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“Marat posed a difficult challenge for Lafayette—a difficult challenge for any free society. Lafayette was committed to the principle of freedom of speech and freedom of the press, but here was a journalist using fanatical lies and scurrilous accusations to incite the population to mass murder.” Mike Duncan “Lafayette’s unique position at the center of the action meant, as Paris polarized, his attempt to hold the center offended everyone.” Mike Duncan Mike Duncan is one of the godfathers of historical podcasting. He began podcasting before most people had any clue what the podcasting medium even entailed. His History of Rome and Revolutions are among the most popular historical podcasts ever created. And when he is not recording, Mike is busy writing best-selling books such as The Storm Before the Storm and Hero of Two Worlds. In this whirlwind of productivity, Mike was gracious enough to find some time to sit with me for a conversation about the life of Gilbert du Motier, better known as Marquis de Lafayette. Lafayette is a rather wild historical figure, since he played a key role in two of the main revolutions that changed the destiny of the West—the American and the French revolutions. Rather than trying to summarize his eventful life in a few lines, I’ll invite you to join in to listen to this discussion breaking down what makes Lafayette such a fascinating character. If you feel generous and enjoy History on Fire, please consider joining my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to access plenty of bonus content.  All the links to History on Fire social media can be found at our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkTree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, including: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HOF YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ My daughter’s links: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/isabellahanbolelli⁠⁠  Throughout history, people have used mushrooms (such as Lion’s Mane, Turkey Tail, Cordyceps, Reishi and Chaga) for their medicinal properties. My friends started ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Purest Mushrooms⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ where they offer some of the best quality mushrooms you can find on the market at affordable prices. Use code historyonfire at checkout for a discount. Bison is some of the healthiest meat you could possibly eat. Get yours at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dakota Pure Bison⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. History on Fire listeners get a discount by using the code HOF10 at checkout. My friend James Pieratt is one of the world’s top functional training experts, and a record-breaking hybrid athlete. Use the code WH25 for a 25% discount on all of his training programs at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wild Hunt Conditioning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“[Italians are]… of questionable value from a mental, moral, or physical standpoint.” Anthropologist George Dorsey writing for the Chicago Tribune in 1910. “[Italians are]… biologically incapable of rising either now or through their descendants above the mentality of a 12-year-old child.” David Starr Jordan, president of Stanford University. “If the tall, big-boned, blue-eyed, old-fashioned ‘white’ American is not to be bred out entirely by little dark peoples, Uncle Sam must not simply continue the temporary quota law in operation, but must make its provisions much more stringent.” Current Opinion Magazine in 1923 Between the late 1800s and early 1900s, millions of Italians migrated to the United States. In 1891, a mob—including a future governor of Louisiana and a future mayor—stormed a prison in New Orleans, dragged out eleven Italian-Americans, and lynched them.  A diplomatic crisis ensued. In 1892, President Benjamin Harrison issued a proclamation to establish the first national celebration of Columbus Day. Sprinkle in the mix so-called “scientific” racism, the Sacco and Vanzetti case, The Godfather movies, The Sopranos’ episode about Columbus Day, Italians somehow “becoming” white over time, and much more. This episode is quite a ride. Buckle up. If you feel generous and enjoy History on Fire, please consider joining my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to access plenty of bonus content.  All the links to History on Fire social media can be found at our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkTree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, including: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HOF YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠ JAPAN TOUR! Let’s head out to Japan in Oct 2026. All the details at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Geek Nation Tours⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. My daughter’s links: ⁠https://linktr.ee/isabellahanbolelli⁠  Throughout history, people have used mushrooms (such as Lion’s Mane, Turkey Tail, Cordyceps, Reishi and Chaga) for their medicinal properties. My friends started ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Purest Mushrooms⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ where they offer some of the best quality mushrooms you can find on the market at affordable prices. Use code historyonfire at checkout for a discount. Bison is some of the healthiest meat you could possibly eat. Get yours at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dakota Pure Bison⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. History on Fire listeners get a discount by using the code HOF10 at checkout. This episode is supported by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Arizona State University⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about