She burned a city… Then became a saint. We travel back to viking age Eastern Europe and learn Olga's story from viking to princess, queen, and finally saint. Her tales of brutal revenge made her one of the darkest queens in history. Her stories of peace lead to the first Christian ruler of Kievan Rus. Let's find out how Olga of Kyiv took revenge on the Drevlians and solidified herself as one of the most powerful women in history. We're getting "fired up" in this episode of The Darkives

Questions answered in this episode:

• why did Saint Olga burn a city?
• is Saint Olga a real saint?
• What is the Saint Olga pigeon fire story?
• was Saint Olga a Viking?
• how did Saint Olga become a saint?

Email us: [email protected]

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Sources:

• oldnorse.org
• medievalreporter.com
• warfarehistorynetwork.com

Theme music: Ways of the Wizard

Composed by: geoffharvey

Licensed through: Pixabay

Used with permission, Thank you Geoff!

Other music used licensed through Pixbay

• Russian Folk Waltz-Roman_Sol
• Russian Style Film Music With Orchestra and Choir-MountainDweller

Other sounds used through Pixbay

used under the Pixabay Content License

Keywords: Olga of Kyiv biography, Princess Olga of Kyiv, Queen Olga of Kievan Rus, Saint Olga revenge story, medieval revenge stories, burning of the Drevlians, violent saints in history, ruthless female rulers, Saint Olga canonization, Christianization of Kievan Rus, Kievan Rus, female saints in history, Kievan Rus history, medieval Ukraine history, Prince Igor of Kyiv, Drevlians uprising, medieval true history, shocking stories from history, brutal medieval queens

This week, a tale of westward expansion history involving a deadly wagon train expedition. A group of pioneers decided to skip the famous Oregon Trail and decided to forge their own path on the California Trail cutting through the Sierra Nevadas in the winter of 1846. After the group became snowed in, the next few months would test the pioneers in ways they could never have imagined. Tragic pioneer stories, starvation, and some of the most disturbing events in American history await in this recap of the Donner Party tragedy. Come join us around the campfire as we go over stories of cannibalism in American history tucked away deep in Truckee California. Some real survival horror history in this file of The Darkives.

Questions answered in this episode:

• Why the Donner Party resorted to cannibalism?
• How many died in the Donner Party?
• What is the true story of the Donner Party?
• What happened to the Donner Party?

Email us: [email protected]

Follow us on- instagram

Sources:

1. nps.org
2. highways.dot.gov
3. history.com
4. history.com-2
5. britannica.com
6. pbs.org
7. history.com-3

Theme music: Ways of the Wizard

Composed by: geoffharvey

Licensed through: Pixabay

Used with permission, Thank you Geoff!

Other music used licensed through Pixbay

• Western Cowboy Texas Music-Tatamusic
• Cinematic – Cold – Foreboding (2026) V2 - 1-SenorMusica81

Other sounds used through Pixbay

used under the Pixabay Content License

Keywords: Donner Party history, Donner Party expedition, American pioneer history, Donner Lake history, Sierra Nevada mountains history, frontier survival stories, shocking historical survival stories, eerie pioneer history, Donner Party winter of 1846, darkest moments in westward expansion,

This week, a bit of a bizarre true crime story. The true story of Elmer McCurdy, the abandoned child, the outlaw, the mummy, roller skater, the corpse displayed in funhouse, the actor?.... Hey Jamie... this is the correct order right? Okay, I promise this the correct chain of events everybody. Come with us as we tell some outlaw history of Oklahoma and tell the tale of a strange museum exhibit. In this file of The Darkives, we find out how Elmer McCurdy became a mummy.

Email us: [email protected]

Follow us on- instagram

Sources:

• https://www.history.com/articles/elmer-mccurdy-mummy-dead-outlaw
• https://www.npr.org/2015/01/09/376097471/the-long-strange-60-year-trip-of-elmer-mccurdy
• https://www.broadway.com/buzz/205534/the-wild-weird-true-story-of-elmer-mccurdy-broadways-dead-outlaw/
• https://newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/strange-life-stranger-afterlife-elmer-mccurdy/

Theme music: Ways of the Wizard

Composed by: geoffharvey

Licensed through: Pixabay

Used with permission, Thank you Geoff!

Other music used licensed through Pixbay

• American Western Country-Tunetank
• Nightmarish Circus March-ikerregular123 (Freesound)

Other sounds used through Pixbay

used under the Pixabay Content License

Keywords : Elmer McCurdy body, macabre historical stories, weird crime history, mummified outlaw carnival, sideshow mummy history, carnival oddities history, Wild West outlaw stories, Oklahoma train robbery history, early 1900s American crime, Western bandits history, historical bank robbers, weird historical events, bizarre stories from history, creepy true history, unbelievable history stories, outlaw body displayed for decades, strangest after-death story in history, Elmer McCurdy carnival attraction, what happened to Elmer McCurdy’s body

This week we dive into a tale of an underwater treasure hunt and maritime archaeology. In the 18th century, during the War of the Spanish Succession, the British navy and Spanish galleons loaded with treasure would engage in naval battles off the coast of Colombia. One of the battles would lead to what might be the richest shipwreck in history and a bounty that would be lost to the world for around 300 years. Let's track down a missing vessel from the Spanish treasure fleet together. This tragic story has it all; a deep sea shipwreck discovery, controversies surrounding San José shipwreck, sailors lost at sea, and more as we sail the seas of history on this file pulled from The Darkives.

