History Rage

Think you know Boudicca? Discover the forgotten women who fought beside her.The story of Boudicca is etched into history, but what if the most powerful warrior queen was actually one of three? In this episode of History Rage, regular host Paul Bavill sits down with journalist and bestselling novelist Elodie Harper to shatter modern prejudices and Victorian myths surrounding Iron Age warrior women. If you’ve ever been told that powerful women didn’t exist in ancient Britain, prepare to have that misconception thoroughly dismantled.Inside the EpisodeElodie dives deep into the archaeological and written evidence—from warrior style burials to the contemporary Roman records of Tacitus—proving that female authority, status, and military power were very real features of the ancient Celtic world.Discover the hidden history behind Elodie’s latest book, Boudicca’s Daughter. While the Romans recorded the brutal atrocities committed against Boudicca’s two unnamed daughters to humiliate their bloodline, history has long left them in their mother's shadow as mere ciphers. Elodie explains why she chose to give these women their names and voices back, exploring the psychological aftermath of their trauma and their roles as political figureheads in Rome's greatest provincial crisis.From the pitfalls of Victorian romanticization to how Elizabeth I invented our image of Boudicca's red hair, this episode is a passionate rally against the failure of imagination in modern historical storytelling.See Elodie Live at Chalke History FestivalElodie Harper will be speaking live at the Chalke History Festival on Saturday, 27th June at 1:15 PM. Don't miss your chance to hear more about this incredible history immersive experience!Get your tickets here: https://www.chalkefestival.com/Support the Author & The ShowBuy the Book: Grab your copy of Boudicca's Daughter directly from the History Rage Bookshop and support independent retailers: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9781804544655Follow Elodie Harper: Connect with Elodie on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/elodielharperLove Misunderstood Women in Power? Listen Next:Episode 306: Kate Williams rages that Catherine the Great didn't die having sex with a horse.Episode 298: Linda Porter rages that Mary Queen of Scots is not a bloody stupid woman.Support History RageIf you want to help us keep burying historical myths under King's Cross Station, consider becoming a History Rager on Patreon! For just £5 a month, you'll get entry into our monthly book draw, the invite to submit guest questions, access to monthly live streams, and the coveted History Rage mug.Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/historyrageFollow History Rage on Twitter/X: https://x.com/historyrageStay angry!

The forgotten woman behind today’s global conspiracy thinkingConspiracy theories didn’t begin with the moon landing. They didn’t start with QAnon. And they certainly didn’t begin on Reddit.In this explosive episode of History Rage, Professor James Crossland returns to uncover the origins of modern conspiracy culture — and the overlooked figure who helped shape it. Long before talk of the “deep state,” the “New World Order,” or shadowy global elites, one British writer in the 1920s fused together Jews, Freemasons, Bolsheviks and secret societies into a single sweeping theory of world domination.Her name was Nesta Helen Webster — and according to Crossland, she is “patient zero for the plague of conspiracy-fed stupidity.”Drawing on his research into extremism, fascism and political violence, James explains how Webster inherited earlier myths about the Illuminati and the French Revolution and repackaged them for the post–First World War world. In an age of fear, upheaval and political instability, she offered something dangerously seductive: a simple explanation for complex events.We explore:The real history of the Illuminati in 1770s BavariaWhy the French Revolution became a conspiratorial blueprintHow the Bolshevik Revolution intensified global paranoiaThe role of the Protocols of the Elders of ZionThe rise of the British FascistiThe roots of the American far right and the John Birch SocietyHow conspiracy thinking evolves, mutates and survivesFrom Adam Weishaupt to QAnon, from interwar Britain to modern America, this episode traces the long thread of conspiratorial belief and asks a crucial question: why do these ideas endure?If you want to understand the historical roots of today’s global conspiracy movements — and why they feel so persuasive — this is essential listening.About the GuestProfessor James Crossland is Director of the Centre for Modern and Contemporary History at Liverpool John Moores University. His research focuses on extremism, political violence, war crimes and the darker sides of modern history.He is also host of the podcast History’s Devils, where each episode dives deep into some of history’s most troubling and complex figures — terrorists, war criminals, spies and ideological extremists.Follow James:X (Twitter): @DrJCrosslandBluesky: @james.crossland.bsky.socialPodcast: History’s Devils (available on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and all major platforms)Follow History’s Devils on Instagram @historysdevilsWhy This Episode MattersConspiracy theories thrive in times of fear. After the First World War, confusion and anger created fertile ground for simple answers. Webster provided a framework so adaptable that it still underpins movements today.As James argues, conspiracy culture persists because it offers clarity where history offers complexity. It replaces polycausal explanation with villain-driven narrative. It provides belonging, identity and meaning.Understanding its history is not optional — it’s essential.Support History RageIf you enjoy fearless historical debate and myth-busting:Join the Rage on Patreon: www.patreon.com/historyrage £5 per month includes:Entry into the monthly book drawAccess to the monthly livestreamThe coveted History Rage mugListen ad-free via Apple Subscriptions (£3 per month)Follow and contact History Rage:X (Twitter): @HistoryRageInstagram: @HistoryRageEmail: historyragepod@gmail.comAnd if you love the show, tell someone. Bring another historian aboard the Rage Train.History is complex. Conspiracies are simple.And that simplicity is the danger.Stay angry.

