Legends 45: The Only Thing to Fear

Summary

Lore: Legends Episode 45 – "The Only Thing to Fear"

Release Date: January 20, 2025
Host: Aaron Mahnke
Episode Description:
In this episode of Lore: Legends, host Aaron Mahnke delves into the dark recesses of human history and mythology, exploring our deepest fears surrounding death. Through captivating tales and historical accounts, Aaron unravels how the fear of death has shaped cultures, influenced leaders, and inspired some of the most enduring legends.

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1. Emperor Qin Shi Huang and the Quest for Immortality

Timestamp: [01:14] – [03:34]

Aaron begins the episode by recounting the story of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, China's first emperor renowned for unifying the Warring States and initiating the construction of the Great Wall. His obsession with immortality led him to commission the famous Terracotta Army, thousands of life-sized clay soldiers designed to protect him in the afterlife.

Key Points:

• Discovery of the Tomb: In 1974, farmers unearthed terracotta fragments, revealing the vast subterranean mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang.
• Mercury Elixir: In his relentless pursuit of eternal life, the emperor consumed mercury-based concoctions, which likely contributed to his death through mercury poisoning.
• Legacy: The mausoleum and its army became a UNESCO World Heritage Site, symbolizing the lengths to which human beings will go to conquer death.

Notable Quote:
"Qin Shi Huang was afraid of dying. The Emperor was obsessed with achieving immortality."
— Aaron Mahnke [02:33]

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2. The Universal Fear of Death

Timestamp: [03:37] – [06:20]

Transitioning from Emperor Qin, Aaron explores the universal human fear of death and its manifestations across different cultures and epochs.

Key Points:

• Anthropological Views: Most anthropologists agree that the fear of death is an intrinsic part of human nature, present since the dawn of humanity.
• Cultural Practices: Various societies developed intricate death rituals to honor the deceased and appease restless spirits, such as the Senoi people's avoidance of death sites and ancient practices in India and Laos.
• Philosophical Responses: Ancient Greek philosophers like Democritus and Epicurus debated the nature of death, with Epicurus advocating for the relinquishment of death fear to achieve peace.

Notable Quote:
"Humans fear the unknown, and there is no greater unknown than death."
— Aaron Mahnke [04:28]

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3. Ghostly Omens in History: The Woman in White

Timestamp: [06:26] – [13:18]

Aaron delves into historical accounts of ghostly apparitions serving as omens of death, focusing on the legend of the Woman in White associated with the noble Hohenzollern family in Prussian history.

Key Points:

• Lady in White Legend: The apparition, often leading a headless procession, was believed to forewarn of impending death within the Hohenzollern lineage.
• Historical Encounters: Notable sightings include appearances to Kaiser Wilhelm II, who reportedly forbade further discussions about her presence.
• End of the Legend: The ghostly visits ceased following the abdication of Kaiser Wilhelm and the end of Hohenzollern rule in Germany.

Notable Quote:
"If you aren't afraid to die, then congratulations, you're one of the lucky few."
— Alex Robinson [04:16]

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4. Influences on Literature: "The Mask of the Red Death"

Timestamp: [18:35] – [19:39]

Aaron draws parallels between historical death omens and literature, highlighting how these legends inspired Edgar Allan Poe's "The Mask of the Red Death."

Key Points:

• Poe's Inspiration: The story mirrors King Alexander's skeletal visitor at a masquerade ball, where an enigmatic figure signifies the inevitability of death.
• Narrative Similarities: Both tales involve lavish gatherings disrupted by supernatural apparitions, emphasizing that death cannot be escaped regardless of one's status or efforts to hide from it.
• Thematic Resonance: The stories underscore the futility of attempting to control or evade death, a theme central to Poe's work and the legends discussed in the episode.

Notable Quote:
"But we can't outrun death forever, no matter who we are, because every regime must come to an end."
— Alex Robinson [19:48]

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5. The Sheffield Ghost Story: Hannah Rawlingson and the Haunted Casa

Timestamp: [24:19] – [31:32]

In a chilling narrative, Aaron recounts the tragic tale of Hannah Rawlingson and the haunted experiences of the Rawlingson and Favell families in Sheffield during the mid-19th century.

