Royals who Died of Bubonic Plague

As the great pestilence burned across central Asia, north Africa and Europe, roughly 100 million people lost their lives in the worst pandemic in human history. More than half of the populations of Florence, Paris and London fell victim. We will never know the names of most of the poor souls who met their end in mass graves. But perhaps the best way to put a human face on this apocalyptic event is to explore the lives of those victims for whom we do have carefully kept records - the Royals. Today let’s meet 21 Kings, Queens and Princes who where cut out of history by the scythe of the black death, and the many outbreaks of plague that followed. And see how their sudden deaths changed the course of history.
Abu Sa’id Bahadur Khan, Mongul Sultan
Joan of England, daughter of Edward III
Blanche of Lancaster
Edward of Angoulême, Son of Edward the Black Prince
Anne of Bohemia, Queen of England
Gruffudd ap Owain
George Plantagenet, Duke of Bedford, Future Prince of Wales
Edmund Tudor, Earl of Richmond
Joan II, Queen of Navarre
Jeanne of Burgundy, Queen of France
Bonne of Luxembourg
Eleanor of Portugal, Queen of Aragon
Alfonso XI, King of Castile
Philippa of Lancaster, Queen of Portugal
Duarte, King of Portugal
Ludovico, King of Sicily
Luigi I , king of Naples
Maria I, Queen of Sicily
Erik Magnuson, King of Sweden
Beatrix of Bavaria, Queen of Sweden
Margrethe I of Denmark

Check out the History Tea Time Podcast:

Music: Danse Macabre by Camille Saint-Saëns, Public Domain, Performed by Kevin MacLeod

[originalcosmicgirl]

I really love the phrase that you used, "...they could not keep the princess safe from a danger no knight could vanquish." Great writing as always!

[KCFailsALot]

It seems you forgot to mention that Elizabeth Woodville possibly died from the plague! In 2019 a letter was found suggesting that it did indeed happen. Although it is not 100% certain, the way her funeral was carried out hastily and quietly does support the fact

[-beee-]

Hearing how many of these girls were impregnated at an early age is so sad.

[alicianelson]

A king dies and a woman is blamed tale as old as time

[avaglennon]

“The more feminine issues like having babies and the economy” made me laugh harder than I should have.

[janeyrevanescence]

I first heard of the story of Princess Joan of England when I saw a documentary on the Black Death. Her father's letter to her father in law saddened me. It was clear despite the former language that he was affected by news of her death.

[JaimesCordìoño]

You know a plague is really bad when even the royalty are dying from it☠️☠️☠️

[melenatorr]

A common misconception: the Tudors didn't so much end the Wars of the Roses so much as internalize and cannibalize them: Henry Tudor fought two battles after he ascended; beheaded Edward of Warwick after keeping him imprisoned for years; beheaded Perkin Warbeck, beheaded William Stanley; imprisoned Edmund de la Pole. Henry VIII executed the Duke of Buckingham; and, infamously, Margaret Pole, sister of the executed Edward of Warwick. This is not the record of a dynasty at peace with its position.

[andy_o.t.]

Big fan of your videos! Been watching since I was in 6th grade (I’m a sophomore in high school now), and always come back to your videos for my studies and because of you my favorite subject in school without a doubt is definitely history class! Keep it up, your channel has grown so much! 😊

[lynnedelacy]

100 million death - when the population was so small - incredible so many unfulfilled lives

[lykkelf]

So glad you mentioned Margrete I of Denmark She rests in my hometown Roskilde ... BUT .. originally she was buried in another church, while a year later her body was stolen and brought to Roskilde, by her close friend, who happened to also be the bishop of Roskilde. A 3 day feast was held in her honour after the move. Pretty wild stealing the body of the late queen, right?!

[cquelhas]

Kudos on saying João almost in perfection! 👏 I know how difficult it is to say it for foreigners (even to our Spanish neighbours)!

[danielsantiagourtado]

Another plague video?! Thanks! Always happy to learn more from these things. You're the Best Lindsay! No other better teacher❤❤❤❤❤

[aisadal]

I'm getting flashbacks to Ask a Mortician/Caitlin Doughty's videos 😆😆😆 "The Medieval Ages were magic~"

[ileanaacacostaacosta]

Princess Joan was 15 when she died but among her companions was her sister Isabella who was accompanying her sister I'm not sure if she was going with her to the border or to Spain itself I read this in a historical novel about Isabella who was left stranded in France because all the retinue of her sister died in the plague and she couldn't return to England for two or three years When she arrived her father King Edward III and his queen couldnt believe it and his father swore to himself that he will never let another of his daughter leave ENGLAND again and he granted Isabella permission to marry a nobleman she loved that is what i read it was a sad andbeautiful story

[karenharper]

I love your videos, but can't keep all the names straight. I'll watch one and think "oh yeah, got it now" but all the different areas and 15 Henrys, Edwards, and Johns later, clueless again. But i still love watching them all.

[beya_val_chi]

hii🌷 im 16 and ive ioved your videos since i was 13, love you, your my real queen and thank you for making videos🌸🎀 please never stop, much love from Texas💐🌷🌸💕

[danielsantiagourtado]

LOVE your history videos Lindsay! Thanks for all your hardwork! All those AI generated documentaries combined have NOTHING on you. And the loss of the Black Princes's first son edward was particulary tragic, not just the loss of a child to his parents but england as a whole given that they then got saddled with Richard II, one of the worst kings england ever had.

[JaimesCordìoño]

Just watched more than 100 of your videos hahaha. Luv these types of topics about the medieval world

[gabriellapietrakowski]

Is it possible you could do a royalty 101 video about female royals lives, like their daily routine, education, etc. I feel like it would be pretty interesting, since princesses and queens of different places and centuries have different ways of life. It’s an only an idea of course, but I think it would be a cool video