how ASU supports all learners through all stages of life. My friend James Pieratt is one of the world’s top functional training experts, and a record-breaking hybrid athlete. Use the code WH25 for a 25% discount on all of his training programs at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wild Hunt Conditioning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split.” Robert E. Howard. "If he had shot me through the brain, sir, I should still have killed him." Andrew Jackson Since the dawn of time, human beings have killed each other in all kinds of ways for all kinds of reasons. One of the most peculiar forms of violence humans have engaged in is the duel. Far from being the most effective way to dispose of one’s enemies, the duel has been tied to issues of reputation and honor. At its core, it’s a form of highly ritualized violence that served deep cultural purposes. In this episode, we dive deep into the history of duels, trials by combat, and jousting. From the pages of the Old Testament to tales from Roman history, from Miyamoto Musashi to Benito Mussolini, from Germanic tribal customs to French knights invoking God’s judgment while slaughtering rivals, the vice-president of the United States killing the first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, German university students and their facial scars, Caravaggio, Andrew Jackson, the death of one the greatest Russian poets, and much more. If you feel generous and enjoy History on Fire, please consider joining my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to access plenty of bonus content.  All the links to History on Fire social media can be found at our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkTree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, including: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HOF YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠ JAPAN TOUR! Let’s head out to Japan in Oct 2026. All the details at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Geek Nation Tours⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. My daughter’s links: https://linktr.ee/isabellahanbolelli  Throughout history, people have used mushrooms (such as Lion’s Mane, Turkey Tail, Cordyceps, Reishi and Chaga) for their medicinal properties. My friends started ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Purest Mushrooms⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ where they offer some of the best quality mushrooms you can find on the market at affordable prices. Use code historyonfire at checkout for a discount. Bison is some of the healthiest meat you could possibly eat. Get yours at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dakota Pure Bison⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. History on Fire listeners get a discount by using the code HOF10 at checkout. This episode is supported by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Arizona State University⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about how ASU supports all learners through all stages of life. My friend James Pieratt is one of the world’s top functional training experts, and a record-breaking hybrid athlete. Use the code WH25 for a 25% discount on all of his training programs at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wild Hunt Conditioning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Government That Doesn't Suck is a Rewind Studios original podcast from the creators of History That Doesn't Suck, hosted by Professors Lindsey Cormack and Greg Jackson. Each episode digs into the surprising story of an American institution — from the origins of the internet, to the National Park Service, to the GI Bill, and so much more. You'll hear the stories behind them, plus a conversation with an expert who knows it inside and out. New episodes release every other Monday. Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or subscribe on YouTube for full video episodes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“I ask you why we must tear ourselves apart for this small question of religion?” from the movie Elizabeth Once upon a time Game of Thrones was the most watched show on earth, and I could freely make references to it knowing my listeners would get them. Then came the last season that was so universally reviled that I’m thinking I may get rotten tomatoes thrown at me for even bringing it up. But A. this is a podcast, not a live event, so I hope to stay safe from the spoiled tomatoes. And B. I’d hope you’d be so kind as to let me slide one Game of Thrones reference—at least in a case like this when it’s very pertinent. One of the most shocking episodes in a series that was built on shocking viewers was the Red Wedding. What begins as a joyful celebration for a wedding quickly turns into a bloody massacre. Well… what we are going to play with today in this episode makes Game of Thrones look tame. This is the Red Wedding to the 10th power. The year was 1572, and a royal wedding between the Catholic sister of the King of France and a Protestant prince was supposed to bring an end to the French Wars of Religion. So, thousands of sworn enemies converged on Paris for the wedding. What could possibly go wrong…   Lots of people have weddings where things don’t work out perfectly. Some have truly unlucky, bad weddings. But unless your wedding led to the massacre of thousands of people, you probably had a better one than Margaret of Valois and Henry of Navarre. If you feel generous and enjoy History on Fire, please consider joining my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to access plenty of bonus content.  