Discover the truth behind history's most persistent and monstrous sexual slur.Think you know how Russia’s greatest empress met her end? If you are still repeating the infamous stallion myth, you have fallen hook, line, and sinker for 18th-century wartime propaganda.In this special episode of History Rage, host Paul Bavill sits down with the brilliant Professor Kate Williams to completely dismantle the pervasive, malicious lies built to tear down powerful women in history. From Cleopatra being branded a mere "seductress" to Marie Antoinette's alleged scandals, powerful women have always faced intensely gendered character assassinations.But Catherine the Great took the brunt of it.What You'll Learn in This Episode:The Cold Hard Truth: Exactly how Catherine the Great actually died (peacefully in her bed at age 67 from a stroke!).The Origin of the Lie: How her British, French, and Polish enemies weaponized satirical gossip to reduce a massive global superpower to a monstrous joke.The Real Legacy: Why Catherine was actually a groundbreaking vaccine pioneer, a champion of state education, and a builder of public health infrastructure.Despot vs. Democrat: The fascinating dichotomy of an absolute ruler who implemented policies we now associate with modern democracies.Stop letting 300-year-old "banter" dictate historical fact. It is time to respect one of Russia's most successful monarchs for her sharp political mind rather than a fabricated bedroom scandal.Hear More From Kate Williams·        Grab the Book: Unpack the full history of how the images imposed on queens become all-consuming. Buy Kate's latest book, Regina: A New History of Women and Power, directly from the History Rage Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9781474621359·        See Her Live: Kate will be speaking at the Chalke History Festival on Thursday, 25th June at 2:00 PM. Secure your spot and buy tickets now at the Chalke Festival Official Website: https://www.chalkefestival.com/Connect: Follow Professor Kate Williams on social media for more historical insights on social media at @KateWilliamsmeRecommended Episodes to Catch NextIf this deep dive into historical misrepresentation got your blood boiling, check out these related episodes:Episode 232: Elizabeth Norton rages about the Queens Regnant.Episode 199: Una McIlvenna rages the truth about Catherine de Medici.Support History Rage & Join the Revolution!Loved this episode? Help us keep the rage alive and access exclusive perks:Patreon: Support the podcast for just £5 a month to get entry into our monthly book draw, invite privileges for future guest Q&As, access to monthly live streams, and the highly coveted History Rage Mug! Join the inner circle at https://www.patreon.com/historyrageFollow Us: Stay updated on all future rages by following the show on your favorite podcast platform.Stay angry!

