History Rage

Vampires, bloodbaths, and historical smear campaigns: why the legends you know are dead wrong.Think you know the story of Elizabeth Báthory, the "Blood Countess" who bathed in the blood of virgins to stay forever young? Think again. In this episode of History Rage, host Paul Bavill sits down with former professor and author Shelley Puhak to tear down four centuries of myth and reveal the real woman behind the monster.The canonical legend has cemented Báthory as the world's most prolific female serial killer, a creature walled up in a tower after being caught red-handed. But the reality has nothing to do with horror tropes and everything to do with early modern witch trials, immense wealth, and a cutthroat political turf war against the Habsburg Empire.Shelley exposes how a powerful, literate, and politically inconvenient widow was systematically dismantled by ambitious, paranoid men who used the era's raging satanic panics to launch a massive land grab. If you love true history, political intrigue, and watching legendary myths get turned to ash, this rage is exactly what you need.Discover the Real History:The Fabricated Myth: Why the infamous "bathing in blood" detail wasn't added until a century after her death by a Jesuit priest looking to sell local folklore.A Political Target: How Báthory’s control of vast strategic fortresses and her family's ties to open rebellion made her a massive threat to the Habsburg crown.An Investigation Without Bodies: The shocking truth behind the lack of evidence, missing victims, and the hurried torture and execution of her servants.The Weapon of Misogyny: How powerful women throughout history—from Anne Boleyn to Catherine de' Medici—are consistently transformed into monsters in the historical imagination.Links and ResourcesBuy the Book: Grab your copy of Shelley Puhak's gripping book, The Blood Countess: Murder, Betrayal, and the Making of a Monster, from the History Rage Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9781639732159Follow the Guest: Connect with author Shelley Puhak and dive deeper into her work on marginalized histories by visiting her website: https://www.shelleypuhak.comRecommended EpisodesIf you enjoyed this episode, dive into these angry deep-dives from our archives:Episode 254: Rachel McCarthy James rages about the misunderstandings surrounding the Lizzie Borden murders.Episode 306: Kate Williams sets the record straight on the royal, scandalous myths of Catherine the Great.Support History Rage!If you want to help us keep slaying historical myths, please consider supporting the show:Patreon: Join our community as a free or premium member at https://www.patreon.com/historyrageSubstack: Subscribe to the History Rage mailing list for updates at https://historyrage.substack.comWebsite: Find everything History Rage right here at https://www.historyrage.comDon't forget to subscribe, leave a review on Apple Podcasts and Google, and—until next week—stay angry!

Was King Arthur real? or are we looking at history all wrong?If you think finding a 6th-century tomb solves the Arthurian legend, think again. Medievalist, artist, and author Dr. Amy Jeffs (author of Arthur: A New Life) joins host Paul Bavill to dismantle the obsession with "smoking gun" popular history. From giant-descended queens to shape-shifting wizards, the true power of King Arthur lies not in a single dead warlord, but in centuries of evolving folklore, political propaganda, and captivating mystery.In this episode, we explore:The Gloucester Cathedral Apprentice Bracket Myth: How medieval art history misreads grief vs. miracles.The Real Roots of Arthur: 9th-century Breton charters, early Welsh poetry, and monster-slaying heroes.Brute Chronicles & Propaganda: How medieval kings twisted myth to justify foreign conquests.The Dark Origin of the Round Table: Food fights, brutal executions, and baronial politics.Forgotten Women of Arthurian Legend: Morgan le Fay, Guinevere's lineage, and Merlin’s sister.Stop reducing complex legends to simple answers—embrace the magic of historical mystery!Guest Info & Book Links:Buy the Book: Order Arthur: A New Life via the History Rage Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9781529431681Website: https://www.amyjeffshistoria.com/Instagram: @amyjeffs_authorLive Event: See Dr. Amy Jeffs live at the Gloucester History Festival (12th–20th September). Book tickets now at https://www.gloucesterhistoryfestival.co.uk.Recommended Episodes:Episode 322: Emily Hauser rages that there is no canonical version of The Odyssey.Episode 276: Nick Jubber rages that vampires are not Transylvanian.Follow & Support History Rage:Website: https://www.historyrage.comPatreon: Join for £3/month for ad-free listening, or £5/month for live streams, early releases, and the History Rage mug at https://www.patreon.com/historyrage.Apple Podcasts: Subscribe directly on Apple Podcasts for ad-free episodes.Social Media: Follow @HistoryRage on Twitter/X, Instagram, and Facebook.