All the links to History on Fire social media can be found at our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkTree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, including: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HOF YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ JAPAN TOUR! Let’s head out to Japan in Oct 2026. All the details at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Geek Nation Tours⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Please check out this month’s sponsor, Rula,⁠ for affordable, accessible therapy and mental health care. Throughout history, people have used mushrooms (such as Lion’s Mane, Turkey Tail, Cordyceps, Reishi and Chaga) for their medicinal properties. My friends started ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Purest Mushrooms⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ where they offer some of the best quality mushrooms you can find on the market at affordable prices. Use code historyonfire at checkout for a discount. Bison is some of the healthiest meat you could possibly eat. Get yours at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dakota Pure Bison⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. History on Fire listeners get a discount by using the code HOF10 at checkout. This episode is supported by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Arizona State University⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about how ASU supports all learners through all stages of life. My friend James Pieratt is one of the world’s top functional training experts, and a record-breaking hybrid athlete. Use the code WH25 for a 25% discount on all of his training programs at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wild Hunt Conditioning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"I answered him that… I, as Captain-General of these provinces, was waging a war of fire and blood against all who came to settle these parts and plant in them their evil Lutheran sect... For this reason, I would not grant them a safe passage, but would sooner follow them by sea and land until I had taken their lives." Captain Pedro Menendez de Aviles  “Finding they were all Lutherans, the captain-general ordered them all put to death; but, as I was a priest, and had bowels of mercy, I begged him to grant me the favor of sparing those whom we might find to be Christians. He granted it; and I made investigations, and found ten or twelve of the men Roman Catholics, whom we brought back. All the others were executed, because they were Lutherans and enemies of our Holy Catholic faith. All this took place on Saturday, September 29th, 1565.” Father Francisco Lopez Today’s story is packed with pirates, mutineers, and scores of people killing each other in the name of Jesus. I’m willing to bet that if I were to tell you that this episode will focus on the people who came to the area that would become U.S. to flee religious conflict in Europe and create a society according to their version of Christianity, most of you would think of the Pilgrims and Plymouth Rock in 1620, or perhaps Jamestown in 1607. But those are not the people I’ll be speaking about today. Our story is indeed about the first Protestants in North America but it predates the Pilgrims stepping off the Mayflower by 56 years, and the settling of Jamestown by 43 years. This is the tale of the first religious conflict between European nations within the boundaries of what will later become United States. Catholic Spaniards and French Protestants square off in Florida in the 1560s, when the European wars of religion do a brief stop in the Americas as part of their ‘death, destruction and damnation’ world tour. If you feel generous and enjoy History on Fire, please consider joining my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to access plenty of bonus content.  All the links to History on Fire social media can be found at our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkTree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, including: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HOF YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Substack⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠TikTok⁠ JAPAN TOUR! Let’s head out to Japan in Oct 2026. All the details at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Geek Nation Tours⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Please, check out this month’s sponsor at https://www.rula.com/hof for affordable, accessible therapy and mental health care. Throughout history, people have used mushrooms (such as Lion’s Mane, Turkey Tail, Cordyceps, Reishi and Chaga) for their medicinal properties. My friends started ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Purest Mushrooms⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ where they offer some of the best quality mushrooms you can find on the market at affordable prices. Use code historyonfire at checkout for a discount. Bison is some of the healthiest meat you could possibly eat. Get yours at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dakota Pure Bison⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. History on Fire listeners get a discount by using the code HOF10 at checkout. This episode is supported by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Arizona State University⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about how ASU supports all learners through all stages of life. My friend James Pieratt is one of the world’s top functional training experts, and a record-breaking hybrid athlete. Use the code WH25 for a 25% discount on all of his training programs at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wild Hunt Conditioning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Nation… a term inherently so vague and so contradictory that it must always be taken in a mystic sense, as meaning whatever the ruling classes hold it convenient to mean at the moment.” Lewis Mumford This is a story about politics, faith, paranoia, betrayal and conspiracy theories. More