24: Empress Elisabeth of Austria aka Sisi: part one (with Lana Wood Johnson)

Empress Elisabeth, known to almost everyone as Sisi, was a Bavarian royal who married the Emperor of Austria (a Hapsburg!!). Because this is an era and region I didn’t know much about, we’re joined by Sisi superfan and Hapsburg expert Lana Wood Johnson (author of two YA novels: Technically You Started It, and Speak For Yourself; you should buy them!!) to help fill in the blanks.

Learn more about Lana and her books at https://lanawoodjohnson.com

References:

Wikipedia

The Lonely Empress: Sisi of Austria by Joan Haslip (book from 1965, out of print)

The Reluctant Empress: A Biography of Empress Elisabeth of Austria by Brigitte Hamann (book from 1988, translated from German)

Sissi by Romy Schneider and Karlheinz Bohm from Taschen (pictures are amazing bio is not great)

The Hapsburgs: Embodying Empire by Andrew Wheatcroft (overview of Hapsburgs and useful family tree) https://bookshop.org/a/1419/9780140236347

The Anorectic Empress: Elisabeth of Austria

On Christmas Eve 1837, Duchess Elisabeth of Bavaria, better known by her pet name Sisi, was born the third of eight children. Her father, Maximilian of Bavaria, belonged to the ducal branch of the Wittelsbachs in Munich. He was married to Duchess Ludovica, the younger sister by three years of the Austrian Arcduchess Sophia.

The Tragic Austrian Empress Who Was Murdered by Anarchists

On April 25, 1854, a shy and melancholy bride married into a major European royal house. Trembling and overcome with emotion, 16-year-old Elisabeth, known by her childhood nickname Sisi, was wed to the 23-year-old Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria, the absolute monarch of the largest empire in Europe outside of Russia.

https://historyofyesterday.com/the-tragedies-and-triumphs-of-sissis-sisters-1f08ce9df80b

5 Things You Didn’t Know About Empress Elisabeth “Sissi” of Austria | Metropole

One of Austria’s most recognizable exports, Empress Elisabeth of Austria – better known by her nickname “Sissi”/”Sisi” – has captured the hearts of the public ever since she was immortalized by actress Romy Schneider in a trilogy of 1950s romantic comedies.

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23: Keeping Up With Les Mazarinettes

We all know by now how iconic Hortense Mancini was. Is it any wonder that the other Mazarinettes were just as cool? This week, we tie up the Hortense saga with a look at the stories of Anna Marie Martinozzi, Laura Martinozzi, Laura Mancini, Olympe Mancini, Marie Mancini, and Marianne Mancini along with Boy Mazarinette Philippe Mancini.

Between these seven we have: one musketeer, two accused poisoners, one iconic courthouse strut, one nighttime fleeing from the law, at least one pretty cool husband, at least one escape from a convent, and more!

References:

Wikipedia

The Affair of the Poisons by Anne Somerset

Love and Louis XIV by Antonia Fraser https://bookshop.org/a/1419/9781400033744

The Kings’ Mistresses: The Liberated Lives of Marie Mancini, Princess Colonna, and Her Sister Hortense, Duchess Mazarin by Elizabeth C. Goldsmith https://bookshop.org/a/1419/9781586488895

Marie Mancini, Princesse Colonna

Anna Maria Mancini, adopted, like her sisters and cousins, the French version of her name, Marie, as she came to France. Born on August 28, 1639, to the Italian aristocrat and necromancer Lorenzo Mancini and Geronima Mazzarini, sister of Cardinal de Mazarin, Marie was the sister of Laure, Olympe, Hortense, Marie Anne and the first love…

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22: Hortense Mancini, Duchess de Mazarin: part five

This episode gets into Hortense’s final years, which involve: two mother-daughter reunions, how she dealt with three rapid changes in who the monarch is, CM continuing to be the best best friend to ever friend, and of course, her scandilicious score!!

Content warning: discussion of suicide starts at 47:01. If you want to skip ahead to the scoring, that starts at 57:31.