Britain’s terrifying Cold War survival plans were far more serious than imagined.Was Cold War civil defence genuinely useful — or simply political theatre designed to comfort a frightened population? In this explosive episode of History Rage, emergency planning historian Dr. Nathan Hazlehurst dismantles decades of myths surrounding Britain’s nuclear preparedness.From Protect and Survive and regional nuclear bunkers to the grim realism of Threads and When the Wind Blows, Nathan reveals the astonishing scale of Britain’s plans for surviving nuclear war. Far from being laughable, civil defence involved thousands of volunteers, detailed “war books” in every council area, emergency food distribution plans, evacuation schemes, and preparations for maintaining government after atomic attack.Nathan explains how the UK expected local authorities to become wartime rulers, why police would have received sweeping emergency powers, and how Britain planned to preserve society in the aftermath of nuclear devastation. The discussion also explores the cultural legacy of civil defence, including the influence of Yes Minister, Dad’s Army, and the BBC’s banned 1965 nuclear drama The War Game.You’ll hear why the famous Protect and Survive booklet may actually contain surprisingly sensible resilience advice — much of which Scandinavian countries still issue to citizens today.This episode explores:The real purpose behind Britain’s Cold War civil defence networkWhy local councils maintained secret nuclear war booksHow Threads accurately portrayed nuclear emergency planningThe role of the Civil Defence Corps and Green Goddess fire enginesBritain’s regional seats of government and continuity plansWhy nuclear-free zones clashed with central governmentHow Cold War resilience planning still shapes emergency response todayGuest DetailsDr. Nathan Hazlehurst is an emergency preparedness practitioner and contemporary historian specialising in British civil defence and Cold War emergency planning. He is currently developing his doctoral research into a forthcoming book exploring the history and legacy of UK civil defence.Follow Nathan on X/Twitter:https://x.com/n_rh1992Recommended EpisodesEpisode 43 – Lucy Siebert rages that Protect and Survive isn’t really that badEpisode 205 – Nathan Hazlehurst rages there’s more to wartime defence than “putting bloody lights out”Follow and support History Rage:Website: https://historyrage.comPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/historyrageTwitter/X: https://x.com/historyrageFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/historyrageInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/historyrageSupport the podcast on Patreon for early ad-free episodes, monthly live streams, bonus content, and the legendary History Rage mug.If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, share the episode online, and help more people discover the rage.

Think we’ve exhausted Tudor history? Think again — what are we missing?Are the Tudors really overdone, or are we simply telling the same stories over and over again? Dr Joanne Paul joins Paul Bavill for a counter-rage against the idea that historians should stop studying the Tudors.From the English Reformation and the Break with Rome to poverty, politics, women, immigrants, people of colour and the extraordinary figures operating beyond the royal spotlight, there is far more to sixteenth-century England than Henry VIII, his six wives and Elizabeth I.Joanne explains why modern Tudor history is busy challenging Victorian misconceptions, uncovering overlooked lives and rethinking how power actually worked. Why did the dissolution of the monasteries fundamentally change the experience of poverty? Were Tudor counsellors sometimes more important than the monarch? Were the seeds of the English Civil War already being planted in sixteenth-century ideas about government?There is also plenty of discussion about the English Reformation, Lollardy, Renaissance humanism, Edward VI, the Marian regime, Henry VII, the rise of the “new men” and, inevitably, why Edward Seymour sucks.If you think Tudor history begins and ends with Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII, this is your challenge to look again.Dr Joanne Paul is speaking at the Gloucester History Festival, which runs from 12th–20th September. Joanne will be appearing on Friday 18th September at 4pm, discussing the end of Henry VIII's reign. Find festival information and tickets at: https://www.gloucesterhistoryfestival.co.ukFind out more about Dr Joanne Paul and follow her work:Website: https://www.joannepaul.co.ukYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrJoannePaulInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjoannepaul/X/Twitter: https://x.com/drjoannepaulJoanne is the author of Thomas More: A Life and Death in Tudor England and The House of Dudley. Buy The House of Dudley and support History Rage through the History Rage Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9781405937191Recommended episodes:Episode 269: Al Murray argues it’s time to shut up about the Tudors.Episode 266: Dr Joanne Paul rages that it’s not Lady Jane Grey — it’s Queen Jane Dudley.Listen to more episodes and find History Rage here:Website: https://www.historyrage.comPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/historyrageFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/HistoryRageInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyrageX/Twitter: https://x.com/HistoryRageWant to support the show? Join the Angry Mob on Patreon for £5 per month and get early ad-free episodes, access to the monthly livestream and the coveted History Rage mug: https://www.patreon.com/historyrageIf you enjoy History Rage, please follow, subscribe, leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen — and tell another history lover to climb aboard the rage train.

