108. April Fool's Episode: Pope Joan, Rome 855-857

108. April Fool's Episode: Pope Joan, Rome 855-857

Author: Anne Brannen and Michelle Butler April 30, 2025 Duration: 33:11
For all of the middle ages, almost everybody believed that earlier in church history, there had been a pope who was, instead of being male, a woman, who met, alas, a Bad End. She wasn't there, as some people suspected then, and as we know now, but the story is so damn good it's hard to let go of. Whichever version of the story you're dealing with. Anne explains the different versions of Pope Joan and how we know she wasn't there, and Michelle is delighted by the vast amount of pop...

Ever wonder if human nature has really changed all that much over the centuries? True Crime Medieval, hosted by historians Anne Brannen and Michelle Butler, digs into a thousand years of historical mischief, mayhem, and outright villainy. This isn't just a dry recounting of dates and battles; it's a deep dive into the dark alleyways of the past, where greed, passion, and power led to deeds that would feel right at home in a modern headline. Each episode focuses on a specific case, unraveling the motives, the methods, and the often-surprising social contexts that shaped crime and punishment from the fall of Rome to the dawn of the Renaissance. You'll hear about poisoned chalices, treacherous plots, shocking betrayals, and the long, messy struggle for justice in eras without forensic science. Brannen and Butler blend rigorous historical research with engaging storytelling, treating these ancient scandals with the detailed scrutiny of a true crime investigation. The result is a fascinating podcast that reveals how people have always been capable of astonishingly bad behavior, proving that the drive for wealth, revenge, or love is truly timeless. Tune in for stories where the stakes are life and death, the suspects wear crowns or cowls, and every mystery is a window into the complex world of our medieval ancestors.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

True Crime Medieval
Podcast Episodes
63. The Children of Hamelin Disappear, Hamelin, Lower Saxony, 1284 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:58
In 1284, the children of Hamelin disappeared. Unless you translate the Latin differently, and they all died. Over the centuries, the story of what happened to them would get more and more intricate. Was there a Pied Pipe…
58. The Pazzi Conspiracy, Florence, Italy, Easter 1478 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:51
In 1478, in Florence, the banking family of the Medici was very powerful. Very powerful indeed. But another banking family, the Pazzi, were not happy with this. No, no! They wanted to be more powerful in Florence than th…
57. Stephen of Blois Breaks His Oath, London England, December 1135 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:48
In 1127, Stephen of Blois swore an oath that when Henry I, King of England, died, Stephen would support Henry's daughter (and Stephen's cousin), Empress Maud, as queen ruler of England. But in 1135, when Henry died, Step…
56. Special Episode: Darnley Murders Rizzio, Edinburgh, Scotland 1566 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:28
One evening in March of 1566, Mary, Queen of Scots, was sitting with one of her half-sisters and her secretary David Rizzio, eating supper. Suddenly, the door slammed open; Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, and his cohorts bur…
55. Winter Shenanigans (Lords of Misrule), Europe 500-1600 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:48
It's important, in the middle of the winter, to take part in raucous activities, and there were lots in medieval Europe. Boys being bishops, men and women switching clothes, parishioners gambling in the churches, and, un…
54. Fulbert's Henchmen Attack Peter Abelard, Paris, France 1117 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:32
One night, in Paris, thugs broke into the room of Peter Abelard, renowned theologian and philosopher, and beloved teacher, and castrated him. Because Fulbert, the uncle of Heloise, was REALLY annoyed that Abelard and Hel…