Email us: [email protected]

Follow us on- instagram

Sources:

1. https://www.history.com/articles/san-jose-shipwreck-battle-2
2. https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/spanish-succession
3. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/san-jose-shipwreck-treasure-recovered-1708-colombia/
4. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2kj0153zn0o
5. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/premium/article/san-jose-worlds-richest-shipwreck-claim

Theme music: Ways of the Wizard

Composed by: geoffharvey

Licensed through: Pixabay

Used with permission, Thank you Geoff!

Other music used licensed through Pixbay

• Strings of Adventure - Dramatic Orchestral Loop-Sonican

Other sounds used through Pixbay

used under the Pixabay Content License

Keywords: Spanish galleon San José, San Jose treasure ship, San José shipwreck Colombia, sunken treasure history, shipwreck treasure discovery, colonial maritime trade routes, Caribbean shipwreck history, underwater archaeology, deadly naval battles history, tragic shipwrecks in history, dark maritime history, historical treasure mysteries, shocking events in naval history, forgotten shipwrecks, true story of the San José shipwreck, what happened to the San José galleon, San José treasure worth billions, history behind the richest shipwreck, Spanish treasure ship sunk by the British, law of the sea,

This week the blood countess, Elizabeth Báthory. Tales of medieval torture, murder, and one of the meanest female serial killers in history. In 16th century Europe the Elizabeth Báthory murders have a healthy mix of documented facts, myths, and legends. Jamie separates the facts from the fiction and brings to light some newer theories that may wash away all we know of this historical murder mystery. Time to get medieval again in this installment of The Darkives.

Email us: [email protected]

Follow us on- instagram

Sources:

• https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/december-29/bathorys-torturous-escapades-are-exposed
• https://www.britannica.com/topic/list-of-serial-killers-2026519
• https://www.biography.com/crime/elizabeth-bathory
• https://www.historyhit.com/the-blood-countess-facts-about-elizabeth-bathory/
• https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/the-bloody-legend-of-hungarys-serial-killer-countess
• https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/elizabeth-bathory
• https://www.czechcenter.org/blog/2024/2/3/elizabeth-bthory-the-hungarian-countess

Theme music: Ways of the Wizard

Composed by: geoffharvey

Licensed through: Pixabay

Used with permission, Thank you Geoff!

Other music used licensed through Pixbay

• Horror Music Box-ViraMiller

Other sounds used through Pixbay

used under the Pixabay Content License

Keywords: aristocratic crimes, blood bathing myth, dark European legends, macabre history stories, shocking historical crimes, eerie true history, who was Elizabeth Báthory, true story of the Blood Countess, Elizabeth Báthory myth vs reality, how many victims did Elizabeth Báthory kill, Elizabeth Báthory crimes explained, dark secrets of Elizabeth Báthory, historical serial killer

Forgotten tragedies, 19th century balloon flight exploration, and polar bears! This week we go over the highs and lows of Andrée’s Arctic expedition. In 1897, balloon enthusiast Salomon Andrée set out to explore the north pole by air. This tragic exploration attempt seemed to be doomed from the start. Lets take flight and fly on the winds of early aviation and arctic scientific exploration in this installment of The Darkives.

Email us: [email protected]

Follow us on socials: Just search user name- darkivespodcast

Sources:

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Theme music: Ways of the Wizard

Composed by: geoffharvey

Licensed through: Pixabay

Used with permission, Thank you Geoff!

Other music used licensed through Pixbay

• Upbeat Adventure Journey Loop 1-Cyberwave-Orchestra

Other sounds used through Pixbay

used under the Pixabay Content License

Keywords: polar exploration history, survival in the Arctic, extreme exploration history, dark history of Arctic exploration, deadly Arctic expeditions, explorers lost in the Arctic, Swedish polar explorers, dark history podcast episode, bizarre historical expeditions, historical mystery, true story of the Arctic Balloon Expedition, what happened to Andrée’s Arctic expedition, why the Arctic balloon expedition failed, Salomon Andrée death, lost Arctic expedition, darkest moments in polar exploration

This week we cover the Norman Conquest of England and the atrocities of William the Conqueror. William I of England was faced with Anglo-Saxon resistance during his reign so he clapped back with some medieval war crimes leading to mass starvation in England. Before population devastation and the destruction of northern England, William seized the throne through a series of scorched earth warfare and brutal medieval campaigns. The most notable battle on his way to the throne being the Battle of Hastings. Join us for a king sized true story in grim medieval history with an 'explosive' ending in this case of The Darkives.