Why Caen’s ‘slow’ liberation actually won the Battle of Normandy.Historian and battlefield guide Ben Mayne joins https://historyrage.com to dismantle one of the most persistent myths of the Second World War: that the British and Canadians were “too slow” to break out from Caen after D-Day.Drawing on years of battlefield research, veterans’ testimonies and deep study of Operation Charnwood, Ben argues that the fighting around Caen unfolded exactly as Bernard Montgomery intended. Rather than a failed advance, Caen became the crucial “anvil” that trapped and destroyed the bulk of Germany’s Panzer divisions while the Americans prepared their breakout across Normandy.We explore why the city proved so difficult to capture, the role of the Hillman bunker complex, the impact of Operation Fortitude, and how attritional warfare shaped the wider Normandy campaign. Ben also explains why the RAF bombing raids before Charnwood were never intended to flatten Caen — and how post-war narratives unfairly painted British and Canadian troops as passive or ineffective.This episode dives into:Why Caen mattered so much to Allied strategy after D-Day The real purpose of Montgomery’s Normandy campaign plan How German SS Panzer divisions concentrated around Caen The brutal fighting faced by British and Canadian infantry Why Operation Charnwood deserves far greater recognition The truth behind the “drinking tea while waiting” myth How logistics, manpower and attrition shaped the liberation of Normandy If you enjoy military history, Normandy battlefield analysis, D-Day history, or debates around Montgomery’s leadership, this episode is essential listening.Follow Ben Mayne:X/Twitter: https://x.com/BattlefieldBen Liberation Route Europe UK: https://www.liberationroute.com/uk Liberation Route Europe App: https://www.liberationroute.com/app Related listening:James Holland on the Italian Campaign and the “D-Day Dodgers” Jack Bowsher on why the Burma Campaign was far more than infantry warfare Support History Rage:Website: https://historyrage.com Substack: https://historyrage.substack.com Patreon: https://patreon.com/historyrage Follow History Rage on social media and subscribe for more military history podcasts, historical myth-busting, and expert interviews every week.