References:

Annalisa Nicholson’s page at The Queen’s College, University of Oxford https://www.queens.ox.ac.uk/people/annalisa-nicholson

Mistresses: Sex and Scandal at the Court of Charles II by Linda Porter

The Kings’ Mistresses: The Liberated Lives of Marie Mancini, Princess Colonna, and her Sister Hortense, Duchess Mazarin by Elizabeth C. Goldsmith https://bookshop.org/a/1419/9781586488895

https://www.thecambridgelanguagecollective.com/arts-and-culture/annalisa-nicholson

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2021/feb/28/restoration-influencer-how-charles-iis-clever-mistress-set-trends-ahead-of-her-time

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Vulgar History is an affiliate of Bookshop.org, which means that a small percentage of any books you click through and purchase will come back to Vulgar History as a commission. Use this link to shop there and support Vulgar History: bookshop.org/shop/vulgarhistory

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20: Hortense Mancini, Duchess de Mazarin: part three

So in 1675, Hortense Mancini fled France to hang out in London during the Restoration era. She truly took the city by storm with her superpowered beauty and scandalous ways. But in order to appreciate just what an effect she had, we need to talk for a minute about what London was like P.H. (Pre-Hortense). This week we learn about what Charles II had been up to since he unsuccessfully tried to marry teen Hortense (like being a volunteer firefighter, sexy Captain Hook impersonator, and oh yeah being the literal King) as well as info about his mistresses Moll Davis, Nell Gwyn, Barbara Villiers, and Louise de Carouelle AND also the jewel heist saga of Thomas Blood.

References:

Mistresses: Sex and Scandal at the Court of Charles II by Linda Porter

The Kings’ Mistresses: The Liberated Lives of Marie Mancini, Princess Colonna, and her Sister Hortense, Duchess Mazarin by Elizabeth C. Goldsmith https://bookshop.org/a/1419/9781586488895

https://www.historyextra.com/period/stuart/sex-scandals-and-betrayals-charles-ii-and-his-court/ article by RE Pritchard

Leading Ladies: the many mistresses of Charles II wielded real political power by Annalisa Nicholson (History Extra magazine)

Rex Factor podcast about Charles II https://play.acast.com/s/rexfactor/44.charlesii-restoration-

Info about how to take action after the US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe vs Wade is at http://podvoices.help

Support Vulgar History on Patreon at patreon.com/annfosterwriter

Get merch at http://vulgarhistory.store – use code TITSOUT for free U.S. shipping or TITSOU10 for 10% off your order

Vulgar History is an affiliate of Bookshop.org, which means that a small percentage of any books you click through and purchase will come back to Vulgar History as a commission. Use this link to shop there and support Vulgar History: bookshop.org/shop/vulgarhistory

19: Hortense Mancini, Duchess de Mazarin: part two

In the next thrilling installment of the saga of Hortense Mancini, our heroine escapes from her awful husband with the help of her brother and sister, becomes the most popular muse in Rome/Europe, has a not-so-secret sexy affair with a servant, and writes her memoirs (all before age 29). And she’s just getting started! Featuring special guest narrative: what her sister Marie had been up to since being forced to consciously uncouple from Louis XIV.

References:

Mistresses: Sex and Scandal at the Court of Charles II by Linda Porter

The Kings’ Mistresses: The Liberated Lives of Marie Mancini, Princess Colonna, and her Sister Hortense, Duchess Mazarin by Elizabeth C. Goldsmith https://bookshop.org/a/1419/9781586488895

Marie Mancini: writing for her life, by Sarah Nelson https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/20563035.2021.1898863

Info about how to take action after the US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe vs Wade is at http://podvoices.help

Support Vulgar History on Patreon at patreon.com/annfosterwriter

Get merch at http://vulgarhistory.store – use code TITSOUT for free U.S. shipping or TITSOU10 for 10% off your order

Vulgar History is an affiliate of Bookshop.org, which means that a small percentage of any books you click through and purchase will come back to Vulgar History as a commission. Use this link to shop there and support Vulgar History: bookshop.org/shop/vulgarhistory

18: Hortense Mancini, Duchess de Mazarin: part one

Hortense Mancini appeared one day with Sailor Moon buns and such a fascinating Wikipedia entry I had to make room for her in this internationale season.

Her story is like if you did a Frankenstein thing of putting together all the most scandilicious bits of every story ever on Vulgar History ever before into one story, because it’s all here! Wearing a pants disguise! Breaking new ground for women in publishing! Putting on plays in which she plays the main part! A terrible husband! Lovers! Outfits!

Here in part one we learn about Hortense (incl how to pronounce her name), her sisters, brother, and cousins, her terrible husband, and set the scene with some important people who will show up in later episodes.

Content warning: discussion of the details of her abusive husband and marriage begin at around 37:30. You can skip that and still listen to future bits of Hortense’s story!

