Beheaded

Our story begins with Tsar Peter III of Russia being overthrown by his own wife, the infamous Catherine the Great, only to be declared deceased soon after for vague medical reasons. Years later, Yemelyan Pugachev, a peasant who claimed to be the late Peter III, emerges. Pugachev's Rebellion, also known as the Cossack Rebellion, gained support from various social groups, including peasants and some nobles who opposed Catherine's rule. Their goal was to dethrone her and reinstate "Peter III," despite the fact that their "Peter" was just an imposter, probably with bad teeth. Whether his supporters didn’t care that he was a fraud or simply were oblivious to the truth, Pugachev managed to disrupt Russia with his attempts to seize the throne and champion the peasants and serfs who have suffered under Catherine's reign. However, evading arrest can only be accomplished so many times. Support the show

Life in 1800’s Liverpool, England was rough. It was a port city with a high population of hard-working immigrants all trying to make ends meet. However, some were more desperate than others to ensure their living was made. Catherine and Margaret Flannagn, two Irish sisters who owned a boarding house, found themselves in the middle of a dark network of women who took advantage of insurance organizations after the death of a loved one. This network, which became known as the “Black Widows of Liverpool”, discovered the quickest way to a paycheck was with some arsenic and a compromised conscious. Unfortunately, the sisters tested their luck one two many times. Support the show

The Tudor Dynasty was notorious for creating religious tension across England as they swayed between Protestantism and Catholicism, depending on who wore the crown. With Elizabeth I on the throne, Catholics were forced to practice their beliefs in hiding. Margaret Ward was empathetic towards the Catholic priests being imprisoned and went so far as to help one of them escape. Known as the 'Pearl of Tyburn', she paid the highest price for another man's freedom. Support the show

It can be said that the ancient Egyptians were quite materialistic. The pyramids housed more than just the mummies and dust of pharaohs and queens, but also the lifetime of riches of the nobility to ensure they could bring them with them to the afterlife. In modern-day currency, these tombs were filled to the brim with hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of gold, jewels, and other valuables. While local Egyptians were haunted by the thought of not having a peaceful afterlife, it didn't stop many from raiding these tombs. Throughout the reigns of the ancient pharaohs, tomb raiding became a serious issue, resulting in arrests and court cases almost daily. It was a high-risk, high-reward endeavor. In this episode of Beheaded, we discuss the gruesome fates of those found guilty of tomb raiding and the torture and execution methods faced by the robbers. Support the show

In the early 1700's, Jean Baptiste Baudreau II had a unique mixed heritage that enabled him to forge connections with both the French colonists of the American south and the Native American tribes. He was a rebel without a cause.... no really, we aren't quite sure what his cause was.... but he was found untrustworthy amongst the white colonists because of his strong ties to the indigenous people. After spending years in prison for crimes we, again, aren't quite sure of, the local officials decided to use him as an example by sentencing him to death using a very medieval device: the breaking wheel. In this Mardi Gras themed episode, we talk about how this execution method worked and the legacy Jean Baptiste has on modern day New Orleans. Support the show

While King Henry VIII wasn't particularly known for being afraid of witches, he was certainly paranoid about assassination... even if it was only through a prophetic attempt. Mabel Brigge claimed she was a devout Catholic who used fasting as a method to pray for those in need, whether it meant finding lost money or potentially praying for the death of the King of England! In this episode of Beheaded, we discuss how the Tudor dynasty viewed witches and the Dark Arts, and what happened to the women accused of possessing powerful magic. Support the show

Jack Rackham, known as Calico Jack, was a true pirate of the Caribbean. With his Jolly Roger hoisted high and his bonny lass by his side, Jack and his crew sailed the seas during the Golden Age of Piracy. Jack stood apart from other pirates, though, as he had not one, but two notorious female pirates on his ship: Anne Bonny and Mary Read. Like most pirates of the age, Jack and much of his crew did not live to see a ripe old age, but instead met their demise at the end of a short drop and a sudden stop. Anne and Mary, however, were meant for a different fate and their stories soon passed to legend. Support the show

