Villains and Virgins History Podcast

A history podcast with a focus on violence, religion, and gripping stories, created by Eva Schubert, history nerd, college instructor, and jazz aficionado.

Norman Sicily EP 1: When the Vikings Invaded Italy 03/03/2025

Norman Sicily EP 1: When the Vikings Invaded Italy The Vikings terrorised coastal Europe in their longboats, plundering and killing as they went. Some of them were offered a deal: they could accept land and settle in France, in exchange for defending the area from other raiders. These Vikings became known as Normans, and while the name changed, the game remained the same. They begin arriving in Italy, and soon become the most coveted military muscle for hire. The Pope himself becomes their hostage and the daughter of a Norman almost becomes the Byzantine Empress. This is a tale of the high Middle Ages, full of pilgrims and pillagers, popes, kings, battles and emperors. This is the first episode in a series on the Normans in Sicily. Join me for live conversations after every episode as a Patreon supporter at /episode/index/show/villainsandvirgins/id/35507555

The Peasant' War Part 2: Bloodbath 01/14/2025

The Peasant' War Part 2: Bloodbath The Peasants' War was the largest peasant uprising prior to the French Revolution. Hundreds of thousands of ordinary people organise a labour strike and dare to demand a measure of fairness. They use the ideas of Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation to do it. Luther wants nothing to do with the rebels, and supports the German nobles in killing these "mad dogs". The heavy cavalry and the landsknecht armies of the Swabian League are on the march, and this rebellion is about to turn into a war. /episode/index/show/villainsandvirgins/id/34842510

The Peasants' War Part 1: Before the Bloodbath 12/26/2024

The Peasants' War Part 1: Before the Bloodbath This is the story of the biggest peasant uprising prior to the French Revolution. Inspired by the writing of Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation, it was a shocking challenge to the social order. Serfs occupied castles, executed nobles, and plundered monasteries. Events that lasted less than a year would result in thousands of peasant deaths, and change the direction of the Reformation itself. This episode is the first in a two part series. You can support this podcast on Patreon at: patreon.com/evaschubert The video version of this episode is available on YouTube: /episode/index/show/villainsandvirgins/id/34616670

The Reformation Episode 5: Wars of Religion 08/26/2024

The Reformation Episode 5: Wars of Religion The Wars of Religion are the bloody outcome of the religious fracturing of Europe. They reshaped political identity and redefined the balance of power among countries. But what actually happened and why does it matter? This episode is a wild ride through three different countries, as scheming French cardinals send funds to Protestant rebels abroad, and the king of Spain institutes bloody punishments for religious deviance in the Netherlands. Cities under siege and a terrifying "red wedding" are part of the story. From Hugenots to Anabaptists, Calvinists, and Lutherans, this episode will answer questions you didn't know you had. /episode/index/show/villainsandvirgins/id/32745322

The Reformation: EP 4- England Kills a King 07/02/2024

The Reformation: EP 4- England Kills a King In this episode we watch England execute a king. This is the strange tale of how England became a Protestant country, and why the Church of England is the way it is. Along the way we watch militant Scottish Reformers challenge the power of the monarch, and uncover the roots of the Covenanters and Presbyterian churches. The episode culminates in the English Civil War, as competing versions of church and state vie for the future of the nation. Monarchy in Europe will never be the same again! /episode/index/show/villainsandvirgins/id/31991197

The Reformation Episode 3: John Calvin and Theocracy 01/18/2024

The Reformation Episode 3: John Calvin and Theocracy John Calvin is one of the major figures of the Protestant Reformation, famous for his doctrine of pre-destination. This episode covers his time in Geneva, and how he turned that city into a grim and terrifying experiment in theocracy. It is also the story of Protestants burning a heretic at the stake, in a bizarre moment of borrowing the very punishments that had been used to suppress them. This episode captures a dramatic moment as reformers struggle to redefine the roles of church and state. /episode/index/show/villainsandvirgins/id/29550463

Reformation Episode 2: Martin Luther, The Man Who Split Europe 10/25/2023

Reformation Episode 2: Martin Luther, The Man Who Split Europe In this episode we cover the unlikely journey of one young man from earnest Augustinian monk to rebel reformer. Martin Luther ignited a firestorm of existing anti-clerical sentiment across Europe, with results that would change Europe and the Western Christian Church forever. /episode/index/show/villainsandvirgins/id/28416833

