When people hear the name Wolfgang Mozart, they probably think about Symphony No. 40 in G Minor—or at least a man in a powdered wig effortlessly conjuring magic at the piano. But what rarely comes to mind? His wife, Constanze Mozart. And yet, to overlook Constanze is to ignore a life just as fascinating, and perhaps even more daring, than that of her legendary husband.
Mansa Musa was the ruler of the Mali Empire in the early 14th century—and he was no backwater baron. Thanks to salt, gold, and copper, he had untold, incalculable, immeasurable wealth. Some historians even say that he was the richest man in history. But you know what they say: more money, more juicy gossip.
Joseph P Kennedy Jr was the golden boy of the influential Kennedy dynasty, destined to stamp his family name on the highest echelon of world power. However, a friendly rivalry with the brother, who eventually realized his dream, led to a tragically abrupt ending for the ambitious wunderkind.
Edward IV was the closest thing to a medieval superhero. Tall, blonde, and handsome, he was a fierce warrior who took England's throne for himself...twice. He died as the King of England—but this is no success story. His greed, arrogance, and lack of foresight saw everything he ever accomplished collapse almost the moment he gave his last breath.
Throughout history, physical beauty has been a coveted ideal for women across cultures and eras. But for Yang Guifei—hailed as one of Ancient China’s greatest beauties—her breathtaking allure ultimately became her greatest curse, entwining her fate with the downfall of an entire dynasty.
Alice Roosevelt was one supremely naughty girl—especially for the daughter of a President. One of the most beautiful women and most raucous socialites of her time, Alice lit up newspapers around the world with her antics, driving her father Theodore Roosevelt wild. Only, it wasn’t all harmless fun. Behind the doors of her stately homes, Alice hid dark secrets that only saw the full light of day after her end.
Seductive. Cunning. Dangerous. Isabeau of Bavaria was a powerful queen in an age of obedient women, and she allowed no man—not even her own unhinged husband—to control her. From her tragedies to her courtly schemes, there was often little difference between Isabeau’s life and an episode of Game of Thrones. A really bloody one.
All the money in the world doesn’t guarantee a happy home life. Just ask John Paul Getty III. An absent father and a cold-hearted—but extremely rich—grandfather both left Getty to his own devices. And when the mafia cruelly chained him up in a cave, his family wasn’t there to help him.
Louis XIV was King of France for a whopping 72 years. As his sobriquet, “The Sun King,” suggests, Louis came to symbolize the big, bright, magnetic pomp of the French monarchy at its peak. Behind the big parties and big hairpieces, however, Louis XIV was accompanied by a dark history of intrigue, scandal, decadence, colonial violence, conflict, fashion, and more scandal. Get your high-heels ready for these decadently fun facts about Louis XIV, the Sun King of France.
Born on the eve of Europe’s first wave of Revolutions, Queen Victoria knew that her daughter Princess Louise was bound to be special. And special she was. Princess Louise was a precocious child who matured into a controversial, mysterious revolutionary. Grab a cup of tea and prepare to learn about the scandalous woman that the British royals have tried to hide.
Frederick, Prince of Wales was in line for the throne of England...until it all went wrong in the most catastrophic way. `
Although far from the rugged chaos of the American Frontier happening throughout the 1800s, the East Coast’s business world was just as brutal as the Old West. One of the most prominent players in this game was Cornelius Vanderbilt, also known as “The Commodore.” His shrewd and ruthless business practices turned him into someone respected, feared, and sometimes hated—even by his family.
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