The Secret Lives of Medieval Wives

Isabella of France entered England as a teenage bride to King Edward II, but her marriage quickly became overshadowed by Edward’s close companions at court, political tension, and years of humiliation.

Eventually, Isabella left England, joined forces with Roger Mortimer, and returned with an army that helped overthrow her own husband. Her dramatic rise to power, controversial relationship with Mortimer, and role in Edward’s downfall would later inspire the infamous nickname “She-Wolf of France.”

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Before she became one of the most powerful queens of the Middle Ages, Eleanor of Aquitaine defied kings, went on Crusade, and refused to play by the rules expected of medieval women.

Eleanor ruled vast territories, married two kings, gave birth to Richard the Lionheart, and even backed her sons in a rebellion against their father, a decision that left her imprisoned for years.

**Correction: Eleanor was married to Louis VII, not Louis VI**

If you enjoy uncovering the hidden stories of history's most remarkable women, be sure to follow Secret Lives of Medieval Wives, leave a review, and share the show with fellow history lovers.

Before she became the first Christian ruler of the Rus' and an unlikely saint, Olga of Kyiv unleashed a wave of bloodlust that terrified her enemies and reshaped Eastern Europe.

Olga ruled as regent, ruthlessly decimated the Drevlian tribe, and single-handedly planted the seeds of Christianity in a fiercely pagan empire.

If you enjoy uncovering the hidden stories of history's most remarkable women, be sure to follow Secret Lives of Medieval Wives, leave a review, and share the show with fellow history lovers.

In this first episode of Secret Lives of Medieval Wives, I explore the extraordinary and deeply controversial life of Empress Theodora. Before she became the wife of Emperor Justinian I and one of the most influential women in the Byzantine Empire, Theodora lived a life that scandalized Constantinople.

In an age when women were expected to remain in the background, Theodora advised emperors, shaped imperial policy, influenced religious debates, and helped steer the Byzantine Empire through one of its greatest crises.

If you enjoy uncovering the hidden stories of history's most remarkable women, be sure to follow Secret Lives of Medieval Wives, leave a review, and share the show with fellow history lovers.