Welcome to Noble Blood, a production of I Heart Radio and Grim and Mylt from Aaron Manky.

Listener discretion is advised.

It was September 3rd, 1758, just as it was crossing over into the early morning hours

of September 4th.

The King of Portugal was riding in a carriage down a dark back road, returning from the

outskirts of Lisbon, back towards the tents of Heduda where court had been set up.

King José, often Englishized to Joseph I, was a man fond of heavy powdered wigs that

reached down to his back and wearing brocade clothing that allowed him to stand out

in a crowd.

But this night he was traveling in Cognito.

His carriage was unmarked and none of his footmen wore palace livery and they were taking

a particularly dark and sparsely traveled road.

Because on this night the King was returning from Arondevoo with his mistress, his very

married mistress Teresa.

Suddenly his carriage jolted to a stop, a horse winnyed but then there was silence.

Just as the King was readying himself to ask the driver what was going on, a shot

ring out through the night.

Then another shot and the King pulled the curtains of the carriage open to reveal two

highwaymen before a third shot pierced the silence and the King screamed.

The bullet had hit him in his side, in his arm and another shot had wounded the driver.

Without taking anything the highwaymen rode off.

King Joseph survived the bullet wound but that night would have deadly consequences nonetheless.

...