The real women behind Europe's greatest legends

Janina Ramirez considers the lives of some of history's most celebrated women to unfurl the legends that have shaped nations

Published: February 25, 2026 at 8:00 AM

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National icons aren’t born – they’re engineered. But how were historical figures such as Joan of Arc and Isabella of Castile transformed into political symbols, their real lives lost beneath centuries of myth-making? In this episode of the HistoryExtra podcast, Janina Ramirez tells Danny Bird about some of the women – from Byzantine empresses to religious fanatics and revolutionary martyrs – that have been elevated to such pedestals, and how these legends are created, re-created and repurposed for nationalist mythologies.

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Authors

Danny BirdContent producer

Danny Bird is a content producer at HistoryExtra

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