Key Points:

• Introduction to the Families: Hannah and her husband John were devoted members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, residing near the Favell family.
• Harriet Ward's Arrival: A traumatized widow named Harriet moved into the Favells' home, bringing with her claims of ghostly apparitions of her deceased husband.
• Supernatural Incidents: Strange noises, sightings of ghostly figures, and a critical encounter where Hannah dies of fright after seeing a Woman in White in the cellar.
• Investigation and Aftermath: The community’s attempt to uncover buried gold led to increased supernatural sightings, resulting in fear, excommunication, and the eventual departure of the Favell family amid rampant ghost hunting and societal backlash.
• Unresolved Mysteries: The body of the alleged ghost, Elizabeth Johnson, was never found, leaving the veracity of the haunting in question.

Notable Quote:
"If the legends are true, Alexander's wedding day death omen didn't just predict his own downfall, but the downfall of all of Scotland."
— Alex Robinson [18:08]

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6. Conclusion: Death's Inescapable Finality and Its Impact

Timestamp: [18:20] – [20:25]

Aaron wraps up the episode by reflecting on the pervasive fear of death and its profound impact on human behavior, culture, and societal structures.

Key Points:

• Death as an End: Emphasizing that death signifies the end of life, societal structures, and personal narratives, making it a central fear in human existence.
• Fear-Motivated Legends: Legends and ghost stories often arise from this fear, serving as cautionary tales or explanations for unexplained phenomena.
• Living with Fear: Aaron advises listeners to acknowledge their fear of death without allowing it to dominate their lives, as excessive fear can be paralyzing.

Notable Quote:
"I hope today's tour through the concept of the fear of Death gave you a few chills and added some valuable lessons along the way."
— Alex Robinson [20:05]

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Final Thoughts

In "The Only Thing to Fear," Lore: Legends masterfully intertwines historical accounts with supernatural folklore to explore humanity's enduring fear of death. Through tales of emperors, ghosts, and tragic families, Aaron Mahnke illustrates how this fear has shaped civilizations, inspired art, and left an indelible mark on cultural consciousness. The episode serves as a poignant reminder that while death is inevitable, our perceptions and fears surrounding it continue to influence our lives in profound ways.

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Transcript

[Aaron Manke]

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[Aaron Manke]

Early ct mobile.com welcome to Lore Legends, a subset of Lore episodes that explore.

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The strange tales we whisper in the dark, even if they can't always be.

[Aaron Manke]

Proven by the history books. So if you're ready, let's begin.

[Alex Robinson]

It was the greatest archaeological find in Chinese history. In 1974, a group of farmers uncovered shards of terracotta pottery buried deep in the earth. They didn't know it at the time.

[Aaron Manke]

But they had just discovered the tomb.

[Alex Robinson]

Of China's very first emperor. Known for uniting the Warring States and starting construction on the Great Wall of China. Emperor Qin Shi Huang is a borderline mythological figure in Chinese history. And in 210 BCE, once his long.

[Aaron Manke]

Tenure had finally come to a close.

[Alex Robinson]

The emperor was laid to rest in a subterranean chamber built to mimic his palace, complete with grand halls, fine chariots, and fierce warriors. And yes, you know, the warriors. You see, those pottery fragments that the.

[Aaron Manke]

Farmers had found were actually shards of.

[Alex Robinson]

The famous terracotta army. Deep underground, thousands of those terracotta soldiers were lined up to defend their emperor, standing guard outside of a 20 square mile palace.

[Aaron Manke]

It was a tomb fit for a.

[Alex Robinson]

Ruler who had truly been larger than life. Since its discovery, the Chin Shi Huang Mausoleum has been made a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

[Aaron Manke]

Its iconic terracotta soldiers have traveled around the world and the tomb's contents have.

[Alex Robinson]

Become some of the most well recognized archaeological finds in history.

[Aaron Manke]

And it all exists because Qin Shi.

[Alex Robinson]

Huang was afraid of dying. The Emperor was obsessed with achieving immortality.