The Reformation Episode 1: John Wycliffe and the Middle Ages 07/10/2023

The Reformation Episode 1: John Wycliffe and the Middle Ages What is the Protestant Reformation and why does it matter? To begin to understand how thoroughly it has shaped Western Europe and North America we must travel back in time to see the world as it was before the Reformation. This episode is all about the Middle Ages, when an emperor braved the Alps in winter to appeal to a Pope, and thousands of people in Southern France were slaughtered by Crusaders. It is a world of towering cathedrals, in which the power of the Church rivaled that of the Crown. In this medieval world a poor boy from Yorkshire earned a doctoral degree at Oxford University, and began developing ideas that would shake this world to its foundations. His name was John Wycliffe. /episode/index/show/villainsandvirgins/id/27421872

Ferdinand and Isabella: EP 5- Christopher Columbus and 1492 01/11/2023

Ferdinand and Isabella: EP 5- Christopher Columbus and 1492 1492 was a year that changed everything. In Castile, it was the end of the Reconquista, as Isabella and Ferdinand ended a decade long war with a triumphant ride through the streets of Granada. It was also the year they signed the Alhambra Decree, which banished all Jews from Castile, and it was the beginning of the end of Moorish presence as well. The connection between these two events and the Spanish Inquisition was a drive for religious purity that would forever change the history of Spain. This is also the year that Christopher Columbus obtained royal support for his expedition, opening the door to Spain's colonial empire in the New World. /episode/index/show/villainsandvirgins/id/25575117

Ferdinand and Isabelle: EP4- The Spanish Inquisition 12/18/2022

Ferdinand and Isabelle: EP4- The Spanish Inquisition You have probably heard of the Spanish Inquisition, even if only from a certain Monty Python sketch. The truth about why it was started and for what purpose will probably surprise you. In this episode we take a close look at the episodes in Spanish history that prepared the way for the Inquisition. We also examine how it operated, what forms of torture were used, and who it targeted. Why did the Pope try to stop it? What was an auto da fe? What did it have in common with totalitarian surveillance states? The villains and victims in this history are almost certainly not who you would expect. /episode/index/show/villainsandvirgins/id/25363392

Ferdinand and Isabella: EP 3- Slavery, Slaughter and Stake-burning in the Reconquista 12/05/2022

Ferdinand and Isabella: EP 3- Slavery, Slaughter and Stake-burning in the Reconquista In this episode, our plucky and determined heroine discovers the mantle of religious warfare. Isabella and Ferdinand respond to an attack on a Castilian city from Moorish forces. This becomes the first skirmish in a "Holy War" against Muslims in Spain. It is a war that will last a decade, and inflict a terrible fate on the city of Malaga. Harem politics of betrayal and revenge undermine Moorish resistance to Castilian forces. Along the way, Ferdinand and Isabella champion Renaissance learning and education for their daughters, but the war against the Moors will occupy most of their attention. They see themselves as champions of Christianity, not just in Spain but in Europe. Their use of religious languages and symbols emerges against a larger global context where Christian countries fear the rising power of the Ottoman Empire. Victory against Muslims on the battlefield in Spain takes on a larger significance, and encourages a terrifying drive for religious purity that will have catastrophic consequences. /episode/index/show/villainsandvirgins/id/25221660

Ferdinand and Isabella: EP 2- Queen at Last 11/11/2022

Ferdinand and Isabella: EP 2- Queen at Last After a high risk secret marriage to Prince Ferdinand of Aragon, Isabella finds there is no easy path to gaining the crown of Castile. An evil uncle, a civil war, and a heroic Portuguese flag bearer appear in this episode as Isabella fights to be Queen. An astonishing solution to a domestic quarrel paves the way for female rulers in Spain, and Isabella reveals her courage and determination as she takes on rebellious nobles and a kingdom in desperate need of management. Along the way the incredible social mixture that makes up the cultural fabric of Spain comes into focus. /episode/index/show/villainsandvirgins/id/24984675

