The Cloak and Dagger Podcast

To live and die by the sword is a life honoured throughout most of the world, and no place is it respected more than in Japan. Tales of this ancient land are filled with noble samurai and pious monks who fought with honour to protect the helpless and vanquish evil. But history is never so black and white, and even in this land of heroes there are those whose lives are far more grey than we might care to admit.In the slums and back streets of 17th century Edo, the great city which would one day be named Tokyo, a new type of warrior was gaining infamy. Warriors who came from the lowest rung of Japan's crushing social order and who many would name as criminals. In this week's episode of the Cloak and Dagger podcast, we explore the origins of Japan's infamous criminal syndicates, the Yakuza.If you want to see this episode’s accompanying images, bonus facts and a sneak peek of upcoming assassinations, follow us on Instagram - @cloakanddaggerpodcast Music:Positive Fat Bass Intro Loop by WinnieTheMoogLink: https://filmmusic.io/song/6093-positive-fat-bass-intro-loopLicense: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

They came from the east bringing fire and blood; a black cloud of dust stretching for miles in every direction like a breaking storm. 150,000 warriors, the largest Mongol army ever formed, bearing down on the once great capital of the Abbasid Caliphate.Could the forty foot thick walls of the city of Baghdad withstand the might of the Mongol hordes, or would the heart of Islamic learning and religion come crashing down?If you want to see this episode’s accompanying images, bonus facts and a sneak peek of upcoming assassinations, follow us on Instagram - @cloakanddaggerpodcast Music:Positive Fat Bass Intro Loop by WinnieTheMoogLink: https://filmmusic.io/song/6093-positive-fat-bass-intro-loopLicense: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

In the west, scientific discovery all but died after the fall of the Roman empire. It would take a thousand years for the likes of da Vinci, Copernicus and Galileo to revitalise the quest for knowledge during the Renaissance, and for that they are known to history as the fathers of modern scienceBut in the middle east, the art of discovery was not so easily lost. A golden age of science, philosophy and culture blossomed under the rule of the burgeoning Islamic Caliphate, and one city in particular rose out of the desert to become the centre of the scientific world, the City of Baghdad.If you want to see this episode’s accompanying images, bonus facts and a sneak peek of upcoming assassinations, follow us on Instagram - @cloakanddaggerpodcast Music:Positive Fat Bass Intro Loop by WinnieTheMoogLink: https://filmmusic.io/song/6093-positive-fat-bass-intro-loopLicense: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

The streets of Victorian London could be a grizzly place. Abject poverty, deadly disease and choking smog were par for the course for most Londoners living below the salt. But a chopped up body, stuffed into a chest and thrown into the river? Even the ‘ardest Londoners' would turn green at the site of that.But on a chilly January morning in 1879, that is exactly what a poor coal porter would find. And in this week's episode of the Cloak and Dagger Podcast, we hear the bloody tale behind this horrific discovery...If you want to see this episode’s accompanying images, bonus facts and a sneak peek of upcoming assassinations, follow us on Instagram - @cloakanddaggerpodcast Music:Positive Fat Bass Intro Loop by WinnieTheMoogLink: https://filmmusic.io/song/6093-positive-fat-bass-intro-loopLicense: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

1012CE was not a great year for London or England as a whole. Viking raiders were far superior to the Anglo Saxon defences which were in disarray. To make matters worse, the holiest site in the kingdom - Canterbury - had been sacked and the Archbishop had been taken hostage. Listen in to find out what happened next!Music:Positive Fat Bass Intro Loop by WinnieTheMoogLink: https://filmmusic.io/song/6093-positive-fat-bass-intro-loopLicense: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

