September is almost upon us, which means ULTC will be back with a new four-week series next Friday! We are excited to take a deep dive into the inner workings of a new ruler’s brain and historical impact. Prep for next week by taking a look back at everything we’ve posted so far!
Charles VI
Week 1: The story of how Charles VI of France went from “Beloved” to “Mad”; full of murder, mad kings, family feuds and backstabbing.
Week 2: Could schizophrenia have explained Charles VI’s strange behavior? And what can modern neuroscience tell us about what was going on inside his brain?
Week 3: Synthesizing history and science to examine how one man’s schizophrenia led to decades of war and the establishment of the bureaucratic state.
Week 4: Diving into the mysterious phenomenon of glass delusion to understand why a generation of the powerful and wealthy feared they would shatter, and why it all but disappeared by the 1900s.
Alexandra Feodorovna
Week 1: Before Anastasia, there was another Romanov who was the center of attention; her mother, Alexandra Feodorovna, Empress of Russia, whose reign seemed doomed from the start.
Week 2: The science of hypochondria though the lens of Alexandra Feodorovna, including how your body can look and feel pregnant when it’s not.
Week 3: Alexandra’s mental instability left her increasingly dependent on Rasputin, who taught that “love is everything; love will protect you from a bullet.” No one loved her family more than Alexandra, but in the end, love could not save them.
Week 4: How DNA testing put the rumors of Anastasia’s escape to bed, but could not put all of the Romanovs to rest.
Henry VIII
Week 1: You’ve heard about the king who had six wives, but do you know the whole story? Henry VIII’s pursuit of a male heir changed the course of history in England, and Europe, forever.
Week 2: Henry VIII and NFL player Aaron Hernandez both experienced the devastating effects of brain injury. But does a diagnosis make them less accountable for their crimes?
Week 3: Six women experienced the effects of Henry’s instability. But in the end, it was a woman who resurrected the tarnished Tudor name.
Week 4: It’s no secret that Henry VIII struggled with his health. What might be more surprising is that his experiences as a patient inspired him to take some remarkable steps to modernize medicine.
Summer Fun
Week 1: Celebrate summer by taking a look at the favorite vacation spots of royals through the centuries.
Week 2: Has the lack of sports left a hockey rink-sized hole in your life? Fill the void by exploring favorite athletic pastimes enjoyed by Royals.
Week 3: Marriages between relatives strengthened the Habsburg dynasty for a time, but eventually the biological fallout led to its demise.
Week 4: ULTC brings you a summer reading and watch list for history and science lovers alike.
Week 5: We explore why Beatrice and Eugenie are more than just their stunning wedding photos.
Week 6: What happens when royalty and science royalty collide during Nobel Prize Week?
Week 7: There is a rich history of royal women serving in hospitals during war, and most recently, during pandemics.
Week 8: In light of the news that Kamala Harris is Joe Biden’s VP choice, we are celebrating women! Learn about some ladies who led with their intellect and their strength, with maybe a little help from their charm and good looks as well…
Week 9: We keep hearing that what we are experiencing is “unprecedented.” But in reality, pandemics are nothing new, and neither is using masks to prevent the spread of disease.
Uneasy Lies the Crown 