-jadwiga-of-anjou/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jadwiga of Poland was a woman, but she ruled with the title of King. Although short lived, her reign is seen as a pivotal one in the history of Poland as it ushered in an age of increasing wealth and military might. Known for her diplomatic skills and ability to negotiate, Jadwiga was beloved by her people and venerated by her church.Sources/Further ReadingHalecki, Oskar: A History of PolandZamoyski, Adam: Poland, A HistoryKellogg, Charlotte: Jadwiga, Polands Great QueenWikipedia: Jadwiga of Poland https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jadwiga_of_Poland#HolinessOgrodnik-Fujcik, Katarzyna: The Four Great-Grandaughters of King Ladislaus the Elbow High https://historytheinterestingbits.com/tag/jadwiga-of-poland/Encyclopedia.com: Jadwiga https://www.encyclopedia.com/women/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/jadwiga-1374-1399A Young Girl And A Mighty Queen: The Exceptional Jadwiga of Anjou - An interview With Prof Tomasz Grafhttps://polishhistory.pl/a-young-girl-and-a-mighty-queen-the-exceptional-jadwiga-of-anjou/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1582 a small corner of Essex in England turned in on itself, and 14 people - 13 women and 1 man - were arrested, interrogated and imprisoned for bewitching to death people and/or animals. This is a story of how grief, fear and suspicion can kill innocent people. Please note there is some discussion of infant death in this episode. Brennen, Lewis: Parliaments, Politics and People Seminar: The Political and Religious Origins of the 1563 Witchcraft Act https://historyofparliament.com/2019/11/05/origins-of-1563-witchcraft-act/  Duff, Charles: The History of Hanging https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofBritain/The-Art-of-Hanging/A true and iust recorde, of the information, examination and confession of all the witches, taken at S. Ofes in the countie of Essex https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/A14611.0001.001?rgn=main;view=fulltextGibson, Marion: The Witches of St Osyth - Persecution, Murder and Betrayal in Elizabethan EnglandWikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Osyth_WitchesSt Osyth Museum: https://www.stosythmuseum.co.uk/village-tales/1579-st-osyth-witches-and-witch-trials Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1582 a small corner of Essex in England turned in on itself, and 14 people - 13 women and 1 man - were arrested, interrogated and imprisoned for bewitching to death people and/or animals. This is a story of how grief, fear and suspicion can kill innocent people. Please note there is some discussion of infant death in this episode. Brennen, Lewis: Parliaments, Politics and People Seminar: The Political and Religious Origins of the 1563 Witchcraft Act https://historyofparliament.com/2019/11/05/origins-of-1563-witchcraft-act/  Duff, Charles: The History of Hanging https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofBritain/The-Art-of-Hanging/A true and iust recorde, of the information, examination and confession of all the witches, taken at S. Ofes in the countie of Essex https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/A14611.0001.001?rgn=main;view=fulltextGibson, Marion: The Witches of St Osyth - Persecution, Murder and Betrayal in Elizabethan EnglandWikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Osyth_WitchesSt Osyth Museum: https://www.stosythmuseum.co.uk/village-tales/1579-st-osyth-witches-and-witch-trials Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caroline of Ansbach, wife and queen of George 2nd, is one of the lesser known British Queens. Which is a shame, as she was one of the cleverest and most influential. Born in a small German state, she went on to wield enormous influence over her husband and his kingdom. The British First Minister would approach Caroline before her husband, and the public loved her for her style and loathed her for her influence.Sources/Further ReadingDennison, Matthew: The First Iron LadyDennison, Matthew: Caroline of Ansbach: why George II's remarkable queen was the first iron lady of British politics https://www.historyextra.com/period/georgian/caroline-of-ansbach-queen-britain-george-ii-first-iron-lady-politics-sex-symbol/Hadlow, Janice: The strangest family - the private lives of George 3rd, Queen Charlotte and the HanoveriansWorsley, Lucy: Courtiers, the Secret History of Kensington PalaceFinch, Barbara Clay: Lives of the Princesses of Wales https://archive.org/details/livesofprincesse02finc/page/284/mode/2upWilliams-McIntosh, Leah: Queen