Ruth Ellis, a young and alluring nightclub manager in 1950s England, came from a rough background. She was introduced early on in life to the consenquences of untrustworthy men, alcohol, and the unsavory underworld of London's nightlife. Things only got worst when she found herself in a jelous rage aiming a revolver directly at her lover. At the young age of 28, Ruth Ellis left a lasting mark in history as not only the last woman to be hanged in Britain, but also as a catalyst for the United Kingdom's reevaluation of death penalty policies. Support the show

We've all heard of people being accused of witchcraft, sorcery, and engaging in the dark arts. However, have you ever come across a case where someone was found guilty of being a werewolf? During the 1500s in Germany, a man named Peter Stumpp (given the nickname due to his left hand being a stump) was accused of being the perpetrator behind a series of mysterious murders in his village, but under rather peculiar circumstances. In an era where folklore and reality intertwined, his fellow villagers firmly believed that Peter magically transformed into the local wolf at night to reek havok amongst his neighbors and even loved ones. After being subjected to severe forms of torture, the small German town bore witness to one of the most brutal and violent executions documented. In this episode of Beheaded, we tell the real tale of "Peter and the Wolf". Support the show

For any poor soul standing in front of a judge awaiting their sentence, the last thing they want to hear is that they would be hanged, drawn, and quartered. This heinous act was reserved for traitors or those who have committed an extreme crime, such being a spy during war. Our dear friend Francois Henry de la Motte, a French spy from the 1780s, was unfortunate enough to receive no mercy from the benevolent English. He went down in history for having a crowd of eighty thousand people witness his heart being ceremoniously pulled out of his body. Such a joyous spectacle, isn't it? Enjoy! Support the show

Beheaded is back with our 5th season, and we are starting off with the well-known story of the Princes in the Tower. This is the legacy of the two innocent boys who went mysteriously missing while staying at the Tower of London. For centuries, people have assumed their uncle, King Richard III, had them both murdered. But the story does not end there. Shortly after their disappearance, there were rumbles that the younger of the two brothers survived - and he wants his crown back. Perkin Warbeck started gathering followers across Europe and the UK as he claimed he was the true prince and heir to the English throne. This would mean removing King Henry VII, the first Tudor king, and replacing him with a Yorkist king. After years of war and bloodshed, this scandal left everyone with just one question: who is telling the truth? Support the show

In this very special episode, we have the opportunity to speak with author and former professor Dr. Leah Redmond Chang to discuss her latest book, Young Queens: Three Renaissance Women and the Price of Power. This narrative history looks at the intertwined lives of Catherine de’ Medici (the Queen of France from 1547 to 1559), Elisabeth de Valois (Queen of Spain from 1559 through 1568) and Mary, Queen of Scots (Queen of Scotland from 1542 through 1567). Leah's extensive research showcases how the history of these three queens represent the trials and tribulations women faced in the 16th century and the parallels to modern society. Listen today and be sure to get your copy of Young Queens from your favorite bookseller! Signed copies can also be found at Politics and Prose Bookstore (politics-prose.com). Support the show

Thomas Cromwell quickly and unapologetically became one of King Henry VIII's closest advisors. As he continued to give the King whatever he asked for, Cromwell was rewarded with titles and wealth, making him one of the most powerful men in the Tudor court. Very rarely, though, do we see someone rise to power so quickly without a quick downfall. Inevitably, Cromwell found himself with fewer and fewer alliances in court. For a man who was known for hating traitors, he suddenly found the tables turned. In part two of our season finale, we discuss the downfall and execution of Thomas Cromwell and how much we despise King Henry VIII. Support the show

