Monarcast

406: Aloha & Aloha to Hawaiian Monarchy

This time, we say “Aloha!” to the Kingdom of Hawaii, and then “Aloha!” about a century later. Yeah, they weren’t going for Japanese-style longevity there. But even if the Hawaiian royals were a mere blip in the islands’ long history, its a fascinating blip, and surprise surprise, America doesn’t come off so well in the story of the only monarchy in its borders.

405: Istanbul Not Constantinople, Part 2

This week, we delve into the man behind the Conquest of Istanbul, nee Constantinople. Who was Mehmed II, how did he come to ride his horse into “the city” as a conquering hero? We talk about all that, plus, a surprise Dracula cameo!

404: Istanbul Not Constantinople, Part 1

We’re finally talking about the Ottomans! But first, we set the scene for the rulers with a rundown of the rise of the Ottoman Empire. It changed the course of history, but it wasn’t an overnight rise. We walk through the early years and the rising threat to Byzantium and Western Christendom, before the triumphant capture of Constantinople by Mehmed II.

403: Who Run Japan? Not Girls!

This week, we discuss Japan’s brief early history of female rule, both legendary and historical, and talk about how that all officially ended with the Meiji Restoration, leading indirectly to today’s possible succession crisis. Who run Japan? Not girls!

402: An Emperor Abdicates

Emperor Akihito of Japan abdicated his throne on April 30, 2019. What are the implications for the Imperial Family and how does this tie into the context of Japan’s recent past?

401: Peerage Pressure (All you never wanted to know about royal titles!)

We’re back and we are talking Baby Sussex, Baby Sussex’s name, and royal titles! We mean it, this episode might be our longest to date, but it’s full of everything you didn’t know you needed to know about royal titles, who gets them, and what they mean. It’s confusing, to say the least, with plenty of fun English spellings vs. pronunciations to trip us up! Plus, we catch up on five months of royal gossip and movie reviews!

We’re back and we are talking Baby Sussex, Baby Sussex’s name, and royal titles! We mean it, this episode might be our longest to date, but it’s full of everything you didn’t know you needed to know about royal titles, who gets them, and what they mean. It’s confusing, to say the least, with plenty of fun English spellings vs. pronunciations to trip us up! Plus, we catch up on five months of royal gossip and movie reviews!

308: Mary Does It All In Diamonds (English Queens & Wannabes, Part 8)

Mary of Teck was perhaps England’s first modern Queen Consort, enduring the hardships right along with her subjects, including two world wars and a succession crisis. She was a constant to her husband and her family, and to the monarchy itself, showing that a successful consort can be a drama free consort. That she did it all absolutely dripping in jewels, well, all the better. She modeled wartime rationing at its sparkliest!

Mary’s jewels

307: Elizabeth Woodville, Commoner Queen (English Queens & Wannabes, Part 7)

Elizabeth Woodville, Cinderella story? This week, we talk about England’s first “commoner queen” and her marriage to Edward VI. She’s got a bad reputation, but is it earned? Her politics and family connections were messy, but how much of that is due to a grasping woman trying to improve her station in life or to events beyond her control? Whatever the case, she became matriarch to an impressive royal lineage, not bad for a woman with few connections doing the best she could during the Wars of the Roses.

306: Eleanor of Aquitaine, True Villain of Robin Hood? (English Queens & Wannabes, Part 4)

This week, we discuss Eleanor, the famous Lady of Courtly Love, Queen of both France and England, and mother and regent of the Angevin Kings. Trust us, Disney got this tale all wrong!