Prince Rupert of the Rhine: The Devil, The Privateer, and The Scientist
pplpod · pplpod
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Show Notes
In this episode of pplpod, we dive into the extraordinary life of Prince Rupert of the Rhine (1619–1682), a man whose resume reads like an adventure novel. Born to the "Winter King" and Queen of Bohemia, Rupert grew into a towering 6'4" warrior nicknamed "Robert the Devil" due to his fiery behavior. We discuss his legendary role as the archetypal Royalist Cavalier during the English Civil War, where he fought alongside his "magical" white poodle, Boy, who was accused by enemies of being a witch’s familiar.
We also track his exile years as a privateer hunting treasure in the Caribbean and his return to England as a senior naval admiral under King Charles II. Beyond the battlefield, we explore Rupert's surprising contributions as a founder of the Royal Society, his experiments with exploding glass "Prince Rupert’s drops," and his artistic mastery of the mezzotint. Finally, we look at his lasting legacy as the first governor of the Hudson’s Bay Company, which shaped the geography of modern Canada through the administration of Rupert's Land.