[Aaron Manke]

And I Do mean obsessed.

[Alex Robinson]

He spent an untold amount of money and time finding the mythical Elixir of.

[Aaron Manke]

Life, a concoction that, if ingested, would.

[Alex Robinson]

Ensure that he would live forever. In pursuit of this, the Emperor sent his alchemist on multiple quests to find the mythical Mount Penglai, where the legendary Eight Immortals were said to reside. The alchemist never found the mountain or the secret to immortal youth. But that didn't stop the Emperor.

[Aaron Manke]

He issued orders to every single regional.

[Alex Robinson]

Leader, scholar and physician to discover the Elixir of Life. Nobody ever did, although they did send the Emperor a number of effusive apologies for failing him.

[Aaron Manke]

It's believed that Qin Shi Huang eventually.

[Alex Robinson]

Turned to mercury pills, or even a mercury elixir. Either way, the prevailing theory is that.

[Aaron Manke]

The Emperor's supposed salvation is what actually.

[Alex Robinson]

Killed him in the end, because many.

[Aaron Manke]

Historians believe that it was mercury poisoning.

[Alex Robinson]

That finally did him in.

[Aaron Manke]

Throughout history, people have feared death.

[Alex Robinson]

Ching Shi Huang was not unique in that regard. But death is unavoidable. The real trick, it seems, is not.

[Aaron Manke]

Allowing your fear of death to push.

[Alex Robinson]

You into an early grave.

[Aaron]

Aaron.

[Alex Robinson]

I'm Aaron Manke, and this is lore, legends. Most people are afraid to die.

[Aaron Manke]

If you aren't, then congratulations, you're one.

[Alex Robinson]

Of the lucky few.

[Aaron Manke]

But if the majority of us are.

[Alex Robinson]

Honest with ourselves, then I think we'd.

[Aaron Manke]

Admit that no matter what kind of.

[Alex Robinson]

Afterlife we do believe in, we're all.

[Aaron Manke]

A little scared to pass on to the next world.

[Alex Robinson]

There's no shame in it.

[Aaron Manke]

It's simple.

[Alex Robinson]

Humans fear the unknown, and there is no greater unknown than death.

[Aaron Manke]

In fact, most anthropologists believe that a.

[Alex Robinson]

Fear of death is an essential part of human nature.

[Aaron Manke]

It's been with us since the beginning.

[Alex Robinson]

Of time, an ever present dark cloud hanging over our heads.

[Aaron Manke]

The Senoi people of Malaysia fled from a place after someone died there, and.

[Alex Robinson]

They made an effort to never return to that spot. Ancient peoples in India and Laos were said to have the same practice.

[Aaron Manke]

And some ancient nomadic cultures even abandoned their dying comrades, unwilling to be in.

[Alex Robinson]

Their vicinity when they took their final breath.

[Aaron Manke]

From a practical standpoint, it kind of makes sense.

[Alex Robinson]

Dead bodies sometimes carry diseases, and their decay could raise serious health risks.

[Aaron Manke]

But they also forced people to face.

[Alex Robinson]

Their own mortality, and that psychological devastation.

[Aaron Manke]

Wasn'T something that most people wanted to.

[Alex Robinson]

Face on a daily basis.

[Aaron Manke]

True to form, the ancient Greeks battled this existential horror with philosophy. Aristotle's student Democritus reasoned that death must.

[Alex Robinson]

Be accepted as a part of life.

[Aaron Manke]

Meanwhile, Epicurus believed that the fear of death Held humans back from experiencing real pleasure, and that only by letting go of their terror could they truly embrace peace. Of course, that was more easily said than done. Even after people started burying their dead.

[Alex Robinson]

Instead of abandoning them, it was still taboo to handle the bodies too much.

[Aaron Manke]

For most of western culture, Postmortem autopsies Were forbidden, and bodies usually needed to.

[Alex Robinson]

Be buried In a very specific way.

[Aaron Manke]

Cultures from all around the world Developed more intricate death rituals, Believing that if these practices Weren't followed to a t.

[Alex Robinson]

Then the dead could become restless. But despite being surrounded by death, Most.