Email us: [email protected]

Follow us on socials: just search user name- darkivespodcast

Sources:

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9

Theme music: Ways of the Wizard

Composed by: geoffharvey

Licensed through: Pixabay

Used with permission, Thank you Geoff!

Other sounds used licensed through Pixbay

• Medieval Castle Loop- Ebunny
• Coins Drop 1- u_xg7ssi08yr
• AHHHH- random_intruder (Freesound)

used under the Pixabay Content License

Keywords: Norman Conquest brutality, 1069, Norman rule in England, medieval England history, medieval famine England, long-term effects of Norman conquest, forgotten atrocities in history, what was the Harrying of the North, true history of the Harrying of the North, why William the Conqueror destroyed the North, Harrying of the North death toll.

This week we travel back to late 19th century Africa to learn this true horror story in history. A case of real-life man-eating lions! In British East Africa (now Kenya) during the construction of the Uganda Railway in the Tsavo river region, we find two African lions more terrifying than your average animal predators. Full of deadly animal attacks and railway construction disasters, we learn what happened during one of the deadliest animal attacks in African history. Get ready to sink your teeth into this shocking historical event from The Darkives.

The main source for this episode: Patterson, John Henry. The Man-Eaters of Tsavo and Other East African Adventures.

link to book: https://amzn.to/4aEQYU6

*As Amazon Associates we earn from qualifying purchases*

Other Sources:

• https://www.fieldmuseum.org/blog/tsavo-lions
• https://wildlifecollege.org.za/the-man-eaters-of-tsavo/
• https://www.livescience.com/58735-man-eating-lions-analyzed.html
• https://tsavotrust.org/why-are-tsavos-male-lions-maneless/

Theme music: Ways of the Wizard

Composed by: geoffharvey

Licensed through: Pixabay

Used with permission, Thank you Geoff!

Other sounds used licensed through Pixbay

• African Tribal Music- BackgroundMusicForVideos
• Crunching Bones- spookymodem (Freesound)
• Horror Trailer- SimpleSound
• Lion Roaring Sound Effect- Engyclick

used under the Pixabay Content License

Keywords: Tsavo lions, Tsavo lion attacks, lions that ate people, dark history of the Man-Eaters of Tsavo, colonial Africa tragedies, Tsavo National Park history, Kenya wildlife history, Kenya dark history, dark history podcast episode, bizarre tragedies in history

This week we uncover the LaLaurie Mansion horrors. The tale of Delphine LaLaurie is hidden away in the French Quarter buried deep in New Orleans true crime history. Here we expose historical serial abuse and brutal crimes so disturbing that the LaLaurie house is now known as one of the most haunted places in New Orleans. Let's band together and break down the door hiding the true story of the LaLaurie Mansion in this episode of The Darkives.

Sources:

• Retrospect of Western Travel, Volume II, Harriet Martineau- https://amzn.to/4pcrd1d*As Amazon Associates we earn from qualifying purchases*
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• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6

Theme music: Ways of the Wizard

Composed by: geoffharvey

Licensed through: Pixabay

Used with permission, Thank you Geoff!

• Other sounds used licensed through Pixbay
• Spooky-NikitaKondrashev
• Wood Break-BOAAY (Freesound)
• Gasplaft2k-(Freesound)
• Locked door being forced open-Talitha5 (Freesound)

used under the Pixabay Content License

Keywords: Madame LaLaurie history, Madame LaLaurie, Delphine LaLaurie mansion LaLaurie House New Orleans, brutal crimes in history, haunted New Orleans, French Quarter history, Royal Street New Orleans, Louisiana dark history ,LaLaurie Mansion ghosts, haunted LaLaurie House, who was Madame Delphine LaLaurie, what happened at the LaLaurie House, LaLaurie Mansion slave abuse, dark secrets of Madame LaLaurie, Madame LaLaurie crimes explained

This week, the history of Christmas traditions. We time travel back to the 4th century to learn of an early Christian Saint that serves as the origins of Santa Claus. Beginning with the true history of Saint Nicholas we follow his path to becoming the Bishop of Myra. After the verifiable tales we'll get into Saint Nicholas' folklore and legends. Finally we end with the evolution of Santa Claus and bridge the gap between ol' Saint Nick and Santa Claus. Deck the heretic, halls, whatever! in this Holiday special of The Darkives.

Sources:

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7

Theme music: Ways of the Wizard

Composed by: geoffharvey

Licensed through: Pixabay

Used with permission, Thank you Geoff!

Other sounds used licensed through Pixbay

• real_punches_and_slaps (Freesound)
• Chopping wood with a hatchet (Freesound)
• Magic 03 Universfield
• Harp Glissando Ascending Short Serge Quadrado Music
• Ancient Histroy BackgroundMusicMaster
• Jail Door Closing (Heavy Door) TanwerAman
• Pain/Anger Scream 2 TheLlywellyn
• Snow Lantern Waltz BFCMUSIC

used under the Pixabay Content License

Keywords: Saint Nicholas facts, miracles, myths, Christmas folklore