Caroline of Brandenburg-Ansbach https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/Queen-Caroline-Brandenburg-Ansbach/Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlotte_of_Mecklenburg-Strelitz Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caroline of Ansbach, wife and queen of George 2nd, is one of the lesser known British Queens. Which is a shame, as she was one of the cleverest and most influential. Born in a small German state, she went on to wield enormous influence over her husband and his kingdom. The British First Minister would approach Caroline before her husband, and the public loved her for her style and loathed her for her influence. Sources/Further ReadingDennison, Matthew: The First Iron LadyDennison, Matthew: Caroline of Ansbach: why George II's remarkable queen was the first iron lady of British politics https://www.historyextra.com/period/georgian/caroline-of-ansbach-queen-britain-george-ii-first-iron-lady-politics-sex-symbol/Hadlow, Janice: The strangest family - the private lives of George 3rd, Queen Charlotte and the HanoveriansWorsley, Lucy: Courtiers, the Secret History of Kensington PalaceFinch, Barbara Clay: Lives of the Princesses of Wales https://archive.org/details/livesofprincesse02finc/page/284/mode/2upWilliams-McIntosh, Leah: Queen Caroline of Brandenburg-Ansbach https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/Queen-Caroline-Brandenburg-Ansbach/Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlotte_of_Mecklenburg-Strelitz Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bess of Hardwick was born in Hardwick Hall as the daughter of a relatively poor local squire. She died in almost the same spot 80 years later - but in a vastly different tax bracket. At her death, she was not only a Countess but she controlled enormous swathes of lands and ran a thriving business loaning money and selling timber, slate and bricks from her extensive properties. She was the richest woman in the country after Queen Elizabeth 1st, and was first a friend and then an enemy of Elizabeths great rival Mary Queen of Scots. Bess of Hardwick was there for some of the most well known and significant moments in English history, and her story is a remarkable one. Sources/Further Reading:Lovell, Mary S: Bess of Hardwick - First Lady of ChatsworthHubbard, Kate: A Material Girl - Bess of Hardwick 1527-1608Gristwood, Sarah: Arbella - Englands Lost QueenArmitage, Jill: Arbella Stuart - The Uncrowned QueenOnce Upon A Time in History: A St Loe Murder https://cupboardworld.blogspot.com/2014/05/a-st-loe-murderer.htmlEnglish Heritage: Bess of Hardwick https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/histories/women-in-history/bess-of-hardwick/Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bess_of_Hardwick#Death_and_burial Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bess of Hardwick was born in Hardwick Hall as the daughter of a relatively poor local squire. She died in almost the same spot 80 years later - but in a vastly different tax bracket. At her death, she was not only a Countess but she controlled enormous swathes of lands and ran a thriving business loaning money and selling timber, slate and bricks from her extensive properties. She was the richest woman in the country after Queen Elizabeth 1st, and was first a friend and then an enemy of Elizabeths great rival Mary Queen of Scots. Bess of Hardwick was there for some of the most well known and significant moments in English history, and her story is a remarkable one. Sources/Further Reading:Lovell, Mary S: Bess of Hardwick - First Lady of ChatsworthHubbard, Kate: A Material Girl - Bess of Hardwick 1527-1608Gristwood, Sarah: Arbella - Englands Lost QueenArmitage, Jill: Arbella Stuart - The Uncrowned QueenOnce Upon A Time in History: A St Loe Murder https://cupboardworld.blogspot.com/2014/05/a-st-loe-murderer.htmlEnglish Heritage: Bess of Hardwick https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/histories/women-in-history/bess-of-hardwick/Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bess_of_Hardwick#Death_and_burial Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Queen Charlotte was hand-picked King George 3rd to be his Queen, and she proved to be a good choice. Her steady sense of duty helped keep the Kingdom together when her husband was incapacitated and her subjects were restless. Recently made more famous thanks to the series ‘Bridgerton’ Charlotte was not unlike her character on the show - dignified and keen on protocol. However she loved her husband and was highly distressed at his ongoing illness. Sources/Further