Ferdinand and Isabella: EP 1- The Crown of Castile 10/26/2022

Ferdinand and Isabella: EP 1- The Crown of Castile Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain are figures you may have heard of in passing, as the sponsors of Christopher Columbus. The fact that Isabella's name is remembered in the same breath with Ferdinand's is remarkable in an age when only men could hold political power. From the Black Death to royal scandal, this episode introduces the fascinating story of these two people and how their marriage would change Spain forever. /episode/index/show/villainsandvirgins/id/24802278

Operation Pied Piper: England's Darkest Hour 05/30/2022

Operation Pied Piper: England's Darkest Hour The remarkable story of the mass evacuation of Britain's children in the darkest days of WWII. Britain, under Winston Churchill, faces aerial assault and imminent collapse. This is a moment when it is clear that history could have taken a radically different direction. /episode/index/show/villainsandvirgins/id/23271917

Henry VIII: Ep 5- A Tale of Two Queens 03/06/2022

Henry VIII: Ep 5- A Tale of Two Queens Henry VIII is dead, but he leaves behind an England that is forever changed by his Church of England legacy. Two of his daughters, from very different mothers, will inherit the throne. These two queens, Mary Tudor and Elizabeth I will pull the nation in opposite directions. Tales of ordinary people burning at the stake reveal how "Bloody Mary" got her name. /episode/index/show/villainsandvirgins/id/22352657

Henry VIII: Ep 4- Fast and Furious, the Wives Edition 01/19/2022

Henry VIII: Ep 4- Fast and Furious, the Wives Edition After the execution of Anne Boleyn, what is next for Henry VIII and for England? A terrible jousting accident changes the king, and may be a hidden factor in his increasing ruthlessness. The future of England and its religion hangs in the balance as Henry decides to assert his authority over English monasteries. This episode covers the Pilgrimage of Grace, the sordid fall of Catherine Howard, and the many other marital misadventures of England's most notorious king. /episode/index/show/villainsandvirgins/id/21829133

Henry VIII: Ep 3- Off with her head! 12/21/2021

Henry VIII: Ep 3- Off with her head! This episode covers the sordid and sickeningly fast story of Anne Boleyn's fall from grace. It has rumor, scandal, and a completely hilarious introduction to the codpiece. This is also the moment that Henry VIII begins to resemble the ruthless monster that he has become in popular imagination. With Anne's position hanging precariously, what will be the fate of Protestantism in England? /episode/index/show/villainsandvirgins/id/21565289

Henry VIII: EP 2- Queen of Scandal 10/18/2021

Henry VIII: EP 2- Queen of Scandal The woman who is blamed for turning Henry VIII from a most Catholic king into the one who separated Tudor England from the Catholic Church was a dark eyed stunner named Anne Boleyn. This is the story of how a king overturned the institutions of his country to get a divorce. It is also the story of a more complex king than the Henry VIII you think you know. /episode/index/show/villainsandvirgins/id/20848517

Henry VIII: The Accidental King 09/23/2021

Henry VIII: The Accidental King You may think you know all about Henry VIII, but the version of his life that gets passed around focuses on an obese maniac who married and divorced or beheaded quite a number of women. There is much more to the story than that. In this series we look at Henry the Renaissance man and his bold Spanish queen, against the dazzling backdrop of Europe in the grip of seismic changes. Henry himself will be the surprising instrument of remaking England. Find out how. /episode/index/show/villainsandvirgins/id/20579843

Black Amazons: EP 4 The True History of the Dora Milaje 06/30/2021

Black Amazons: EP 4 The True History of the Dora Milaje This episode uncovers the forgotten history of some of the most badass women you've never heard of. The Kingdom of Dahomey in West Africa had all female army units who consistently fought better and more courageously than the men. Their deeds of bravery are recorded by their admiring enemies. These real women are the inspiration for the Dora Milaje of Wakanda in the Marvel movies. Meet the Black Amazons of Benin! /episode/index/show/villainsandvirgins/id/19660322

Amazons: EP 3- Shirin and other stories 05/21/2021

Amazons: EP 3- Shirin and other stories We know the Greek legends of the Amazons, but because the warrior women were real the Greeks were not the only ones telling stories about them. In this episode we uncover legends of women fighters from the Caucasus, and the epic Persian love story of Shirin and Khusraw. Adventure, love, and revenge...these are amazing stories you have probably never heard. /episode/index/show/villainsandvirgins/id/19193639

