Putting in my BBC documentary audition tape. #badeurope
January 18, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Putting in my BBC documentary audition tape. #badeurope
Pausing #BadEurope for a little bit until new job/commute settles down - it's been intense!
It will return, here and elsewhere.
It will return, here and elsewhere.
February 7, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Pausing #BadEurope for a little bit until new job/commute settles down - it's been intense!
It will return, here and elsewhere.
It will return, here and elsewhere.
With the plague raging across the Rhineland, Speyer (Germany) was the site of a horrific pogrom #onthisday in 1349, wiping out a thriving Jewish community of around 400.
They were incorrectly blamed for the pestilence - a tragedy repeated across Europe. #BadEurope
They were incorrectly blamed for the pestilence - a tragedy repeated across Europe. #BadEurope
January 22, 2025 at 7:31 AM
With the plague raging across the Rhineland, Speyer (Germany) was the site of a horrific pogrom #onthisday in 1349, wiping out a thriving Jewish community of around 400.
They were incorrectly blamed for the pestilence - a tragedy repeated across Europe. #BadEurope
They were incorrectly blamed for the pestilence - a tragedy repeated across Europe. #BadEurope
The infamous Caligula, of whom so much has been written regarding his supposed crimes, was hacked to death by the Praetorian Guard under the imperial palace in Rome #onthisday in 41 CE. #badeurope
January 24, 2025 at 10:56 AM
The infamous Caligula, of whom so much has been written regarding his supposed crimes, was hacked to death by the Praetorian Guard under the imperial palace in Rome #onthisday in 41 CE. #badeurope
William, known as 'Longsword', ruler of Normandy, was ambushed and assassinated #onthisday in 942 while heading to peace negotiations. #badeurope
December 17, 2024 at 9:26 AM
William, known as 'Longsword', ruler of Normandy, was ambushed and assassinated #onthisday in 942 while heading to peace negotiations. #badeurope
#BadEurope is my curated collection of horrible, awful, no-good, lewd, lascivious, profane, maniacal, abominable, dank, moist, fetid, bloody, execrable and shocking nuggets of European history.
I'm collecting it for a project I've got cooking up.
In the meantime, please enjoy the hashtag.
I'm collecting it for a project I've got cooking up.
In the meantime, please enjoy the hashtag.
December 2, 2024 at 11:47 AM
#BadEurope is my curated collection of horrible, awful, no-good, lewd, lascivious, profane, maniacal, abominable, dank, moist, fetid, bloody, execrable and shocking nuggets of European history.
I'm collecting it for a project I've got cooking up.
In the meantime, please enjoy the hashtag.
I'm collecting it for a project I've got cooking up.
In the meantime, please enjoy the hashtag.
Following the freezing of the Rhine #onthisday in 366, the Alemanni peoples were able to cross in significant numbers, entering the Roman Empire and significantly hastening its demise...
...and more were on the way. #badeurope
...and more were on the way. #badeurope
January 2, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Following the freezing of the Rhine #onthisday in 366, the Alemanni peoples were able to cross in significant numbers, entering the Roman Empire and significantly hastening its demise...
...and more were on the way. #badeurope
...and more were on the way. #badeurope
Sea walls on the Zuiderzee broke during a storm #onthisday in 1287, killing around 50,000, in what is today the Netherlands. #badeurope
December 14, 2024 at 10:46 AM
Sea walls on the Zuiderzee broke during a storm #onthisday in 1287, killing around 50,000, in what is today the Netherlands. #badeurope
Johannes Vermeer, painter shining light of the Dutch 'Golden Age' died sick and broke #onthisday in 1675.
Let's just say the geopolitical situation in the Netherlands at the time was not amenable to selling artworks. #badeurope
Let's just say the geopolitical situation in the Netherlands at the time was not amenable to selling artworks. #badeurope
December 15, 2024 at 9:30 AM
Johannes Vermeer, painter shining light of the Dutch 'Golden Age' died sick and broke #onthisday in 1675.
Let's just say the geopolitical situation in the Netherlands at the time was not amenable to selling artworks. #badeurope
Let's just say the geopolitical situation in the Netherlands at the time was not amenable to selling artworks. #badeurope
Rampant financial speculation over tulip bulbs in Amsterdam reached a crescendo #onthisday in 1637 before dropping (and correcting) dramatically, leaving some destitute.