ReadingCurzon, Catherine: The Real Queen Charlotte- Inside the Real Bridgerton CourtHadlow, Janice: The Strangest Family - the private lives of George 3rd, Queen Charlotte and the HanoveriansWorsley, Lucy: Courtiers, the Secret History of Kensington PalaceFinch, Barbara Clay: Lives of the Princesses of Wales https://archive.org/details/livesofprincesse02finc/page/284/mode/2upHistoric Royal Palaces: Queen Charlotte https://www.hrp.org.uk/kew-palace/history-and-stories/queen-charlotte/Wikipedia: Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlotte_of_Mecklenburg-Strelitz Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Queen Charlotte was hand-picked King George 3rd to be his Queen, and she proved to be a good choice. Her steady sense of duty helped keep the Kingdom together when her husband was incapacitated and her subjects were restless. Recently made more famous thanks to the series ‘Bridgerton’ Charlotte was not unlike her character on the show - dignified and keen on protocol. However she loved her husband and was highly distressed at his ongoing illness.Sources/Further ReadingCurzon, Catherine: The Real Queen Charlotte- Inside the Real Bridgerton CourtHadlow, Janice: The Strangest Family - the private lives of George 3rd, Queen Charlotte and the HanoveriansWorsley, Lucy: Courtiers, the Secret History of Kensington PalaceFinch, Barbara Clay: Lives of the Princesses of Wales https://archive.org/details/livesofprincesse02finc/page/284/mode/2upHistoric Royal Palaces: Queen Charlotte https://www.hrp.org.uk/kew-palace/history-and-stories/queen-charlotte/Wikipedia: Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlotte_of_Mecklenburg-Strelitz Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lady Mary Wortley Montagu lead an incredibly interesting life. As a young woman she eloped to marry for love, then spent time in the exotic court of the Ottoman Empire where she learnt about the process of smallpox inoculation. After introducing this medical success story to England, she separated from her husband to travel the continent, chasing down one man before settling in with another - and almost losing everything.Grundy, Isobel: Lady Mary Wortley MontaguWard, Lucy: The Empress and the English Doctor - How Catherine the Great Defied a deadly virusWillet, Jo: The Pioneering Life of Mary Wortley Montagu, Scientist and Feminist The Grolier Society Lady Mary Wortley Montagu Letters: https://archive.org/details/ladymarywortleym0000mont/page/333/mode/1upWikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Mary_Wortley_MontaguEncyclopaedia Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Lady-Mary-Wortley-Montagu Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lady Mary Wortley Montagu lead an incredibly interesting life. As a young woman she eloped to marry for love, then spent time in the exotic court of the Ottoman Empire where she learnt about the process of smallpox inoculation. After introducing this medical success story to England, she separated from her husband to travel the continent, chasing down one man before settling in with another - and almost losing everything. Grundy, Isobel: Lady Mary Wortley MontaguWard, Lucy: The Empress and the English Doctor - How Catherine the Great Defied a deadly virusWillet, Jo: The Pioneering Life of Mary Wortley Montagu, Scientist and Feminist The Grolier Society Lady Mary Wortley Montagu Letters: https://archive.org/details/ladymarywortleym0000mont/page/333/mode/1upWikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Mary_Wortley_MontaguEncyclopaedia Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Lady-Mary-Wortley-Montagu Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes and Mary Jane Kelly were all women who had fallen on hard times. Victims of the poverty and violence endemic in London’s East End, they were all vulnerable to the serial killer known as Jack the Ripper. However before they died, they all lived eventful lives and had people who loved them and greatly mourned their deaths.Sources/Further Reading:Rubenhold, Hallie: The Five - the Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the RipperCornwall, Patricia: Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper—Case ClosedCasebook: Jack the Ripper https://www.casebook.org/intro.htmlWikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_StrideWikipedia; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_EddowesWikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Jane_KellyJack The Ripper. Org https://www.jack-the-ripper.org/victims-of-jack-the-ripper.htm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes and Mary Jane Kelly were all women who had fallen on hard times. Victims of the poverty and violence endemic in London’s East End, they were all vulnerable to the serial killer known as Jack the Ripper. However before they died, they all lived eventful lives and had people who loved them and greatly mourned their deaths.Sources/Further Reading:Rubenhold, Hallie: The Five - the Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the RipperCornwall, Patricia: Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper—Case ClosedCasebook: Jack the Ripper https://www.casebook.org/intro.htmlWikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_StrideWikipedia; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_EddowesWikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Jane_KellyJack The Ripper. Org https://www.jack-the-ripper.org/victims-of-jack-the-ripper.htm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Polly Nichols and Annie Chapman are united in death as victims of the most famous cold-case of all time: the murders of Jack the Ripper. But they were more than just dead bodies - they had lives that deserve respect and families that grieved them. In this episode we look at the lives of two of the most famous murder victims in history.Sources/Further Reading:Rubenhold, Hallie: The Five - the Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the RipperCornwall, Patricia: Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper—Case ClosedCasebook: Jack the Ripper https://www.casebook.org/intro.htmlWikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Ann_NicholsWikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annie_ChapmanJack The Ripper. Org https://www.jack-the-ripper.org/victims-of-jack-the-ripper.htm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Polly Nichols and Annie Chapman are united in death as victims of the most famous cold-case of all time: the murders of Jack the Ripper. But they were more than just dead bodies - they had lives that deserve respect and families that grieved them. In this episode we look at the lives of two of the most famous murder victims in history.Sources/Further Reading:Rubenhold, Hallie: The Five - the Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the RipperCornwall, Patricia: Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper—Case ClosedCasebook: Jack the Ripper https://www.casebook.org/intro.htmlWikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Ann_NicholsWikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annie_ChapmanJack The Ripper. Org https://www.jack-the-ripper.org/victims-of-jack-the-ripper.htm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mary Shelley was only 19 when she wrote one of the most popular and influential books in the English language - her novel Frankenstein continues to be a bestseller 200 years after its publication. Born the daughter of two famous radical thinkers, she was highly educated and intelligent, although the subject of several blackmail attempts in her later years. Her life was one of sorrow, she lost several children and was widowed young, however she was eventually able to make a living through her writing. This is the story of a woman who was unafraid of the restrictions of Georgian society, and who sacrificed a lot for love and for independence. Seymour, Miranda: Mary ShelleyBrittanica: Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mary-Wollstonecraft-ShelleyWikipedia: Mary Shelley https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_ShelleyMary Wollstonecraft: A Vindication on the Rights of Women https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/wollstonecraft-mary/1792/vindication-rights-woman/introduction.htmThe Journals of Mary Shelley Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mary Shelley was only 19 when she wrote one of the most popular and influential books in the English language - her novel Frankenstein continues to be a bestseller 200 years after its publication. Born the daughter of two famous radical thinkers, she was highly educated and intelligent, although the subject of several blackmail attempts in her later years. Her life was one of sorrow, she lost several children and was widowed young, however she was eventually able to make a living through her writing. This is the story of a woman who was unafraid of the restrictions of Georgian society, and who sacrificed a lot for love and for independence. Seymour, Miranda: Mary ShelleyBrittanica: Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mary-Wollstonecraft-ShelleyWikipedia: Mary Shelley https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_ShelleyMary