Hey, true weirdos. We just wanted to take a minute and thank you so much for your support.

True Weird Stuff has won the best history podcast in the Women in Podcasting Awards,

and we've also won a Signal Award in the paranormal category.

And that's only happened because of you, our fellow strange people.

Thanks.

Stick around if you want after the episode for a little bonus content

and conversation. Once upon a time, many hundreds of years ago, in a faraway place, there

lived a young man named Philip. Philip had been born in a castle, destined for a life of nobility and wealth.

His family lineage could be traced as far back as the year 1,000.

And so the boy knew from an early age that much was expected of him.

When Philip was just 20 years old, his father died. Philip ascended to power, becoming the

count of Valdegh Vilden in the county of Valdek, which was a principality of the Holy Roman Empire.

Philip's reign lasted six decades. No count or prince of Valdek could equal it. He played a role in changing how

Christianity was thought about and practiced in Europe. His was a big life, important and

consequential. But it's unlikely that you've ever heard of them. European nobles, counts, and dukes, and even princes are

in plentiful supply, and really, why would most of us know anything at all about some random

count from the 16th century who ruled over a teeny tiny patch of land that's now claimed by Germany?

But maybe, just maybe, you know more than you think,

because Count Philip of Waldeg-Vildedin's story

includes some very familiar things.

Like a daughter whose beauty was told of far and wide,

a second wife who envied that child. An ornate mirror, copper mines

...