In part one of our season finale, we tell the story of one of King Henry VIII's closest confidants: Thomas Cromwell. Cromwell is known for many things in history, primarily being a noble statesman in the court of King Henry VIII. He was self-made, coming from a low background and rising all the way up to Chief Minister of the King's Privy Council. Cromwell can be seen as a driver for both prosperity and destruction. He was arguably the creator of Anne Boleyn's success as well as the cause of her downfall; he tore apart monasteries and fought for England's separation from the Catholic Church, but also was a strong advocate and leader of the Reformation. Regardless of his motive, he had the advantage of being the right-hand man of one of England's most powerful monarchs. In part one, we chat about the roots and uprising of one of England's most notable characters who helped shape the Tudor era. Support the show

In this special episode, Dr. Owen Emmerson joins us to talk about his amazing career as a cultural historian and assistant curator of Hever Castle (Anne Boleyn's childhood home). As a Boleyn and Tudor history expert, you may recognize him from shows such as Netflix's Blood, Sex & Royalty, BBC's Who Do You Think You Are and The Boleyns: A Scandalous Family, along with multiple other shows on the BBC, HistoryHit, Amazon, etc. He is also the co-author of four books, his newest being Holbein's Latest Gem. Dr. Emmerson and his fellow curators at Hever Castle recently made a remarkable discovery: finding and identifying Thomas Cromwell's Book of Hours. This is a groundbreaking revelation, as they have confirmed links between Cromwell's Book of Hours with both Anne Boleyn and Catherine of Aragon's prayer books. In this episode, we have the exclusive opportunity to learn more about this extraordinary study and what it means for not only developing Tudor history, but how it shapes our overall connection with the past. Support the show

While Prague was not known for mass, bloody executions, there was at least one known as the Old Town Square Execution in 1621 that made the history books. This was the result of the Bohemian Revolt where 27 of the revolt leaders were found guilty and made an example of with an unusually brutal and public execution. Even more fascinating, the execution was conducted by the infamous Master Executioner of Prague: Jan Mydlář. In this episode of Beheaded, we take a closer look at Jan's life as the local executioner and how he stood out from any other executioner in history. Support the show

While we've heard of the Salem Witch Trials, we tend to forget that the Puritans adopted their fear of witches from back home in England. King James I brought panic and terror to England when he became obsessed with witch hunting. He even wrote a book called "Daemonologie" which worked as a manual on how to identify, prosecute, and execute witches. While many of the victims' names were lost in history, one woman has remained in the textbooks over the centuries: Elizabeth Sawyer. Perhaps it was because of her stereotypical "witch like" attributes, or perhaps it was because of her confusing trial, Elizabeth Sawyer has been used as an example of what one woman's fate could look like during a witch pandemic. Support the show

Nat Turner's Slave Rebellion was the deadliest revolt in American history. Born into slavery in southern America, Nat was a prophet who believed God was sending him messages to raise a rebellion. After hundreds of years of oppression, he was finally able to raise a small "army" to fight against the white slave owners. Despite hundreds of people losing their lives that day, his rebellion in 1831 was not enough to overthrow American slavery. Nat Turner has gone down in history as a hero of the resistance in this heart-wrenching story of violence and bloodshed. Support the show

The Távora Affair was one of Portugals' bloodiest scandals that resulted in the extinction of an entire noble bloodline. What started with wanting to do away with a powerful political family ended with massive arrests, torture and execution. To this day, historians still debate on the validity of the claims. One thing is certain: the Portuguese knew how to put on an execution performance of epic proportions. Support the show

The story of Sir Walter Raleigh is is wild as this episode title. Yes, we are very good at alliteration. Sir Walter was one of Queen Elizabeth I's favorite courtiers. And how could he not be!? He was a soldier, explorer, poet, politician and an experienced gardener amongst other things. After fighting battles in foreign lands, he was granted a charter ship to explore the New World in hopes of colonization. His crew came back from unknown lands with tobacco and other mysterious goods, making him a notable person of interest. His itch for adventure did come with a rebellious side, though. Unfortunately, King James I wasn't as tolerant to his antics as the previous queen was. Known for being one of the Tower of London's most dedicated residents, Sir Walter Raleigh found himself continuously returning to his well-decorated confinement, and then inevitably to the block. Support the show