Wollstonecraft: A Vindication on the Rights of Women https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/wollstonecraft-mary/1792/vindication-rights-woman/introduction.htmThe Journals of Mary Shelley Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Catherine the Great saw an opportunity and she took it - to overthrow her husband and assume control for herself. But in many ways gaining the throne is the easy part - the hard part is keeping power. With the help of her capable and able generals and administrators, and her lover turned right hand man Gregory Potemkin, Catherine began to reform her adopted country and turn it into an international power.Sources/Further Reading:Massie, Robert K: Catherine the Great - Portrait of a WomanMontefiore, Simon Sebag: Catherine the Great and Potemkin - Power Love and the Russian EmpireWard, Lucy: The Empress and the English Doctor - how Catherine the Great Defied a Deadly VirusSimmons, Michael W: Catherine the Great - Last Empress of RussiaBritannica: Catherine the Great https://www.britannica.com/biography/Catherine-the-GreatWikipedia: Catherine the Great https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_the_Great Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Catherine the Great saw an opportunity and she took it - to overthrow her husband and assume control for herself. But in many ways gaining the throne is the easy part - the hard part is keeping power. With the help of her capable and able generals and administrators, and her lover turned right hand man Gregory Potemkin, Catherine began to reform her adopted country and turn it into an international power.Sources/Further Reading:Massie, Robert K: Catherine the Great - Portrait of a WomanMontefiore, Simon Sebag: Catherine the Great and Potemkin - Power Love and the Russian EmpireWard, Lucy: The Empress and the English Doctor - how Catherine the Great Defied a Deadly VirusSimmons, Michael W: Catherine the Great - Last Empress of RussiaBritannica: Catherine the Great https://www.britannica.com/biography/Catherine-the-GreatWikipedia: Catherine the Great https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_the_Great Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Catherine the Great was not born into the Russian royal family - she wasn’t even born as Catherine. Her birth name was Sophie, and she was raised in a small German principality that was no different to the many hundreds of other small countries and states that made up the Holy Roman Empire. How she ended up as the most powerful woman in Europe is a fascinating story.Sources/Further Reading:Massie, Robert K: Catherine the Great - Portrait of a WomanMontefiore, Simon Sebag: Catherine the Great and Potemkin - Power Love and the Russian EmpireWard, Lucy: The Empress and the English Doctor - how Catherine the Great Defied a Deadly VirusSimmons, Michael W: Catherine the Great - Last Empress of RussiaBritannica: Catherine the Great https://www.britannica.com/biography/Catherine-the-GreatWikipedia: Catherine the Great https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_the_Great Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Catherine the Great was not born into the Russian royal family - she wasn’t even born as Catherine. Her birth name was Sophie, and she was raised in a small German principality that was no different to the many hundreds of other small countries and states that made up the Holy Roman Empire. How she ended up as the most powerful woman in Europe is a fascinating story. Sources/Further Reading:Massie, Robert K: Catherine the Great - Portrait of a WomanMontefiore, Simon Sebag: Catherine the Great and Potemkin - Power Love and the Russian EmpireWard, Lucy: The Empress and the English Doctor - how Catherine the Great Defied a Deadly VirusSimmons, Michael W: Catherine the Great - Last Empress of RussiaBritannica: Catherine the Great https://www.britannica.com/biography/Catherine-the-GreatWikipedia: Catherine the Great https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_the_Great Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Please note this episode contains information about violence including murder, rape and the killing of children. It’s a fascinating but very chilling episode in history. In the 17th Century the Dutch Republic ruled the waves. The Dutch East India Company, known as the VOC, controlled the spice trade out of the East Indies (Indonesia) and made enormous profits. In 1628 a ship left Amsterdam bound for the trading town of Batavia, modern Jakarta. Also called Batavia, the ship was wrecked off the