Amazons: Ep 2-- Horse Tribes 05/11/2021

Amazons: Ep 2-- Horse Tribes The legends of the Amazons are based on real women who could ride, hunt, shoot bows, and fight. In this episode we uncover the fascinating archaeological evidence on the horse tribes of the steppe and the women warriors who lived among them. From tattoos to cannabis, there are so many surprising details. /episode/index/show/villainsandvirgins/id/19065320

Amazons: Episode 1- The Legend 04/30/2021

Amazons: Episode 1- The Legend Stories of badass warrior women continue to fascinate us today, as they did the ancient Greeks. In Greek stories the Amazons were a tribe of all female warriors who were formidable in combat and fascinating for their bravery, athleticism, and beauty. But the Amazons are not a myth. They were real people in history, and their stories can change the way we look at ourselves. This episode introduces the stories about Amazons, and will be followed by further episodes on their history. /episode/index/show/villainsandvirgins/id/18931223

Warrior Queen: EP 3- Boudica's Revenge 03/13/2021

Warrior Queen: EP 3- Boudica's Revenge After suffering horrifying violence and theft at the hands of the Romans, Boudica decides enough is enough. This is the story of a woman who led a rebellion against Roman occupation, preferring to risk death in battle rather than a life of slavery. Her battle cry continues to echo through history. Find out why. /episode/index/show/villainsandvirgins/id/18310067

Warrior Queen: Episode 2- Rebels and Romans 02/27/2021

Warrior Queen: Episode 2- Rebels and Romans What happened when the Romans invaded Britain? What did life under occupation look like for the native tribes? In this episode we cover the Roman policies and projects that changed the face of Britain. A Celtic queen starts an affair and honors an alliance that will end her rule. The Romans decide to teach another uppity Celtic woman a lesson, and inadvertently light a match that explodes into war. Welcome to the world of Boudica, the warrior queen. /episode/index/show/villainsandvirgins/id/18113816

Warrior Queen 02/06/2021

Warrior Queen What was Britain like before the Romans made contact? The world of the Celts, with its wild blue Northerners, Druids, and sacrifices is painted here, setting the stage for one of the most astonishing female figures in British history. Her name is Boudica, and she is the warrior queen. This is the first of several episodes about her world and her story. /episode/index/show/villainsandvirgins/id/17848292

War Games of the Steppe 01/14/2021

War Games of the Steppe Many fierce warrior tribes have emerged from the Eurasian Steppe, from the Huns to the Mongols and many others. What made these people such effective fighters? Learn about Mongolian wrestling, archery, and the most dangerous game on Earth. In this episode we look at the warlike sports that began on the Steppe and continue to this day. /episode/index/show/villainsandvirgins/id/17548592

Attila the Hun- Episode 4: Blood on the Plains 12/17/2020

Attila the Hun- Episode 4: Blood on the Plains In this final episode of our series, Attila takes a massive army and storms through western Europe to the gates of Orleans, in France. The epic Battle of the Catalaunian Plains unfolds over two days, as old allies become enemies. A shocking twist leads to an ending no one expected. /episode/index/show/villainsandvirgins/id/17234726

Attila the Hun- Episode 3: Attila and the Princess 11/29/2020

Attila the Hun- Episode 3: Attila and the Princess In this episode we learn about Hunnish women and marriage practices. A sex scandal breaks out in the Western Imperial Court, leading to pregnancy and execution. A Roman princess makes a shocking proposal to Attila that threatens to destabilize the Roman Empire. /episode/index/show/villainsandvirgins/id/16989059

Attila the Hun- Episode 2: The Emperor and the Barbarian 11/19/2020

Attila the Hun- Episode 2: The Emperor and the Barbarian In this episode we see an imperial princess kidnapped, and an attempt to steal the Western Imperial throne goes wrong. The Huns become famous for extortion and impalement. An assassination plot backfires horribly. /episode/index/show/villainsandvirgins/id/16877702

Villains and Virgins History Podcast

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