222 episodes

A podcast about myths we think are history and history that might be hidden in myths! Awesome stories that really (maybe) happened!

Our Fake History PodcastOne

    • History
    • 4.6 • 1.7K Ratings

A podcast about myths we think are history and history that might be hidden in myths! Awesome stories that really (maybe) happened!

    OFH Throwback- Episode #128- Did St. Patrick Kill a Wizard?

    OFH Throwback- Episode #128- Did St. Patrick Kill a Wizard?

    There are few Christian saints more misunderstood than St. Patrick. Ireland’s patron saint is best known for driving the snakes off the island, but that isn’t even close to the most interesting thing about him. Both the legend of St. Patrick and the details of his real life have been poorly remembered. Driving the snakes out of Ireland is nothing compared to the wizard duels described in the medieval sources. Have we completely missed the boat on what makes St. Patrick worth remembering? Tune-in and find out how poisoned wine, miracle pigs, and demon fossils all play a role in the story.

    • 1 hr 17 min
    Episode #199- Was the Spanish Armada a Big Deal? (Part Two)

    Episode #199- Was the Spanish Armada a Big Deal? (Part Two)

    The attempted invasion of England in 1588 was doomed even before the first ship left harbor. The Spanish plan was fatally flawed and pretty much every commander knew it. The plan was audacious, but it was also weirdly vague. The Spanish also made a fateful choice when they entered the English channel that essential ensured that the English would have a tactical advantage during the entire encounter. King Phillip II may have constructed the largest fleet in Atlantic history, but was England ever really in danger? Tune-in and find out how the maritime high-ground, singeing the King's beard, and a doomed English Armada all play a role in the story.

    • 1 hr 43 min
    Episode #198- Was the Spanish Armada a Big Deal? (Part I)

    Episode #198- Was the Spanish Armada a Big Deal? (Part I)

    In 1588 King Phillip II of Spain constructed the largest fleet ever seen on the Atlantic in attempt to invade England. This attempt famously flopped. At the time this was celebrated as an English triumph in the face of impossible odds, and over the centuries English historians echoed this Elizabethan propaganda. This led to some in the Victorian era declaring that the defeat of the Armada had been one of the most pivotal moments in the history of the world. However, more recently the scholarly view of this event has changed. Has the reputation of the Spanish Armada been grossly inflated by patriotic myths? Tune-in and find out how fake milkmen, English pirates, and good old fashioned pluck all play a role in the story.

    • 1 hr 20 min
    OFH Throwback- Episode #1- Was Queen Elizabeth Actually a Man?

    OFH Throwback- Episode #1- Was Queen Elizabeth Actually a Man?

    In this throwback episode Sebastian takes you all the way back to the very first episode of OFH ever released. Queen Elizabeth I is easily one of England’s most celebrated monarchs. The so-called “virgin queen” has been credited with leading England through a golden age. However, she is also the subject of countless historical myths and conspiracy theories. This week we unpack the scandalous tale that Queen Elizabeth was actually an impostor in drag. Listen and find out how King Henry VIII, Dracula, Catherine the Great’s horse, and an unlucky kid named Neville all figure in the story!

    • 35 min
    Episode #197- How Bad Was Caligula? (Part III)

    Episode #197- How Bad Was Caligula? (Part III)

    The reign of the Emperor Caligula has been presented as a cavalcade of bizarre and violent behavior. From declaring war on the ocean to building a five kilometer floating bridge so he could ride his horse over the sea, many of the most infamous stories about the emperor emphasize his mania. However, many of the most upsetting tales about Caligula are likely not true. One of the only eye-witness accounts of the emperor in action present him as arrogant, but hardly insane. If the worst stories about Caligula are fabrications, then why was he so hated? Tune-in and find out how shame trophies, Alexander the Great's breast plate, and vulgar displays of power all play a role in the story.

    • 1 hr 19 min
    Episode #196- How Bad Was Caligula? (Part II)

    Episode #196- How Bad Was Caligula? (Part II)

    When the Emperor Gaius, better known as Caligula, was first elevated to the role of Princeps things seemed promising. He sought to repair the relationship with the Senate damaged by his predecessor, Tiberius. He ended the former emperor's much abused treason trials. He invested in building projects, public infrastructure, and large entertaining spectacles. It seemed like he was trying to follow the model set by the first emperor Augustus. But, then at some point in his reign things changed. Before long Caligula would find himself at war with the men of the Senate. What caused this sudden shift in Caligula's temperament? Tune-in and find out how island orgies, political magic shows, and a dinner with a horse all play a role in the story.

    • 1 hr 22 min

Customer Reviews

4.6 out of 5
1.7K Ratings

1.7K Ratings

JamJar200 ,

Addictive history breakdowns

Great style and scripting, and I really enjoy revisiting the history I “learned in the past with fresh takes

TheYoungTender ,

The Best…Period.

I’ve listened since day 1…Sebastian Kills It.

GuillaumeGendron ,

Fantastic show

Really good research, Nice topics and a perfect note of humour.

Keep up the good work!

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