west coast of Australia, and what followed was six months of murder and horror for the survivors.One of these survivors was Lucretia Jans, a 28 year old woman travelling to Batavia to join up with her husband. Her story, and how she managed to survive the months trapped with a murderous psychopath, is remarkable - but also terrifying.Sources/Further reading (and listening)Dash, Mike: Batavia’s Graveyard - The True Story of the Mad Heretic Who Led Histories Bloodiest MutinyFitzsimons, Peter: Batavia - Betrayal. Shipwreck. Murder. Sexual Slavery. Courage. A Spine Chilling Chapter in Australian History.Online Dictionary of Dutch Women: Jans, Lucretia https://resources.huygens.knaw.nl/vrouwenlexicon/lemmata/data/Jans,%20Lucretia/enWestern Australian Museum: Batavia’s History https://museum.wa.gov.au/research/research-areas/maritime-archaeology/batavia-cape-inscription/bataviaBoard, Roger W: The brutal events on Houtman Abrolhos following the wreckof the Batavia in 1629https://www.researchgate.net/profile/RogerByard/publication/342848799_The_brutal_events_on_Houtman_Abrolhos_following_the_wreck_of_the_Batavia_in_1629/links/5f1803fd45851515ef3e4700/The-brutal-events-on-Houtman-Abrolhos-following-the-wreck-of-the-Batavia-in-1629.pdfWyatt, Red: The Shipwreck of the Batavia: A Tale of Mutiny and Murder https://historycollection.com/shipwreck-batavia-tale-mutiny-murder/Milligan, Mark: Heritage Daily - New Horrors Unravelled in the Story of the Batavia Shipwreck https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/05/new-horrors-unravelled-in-the-story-of-the-batavia-shipwreck/147258Wikipedia: Lucretia Jans https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucretia_JansWikipedia: Batavia (1628 Ship) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batavia_(1628_ship)PodcastsDark Histories - The Disturbing Kingdom of Batavia’s GraveyardCasefile - Case 138: The BataviaMost Notorious - The 1629 Batavia Mutiny & Massacre w/ Mike DashNot Just The Tudors - Batavia: The Worst Shipwreck in History Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Please note this episode contains information about violence including murder, rape and the killing of children. It’s a fascinating but very chilling episode in history. In the 17th Century the Dutch Republic ruled the waves. The Dutch East India Company, known as the VOC, controlled the spice trade out of the East Indies (Indonesia) and made enormous profits. In 1628 a ship left Amsterdam bound for the trading town of Batavia, modern Jakarta. Also called Batavia, the ship was wrecked off the west coast of Australia, and what followed was six months of murder and horror for the survivors.One of these survivors was Lucretia Jans, a 28 year old woman travelling to Batavia to join up with her husband. Her story, and how she managed to survive the months trapped with a murderous psychopath, is remarkable - but also terrifying.Sources/Further reading (and listening)Dash, Mike: Batavia’s Graveyard - The True Story of the Mad Heretic Who Led Histories Bloodiest MutinyFitzsimons, Peter: Batavia - Betrayal. Shipwreck. Murder. Sexual Slavery. Courage. A Spine Chilling Chapter in Australian History.Online Dictionary of Dutch Women: Jans, Lucretia https://resources.huygens.knaw.nl/vrouwenlexicon/lemmata/data/Jans,%20Lucretia/enWestern Australian Museum: Batavia’s History https://museum.wa.gov.au/research/research-areas/maritime-archaeology/batavia-cape-inscription/bataviaBoard, Roger W: The brutal events on Houtman Abrolhos following the wreckof the Batavia in 1629https://www.researchgate.net/profile/RogerByard/publication/342848799_The_brutal_events_on_Houtman_Abrolhos_following_the_wreck_of_the_Batavia_in_1629/links/5f1803fd45851515ef3e4700/The-brutal-events-on-Houtman-Abrolhos-following-the-wreck-of-the-Batavia-in-1629.pdfWyatt, Red: The Shipwreck of the Batavia: A Tale of Mutiny and Murder https://historycollection.com/shipwreck-batavia-tale-mutiny-murder/Milligan, Mark: Heritage Daily - New Horrors Unravelled in the Story of the Batavia Shipwreck https://www.heritagedaily.com/2023/05/new-horrors-unravelled-in-the-story-of-the-batavia-shipwreck/147258Wikipedia: Lucretia Jans https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucretia_JansWikipedia: Batavia (1628 Ship) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batavia_(1628_ship)PodcastsDark Histories - The Disturbing Kingdom of Batavia’s GraveyardCasefile - Case 138: The BataviaMost Notorious - The 1629 Batavia Mutiny & Massacre w/ Mike DashNot Just The Tudors - Batavia: The Worst Shipwreck in History Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.