Dr Jonathan Spangler

If anyone ever had doubts that Reform and/or Cruella were evil AND stupid...

Well,

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On Monday 26 January, Matthew Howles (Science Museum) will delight us with his lecture on “Curating Versailles: Science and Splendour at the Science Museum”.

18:00 GMT – Online via Zoom

Register for free using this link:

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/matthew-ho...

Yup. Fast forward to the recent TV show Marie Antoinette and you see why the Duc d'Orléams is so loaded with cash!

A nice little video we recorded after the recording! #YoureDeadToMe

Thank you so much!

Photo of Dr Jonathan Spangler in a blue shirt, Greg Jenner in a lilac jumper, and Tom Allen is a suit and tie — they’re all smiling

Summary Greg Jenner is joined in 17th-century France by Dr Jonathan Spangler and comedian Tom Allen to learn all about Philippe, Duc d'Orléans, Louis XIV's younger brother. King Louis XIV is one of the most famous monarchs in French history: the man who built and presided over the glittering court at Versailles, established himself as an absolute ruler, and whose 72-year reign is still the longest in European history. But what about his younger brother, Philippe? Who was the man who grew up and lived in the shadow of the Sun King? Raised to defer to his brother at all costs, his promising military career was cut short when it seemed like he might outshine Louis. When all eyes were on him as heir to the throne, he would wear dresses to provoke shock at courtly balls. He balanced his marriage to his witty German wife, Liselotte, with a decades-long relationship with his aristocratic male lover, the Chevalier de Lorraine - and other men of the court. And he maintained an image as a louche and irresponsible courtier while increasing his personal wealth through clever financial management. This episode explores the complexities and contradictions of Philippe's life, and examines the difficult position of second sons in royal history.

🚨New episode alert! This week’s YOU’RE DEAD TO ME is all about King Louis XIV’s fascinating, impressive, and sometimes scandalous brother, Phillipe Duc d’Orléans!

My guests are the amazing comedian Tom Allen and the fab historian @jspan.bsky.social

Listen now on BBC SOUNDS, or wait 28 days

I'd love to do another, about Liselotte or La Grande Mademoiselle!

You're Dead to Me - Philippe, Duc d’Orléans: in the shadow of the Sun King - BBC Sounds Join Greg and his guests to learn all about Philippe, Duc d’Orléans, brother of Louis XIV.

I'm pleased to share a new episode of BBC's You're Dead to Me where I chat with @gregjenner.bsky.social and comedian Tom Allan about Philippe d'Orleans, sexuality and general shenanigans at Versailles! Available today on BBC Sounds and broadcast tomorrow at 10 on BBC 4. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

BBC Radio 4 - You're Dead to Me, Philippe, Duc d’Orléans: in the shadow of the Sun King Join Greg and his guests to learn all about Philippe, Duc d’Orléans, brother of Louis XIV.

#History Philippe, Duc d’Orléans: in the shadow of the Sun King
You're Dead to Me
Sat 10:00
BBC Radio 4
@gregjenner.bsky.social is joined by @jspan.bsky.social and Tom Allen to learn all about Philippe, Duc d’Orléans, Louis XIV’s younger brother.
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

What did they do (and why) to enhance her breasts in that painting?

Frankopan: Princes of Adriatic Islands and on the Frontiers of Christianity Croatia was a kingdom for a thousand years, from 925 to 1918, yet for most of that time it was subject to rule by neighbouring dynasties, the Hungarian Arpads, the Austrian Habsburgs. Its western A…

Are you fond of frangipane cake for New Years Day? How about Dalmatian princes with a name so unpronouncable (Krčki) that they borrowed another to become Frankopans? This family battled for independence against Venetians, Hungarians, Turks and Austrians, and are a symbol of Croatian nationhood today

Happy New Year to all! I am looking forward to 2026: a big podcast release, a new research project, a new *big* book, and a keynote in Prague!

YouTube video by Château de Versailles Fêtes et divertissements à la Cour

Lecture on Carnival and violent festivities for my second years tomorrow. As I've long lost any dreams of possibly being The Cool Lecturer, I'm absolutely throwing in my love for the most excellent of exhibition adverts:

Like feuding Montagus: the troubled history of the Dukes of Manchester The city of Manchester was a rough city in the industrial age. The history of the dukes of Manchester shares some of the underworld aspects of the great northern powerhouse, but in fact has nothing…

Reading for a rainy Sunday: dukes of Manchester, dukes of Montagu; Kimbolton, last residence of Katherine of Aragon; Boughton, the Versailles of Northamptonshire; the British Museum and the Wallace Collection; American heiresses; debt and prison...it's all here! dukesandprinces.org/2025/12/07/l...