What if everything you think you know about Ancient Greece is wrong?In this episode of History Rage, bestselling historian Adrian Goldsworthy dismantles the comforting myth of a civilised, philosophical utopia. Forget marble statues and thoughtful men in cloaks — this is a world of bitter rivalries, brutal warfare, political volatility, and communities obsessed with proving they were the best.Drawing on his latest book, Athens and Sparta: The Rivalry That Shaped the Ancient World, Adrian reveals a Greek world far more dangerous, competitive and unstable than most documentaries dare to show.Ancient Greece: 800 Rival States, Not One Noble NationThere was no “Greece” in the modern sense. Instead, there were 800–1,000 fiercely independent city-states, constantly competing for prestige, power and survival.In this episode, we explore:Why the Persian invasions weren’t an attack on a united GreeceWhy more Greeks fought for Persia than against itHow competition — not culture — defined Greek identityWhy colonisation, warfare and rivalry were normalThe performance culture of honour and reputationThis isn’t Plato’s academy come to life. It’s a volatile world where cities needed enemies — but not so destroyed that there was no one left to applaud their victories.Athens vs Sparta: Democracy, Discipline and MythWe also unpack the two giants of the Greek world:Athens – Radical Democracy or Mob Rule?Athens pioneered a form of direct democracy that feels startlingly modern — and terrifyingly unstable.Every male citizen could voteThousands could serve on juriesOffices were filled by lotteryCitizens were paid for political serviceLeaders could be exiled through ostracismAdrian explains how Athenian democracy worked in practice — including how the Assembly once voted to execute an entire rebellious city… and reversed the decision the next day.This was participation politics at its most extreme.Sparta – Military Machine or Misunderstood Society?Sparta’s reputation as a society of full-time soldiers doesn’t tell the whole story.Because the Spartans wrote almost nothing themselves, much of what we “know” comes from outsiders — often centuries later.Adrian challenges the clichés:Were Spartans truly permanent warriors?How rigid was their society in reality?What was life like for the Helots?Why did Sparta’s citizen population collapse?How democratic was Sparta — really?The result is a more complex, less cartoonish Sparta than Hollywood’s 300 ever allowed. About Adrian GoldsworthyAdrian Goldsworthy is a leading historian of the ancient world and bestselling author. Though best known for his work on Rome, he has written extensively on Greece and the classical world.BookAthens and Sparta: The Rivalry That Shaped the Ancient WorldBuy: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9781800245426🔗 Website: https://www.adriangoldsworthy.comFollow & Support History RageIf you enjoyed this episode, here’s how to support the show:🎧 Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favourite podcast app⭐ Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts – it helps more than you know🔔 Follow to never miss an episode Support the Podcast💷 Become a supporter for just £3 or £5 per month and help keep the rage alive.Support here: https://www.patreon.com/historyrageFollow History Rage🌐 Website: www.historyrage.comAll social media platforms : @historyrageHistory isn’t polite. It isn’t tidy. And it certainly wasn’t pacifist.This is History Rage — where myth gets fed to Charybdis.

Think the Black Death was just a medieval European tragedy? Think again.When you picture the Black Death, you probably imagine a third of Europe being wiped out while flagellants marched through British and French villages. But pandemics don’t stop at borders. What if our standard history lessons have completely ignored more than half of the story?In this special episode for the Chalke History Festival, host Paul Bavill sits down with Tom Asbridge, Reader in Medieval History at Queen Mary University of London and author of The Black Death, a Global History. Together, they shatter the Euro-centric myths to reveal a truly global disaster that stretched from Central Asia all the way across the medieval world.Discover how the plague reshaped the wealthy and sophisticated Mamluk Empire. Massive Middle Eastern cities like Cairo—which completely dwarfed London with a population of half a million people—faced unimaginable mass mortality. Tom explains the fascinating doctrinal differences that dictated survival; while Christian Europe viewed the disease as divine punishment that justified flight and abandonment, Islamic doctrine saw it as a merciful martyrdom. This completely altered how communities reacted, locked down, and ultimately collapsed under the weight of the pandemic.From the horrific eyewitness accounts of parents burying their own children to the long-term socioeconomic shifts that triggered peasant revolts and altered workers' rights, this episode zooms out to a global scale and zooms in on the raw human experience. If you want to understand the true scale of history's most terrifying disease, hit play now!About Our GuestTom Asbridge is a professional historian, author, and Reader in Medieval History at Queen Mary University of London.See Tom Live: Catch Tom speaking at the Chalke History Festival on Friday 26th June at 4:00 PM. Grab your tickets at: https://www.chalkefestival.com/Buy the Book: Get your copy of The Black Death, a Global History directly from the History Rage Bookshop to support the show: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9780241399408Recommended Episodes To Check Out NextEpisode 193: Luke Pepera rages that there is an African history long before any Europeans turned up.Episode 143: Eleanor Janega brings the rage to prove that medieval women absolutely worked.Support and Follow History RageIf you love truth being freed and myth getting a long, slow, brutal death, help us keep the anger alive!Support us on Patreon: Join the inner circle for £5 a month to get entry into our monthly book draws, pitch questions to future guests, access live streams, and grab the coveted History Rage mug: https://www.patreon.com/historyrageFollow us on Twitter/X: https://x.com/HistoryRageVisit our Website: Get the latest updates and episodes directly at https://www.historyrage.com

