Rise of the Habsburgs

How did Captain James Cook's scientific voyage of 1768 become a mission for the British empire?While expanding knowledge of Pacific geography and natural history, Captain Cook was under secret orders to claim lands for Britain.Professor Suzannah Lipscomb and Dr Sarah Easterby-Smi ...  Afficher plus

Who were the scandalous, defiant couple on the margins of Dutch society who became part of the founding story of New York?Professor Suzannah Lipscomb is joined by Professor Alan Mikhail to uncover the extraordinary lives of Anthony “the Turk” and Grietje Reyniers, who arrived in ...  Afficher plus

The Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, the Habsburg dynasty's mightiest ruler, was at once King of Spain, Archduke of Austria, Lord of the Netherlands and Duke of Burgundy. With a lineage supposedly stretching back to Noah’s Ark, and a name born in Ancient Rome, the Habsburgs are one ...  Afficher plus

People will do crazy things to keep hold of power.The Habsburgs - one of the most powerful families in European history - were a prime example of this. To keep hold of their power, they decided they would keep their gene pool as small as possible.What were the disastrous conseque ...  Afficher plus

Misha Glenny presents the incredible story of Europe's most influential dynasty. The family emerged from humble origins in the lowlands of Switzerland. 

Royals throughout history are notorious for inbreeding. But the European royal family by far infamously incestuous were the Habsburgs (Hapsburgs). The royal house ruled Spain from 1506 to 1700 and held the Holy Roman Empire from 1452 until 1806. These two branches of the family v ...  Afficher plus