Constructing European Historical Narratives in the Early Modern World This volume showcases the diversity of contributors and voices that intervened and shaped historical narratives in early modern Europe. Exploring the art of ...

Very excited to see this new book fresh off the presses: a variety of approaches to writing narratives of history, including a chapter on noble genealogy by yours truly! iterpress.org/978164959143...

Eulenburg and Bülow Princes: Two Scandals that shook the Prussian Court - by Jonathan Spangler - Histories of RGSI (Race, Gender, Sexuality, and Identity) The court of Kaiser Wilhelm II is remembered for its excessive militarism—the Prussian sabre rattling that encouraged the Austrian emperor to send such a strong ultimatum to the Serbs in […]

Here's an interesting blog I wrote earlier this year about Prussian princes, including the fascinating homosocial tale of Prince Eulenburg and the Kaiser. Part of of a new research blog at MMU: check it out and follow! rgsi.mmu.ac.uk/2025/04/29/e...

Very pleased to see You're Dead To Me has roared back into the Top 25 UK podcasts, following our very well-received 10th series! Series 11 is in production right now and will launch in early January podnews.net/press-releas...

Next Tuesday! If you're in London, come along to hear about the medieval jewels of an English queen! It is free, but please sign up now so we know what numbers to expect. #CourtStudies #HIstoricRoyalPalaces

Plantagenet jewels! You know you want them! A hybrid SCS event! Charles Farris “Of Wonderful Beauty: An Inventory of the Jewels of Margaret of France in 1302”. 9 Dec. 18:00 GMT

If you like to attend (for free) in-person at the Royal Anthropological Institute, email societyforcourtstudies@gmail.com.

Exciting book launch in Madrid earlier this week. In fact two! The first to appear in Brepols Court Cultures series, co-efited by me (for whom the empty chair)

A hybrid SCS event! Charles Farris “Of Wonderful Beauty: An Inventory of the Jewels of Margaret of France in 1302”. On 9 Dec. 18:00 GMT.

If you would like to attend in-person at the Royal Anthropological Institute, email societyforcourtstudies@gmail.com. Pre-booking essential

Eponine's song from Les Mis

Jablonowski—Polish princes, kin to French royals The Kingdom of Poland, a remarkably egalitarian society, officially had no title rankings within its nobility. It therefore had very few families with the titles duke or princes within its borders—…

Polish princes who were grandparents of the Queen of France--and given the rare right to be called 'cousin du roi'. Defenders of Polish independence, then Russian and Austrian princes: Jablonowski. dukesandprinces.org/2025/11/10/j...

Ah, oh well.

Say hi if you pass through Manchester.

Lannoy: A Quintessentially Belgian Noble House The new Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, born Countess Stéphanie de Lannoy, comes from an old noble family from the Low Countries. The House of Lannoy is one of the most distinguished noble houses in B…

To follow on from last week’s post on the new Grand Duke of Luxembourg, here’s a new post on the family of the new Grand Duchess, Stephanie de Lannoy: dukesandprinces.org/2025/10/09/l...

Theirs For Ever: Marie Antoinette and The Hand Over Ceremony On 7 May 1770, the fourteen-year-old Marie Antoinette, already Dauphine by proxy, approached an island near Kehl on the River Rhine in which she would be formally given to France. It represented the c...

Check out the latest 'The Court Observer' blog post titled "Theirs For Ever: Marie Antoinette and The Hand Over Ceremony" by Elizabeth Jane Timms!

Read on to discover how Marie Antoinette officially became the Dauphine of France in May 1770.

courtstudies.hypotheses.org/1570

Ohvthe trauma of being a royal child at a public event! #Luxembourg 🇱🇺

Nassau-Weilburg and Luxembourg: one of Europe’s oldest princely dynasties on one of its newest thrones On 3 October 2025, Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, abdicated his throne in favour of his eldest son, Crown Prince Guillaume. The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg as an independent sovereign state has onl…

Today, 3 October, the Grand Duke of #Luxembourg abdicates in favour of his son #Guillaume. Here's the story of a 'double dynasty', both #Nassau-Weilburg and Bourbon-Parma. How did they come to be joined together? #abdication #monarchy dukesandprinces.org/2025/10/03/n...