specifically, this is about the origin of the French wars of religion. In this episode, we play with Martin Luther, the printing press, Caterina de Medici, the Merindol massacre, human Christmas decoration, and the Guise brothers. We’ll run into the king of France demanding to be a spectator to his teenage son and his bride having sex for the first time. We’ll see a queen drinking copious amounts of a mule’s urine to supposedly facilitate pregnancy. We’ll consider the fate of Count Sebastiano de Montecuccoli, who was accused of poisoning the heir to the throne so he was tied to four horses sent running in opposite directions. We’ll chat about Henry II who sent his 13-year-old to marry an enemy of the country, and then managed to die at a joust during her wedding celebrations. And of course, much, much more. If you feel generous and enjoy History on Fire, please consider joining my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to access plenty of bonus content.  All the links to History on Fire social media can be found at our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkTree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, including: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HOF YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Substack Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok JAPAN TOUR! Let’s head out to Japan in Oct 2026. All the details at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Geek Nation Tours⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. My daughter’s links: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/isabellahanbolelli⁠⁠  Throughout history, people have used mushrooms (such as Lion’s Mane, Turkey Tail, Cordyceps, Reishi and Chaga) for their medicinal properties. My friends started ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Purest Mushrooms⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ where they offer some of the best quality mushrooms you can find on the market at affordable prices. Use code historyonfire at checkout for a discount. Bison is some of the healthiest meat you could possibly eat. Get yours at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dakota Pure Bison⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. History on Fire listeners get a discount by using the code HOF10 at checkout. This episode is supported by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Arizona State University⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about how ASU supports all learners through all stages of life. My friend James Pieratt is one of the world’s top functional training experts, and a record-breaking hybrid athlete. Use the code WH25 for a 25% discount on all of his training programs at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wild Hunt Conditioning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Everything resounded with the confused noise of terrifying threats and shrieks of despairing anguish blended with the wailing of women and children.” - Livy Later this year, I will launch a podcast that will run separately from History on Fire, and it will be entirely dedicated to Roman history. Today, I’ll give you a little taste of what’s coming up. In this episode, I’ll share with you a tale from approximately the 390s BCE: it’s the story of Rome’s triumph over its Etruscan rival Veii, before disaster strikes in the forms of a tribe of Gauls sacking the city. Among today’s offerings: the myth of Sisyphus, the dictatorship of Marcus Furius Camillus, the massacre at Veii, the sin of hubris, Nemesis knocking at Rome’s door, the downfall of Rome’s hero, the Italian Celts, Gauls migrating because of wine, the botched diplomatic mission at Clusium, Taoist advice, Tolkien, the origin of panic, Rome’s elders facing the Gauls, the sacred geese, “Woe to the vanquished.” If you feel generous and enjoy History on Fire, please consider joining my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to access plenty of bonus content.  All the links to History on Fire social media can be found at our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkTree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, including: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HOF YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. JAPAN TOUR! Let’s head out to Japan in Oct 2026. All the details at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Geek Nation Tours⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. My daughter’s links: ⁠https://linktr.ee/isabellahanbolelli⁠  Throughout history, people have used mushrooms (such as Lion’s Mane, Turkey Tail, Cordyceps, Reishi and Chaga) for their medicinal properties. My friends started ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Purest Mushrooms⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ where they offer some of the best quality mushrooms you can find on the market at affordable prices. Use code historyonfire at checkout for a discount. Bison is some of the healthiest meat you could possibly eat. Get yours at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dakota Pure Bison⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. History on Fire listeners get a discount by using the code HOF10 at checkout. This episode is supported by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Arizona State University⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about how ASU supports all learners through all stages of life. My friend James Pieratt is one of the world’s top functional training experts, and a record-breaking hybrid athlete. Use the code WH25 for a 25% discount on all of his training programs at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wild Hunt Conditioning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This story has everything. Raids to enslave people. A bloody rebellion at