[Aaron Manke]

People found it hard to take epicurus.

[Alex Robinson]

Advice to let go of their fear. Death may have been more normalized in days gone by, but that didn't mean.

[Aaron Manke]

That many people Were ready to embrace it.

[Alex Robinson]

The fear of death itself Remained firmly entrenched.

[Aaron Manke]

And that fear was, of course, eventually connected to ghosts. In ancient rome, Ghosts were believed to.

[Alex Robinson]

Manifest After a body Wasn't buried correctly.

[Aaron Manke]

If the dead were disrespected, Then they.

[Alex Robinson]

Would have no rest in the afterlife.

[Aaron Manke]

And in medieval England, Ghosts were more.

[Alex Robinson]

Similar to zombies Called revenants.

[Aaron Manke]

They were essentially Reanimated corpses who had.

[Alex Robinson]

Risen from their graves to torment the living, either by spreading disease or chasing their victims.

[Aaron Manke]

It was believed that wicked people Often became revenants in death. But revenants could also be born after.

[Alex Robinson]

Dying Horribly and violently.

[Aaron Manke]

A bad death meant no rest in the afterlife, and that threat was just.

[Alex Robinson]

As frightening as the painful death its.

[Aaron Manke]

By the post medieval era, Walking corpses Were replaced with the transparent ghosts we're familiar with today. But they were still often believed to.

[Alex Robinson]

Spread illness, Bringing death To an otherwise healthy household. People also believed that they were messengers.

[Aaron Manke]

Specifically that they were portents of death. In the same way that a banshee.

[Alex Robinson]

Might scream To warn someone of their impending demise. The sudden appearance of an apparition could be a sign that you were about to pass away.

[Aaron Manke]

These proverbial canaries in the coal mine Were called wraiths, and they weren't your average ghost. You see, wraiths weren't actually dead.

[Alex Robinson]

Rather, they were apparitions of someone who was still alive. And seeing a wraith that looked like you Meant that you were not long for this world.

[Aaron Manke]

But it wasn't always an unavoidable fate. According to some folktales, you, could avert your own death if you spoke to the wraith Firmly enough. One story from the english town of guisborough Claimed that a man who once.

[Alex Robinson]

Saw his own wraith didn't cower. He instead scolded it Then he yelled.

[Aaron Manke]

For it to go away, and it did.

[Alex Robinson]

The wraith never bothered him again, and he lived a long and happy life.

[Aaron Manke]

It's a nice thought, but when faced.

[Alex Robinson]

With our own death, very few of.

[Aaron Manke]

Us would have the wherewithal to reprimand our doom. Not only would it take a lot.

[Alex Robinson]

Of courage, but it would probably be in vain.

[Aaron Manke]

After all, you can't stop death.

[Alex Robinson]

You can only decide how you will greet it. The July air was still.

[Aaron Manke]

The moon's light reflected off the fog.

[Alex Robinson]

That hovered just above the ground, and.

[Aaron Manke]

King Frederick William IV of Prussia was.

[Alex Robinson]

Going to bed, unaware of what was coming for him.

[Aaron Manke]

The King and his wife were staying.

[Alex Robinson]

The night in Pilnitz Castle, using the grand palace as a pit stop on their way to a spa vacation.

[Aaron Manke]

It was the kind of trip that should have been completely frivolous, but it.

[Alex Robinson]

Would be overshadowed by dread. Vacation or not, we can never control when death will come for us.

[Aaron Manke]

Between the hours of midnight and one.

[Alex Robinson]

In the morning, a guard standing watch outside the palace heard the sound of distant footsteps echoing through the eerily silent darkness. Gradually, a shadowy group emerged from the fog.

[Aaron Manke]

The party was led by a woman.

[Alex Robinson]

Dressed all in white.

[Aaron Manke]

She was followed by four men carrying.

[Alex Robinson]

A coffin on their shoulders.

[Aaron Manke]

They were pallbearers, and to his horror, the guard realized that they were all headless. The guard stood rooted to the ground in fear, unable to move as this horrific funeral procession walked right past him.