'Tulipmania' is widely considered one of the first financial crashes caused by speculation in a specific resource. #badeurope
'Tulipmania' is widely considered one of the first financial crashes caused by speculation in a specific resource. #badeurope
February 2, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Rampant financial speculation over tulip bulbs in Amsterdam reached a crescendo #onthisday in 1637 before dropping (and correcting) dramatically, leaving some destitute.
'Tulipmania' is widely considered one of the first financial crashes caused by speculation in a specific resource. #badeurope
'Tulipmania' is widely considered one of the first financial crashes caused by speculation in a specific resource. #badeurope
Martin Luther, monk and scholar of Wittenberg, was excommunicated by Papal Bull #onthisday in 1521.
A few scribbled criticisms of the church by him had not gone down well.
This would eventually become a rather large deal. #badeurope
A few scribbled criticisms of the church by him had not gone down well.
This would eventually become a rather large deal. #badeurope
January 3, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Martin Luther, monk and scholar of Wittenberg, was excommunicated by Papal Bull #onthisday in 1521.
A few scribbled criticisms of the church by him had not gone down well.
This would eventually become a rather large deal. #badeurope
A few scribbled criticisms of the church by him had not gone down well.
This would eventually become a rather large deal. #badeurope
Despite having been killed in battle a few weeks prior, Sten Sture the Younger, Regent of Sweden, was burned at the stake #onthisday in 1520.
This was on orders of the archbishop under the new king because, goddamn it, they hated him that dang much. #badeurope
This was on orders of the archbishop under the new king because, goddamn it, they hated him that dang much. #badeurope
February 3, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Despite having been killed in battle a few weeks prior, Sten Sture the Younger, Regent of Sweden, was burned at the stake #onthisday in 1520.
This was on orders of the archbishop under the new king because, goddamn it, they hated him that dang much. #badeurope
This was on orders of the archbishop under the new king because, goddamn it, they hated him that dang much. #badeurope
Doing #BadEurope has taught me that being a murderous, callous power-hungry villain has, historically, been a really dangerous profession. Not a long term proposition.
I miss the good old days.
I miss the good old days.
January 12, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Doing #BadEurope has taught me that being a murderous, callous power-hungry villain has, historically, been a really dangerous profession. Not a long term proposition.
I miss the good old days.
I miss the good old days.
Vlad Tepes, impalement enthusiast, Dracula inspiration and Wallachian noble, is supposed to have died fighting the Ottomans #onthisday in 1476 - sources are vague, and often disagree. #badeurope
December 14, 2024 at 10:49 AM
Vlad Tepes, impalement enthusiast, Dracula inspiration and Wallachian noble, is supposed to have died fighting the Ottomans #onthisday in 1476 - sources are vague, and often disagree. #badeurope
Papal forces murdered most of the population of Cesena, Emilia-Romagna (IT) #onthisday in 1377 for daring to stand up to them.
This was during the War of the Eight Saints, to determine who controlled the Italian Peninsula. #badeurope
This was during the War of the Eight Saints, to determine who controlled the Italian Peninsula. #badeurope
February 3, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Papal forces murdered most of the population of Cesena, Emilia-Romagna (IT) #onthisday in 1377 for daring to stand up to them.
This was during the War of the Eight Saints, to determine who controlled the Italian Peninsula. #badeurope
This was during the War of the Eight Saints, to determine who controlled the Italian Peninsula. #badeurope
Italy's parliament granted Benito Mussolini and his National Fascist Party dictatorial powers for a year #onthisday in 1922. Nothing harmful in that, of course! Surely he'd give them up after that? 🙄 #BadEurope
November 24, 2024 at 9:08 AM
Italy's parliament granted Benito Mussolini and his National Fascist Party dictatorial powers for a year #onthisday in 1922. Nothing harmful in that, of course! Surely he'd give them up after that? 🙄 #BadEurope
The new French ambassador to the Papal States, Nicolas Jean Hugo de Basseville, was so unbelievably obnoxious in the role, taunting locals, that he was stoned and stabbed to death by irate locals #onthisday in 1793.
Something for the new US administration to consider. #badeurope
Something for the new US administration to consider. #badeurope
January 13, 2025 at 8:59 AM
The new French ambassador to the Papal States, Nicolas Jean Hugo de Basseville, was so unbelievably obnoxious in the role, taunting locals, that he was stoned and stabbed to death by irate locals #onthisday in 1793.
Something for the new US administration to consider. #badeurope
Something for the new US administration to consider. #badeurope
King Henry I of England died om #onthisday in 1135 while on a hunting trip, allegedy due to eating too many lampreys.
I mean looking at those things, dude was playing with fire eating just one. #BadEurope
I mean looking at those things, dude was playing with fire eating just one. #BadEurope
December 1, 2024 at 11:31 AM
King Henry I of England died om #onthisday in 1135 while on a hunting trip, allegedy due to eating too many lampreys.
I mean looking at those things, dude was playing with fire eating just one. #BadEurope
I mean looking at those things, dude was playing with fire eating just one. #BadEurope
Tensions between supporters of rival chariot teams broke out into outright civil unrest in Constantinople #onthisday in 532.
The ensuing riot devastated the city and took a week to suppress. Damn near toppled the Emperor Justinian. #badeurope
The ensuing riot devastated the city and took a week to suppress. Damn near toppled the Emperor Justinian. #badeurope
January 11, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Tensions between supporters of rival chariot teams broke out into outright civil unrest in Constantinople #onthisday in 532.
The ensuing riot devastated the city and took a week to suppress. Damn near toppled the Emperor Justinian. #badeurope
The ensuing riot devastated the city and took a week to suppress. Damn near toppled the Emperor Justinian. #badeurope
Francois Grimaldi, known as 'The Malicious', infiltrated the Rock of Monaco #onthisday in 1297, disguised as a monk with a couple of mates.
Having 'stolen' the seat of power, his family have held onto the principality ever since. #badeurope
Having 'stolen' the seat of power, his family have held onto the principality ever since. #badeurope
January 8, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Francois Grimaldi, known as 'The Malicious', infiltrated the Rock of Monaco #onthisday in 1297, disguised as a monk with a couple of mates.
Having 'stolen' the seat of power, his family have held onto the principality ever since. #badeurope
Having 'stolen' the seat of power, his family have held onto the principality ever since. #badeurope
Charles II of Navarre, who absolutely was a devious bastard, and thoroughly earned his moniker of 'The Bad', burned to death #inthisday, when the brandy-soaked cloth he'd been sewn into (to treat illness) caught alight. #badeurope
January 1, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Charles II of Navarre, who absolutely was a devious bastard, and thoroughly earned his moniker of 'The Bad', burned to death #inthisday, when the brandy-soaked cloth he'd been sewn into (to treat illness) caught alight. #badeurope
Jörg Jenatsch, Swiss politician and fierce opponent of the Habsburgs, was assassinated in Chur (CH) #onthisday in 1639 by a man in a bear costume.
While we know why the assassin was dressed as a bear - it was carnival - the exact motive remains unclear. #badeurope
While we know why the assassin was dressed as a bear - it was carnival - the exact motive remains unclear. #badeurope
January 24, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Jörg Jenatsch, Swiss politician and fierce opponent of the Habsburgs, was assassinated in Chur (CH) #onthisday in 1639 by a man in a bear costume.
While we know why the assassin was dressed as a bear - it was carnival - the exact motive remains unclear. #badeurope
While we know why the assassin was dressed as a bear - it was carnival - the exact motive remains unclear. #badeurope
Ten things I've learned researching for #badeurope, my book project slogging through the very worst of Europe's history.
A thread. 1/11
A thread. 1/11
December 15, 2024 at 8:14 PM
Ten things I've learned researching for #badeurope, my book project slogging through the very worst of Europe's history.
A thread. 1/11
A thread. 1/11
Hilger Quattermart von der Stesse, politician of Köln/Cologne, was executed for attempting to instigate a coup following his exile, #onthisday in 1398.
Presented without comment. #badeurope
Presented without comment. #badeurope
January 26, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Hilger Quattermart von der Stesse, politician of Köln/Cologne, was executed for attempting to instigate a coup following his exile, #onthisday in 1398.
Presented without comment. #badeurope
Presented without comment. #badeurope
Julius Caesar rode his legions across the river Rubicon - the barrier across which Roman generals were not permitted to advance towards Rome - #onthisday in 49 BCE.
His days, and ultimately those of the Roman Republic, were now numbered. #badeurope
His days, and ultimately those of the Roman Republic, were now numbered. #badeurope
January 10, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Julius Caesar rode his legions across the river Rubicon - the barrier across which Roman generals were not permitted to advance towards Rome - #onthisday in 49 BCE.
His days, and ultimately those of the Roman Republic, were now numbered. #badeurope
His days, and ultimately those of the Roman Republic, were now numbered. #badeurope