Berlin wasn’t blockaded — and that changes everything you think.Was Berlin really “blockaded” in 1948? Or have we been repeating a Cold War myth for nearly eighty years?In this explosive episode of History Rage, cultural historian and author Joseph Pearson dismantles one of the most entrenched narratives of the early Cold War. We all know the story: Stalin sealed off West Berlin, starving its people, and the West heroically saved the city through the Berlin Airlift. But what if Berlin was never truly blockaded at all?Drawing on deep archival research and firsthand accounts from Berliners, Pearson argues that the term “blockade” is historically misleading. While ground and rail access from West Germany was restricted, movement between East and West Berlin continued. Civilians crossed borders. Food flowed in. Even Soviet authorities offered rations. The airlift was real — and extraordinary — but the idea of a city completely sealed off is far more myth than fact.We explore:What a “blockade” actually means — and why the word mattersHow ordinary Berliners experienced the airliftThe women who built Tegel Airport in just 90 daysThe terrifying near-misses that could have sparked World War IIIThe propaganda war that turned former enemies into alliesWhy the Berlin Airlift remains a masterclass in geopolitical brinkmanshipJoseph Pearson, originally from Canada and now based in Berlin, specialises in everyday history — the lived experience behind the headlines. His latest book examines the Berlin Airlift through the eyes of civilians and pilots, revealing a more complex, human and politically charged story.Guest Details:Joseph Pearson is a cultural historian and author based in Berlin.Book: The Airlift: Victories, Myths, and the Berlin BlockadeBuy here: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9781803998220Follow Joseph on Instagram @writing_josephIf you care about Cold War history, post-war Germany, the Berlin Blockade, the Berlin Airlift, or how propaganda shapes memory — this episode will challenge what you thought you knew.Episode recommendations:Episode 219 – Giles Milton on Post War Berlin - https://pod.fo/e/2f6bc6Episode 103 – Katja Hoyer on East Germany - https://pod.fo/e/21793e Follow & Support History Rage🎙 Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major platforms 🌐 Website: www.historyrage.com 📱 Patreon & Apple Subscriptions for early access and exclusives 👉 www.patreon.com/historyrageJoin the conversation on social media and share your rage @historyrage Have a myth you want dismantled? Get in touch via the website.If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts — it genuinely helps more people discover the show.History is human. History is political. And sometimes… history is wrong.Welcome to History Rage.

Why history’s greatest Athenian leader may be wildly misunderstood todayWas Pericles really the mastermind behind Athens’ Golden Age — or have historians spent centuries exaggerating his importance?In this explosive episode of History Rage, acclaimed classicist and Cambridge professor Paul Cartledge tears apart the modern obsession with “Periclean Athens” and argues that ancient democracy was far more complex than the story of one great man. From the origins of democracy and demagogues to the brutal realities of Athenian politics, this is a fascinating deep dive into Ancient Greece, the Peloponnesian War, Sparta, rhetoric, and political power.Paul explains why Pericles could never have ruled like a dictator, why Athens executed failed politicians, and why modern comparisons between Pericles and modern autocrats completely miss the point. He also explores the cultural mythmaking around the Parthenon, the famous Funeral Oration, and the role of Thucydides in shaping Pericles’ legendary reputation.The conversation also shines a spotlight on Aspasia of Miletus — often unfairly dismissed as Pericles’ “mistress.” Paul argues passionately that Aspasia was Pericles’ intellectual equal and one of the most misunderstood women in ancient history.If you love Ancient Greek history, classical civilisation, democracy, Sparta vs Athens, Greek philosophy, or the politics of historical memory, this episode is essential listening.In this episode:Was Pericles really responsible for Athens’ Golden Age?How Athenian democracy actually workedWhy the word “demagogue” changed meaningThe truth about Aspasia of MiletusPericles, Sparta and the outbreak of total warAncient rhetoric and political persuasionWhy historians still argue about Pericles todayPaul Cartledge’s book:Pericles: Statesman, Demagogue, EccentricBuy through the History Rage Bookshop:https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9781836392002See Paul at Chalke History FestivalPaul is speaking at the on Wednesday 24th June.Tickets available here:https://www.chalkefestival.com/Follow Paul Cartledge:https://www.classics.cam.ac.uk/directory/paul-cartledgeSupport History Rage:If you enjoy the podcast, you can support History Rage on Patreon for bonus content, livestreams, book giveaways and more:https://www.patreon.com/historyrageFollow History Rage:https://historyrage.comhttps://x.com/historyragehttps://www.instagram.com/historyragepodcast/https://www.facebook.com/historyrage