As dawn broke over a sleepy Alexandria in 1767, the city was tense. A hundred trade deals had been thrown into chaos, bribes had not been paid to the right people and debtors were diving for cover. All of this turmoil had been caused by the arrest and kidnap of a single man. This man was so integral to the running of the city's trade that even after a few hours of his arrest, all hell had broken loose. This is the story of the Dragoman named Roboly. Listen now to find out more!Music:Positive Fat Bass Intro Loop by WinnieTheMoogLink: https://filmmusic.io/song/6093-positive-fat-bass-intro-loopLicense: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Many a brave sailor may say they know the sea, some may even say they are at home on the sea, but no one can claim to control the sea, and woe betide anyone who falls prey to the wrath of the sea.In 365 CE, the great city Alexandria rose up out of the Mediterranean on the northern coast of Africa; a gateway between the supposedly ‘barbaric’ Pagans of Egypt and the supposedly ‘civilised’ Christians of the Roman Empire. And while the truth behind these groups is far from as simple as that, they will both soon be humbled by the might of the sea.If you want to see this episode’s accompanying images, bonus facts and a sneak peek of upcoming assassinations, follow us on Instagram - @cloakanddaggerpodcast Music:Positive Fat Bass Intro Loop by WinnieTheMoogLink: https://filmmusic.io/song/6093-positive-fat-bass-intro-loopLicense: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

On July 28th 1945, a twin engine US Airforce bomber crashed into the tallest building in the world and exploded. What had happened? Who was responsible? Was anybody hurt? Find out all of these details and more in this week's episode!Music:Positive Fat Bass Intro Loop by WinnieTheMoogLink: https://filmmusic.io/song/6093-positive-fat-bass-intro-loopLicense: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

A misplaced word in a tea house. A throwaway comment at a tailors shop. A letter left in the hands of someone you perhaps shouldn’t have trusted. It was easy for a British officer to believe they were safe in New York City, the capital of the American colonies “heroically” recaptured in the name of King George. But all around them were the watchful eyes and silent whispers of rebels and patriots, keeping their revolution alive with a steady stream of British army secrets.In our first episode of Season 3: Cities, we walk through the streets of British occupied New York City during the American Revolutionary War, and uncover an underground ring of spies who answered only to General Washington himself. If you want to see this episode’s accompanying images, bonus facts and a sneak peek of upcoming assassinations, follow us on Instagram - @cloakanddaggerpodcast Music:Positive Fat Bass Intro Loop by WinnieTheMoogLink: https://filmmusic.io/song/6093-positive-fat-bass-intro-loopLicense: https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseColonial Town Center During the American Revolution by flourishexplore Link: https://city.ambient-mixer.com/1770-s-town-square---commons

Persephone was the daughter of Zeus and Demeter and was cruelly abducted by her uncle Hades. We took a deep dive into this story on Patrick Little's podcast and this was the result - we hope you enjoy!

Hello friends, after two series we have finally managed to put together a trailer for the podcast - so here you go!

Many know the tale of Alexander the Great, the Macedonian king who sought to conquer the world. But scarce few know the legend of the conqueror’s father, and progenitor of the Macedonian empire, Philip II. A skilled military tactician, a shrewd politician and an imposing figure, Philip II ascended the throne of an unruly and barbarous Greek kingdom, and forged it into a military powerhouse. But Philip’s path to glory produced far too many enemies to rule forever. Even today we still don’t know who was really behind his demise - was it a jilted lover? A cabal of disenfranchised nobles? Or perhaps an ambitious son, looking to hasten their own path to glory?In this bonus episode of the Cloak and Dagger Podcast we are joined by Patrick Little of A Little History Podcast, who will be taking us through the rise, and tragic fall, of this legendary king. Check out Patrick’s brilliant podcast all about mythology in the link below.https://open.spotify.com/show/713jegqWTRWuXAxak7RVLbMusic:Positive Fat Bass Intro Loop by WinnieTheMoogLink: https://filmmusic.io/song/6093-positive-fat-bass-intro-loopLicense: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Emperor Commodus of Rome tends to score highly on the list of craziest and most sadistic of Rome's emperors. Nothing was off limits to him, from declaring himself the reincarnation of Hercules to changing the twelve months of the year to his twelve names. Who could stop this madman's regime? How could anyone get near enough to bring him down? For those answers you must listen to the episode! Just a small warning that this is a particularly explicit episode and not one for the kids. Enjoy!Music:Positive Fat Bass Intro Loop by WinnieTheMoogLink: https://filmmusic.io/song/6093-positive-fat-bass-intro-loopLicense: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