[Alex Robinson]

Through the front door of the palace.

[Aaron Manke]

He was still frozen when they came back out, but this time they had.

[Alex Robinson]

Someone else with them. Lying inside the open coffin was another body.

[Aaron Manke]

He was dressed in a general's uniform.

[Alex Robinson]

Complete with a badge for the Order.

[Aaron Manke]

Of the Black Eagle, the highest possible.

[Alex Robinson]

Military award in Prussia. But where his head should have been, there was only a royal crown. And that's when the guard realized that the headless body was that of King Frederick. Now, it wasn't his actual body. No one had snuck into the King's bedroom to decapitate him. But it was a warning, and one that would come to pass sooner rather than later. After this ghostly vision, King Frederick's health began to decline. For months, he suffered a string of.

[Aaron Manke]

Strokes, leaving him paralyzed and practically comatose for years. He finally passed away in 1861, nearly.

[Alex Robinson]

Four years after the woman in white had appeared. Obviously, the lady in white and her.

[Aaron Manke]

Pallbearers weren't wraiths, cloned to look exactly like the king.

[Alex Robinson]

But sometimes death omens aren't tied to one individual. They're tied to a Family.

[Aaron Manke]

You see, wraiths don't necessarily have to.

[Alex Robinson]

Look like the person whose death they're predicting.

[Aaron Manke]

In fact, if they're in the business.

[Alex Robinson]

Of following around an entire family, then they tend to look more generic. Usually some variation of a dark, mysterious.

[Aaron Manke]

Figure or a veiled woman. Of course, not every family will have.

[Alex Robinson]

Their own personal wraith. Usually only very important people receive such a high honor. People like nobility. King Frederick, you see, was a member of the Hohenzollern family. And in the mid 19th century, that was about as noble as you could get. And it turns out the lady in White had been appearing in the family.

[Aaron Manke]

Records since the 1400s. Clearly, she had a comfortable gig following.

[Alex Robinson]

Them around and forewarning of their demise.

[Aaron Manke]

No one knows who or what she.

[Alex Robinson]

Truly is, although one legend claims that she's actually the spirit of a woman who died in the 14th century. A woman named Kunigunde. She was allegedly a beautiful widow with two children. She fell in love with the handsome.

[Aaron Manke]

Man from the Hohenzollern family, but he.

[Alex Robinson]

Told her that he could never marry.

[Aaron Manke]

Her because four eyes were in the.

[Alex Robinson]

Way of their happiness.

[Aaron Manke]

The man had met two of his disapproving family members, but Kunigunde, driven mad.

[Alex Robinson]

By his rejection, assumed that he had meant her children.

[Aaron Manke]

She drove a hairpin into their heads.

[Alex Robinson]

Killing both of them.

[Aaron Manke]

When she told her lover what she.

[Alex Robinson]

Had done, he was horrified. He sent her to the castle dungeons, where she died, cursed forever by what she had done. As you might imagine, there aren't a.

[Aaron Manke]

Lot of records to back up the.

[Alex Robinson]

Truth of this legend, and even fewer.

[Aaron Manke]

That might actually connect Kunigunda to the Woman in White.

[Alex Robinson]

But somehow the story stuck into the popular imagination.

[Aaron Manke]

Her spirit was forced to achieve penance.

[Alex Robinson]

By following around her ex lover's family forever.

[Aaron Manke]

And legend claims that she really has.

[Alex Robinson]

Followed them ever since. A huge number of Hohenzollerns have seen her before their death.

[Aaron Manke]

It's alleged that During World War I.

[Alex Robinson]

She even appeared to Kaiser Wilhelm II, and not just once, but several times.

[Aaron Manke]

But it's possible that the overall peril.

[Alex Robinson]

Of the war messed with her accuracy, because the Kaiser didn't actually die until 1941. Still, he was aware of her presence and he forbade anyone else to speak of her.

[Aaron Manke]

She didn't stop showing up until after.

[Alex Robinson]

Kaiser Wilhelm abdicated the throne and in turn relinquished the Hohenzollern's rule over Germany.

[Aaron Manke]

Once that power disappeared, so too did.