When history gets reduced to lazy moral takes, it misses the real Cold War truth.In this episode of History Rage, historian and broadcaster Guy Walters tears into the misunderstandings surrounding Nazi scientists, rocket technology, and one of the most consequential intelligence grabs of the 20th century: the post-war scramble for expertise that became Operation Paperclip.At the heart of the discussion is the extraordinary story of the V2 rocket programme and the Polish resistance operation that recovered an intact missile from occupied territory during the chaos of 1944. That single recovery effort fed directly into Allied intelligence assessments and helped shape how Britain and the United States understood Germany’s technological leap forward in rocketry.Guy argues that the real story isn’t about moral purity—it’s about survival in an emerging Cold War. As the Iron Curtain fell, the question wasn’t whether these scientists were compromised. It was who would get them first: the West or the Soviet Union.From covert recoveries in wartime Poland to the intelligence race over German aerospace expertise, this episode reveals how fragile the balance of power really was in 1945—and how close the Soviets came to dominating early rocket science.Guy also dismantles the idea that Operation Paperclip was uniquely scandalous. In reality, every major power—US, UK, USSR, and others—was racing to absorb German technical knowledge. The Cold War, he argues, was shaped as much by captured minds as by captured territory.The discussion explores:The Polish resistance recovery of a near-intact V2 rocket Why Allied intelligence needed it so urgently Whether Nazi rocket science could have changed WWII or only the Cold War The ethical grey zone of recruiting former Nazi scientists How figures like Wernher von Braun influenced the space race and beyond This is not just a story about rockets. It’s about power, pragmatism, and the uncomfortable truth that technological supremacy often comes with moral compromise.If you think the Cold War was won by ideals alone, this episode will challenge that assumption. If you already suspect history is messier than textbooks suggest, this is a deep dive into exactly how messy it gets.Buy the book featured in this episode📘 Stealing Hitler’s Rocket by Guy Walters 👉 https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9781035910854Follow the guestInstagram: @guyebwalters X / other platforms: @GuyWalters Support History RageIf you enjoy the show and want to help it grow:Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/historyrage Or listen ad-free via Apple Subscriptions (£3/month) Tell someone else about the show and spread the Rage In this episode, history doesn’t behave. It collides with ethics, necessity, and Cold War fear—and leaves us with uncomfortable answers about who really shaped the modern world.

The Crusades reshaped Europe far beyond Jerusalem — and we’ve forgotten itFor most people, the Crusades begin and end with Jerusalem, Richard the Lionheart and Saladin. But that narrow view hides a far bigger story. In this episode of History Rage, medieval archaeologist Professor Aleks Pluskowski takes aim at the myth that crusading was confined to the eastern Mediterranean — and reveals how crusades transformed northern and eastern Europe in ways that still shape the modern worldDrawing on decades of archaeological research and historical evidence, Aleks explains how the Baltic Crusades were longer, more successful, and ultimately more influential than those in the Levant. From the rise of the Teutonic Order to the foundation of cities like Riga and Tallinn, this conversation exposes a forgotten chapter of European history that fundamentally reshaped societies, borders and identitiesYou’ll hear why crusading was a papally authorised penitential war, how it expanded beyond Jerusalem to target pagans, heretics and political enemies, and why northern Europe became the Crusades’ most enduring battlefield. Aleks also unpacks the diversity of pre-Christian belief systems in the Baltic, the realities of conquest and settlement, and how crusading ideology became a template for later colonialism and modern nationalist mythsThe episode also tackles how the Teutonic Order evolved from a humble hospital in Acre into a powerful military state, why it succeeded where the Levantine Crusader states failed, and how its image was later distorted by 19th-century nationalism and Nazi propaganda. This is not just military history — it’s a story about how Europe learned to dominate, govern and remember its pastIf you think you know the Crusades, this episode will make you rethink everything.Guest: Professor Aleks PluskowskiProfessor of Medieval Archaeology, University of ReadingAleks Pluskowski is a leading authority on crusading in northern Europe, with extensive fieldwork experience across Poland and the Baltic region. His research focuses on material culture, landscapes of conquest, and the long-term impact of crusading societies.BookThe Black Cross: The Medieval Baltic CrusadesBuy here: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9780300279061About History RageHistory Rage is the podcast that hunts down historical myths and kicks them into the long grass. Hosted by Paul Bavill, each episode invites leading historians to vent their fury at what everyone gets wrong about the past — loudly, passionately, and with evidence.Follow History RageTwitter / X: https://twitter.com/historyrageFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/historyrageInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyrageSupport the podcastJoin the rage on Patreon for bonus content, livestreams and early access:https://www.patreon.com/historyrageOr support via Apple Podcasts Subscriptions for ad-free listening and early releases.If you enjoyed this episode, tell a friend and bring someone new aboard the rage train.