Dictators

Latest Episodes:

Nero Pt. 1: Rome Nov 03, 2020

Show notes

He never wanted to be emperor, but his mother Agrippina was determined to put the young Nero on the throne. The boy artist followed her wishes… and led Rome to destruction.

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Caligula Pt. 2: Rome Oct 27, 2020

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In 37 CE, Caligula became the third emperor of Rome, ushering in a brief era of prosperity before pilfering the treasury and embarking on a quest to conquer Britannia. Before too long, his sadistic — and sometimes darkly comedic — rulings inspired a fatal conspiracy.

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Caligula Pt. 1: Rome Oct 20, 2020

Show notes

As a child, Caligula lived in the shadow of his father, Germanicus — a hero of Rome. When Germanicus suddenly dies, Caligula is forced to spend his teenage years at the mercy of Emperor Tiberius. And a once pampered life quickly descends into hell.

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Tiberius Pt. 2: Rome Oct 13, 2020

Show notes

In the final years of Emperor Tiberius’s reign, he built lavish villas on Capri, hosted orgies with young boys and girls, and tortured and executed people who spoke out against him. He was more than a dictator. He was a monster.

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Tiberius Pt. 1: Rome Oct 06, 2020

Show notes

This legendary ruler of Rome, known for his wickedness and depravity, was never meant to be emperor. Tiberius came into power in 14 CE only after his adopted father’s heirs all died. He ruled for a decade with surprising moderation before descending into madness.

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Queen Mary I Pt. 2: England Sep 29, 2020

Show notes

Despite an auspicious early ruling period, Mary’s reign was upended by an event that triggered deep emotional distress. Her pain manifested in burning her perceived enemies at the stake—a punishment that earned her the nickname that has defined her legacy: Bloody Mary.

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Queen Mary I Pt. 1: England Sep 22, 2020

Show notes

As the daughter of England’s most famous king, Mary Tudor spent much of her life in Henry VIII’s shadow, forced to navigate his capricious moods and murderous whims. But she played the long game, outlasting nearly everyone around her to assume the throne in 1553 as Britain’s first ruling queen.

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Queen Isabella Pt. 2: Castile and Aragon Sep 15, 2020

Show notes

In the 15th century, Queen Isabella became convinced that heretics and infidels were threatening Christendom. She became the architect of a 300-year-long religious genocide: The Spanish Inquisition. Then she set her sights to the West, and funded an audacious plan by an Italian navigator.

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Queen Isabella Pt. 1: Castile and Aragon Sep 08, 2020

Show notes

She was never supposed to be queen. But in 1474, when Isabella of Castile’s half-brother King Enrique died, she seized her chance to take what was hers. And after holding onto the crown from Portuguese invaders, Isabella set out to do what no other Spanish monarch had been able to accomplish in nearly 700 years: reclaim Granada.

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Queen Isabella Pt. 2: England Sep 01, 2020

Show notes

Tired of playing second fiddle, Isabella decided to turn on her husband and join forces with his enemies: the exiled barons. Together, they planned an invasion of England to take the throne from Edward II and install Isabella's young son as king... with Isabella as the ruling regent.

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