sea. Piracy. A diplomatic crisis pitting Spain, the United States and England at odds with each other. High stakes courtroom drama which sparked intense clashes between abolitionists and cheerleaders of slavery. Some of the most powerful people in the world debating the pros and cons of the case, including government officials from multiple countries, three American presidents (Adams, Martin Van Buren, and John Tyler), and at least a couple of queens (Queen Victoria of Britain and Queen Isabella II of Spain). A 73 year-old former US President arguing in front of the Supreme Court for the freedom of a group of Africans, and stating that protecting them was the greatest event in his life. Despite having all these epic ingredients, the tale I’m about to tell you had faded into obscurity until the 1960s. And even then, it remained mostly unknown until good, ole Steven Spielberg made a movie about it in the 1990s. Incidentally, that’s one of the few reasons why this story has attracted any attention. Even to this day, preciously little about this is usually found in academic texts on U.S. history. If you feel generous and enjoy History on Fire, please consider joining my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to access plenty of bonus content.  All the links to History on Fire social media can be found at our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkTree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, including: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HOF YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. JAPAN TOUR! Let’s head out to Japan in Oct 2026. All the details at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Geek Nation Tours⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. My daughter’s links: https://linktr.ee/isabellahanbolelli  Throughout history, people have used mushrooms (such as Lion’s Mane, Turkey Tail, Cordyceps, Reishi and Chaga) for their medicinal properties. My friends started ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Purest Mushrooms⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ where they offer some of the best quality mushrooms you can find on the market at affordable prices. Use code historyonfire at checkout for a discount. Bison is some of the healthiest meat you could possibly eat. Get yours at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dakota Pure Bison⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. History on Fire listeners get a discount by using the code HOF10 at checkout. This episode is supported by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Arizona State University⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about how ASU supports all learners through all stages of life. My friend James Pieratt is one of the world’s top functional training experts, and a record-breaking hybrid athlete. Use the code WH25 for a 25% discount on all of his training programs at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wild Hunt Conditioning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“We don’t need anyone to tell us what to do; not Savonarola, not the Medici. We are free to follow our own path. There are those who will take that freedom from us, and too many of you gladly give it. But it is our ability to choose—whatever you think it is true—that makes us human… There is no book or teacher to give you the answers, to show you the path. Choose your own way! Do not follow me, or anyone else.” Ezio Auditore in Assassin’s Creed II “History is our playground” tagline to the Assassin’s Creed series The excellent Alexander Von Sternberg (from the podcast History Impossible) joins me to discuss how video games are changing the way we can understand history. Obviously, people play video games for entertainment—no argument there. But it is also true that few things can allow us to immerse ourselves in a multi-faceted reconstruction of the past as much as video games do. In the course of the discussion, we touch on the prehistoric adventures of Far Cry Primal, sexuality in video games, Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey, multiple volumes of Assassin’s Creed, the joys of becoming a playboy assassin in the Renaissance, from hanging out with Leonardo Da Vinci to riding along with Paul Revere, from making out with Caterina Sforza to dumping tea in the Boston’s harbor, Ghost of Tsushima, Gun, Red Dead Redemption, This Land Is My Land, Kingdom Come: Deliverance, and much more. If you feel generous and enjoy History on Fire, please consider joining my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to access plenty of bonus content.  All the links to History on Fire social media can be found at our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkTree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, including: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HOF YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. JAPAN TOUR! Let’s head out to Japan in Oct 2026. All the details at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Geek Nation Tours⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Throughout history, people have used mushrooms (such as Lion’s Mane, Turkey Tail, Cordyceps, Reishi and Chaga) for their medicinal properties. My friends started ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Purest Mushrooms⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ where they offer some of the best quality mushrooms you can find on the market at affordable prices. Use code historyonfire at checkout for a discount. Bison is some of the healthiest meat you could possibly eat. Get yours at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dakota Pure Bison⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. History on Fire listeners get a discount by using the code HOF10 at checkout. This episode is supported