References:

Mistresses: Sex and Scandal at the Court of Charles II by Linda Porter

The Kings’ Mistresses: The Liberated Lives of Marie Mancini, Princess Colonna, and her Sister Hortense, Duchess Mazarin by Elizabeth C. Goldsmith https://bookshop.org/a/1419/9781586488895

Info about how to take action after the US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe vs Wade is at http://podvoices.help

Support Vulgar History on Patreon at patreon.com/annfosterwriter

Get merch at http://vulgarhistory.store – use code TITSOUT for free U.S. shipping or TITSOU10 for 10% off your order

Vulgar History is an affiliate of Bookshop.org, which means that a small percentage of any books you click through and purchase will come back to Vulgar History as a commission. Use this link to shop there and support Vulgar History: bookshop.org/shop/vulgarhistory

17: Kristina of Sweden, part four

In the conclusion of this Kristina of Sweden four-part saga, our heroine finds that her can’t-be-tamed #JustBeingMiley personality can get in the way of her plans to take over Naples, Sweden, and Poland. But she gets a new house, drinks so much orange juice, and continues living this perplexing life that truly can’t be described any way but EPIC.

References:

Christina, Queen of Sweden: The Restless Life of a European Eccentric by Veronica Buckley bookshop.org/a/1419/9780060736187

History of Yesterday article by Ira Larsdotter https://historyofyesterday.com/queen-kristina-of-sweden-causing-controversies-just-for-fun-dca26cb7a44a

Info about how to take action after the US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe vs Wade is at http://podvoices.help

Support Vulgar History on Patreon at patreon.com/annfosterwriter

Get merch at http://vulgarhistory.store – use code TITSOUT for free U.S. shipping or TITSOU10 for 10% off your order

Vulgar History is an affiliate of Bookshop.org, which means that a small percentage of any books you click through and purchase will come back to Vulgar History as a commission. Use this link to shop there and support Vulgar History: bookshop.org/shop/vulgarhistory

16: Kristina of Sweden, part three

This episode finds Kristina of Sweden entering her BANGERZ era as she a) shaves her head b) is a wrecking ball all over Rome as she ponders how to live as a Freelance Queen/King. She meets some new friends (some of whom aren’t grifters), is surprisingly chill about other peoples’ religions, goes TITS OUT both with her collection of erotic artwork AND her neckline, and, fully just vibes out with the electric enthusiasm of a recently escaped bear that’s been held captive indoors.

References:

Christina, Queen of Sweden: The Restless Life of a European Eccentric by Veronica Buckley bookshop.org/a/1419/9780060736187

History of Yesterday article by Ira Larsdotter https://historyofyesterday.com/queen-kristina-of-sweden-causing-controversies-just-for-fun-dca26cb7a44a

Info about how to take action after the US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe vs Wade is at http://podvoices.help

Support Vulgar History on Patreon at patreon.com/annfosterwriter

Get merch at http://vulgarhistory.store – use code TITSOUT for free U.S. shipping or TITSOU10 for 10% off your order

Vulgar History is an affiliate of Bookshop.org, which means that a small percentage of any books you click through and purchase will come back to Vulgar History as a commission. Use this link to shop there and support Vulgar History: bookshop.org/shop/vulgarhistory

15: Kristina of Sweden, part two

If this was an episode of Friends, it would be called THE ONE WHERE SHE YEETS THE CROWN. Picking up from part one, Kristina is Teen Queen/King of Sweden and her main focus is doing the opposite of what Axel Oxenstierna wants her to do. But the more she remains Queen/King, the more she starts to channel Belle from Beauty and the Beast, wanting adventures in the great wide somewhere. And so, as Big Freedia says in the latest Beyonce song, time for her to release her job!

References:

Christina, Queen of Sweden: The Restless Life of a European Eccentric by Veronica Buckley bookshop.org/a/1419/9780060736187

History of Yesterday article by Ira Larsdotter https://historyofyesterday.com/queen-kristina-of-sweden-causing-controversies-just-for-fun-dca26cb7a44a

Info about how to take action after the US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe vs Wade is at http://podvoices.help

Support Vulgar History on Patreon at patreon.com/annfosterwriter

Get merch at http://vulgarhistory.store – use code TITSOUT for free U.S. shipping or TITSOU10 for 10% off your order

Vulgar History is an affiliate of Bookshop.org, which means that a small percentage of any books you click through and purchase will come back to Vulgar History as a commission. Use this link to shop there and support Vulgar History: bookshop.org/shop/vulgarhistory