As the church bells ring out over the Swiss city of Lausanne, the doors of the grand protestant church creak open allowing the well-to-do members of the congregation to step out into the street. Three cloaked figures close in on the crowd spilling from the church – making a direct line for a portly Englishman and his three sturdy bodyguards. Two of the figures draw swords and charge at the guards whilst the third, in one swift movement, points a loaded pistol at the heart of their target and shouts “For the King!” before being shrouded in the cloud of gunpowder smoke. The bullet did its work. As the smoke clears, the Englishman is lying on the cobbles in a pool of crimson and the assassins are nowhere to be seen.  Music:Positive Fat Bass Intro Loop by WinnieTheMoogLink: https://filmmusic.io/song/6093-positive-fat-bass-intro-loopLicense: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

In the baking heat of the South African sun, a warband trembles before an oncoming horde of Zulu warriors armed with new, devastating weapons of war. As they clash head on with their foe, the warband soon realises that two more hordes have flanked either side of them, cutting off all hope of retreat. And as his brothers fall one by one all around him, one warrior looks up to see a figure atop a hill looking down upon the battle - a king who would carve a bloody trail across South Africa in his pursuit of conquest.In this episode of the Cloak and Dagger Podcast, we explore the rise to power, bloody reign and eventual downfall of one of history's most infamous conquerors - Shake, King of the Zulu.Music:Positive Fat Bass Intro Loop by WinnieTheMoogLink: https://filmmusic.io/song/6093-positive-fat-bass-intro-loopLicense: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

On a cold misty December morning in 1835, a United States Indian agent runs his cold hands together. He is waiting for his contact - a Seminole chief named Osceola. Suddenly a musket flash pierces the morning air, the bullet slammed into the agent's temple and ended his life. That shot began the Second Seminole War between the native Seminole tribe and the United States of America.The Seminole peoples are the only native Americans to never recognise the United States as a sovereign nation. To this day they claim the rights of their ancestral lands in the Deep South and are staunchly proud of their heritage.Music:Positive Fat Bass Intro Loop by WinnieTheMoogLink: https://filmmusic.io/song/6093-positive-fat-bass-intro-loopLicense: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

A shot that was heard around the world, at a time when nations across the globe teetered on the brink of war. But who or what was behind this monumental moment in history? Was it a grudge from a scorned criminal mob, a targeted strike from a rival foreign superpower, the dark machinations from the world’s most clandestine secret agency, or just a man looking to find his place in history?This week we dive into what is possibly the most famous assassination of all time - the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. But we won’t be just discussing the history; in this special episode we’re joined by an expert in conspiracy theory to explain to us what really happened on that fateful afternoon in Dallas... Music:Positive Fat Bass Intro Loop by WinnieTheMoogLink: https://filmmusic.io/song/6093-positive-fat-bass-intro-loopLicense: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

In the heat of the Saharan sun the New Kingdom of Egypt is coming to an end - wars, plagues, famines and invasions loom ahead of Ancient Egypt's future. What started this terrible sequence of events? A highly complex palace plot, conspirators with codenames like "Snake" and "Watcher" and the slaying of one of Egypt's most skilled Pharaohs. All of this wrapped up in the most successful cover up story in 3,000 years. Welcome to Egypt 1159 BCE.Music:Positive Fat Bass Intro Loop by WinnieTheMoogLink: https://filmmusic.io/song/6093-positive-fat-bass-intro-loopLicense: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

A terrified Samurai stands in the valley of a mountain range; his fellow warriors lie dead around him, cut down by a foe they never saw coming. A castle guard frantically works to put out the flames engulfing the keep, when another guard with an unfamiliar face cuts his throat and moves on to light yet more fires. And a sleeping warlord, feeling safe and secure in his palace, awakes just in time to see a figure dressed in black perched above him, with a blade poised to strike.In this episode we discuss one of history's most legendary and effective assassins - the Ninja of Feudal Japan.If you want to see this episode’s accompanying images, bonus facts and a sneak peek of upcoming assassinations, follow us on Instagram - @cloakanddaggerpodcast Music:Positive Fat Bass Intro Loop by WinnieTheMoogLink: https://filmmusic.io/song/6093-positive-fat-bass-intro-loopLicense: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

