How did England’s upstart navy devastate the mighty Spanish Armada? Why did the loss upset the global world order for the next 350 years? And as the world’s most powerful, richest man, how annoying must King Philip II have been for Queen Elizabeth I to not let him put a ring on it?
Links To Further Yer Book-Learnin’
Queen Elizabeth I (1533–1603) was Queen of England and Ireland for 45 years. She was cray-cray for Sir William Raleigh, but remained a virgin her whole life. Or so the Royal Marketers say.
King Philip II (1527–1598), also known as Philip the Prudent, was a real resume padder: King of Spain; King of Portugal; King of Naples and Sicily; jure uxoris King of England and Ireland; Duke of Milan; and Lord of the Seventeen Provinces of the Netherlands. His dad still wasn’t impressed.
Charles Howard (1536–1624), was known as Lord Howard of Effingham. Was this because of his royal title, or a love for ham, or a reputation for over-acting?
Sir Francis Drake (1540–1596) was an English explorer, privateer, and naval hero who circumnavigated the world from 1577 to 1580. But if you’re signing up for the Drake Disciples fan club, he also joined in slaving voyages, soooo…
Hernán Cortés de Monroy y Pizarro Altamirano (1485–1547) was a Spanish conquistador who’s synonymous with the saying “burn your ships.” Which might explain why there’s no Cortes Caribbean Cruises.
Ferdinand Magellan (1480–1521) was the Portuguese explorer who planned and led the first circumnavigation of the planet. Flat-Earthers are not fans.
The Habsburg Monarchy ruled big chunks of Europe from 1282 to 1918. The family dynamic was super-juicy, and ripe fare for a telenovela.
The Portuguese Empire (1415-1999) was made up of overseas colonies, factories, and territories. By the early 16th century the empire stretched across every continent that didn’t have a South Pole.
The Holy Roman Empire was officially the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation. But for its almost 1,000 years, only geeks called it that.
The Ottoman Empire, better known as the Turkish Empire, spanned much of Southeast Europe, West Asia, and North Africa from the 14th to early 20th centuries. It could have ruled more, but its leaders kept stopping to put their feet up.
Martin Luther (1483–1546) was the seminal figure of the Protestant Reformation as the author of the Ninety-Five Theses. Apparently nobody told him he only needed to write one to finish his undergrad.
The encomienda was a Spanish labor system that rewarded conquerors with the labor of
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
Ridiculous History
History is beautiful, brutal and, often, ridiculous. Join Ben Bowlin and Noel Brown as they dive into some of the weirdest stories from across the span of human civilization in Ridiculous History, a podcast by iHeartRadio.