Jane Austen wasn’t polite—she was sharp, savage, and brilliantly misunderstoodFor generations, Jane Austen has been portrayed as a quiet, genteel figure—an almost saintly observer of polite Regency society. But what if that image is completely wrong?In this episode of History Rage, host Paul Bavill is joined by Austen expert and What The Austen podcast host Izzy Meakin to dismantle one of literary history’s most persistent myths. Drawing on Austen’s surviving letters, family history, and the subtext of her novels, Izzy reveals a writer who was anything but passive—sharp-tongued, ironic, politically aware, and often brutally funny.From scathing remarks about neighbours and family to her barely concealed disdain for the Prince Regent, Austen’s private voice tells a very different story. With only around 160 letters surviving—and many deliberately destroyed by her sister Cassandra—the version of Austen we’ve inherited is incomplete at best, curated at worst.Izzy explores how Austen’s family helped shape her legacy after her death, particularly through her brother Henry’s glowing (and arguably over-sanitised) biography and even her gravestone inscription—both of which emphasised her sweetness and morality while ignoring her literary achievements.But the real Austen lives in the nuance:A writer who channelled personal frustrations into Sense and SensibilityA keen observer of social hypocrisy and gender constraintsA creator of complex, flawed, and deeply human female charactersThis episode dives into how Austen’s lived experiences—from financial insecurity to complicated family dynamics—fed directly into her fiction, and why her work continues to reward readers who look beyond the surface.If you think Austen is all romance and manners, this conversation will change your perspective entirely.About the GuestIzzy Meakin is the host of the What The Austen podcast, where she explores the life, works, and cultural legacy of Jane Austen with fresh insight and humour.Instagram: @whattheaustenPodcast: Available on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and all major platformsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whattheaustenListen & Follow History RageWebsite: https://historyrage.comSubscribe on your favourite podcast appJoin the mailing list via SubstackFollow for updates and episode releasesSupport the PodcastIf you enjoyed this episode:Follow and subscribe on your podcast platformLeave a rating or review on Apple PodcastsShare the episode with fellow history loversJoin the mailing list for exclusive updates at www.historyrage.com or https://historyrage.substack.com/Step beyond the myth and rediscover Jane Austen as she really was: complicated, contradictory, and endlessly fascinating.

Are you sure there is a single, "real" version of Achilles, Helen, or the Odyssey?In this episode, classicist and author Emily Hauser (creator of Mythica) joins Paul Bavill to dismantle one of the biggest misconceptions in classical literature: the search for a single, definitive "truth" behind ancient myth. From Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey to modern cinematic interpretations, myth was never meant to be a static rulebook. It is a living, flexible oral tradition shaped by who is telling the story, why they are telling it, and which voices—especially those of women—are written into or out of the narrative.Together, Emily and Paul explore how figures like Penelope, Cassandra, Helen, Briseis, and Andromache offer richer, more complex insights into the ancient world than any rigid timeline ever could. They unpack the ancient concept of Xenia (guest-friendship), the tragedy of divine curses, and why asking "why was this myth told this way?" is far more powerful than chasing a "canon" that never existed.Key Takeaways & Discussion HighlightsThe Myth of the "Correct" Myth: Why searching for the "real" Achilles or Helen misses the core purpose of fluid, evolving oral storytelling.The Silencing of Women: How Telemachus’s rebuke of Penelope in Book 1 of the Odyssey marks one of the earliest Western literary examples of silencing female speech—and how female writers resist it.The Real Meaning of Xenia: Why host-guest relationships act as the social glue of ancient Greece, and how both the suitors and Odysseus himself violate these sacred rules.Agency and Curses: The tragic dimensions of Cassandra’s truth-telling curse, Helen’s balance of agency and divine intervention, and how Briseis evolved from Homer to Shakespeare.Featured Guest: Dr. Emily HauserDr. Emily Hauser is a classicist, academic, and author of Mythica: A New History of Homer's World Through the Women Written Out of It.Book: Buy Emily's book Mythica at the official History Rage Bookshop:https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9781804992791Gloucester History Festival: Emily is speaking live at the festival on Thursday, 17th September at 6:00 PM. The Gloucester History Festival runs from 12th – 20th September. Get your tickets here:https://www.gloucesterhistoryfestival.co.ukRelated History Rage EpisodesContinue exploring Ancient Greece, historical myths, and classical voices with these recommended episodes:Episode 257: Natalie Haynes rages that Greek myth is a lot less male-centric than we think.Episode 305: Adrian Goldsworthy rages that Ancient Greece is not all poets and philosophers.Follow, Contact & Support History RageFollow & Contact:Website: https://www.historyrage.comX / Twitter: https://x.com/HistoryRageInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyrageSupport the Podcast: Enjoying the rage? Help keep the thunderbolts raining down by becoming a History Rager! For £5 per month, Patreon supporters receive ad-free episodes, early access, exclusive monthly live streams, and the official History Rage mug.Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/historyrage