From Michelangelo and Galileo, to Machiavelli and Leonardo da Vinci, 15th century Florence was home to some of history’s greatest artists and thinkers. But while this was a city of beauty, free thought and new ideas, it was also a city of gold and of blood, and at the heart of it all stood the House of Medici.Princes of Florence in all but name, the Medici ruled their city with the love of their people and the wealth of their bank. But when their power and influence grew so great as to draw the ire of Rome, the Medici would soon fall prey to all those they had wronged in their climb to the top.Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram - @cloakanddaggerpodcast - where we post accompanying visuals for each episode, bonus facts and sneak peeks of upcoming assassinations.Music:Positive Fat Bass Intro Loop by WinnieTheMoogLink: https://filmmusic.io/song/6093-positive-fat-bass-intro-loopLicense: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

On the 13th July 1793, Jean Paul Marat ran a bath and slipped into the warm water - little did he know he would never re-emerge from its powdered waters. Marat was murdered by a young woman named Charlotte Corday who was supposed to be informing him of dissidents against the new Jacobin government in Paris. Listen in to find out more!Music:Positive Fat Bass Intro Loop by WinnieTheMoogLink: https://filmmusic.io/song/6093-positive-fat-bass-intro-loopLicense: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

The end of the 18th century was a time of balls, banquets and bloody revolutions. New ideas were in the air, the Age of Reason had transformed many of Europe’s monarchs from medieval tyrants into enlightened despots, and in Sweden a young, debonair king was embracing the free thinking ideas of the future, whilst tightening his grip on the reins of power.But while this beloved king basked in the love of his people and in the glory of military victories, a secret cabal of disenfranchised and mutinous nobles plotted to seize back their right to rule - a revolution they hoped to start with a single shot...Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram - @cloakanddaggerpodcast - where we post accompanying visuals for each episode, bonus facts and sneak peeks of upcoming assassinations.Music:Positive Fat Bass Intro Loop by WinnieTheMoogLink: https://filmmusic.io/song/6093-positive-fat-bass-intro-loopLicense: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

At the beginning of the Common Era, Rome had conquered and subjugated the region of the Middle East known as Judea. However, an extreme Jewish sect was whispered about amongst Roman legionaries – they were ghosts, appearing at lightning speed and killing scores of collaborators and Romans alike before melting away. Every Roman, citizen and slave had heard of the Dagger Men and all were equally terrified of them. This group would not go down quietly and would wreak havoc in the Roman province for years and permanently mark their place in the bloody history of the ancient Middle East.Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram - @cloakanddaggerpodcast - where we post accompanying visuals for each episode, bonus facts and sneak peeks of upcoming assassinations.Music:Positive Fat Bass Intro Loop by WinnieTheMoogLink: https://filmmusic.io/song/6093-positive-fat-bass-intro-loopLicense: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

In ancient India, from the peasant fields to the royal palaces, folk would speak in hushed tones of the legendary assassins known as the Visha Kanya - young women of exceptional beauty transformed into living weapons, deadly enough to kill kings and topple empires.Very little is known about these mysterious assassins, but in the wake of Alexander the Great’s death, an opportunistic philosopher will make use of these poison damsels to change the course of India’s history.Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram - @cloakanddaggerpodcast - where we post accompanying visuals for each episode, bonus facts and sneak peeks of upcoming assassinations.Music:Positive Fat Bass Intro Loop by WinnieTheMoogLink: https://filmmusic.io/song/6093-positive-fat-bass-intro-loopLicense: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Beginning in the early medieval past of the Middle East, the Assassins of Masyaf rose from chaos to form a quasi kingdom of fortified castles in the hills and mountains of the Levant. From there they played a fierce and active role in the political and military turmoil of the Crusades - allying with neither the Ayyubid Empire nor the Frankish invaders. They stood alone and played each adversary of the other. They thrived because of their reputation as fanatical killers and their apparent disregard for their own deaths. Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram - @cloakanddaggerpodcast - where we post accompanying visuals for each episode, bonus facts and sneak peeks of upcoming assassinations.Music:Positive Fat Bass Intro Loop by WinnieTheMoogLink: https://filmmusic.io/song/6093-positive-fat-bass-intro-loopLicense: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license