by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Arizona State University⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about how ASU supports all learners through all stages of life. My friend James Pieratt is one of the world’s top functional training experts, and a record-breaking hybrid athlete. Use the code WH25 for a 25% discount on all of his training programs at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wild Hunt Conditioning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Se non ci conoscete, guardateci i coglioni, siamo gli Arditi del Capitan Mattioni.” Arditi song The Italian Army during WWI was not exactly a well-oiled military machine. In terms of supplies, logistics and leadership, it was a disaster… that is, until someone came up with an idea that didn’t rely on supplies, or advanced technologies. Just a stupid degree of bravery. That was the formula behind the Arditi. The Arditi had a reputation for being insane. They were special forces often engaged in nearly suicidal missions. Their motto was 'O la Vittoria o tutti accoppati' ('Either victory or everyone dies.') 25%-30% casualties in every attack were about the norm. Their main weapons were daggers and hand grenades. Their job was to storm enemy trenches while their artillery was bombing them (a risky endeavor in itself) and then use their knives and the grenades to murder the living hell out of their enemies. In today’s episode, we will explore the clash between Italy and the Austro Hungarian Empire during WWI, with a special focus on the Arditi. If you feel generous and enjoy History on Fire, please consider joining my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to access plenty of bonus content.  All the links to History on Fire social media can be found at our ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkTree⁠⁠⁠⁠, including: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HOF YouTube⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. JAPAN TOUR! Let’s head out to Japan in Oct 2026. All the details at ⁠⁠⁠⁠Geek Nation Tours⁠⁠⁠⁠. Throughout history, people have used mushrooms (such as Lion’s Mane, Turkey Tail, Cordyceps, Reishi and Chaga) for their medicinal properties. My friends started ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Purest Mushrooms⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ where they offer some of the best quality mushrooms you can find on the market at affordable prices. Use code historyonfire at checkout for a discount. Bison is some of the healthiest meat you could possibly eat. Get yours at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dakota Pure Bison⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. History on Fire listeners get a discount by using the code HOF10 at checkout. This episode is supported by ⁠⁠⁠⁠Arizona State University⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about how ASU supports all learners through all stages of life. My friend James Pieratt is one of the world’s top functional training experts, and a record-breaking hybrid athlete. Use the code WH25 for a 25% discount on all of his training programs at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wild Hunt Conditioning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Every talent must unfold itself in fighting.” Friedrich Nietzsche “Boxing inhabits a sacred space predating civilization; or, to use D.H. Lawrence’s phrase, before God was love.” Joyce Carol Oates Stories that begin with slavery rarely end in happiness. I’m a huge fan of celebrating individual achievements in the face of terrible circumstances, but the reality is that the cards you are handed early in life usually shape the possible outcomes. The story we chat about today, though, is one that at least partially defeats the odds. Mr. Bill Richmond, the subject of our tale, was born in slavery in New York, in 1763. Not only did Richmond found his way out slavery, but he ended up moving across the globe, marrying a white lady in England, becoming a professional boxer at a time when the sport was infinitely more brutal than it is today, and ultimately becoming one of the first African American superstars in sports. If you feel generous and enjoy History on Fire, please consider joining my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to access plenty of bonus content.  All the links to History on Fire social media can be found at our ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkTree⁠⁠⁠⁠, including: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HOF YouTube⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. JAPAN TOUR! Let’s head out to Japan in Oct 2026. All the details at ⁠⁠⁠⁠Geek Nation Tours⁠⁠⁠⁠. Throughout history, people have used mushrooms (such as Lion’s Mane, Turkey Tail, Cordyceps, Reishi and Chaga) for their medicinal properties. My friends started ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Purest Mushrooms⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ where they offer some of the best quality mushrooms you can find on the market at affordable prices. Use code historyonfire at checkout for a discount. Bison is some of the healthiest meat you could possibly eat. Get yours at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dakota Pure Bison⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. History on Fire listeners get a discount by using the code HOF10 at checkout. This episode is supported by ⁠⁠⁠⁠Arizona State University⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about how ASU supports all learners through all stages of life. My friend James Pieratt is one of the world’s top functional training experts, and a record-breaking hybrid athlete. Use the code WH25 for a 25% discount on all of his training programs at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wild Hunt Conditioning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“I