146 - Metternich - A dandy, womanizer, pompous fop and great diplomat

11/11/19 • 25 min

In late 1814, the great powers of Europe gathered after the fall of Napoleon to discuss what to do next. At the time, the continent was in ruins. The old order had been exploded as effectively as if someone had detonated an atom bomb beneath it. Just as it would in 1945, Europe needed a new roadmap, a blueprint for the future. Designing that blueprint fell to one man: Metternich.

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145 - Empress Sisi - The 19th Century Princess Diana

She was a royal who hated the pressures of royalty. An aristocrat with the common touch, who dedicated herself to helping the poor. She was also a woman trapped in a loveless marriage, whose life was tragically cut short. Nope, we’re not talking about Princess Diana, the beloved British royal who died in 1997. We’re talking about Empress Elisabeth of Austria, better known as Sisi.

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147 - John Franklin - The Lost Arctic Expedition

John Franklin was born on April 16th, 1786 in Spilsby, Lincolnshire in England. He was the ninth of twelve children to Willingham Franklin and Hannah Weekes. Willingham was a successful merchant, which enabled him to provide a comfortable standard of living for his family.