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Step into the blood-soaked streets of 13th-century northern Italy, where political rivalry was a death sentence and mercy was a forgotten word. In this episode of The Dark History Podcast, we uncover the chilling story of Ezzelino III da Romano, a warlord so feared that even Dante placed him in the Seventh Circle of Hell.

Ruling during the brutal conflict between the Guelphs and Ghibellines, Ezzelino rose from minor nobility to become one of the most infamous figures in medieval Europe. Aligning himself with the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II, he carved out a vast domain through intimidation, political manipulation, and calculated slaughter. His reign was marked by torture chambers, public executions, and the eradication of entire families.

At the height of his power, Ezzelino laid siege to the proud Guelph stronghold of Padua in 1256. What followed was not a victory, but a massacre—thousands killed, priests mutilated, women and children slaughtered, and the city reduced to a smouldering warning. Chroniclers claimed that in just two years, over 11,000 people perished under his rule. Whether exaggerated or not, the terror he inspired was real.

We trace Ezzelino’s rise, his calculated brutality, and his inevitable downfall as the Pope declared a crusade against him—a rare honour reserved for only the most despised of enemies. Captured at the Battle of Cassano in 1259, Ezzelino refused food, medicine, or confession, dying in prison as the cities he once ruled celebrated his demise.

From fortress intrigue and political betrayal to siege warfare and mass executions, this is the story of a man who turned cruelty into a system of governance. Perfect for listeners drawn to medieval history, true crime, and the study of absolute power, this episode serves as both a deep historical dive and a grim cautionary tale.

Join us as we bring Ezzelino III da Romano out of the shadows of history, to stand once more in the light—if only to remind us how far human cruelty can reach.

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Trapped in total darkness. No sound, no escape—just the slow breakdown of your body and mind. In this chilling episode of The Dark History Podcast, we descend into the terrifying world of the oubliette, one of the most inhumane torture devices ever devised. Used across medieval Europe, these hidden pits were built to erase people completely—no trial, no grave, no memory. Just a sealed trapdoor and silence.

Join host Rob as he explores the origins of the oubliette, the castles that hid them, and the horrifying experiences of those thrown inside. From secret executions in France to political disappearances in England and Ireland, we uncover real stories of the forgotten—victims driven to madness in underground tombs barely wide enough to sit in. And while these torture chambers may seem like relics of the past, we’ll ask a disturbing question: have oubliettes truly disappeared, or have they just evolved?

Grim, immersive, and unforgettable—this episode will haunt you. Don’t listen alone.

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In this gripping episode of The Dark History Podcast, we dive deep into one of the most chilling and overlooked forms of human trafficking in history: shanghaiing. From the mid-1800s to the early 20th century, thousands of men were abducted from port cities like Portland, San Francisco, and Liverpool—drugged, beaten, or tricked into signing forged contracts, only to wake up trapped aboard ships bound for Asia.

This wasn’t just the work of shady criminals in back alleys. It was a full-blown industry. Crimps, saloon keepers, hotel owners, and even police officers played their part, all for a quick payout. Some victims were lured by the promise of work or a warm bed. Others were dropped through trapdoors into underground tunnels and chained in holding cells until a ship was ready. Few escaped. Most were never seen again.

You’ll hear the real names behind the crimes, like the notorious “Bunko” Kelly, who once claimed to have sold a ship a crew of corpses. We'll uncover how this brutal system thrived in plain sight for decades, and how changing laws, technology, and public outrage eventually brought it down.

This isn’t the maritime adventure story you’ve been told. It’s about organised trafficking, greed, and the silent suffering of thousands who were stolen from familiar streets and forced into a life at sea. The legacy of shanghaiing lives on in the sealed trapdoors and forgotten tunnels beneath modern cities.

If you're fascinated by the dark undercurrents of history—the parts that rarely make it into textbooks—this episode is a must-listen.

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