love people as I meet them one by one. People are just wonderful as individuals. You see the whole universe in their eyes if you look carefully. But as soon as they begin to group, as soon as they begin to clot, when there are five of them or ten or even groups of smallest two, they begin to change, they sacrifice the beauty of the individual for the sake of the group… Cause pretty soon they have little hats, ya know? And armbands. And fight songs. And a list of people they’re going to visit at 3 am.” George Carlin “Beware that, when fighting monsters, you yourself do not become a monster." Friedrich Nietzsche Why so much of history reads like an account of human beings doing horrible things to other human beings? How can some individuals who seem loving and perfectly decent in one context turn into monsters in a different context? How can a sense of identity be weaponized to justify the most atrocious actions one can imagine? How can ideologies turn into tools for scapegoating? This episode will try to answer these questions, and go to the roots of the reasons behind all the horrific things that human beings have done and continue to do to one another. If you feel generous and enjoy History on Fire, please consider joining my ⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠ to access plenty of bonus content.  All the links to History on Fire social media can be found at our ⁠⁠⁠LinkTree⁠⁠⁠, including: ⁠⁠⁠⁠HOF YouTube⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠. JAPAN TOUR! Let’s head out to Japan in Oct 2026. All the details at ⁠⁠⁠Geek Nation Tours⁠⁠⁠. Throughout history, people have used mushrooms (such as Lion’s Mane, Turkey Tail, Cordyceps, Reishi and Chaga) for their medicinal properties. My friends started ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Purest Mushrooms⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ where they offer some of the best quality mushrooms you can find on the market at affordable prices. Use code historyonfire at checkout for a discount. Bison is some of the healthiest meat you could possibly eat. Get yours at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dakota Pure Bison⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. History on Fire listeners get a discount by using the code HOF10 at checkout. This episode is supported by ⁠⁠⁠Arizona State University⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about how ASU supports all learners through all stages of life. My friend James Pieratt is one of the world’s top functional training experts, and a record-breaking hybrid athlete. Use the code WH25 for a 25% discount on all of his training programs at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wild Hunt Conditioning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Cold War, Prohibition, the Gold Rush, the Space Race. Every part of your life - the words you speak, the ideas you share - can be traced to our history, but how well do you really know the stories that made America? We'll take you to the events, the times and the people that shaped our nation. And we'll show you how our history affected them, their families and affects you today. Hosted by Lindsay Graham (not the Senator). Listen to American History Tellers: Wondery.fm/AHT_HOF Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Take me back to the quarries.” Philoxenus “Pelopidas died as he’d lived, a freedom fighter who rushed fearlessly into the fray.” James Romm “As one approaches Chaeronea, there is a tomb of the Thebans who died in the battle with Philip. No inscription adorns it, but a monument stands over it in the form of a lion, the best emblem of the spirit of those men. It seems to me the inscription is lacking because their fortunes were not equal to their courage.” Pausanias In this second and final episode in this series, we see the age of Thebes’ Sacred Band coming to an end, as a new power rises in Macedon. As we tackle this fundamentally important period in Greek history, we’ll run into Dionysius of Syracuse and his horrendous poetry, the rise of Philip of Macedonia and Alexander (soon to be ‘The Great’), the badass sayings of Pelopidas and his heroic death, the rise of wealthy dictators and their bloody ends, the Sacred Wars, the career of Phyrne—the greatest hetaera of the age, and the end of Thebes.   If you feel generous and enjoy History on Fire, please consider joining my ⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠ to access plenty of bonus content.  All the links to History on Fire social media can be found at our ⁠⁠LinkTree⁠⁠, including: ⁠⁠⁠HOF YouTube⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ ⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠. JAPAN TOUR! Let’s head out to Japan in Oct 2026. All the details at ⁠⁠Geek Nation Tours⁠⁠. Throughout history, people have used mushrooms (such as Lion’s Mane, Turkey Tail, Cordyceps, Reishi and Chaga) for their medicinal properties. My friends started ⁠⁠⁠⁠Purest Mushrooms⁠⁠⁠⁠ where they offer some of the best quality mushrooms you can find on the market at affordable prices. Use code historyonfire at checkout for a discount. Bison is some of the healthiest meat you could possibly eat. Get yours at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dakota Pure Bison⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. History on Fire listeners get a discount by using the code HOF10 at checkout. This episode is supported by ⁠⁠Arizona State University⁠⁠. Learn more about how ASU supports all learners through all stages of life. My friend James Pieratt is one of the world’s top functional training experts, and a record-breaking hybrid athlete. Use the code WH25 for a 25% discount on all of his training programs at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wild Hunt Conditioning⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices