In this episode, we take you back to the court of Versailles to share the story of Madame du Barry—the last mistress of King Louis XV. Was she truly the frivolous scandal history remembers? Or a woman of surprising wit, charm, and ambition? Pour yourself a glass of something French and let’s dive into the life of this infamous enchantress who found herself both beloved and betrayed by the world’s most glittering court.

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In part two of our season finale, we share the tragic ending of Elisabeth de France and how she stood by her brother, King Louis VXI, throughout the bloody French Revolution. While Elisabeth was notorious for her cheeky and even stubborn behavior as a child, she blossomed into a virtuous young adult who held firm to her devotion to the monarchy. While her sentence was controversial, unfortunately, Elisabeth's piousness could not save her from the sharp edge of the guillotine.

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While Marie Antoinette and King Louis XVI were dealing with revolutionists in France, there was one person behind the scenes who has received very little recognition: Elisabeth de France, King Louis' youngest sister. Elisabeth grew up in the royal court of Versailles as a French Princess. While her education and upbringing was standard for the times, nothing could prepare her for the French Revolution that was to come. In this two part finale, we start off with the early life of young Elisabeth and the tumultuous climate of France that she was raised in.

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Sikhism is the 5th largest religion in world and was founded in India in the late 15th century. It emphasizes the worship of one God, equality of all people, selfless service, and devotion to the teachings of the Sikh Gurus.

While these Gurus had a mission to live peaceful lives, they couldn't avoid a pattern of violence and death throughout their generations. In this episode, we share the story of three generations of Guru's who all faced persecution and even execution for their beliefs and explore their fierce determination to fight for a more harmonious world.

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Our story begins with Tsar Peter III of Russia being overthrown by his own wife, the infamous Catherine the Great, only to be declared deceased soon after for vague medical reasons. Years later, Yemelyan Pugachev, a peasant who claimed to be the late Peter III, emerges. Pugachev's Rebellion, also known as the Cossack Rebellion, gained support from various social groups, including peasants and some nobles who opposed Catherine's rule. Their goal was to dethrone her and reinstate "Peter III," despite the fact that their "Peter" was just an imposter, probably with bad teeth. Whether his supporters didn’t care that he was a fraud or simply were oblivious to the truth, Pugachev managed to disrupt Russia with his attempts to seize the throne and champion the peasants and serfs who have suffered under Catherine's reign. However, evading arrest can only be accomplished so many times.

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Life in 1800’s Liverpool, England was rough. It was a port city with a high population of hard-working immigrants all trying to make ends meet. However, some were more desperate than others to ensure their living was made. Catherine and Margaret Flannagn, two Irish sisters who owned a boarding house, found themselves in the middle of a dark network of women who took advantage of insurance organizations after the death of a loved one. This network, which became known as the “Black Widows of Liverpool”, discovered the quickest way to a paycheck was with some arsenic and a compromised conscious. Unfortunately, the sisters tested their luck one two many times.

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The Tudor Dynasty was notorious for creating religious tension across England as they swayed between Protestantism and Catholicism, depending on who wore the crown. With Elizabeth I on the throne, Catholics were forced to practice their beliefs in hiding. Margaret Ward was empathetic towards the Catholic priests being imprisoned and went so far as to help one of them escape. Known as the 'Pearl of Tyburn', she paid the highest price for another man's freedom.

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It can be said that the ancient Egyptians were quite materialistic. The pyramids housed more than just the mummies and dust of pharaohs and queens, but also the lifetime of riches of the nobility to ensure they could bring them with them to the afterlife. In modern-day currency, these tombs were filled to the brim with hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of gold, jewels, and other valuables.

While local Egyptians were haunted by the thought of not having a peaceful afterlife, it didn't stop many from raiding these tombs. Throughout the reigns of the ancient pharaohs, tomb raiding became a serious issue, resulting in arrests and court cases almost daily. It was a high-risk, high-reward endeavor. In this episode of Beheaded, we discuss the gruesome fates of those found guilty of tomb raiding and the torture and execution methods faced by the robbers.

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