The English Civil Wars were far messier than King versus ParliamentThe English Civil Wars are often reduced to a simple clash: King versus Parliament, Cavaliers versus Roundheads, tyranny versus democracy. But as historian Jonathan Healey reveals, that tidy narrative collapses the moment you look closer.In this episode of History Rage, Jonathan dismantles the myths surrounding the mid-17th century conflicts and shows just how tangled the reality truly was. Parliament itself was divided, loyalties shifted constantly, and ordinary people weren’t passive followers—they made choices, took sides, and shaped events in ways that still surprise historians today.We explore why religion mattered—but not always in the way you think—how political factions splintered into ever more radical movements, and why the execution of Charles I was never inevitable. What began as disputes over authority spiralled into debates about sovereignty, representation, and the limits of monarchy—arguments that would echo through centuries of political thought.Jonathan also challenges the comforting idea of clear heroes and villains. The English Civil Wars were morally grey, filled with figures whose decisions reshaped the kingdom in unpredictable ways. The result is a conflict far more complicated—and far more fascinating—than the schoolbook version.Whether you're new to the period or already fascinated by 17th-century politics, this episode will leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about the Civil Wars.About the GuestJonathan Healey is a social historian of early modern England and author of The Blazing World: A New History of Revolutionary England. His work focuses on the lives, politics, and ideas that transformed Britain during the revolutionary decades of the 17th century.Follow Jonathan Healey:Bluesky: @JonathanHealeyBuy the Book:The Blazing World: A New History of Revolutionary EnglandHistory Rage Bookshop:https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9781526621696Listen NextIf this episode sparks your interest in 17th-century conflict, you might also enjoy:Episode 35 – Kirstine MacKenzie on why it’s really the War of Three KingdomsEpisode 102 – Mark Turnbull’s defence of Charles ISupport & Follow History RageEnjoying the show? Here’s how to stay connected and support the podcast:Follow History Rage:Twitter/X: @HistoryRageFacebook: History Rage PodcastInstagram: @historyragepodSupport the Podcast:Get ad-free listening and bonus content:https://www.patreon.com/historyrageSubscribe directly on Apple Podcasts or SpotifyLeave a rating and review—it helps more listeners discover the showHistory isn’t simple—and that’s exactly why it’s worth raging about.

Think the Crusades were the defining conflict of the medieval Middle East? Think again.In this opening special for the Gloucester History Festival, host Paul Bavill welcomes back Associate Professor of History at Nottingham Trent University, Dr Nicholas Morton, to tear down one of history’s most persistent misconceptions. While popular memory draws a neat line down the Middle East dividing Crusaders and Islamic forces in endless war, the reality was far richer, more complex, and endlessly fascinating.While Western crusaders captured only a handful of cities, massive nomadic powers like the Seljuk Turks forged vast empires stretching from Central Asia across Iran, Iraq, and Syria. Far from a permanent warzone, the medieval Middle East served as the global crossroads for trade, culture, and technology. From knightly rivalries turning into unexpected friendships to shared siege catapult designs, international currency trading, and mobile artisans crossing borders, Dr Morton reveals why the Crusades were merely one small piece of a much grander Eurasian mosaic.Guest Information & BookGuest: Dr Nicholas Morton (Associate Professor of History, Nottingham Trent University)University Profile: https://www.ntu.ac.uk/staff-profiles/arts-humanities/nicholas-mortonNew Book: The Crusader StormBuy the Book: Support the podcast and pick up your copy from the History Rage Bookshop at https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9781399818728Live Event: Dr Nicholas Morton is speaking at the Gloucester History Festival (running 12th–20th September) on Thursday, 17th September at 12:00 PM. Book tickets now at https://www.gloucesterhistoryfestival.co.ukRecommended Episodes MentionedEpisode 214: Dr Nicholas Morton rages that the Mongols are a civilization, not a rabble.Episode 267: Rory McClellan rages that the Hospitallers are way more important than the Templars.Follow & Support History RageSupport on Patreon: Get early ad-free episodes, monthly live streams, and the official History Rage mug at https://www.patreon.com/historyrageFollow & Review: Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite platform, leave a review, and share the episode with a fellow history enthusiast!