[Alex Robinson]

The woman in white.

[Aaron Manke]

Alexander III was the most unlucky ruler.

[Alex Robinson]

In Scottish history, and One of the few whose misfortunes couldn't really be blamed on England. Reigning over Scotland for the better part of the 13th century, Alexander's position was tenuous at best.

[Aaron Manke]

The English were circling like vultures, trying.

[Alex Robinson]

To nudge their way into power. And Alexander's ascension to the throne didn't.

[Aaron Manke]

Exactly fill the nobility with confidence that.

[Alex Robinson]

Their nation would become a bastion of strength anytime soon.

[Aaron Manke]

You see, Alexander was crowned at the.

[Alex Robinson]

Tender age of 7 years old. The boy could hardly hold a scepter, let alone run a kingdom.

[Aaron Manke]

Even so, he didn't do as bad.

[Alex Robinson]

A job as you might expect. He actually made a valuable alliance with England by marrying King Henry III's daughter.

[Aaron Manke]

Margaret, when he was only 10 years.

[Alex Robinson]

Old and she was only 11. And when his new father in law tried to take advantage of the young king, demanding homage from Scotland, Alexander shut him down.

[Aaron Manke]

Alexander and Margaret went on to have.

[Alex Robinson]

Three children together, a daughter and two sons.

[Aaron Manke]

But their happy family wouldn't stay happy for long. Tragedy struck when Alexander's wife fell ill.

[Alex Robinson]

And passed away in 1275.

[Aaron Manke]

Then, only six years later, their youngest.

[Alex Robinson]

Son died when he was just 8 years old.

[Aaron Manke]

In 1283, his daughter died in childbirth.

[Alex Robinson]

And finally, in 1284, less than 10.

[Aaron Manke]

Years after his wife's death, his oldest.

[Alex Robinson]

Son succumbed to illness, leaving Alexander without a family and without an heir. So the Scottish Parliament named his one surviving grandchild, also named Margaret as their heir, apparently.

[Aaron Manke]

But she was only a baby, and at 44 years old, Alexander knew he.

[Alex Robinson]

Could still father another successor.

[Aaron Manke]

And so in 1285, he married a.

[Alex Robinson]

French noblewoman named Yolande.

[Aaron Manke]

It was on their wedding day that things got weird.

[Alex Robinson]

After the ceremony, Alexander and his new.

[Aaron Manke]

Bride hosted a masked ball for their guests. Candles were burning, wine was flowing, and.

[Alex Robinson]

The nobility were dancing the night away. Now, there are two versions of what happened next.

[Aaron Manke]

The first claims that a procession of musicians was parading through the room, entertaining.

[Alex Robinson]

The guests during the wedding dinner.

[Aaron Manke]

And at the end of the parade, there was an uncanny, dark, hooded figure.

[Alex Robinson]

Who seemed to glide instead of walk. Then, in front of everyone, he faded from view.

[Aaron Manke]

The other version claims that this figure.

[Alex Robinson]

Actually burst through the doors of the great hall in the middle of the party.

[Aaron Manke]

He was dressed head to toe in black, with white bones painted on his.

[Alex Robinson]

Outfit to make him look like a skeleton.

[Aaron Manke]

Alexander, of course, was furious at the.

[Alex Robinson]

Interruption and called for his guards.

[Aaron Manke]

But when they rushed at the skeleton with their spears, they hit nothing but cloth.

[Alex Robinson]

There was no body inside the clothes he had vanished. If he had ever truly been there at all.

[Aaron Manke]

And naturally, the event left everyone rattled. And so the guests went home.

[Alex Robinson]

Soon after, Alexander and Yolanda were left alone in the great hall, forced to face the implications of their skeletal visitor.

[Aaron Manke]

They were in agreement.

[Alex Robinson]

Though he had been an omen of death.

[Aaron Manke]

After the wedding, Alexander lived with the.

[Alex Robinson]

Cloud of fear hanging over his head.

[Aaron Manke]

He knew that he or someone he was close to would soon die, but.

[Alex Robinson]

It was impossible to know when or how. A few months later, In March of.

[Aaron Manke]

1286, Alexander was in Edinburgh for a.

[Alex Robinson]

Meeting with his advisors. A strong storm was raging that evening, but Alexander didn't seem to care.

[Aaron Manke]

Once he had wrapped up his royal duties, he had his horse saddled and.

[Alex Robinson]

Prepared to ride through the night to Kinghorn Castle. Everyone warned him against traveling in the storm, but he ignored them.

[Aaron Manke]

The next day was Yolanda's birthday and he was determined to be with her.

[Alex Robinson]

For her first celebration in Scotland.

[Aaron Manke]

But Alexander never made it home that night. The following morning, his body was discovered.

[Alex Robinson]

Just a mile from Kinghorn Castle.

[Aaron Manke]

He had a broken neck, and it was clear that he had fallen from his horse.

[Alex Robinson]

The king of Scotland was dead. Alexander had died without ever siring more children.

[Aaron Manke]

His grandchild, three year old Margaret, was named his heir. But even that plan went awry after.

[Alex Robinson]

Margaret died at only seven years old.

[Aaron Manke]

And with her death, there was no.

[Alex Robinson]

Clear successor to the throne. And so England stepped in, appointing their own leaders over Scotland. This one single regime shift resulted in centuries of political instability and years of rebellions. Thousands upon thousands of Scottish lives were lost.

[Aaron Manke]

All because Alexander was cursed to always.

[Alex Robinson]

Be surrounded by death.

[Aaron Manke]

If the legends are true, Alexander's wedding day death omen didn't just predict his.

[Alex Robinson]

Own downfall, but the downfall of all of Scotland. And that's the main message about death. It is the end.

[Aaron Manke]

The end of a life, the end.

[Alex Robinson]

Of the status quo, the end of a regime.

[Aaron Manke]

Because of that, it's easy to be afraid of death. After all, just about everyone in history has been. And that fear extended to anything that.

[Alex Robinson]

Could help death arrive faster.

[Aaron Manke]

A doppelganger, a black dog, even a wraith. And Alexander's skeletal party crasher was no exception. But if a death omen at a lavish masquerade ball sounds familiar to you.

[Alex Robinson]

Well, there's a reason for that. It's believed that Alexander's wedding masquerade was the inspiration behind Edgar Allan Poe's short story, the Mask of the Red Death.

[Aaron Manke]

In the story, a terrible plague called the Red Death is ravaging the land. But the prince in this fictional kingdom ignores it. He shuts himself inside his palace walls.

[Alex Robinson]

Leaving his people to die. After a few months of hiding out.

[Aaron Manke]

The prince hosts a masquerade for all.

[Alex Robinson]

The wealthy people who survived the Red Death. But the party is interrupted by a mysterious man whose costume resembles that of a corpse who died of the Red Death.

[Aaron Manke]

As soon as the prince confronts this unwelcome guest, he dies. The other guests attack the mysterious killer as well, only to find that, just like King Alexander's skeleton, there was no.

[Alex Robinson]

One inside the costume. The Red Death had infiltrated the party and killed everyone there.

[Aaron Manke]

Humans will do anything to escape death.

[Alex Robinson]

Even if it means sacrificing the less fortunate for our own sake.

[Aaron Manke]

But we can't outrun death forever, no.

[Alex Robinson]

Matter who we are, because every regime must come to an end.

[Aaron Manke]

I hope today's tour through the concept.

[Alex Robinson]

Of the fear of Death gave you.

[Aaron Manke]

A few chills and added some valuable.

[Alex Robinson]

Lessons along the way. After all, nobody wants to die, as.

[Aaron Manke]

The legends from the past make painfully clear. But be careful that you don't spend.

[Alex Robinson]

Your whole life living in fear of death.

[Aaron Manke]

After all, fear itself can also kill.

[Alex Robinson]

You, as one last story will reveal. Stick around through this brief sponsor break to hear all about it.

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[Alex Robinson]

With a cozy bowl of soup. Bread is a big part of most.

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[Aaron Manke]

Their products are delicious but also have.

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Ultra low net carbs, zero grams of sugar and are high in fiber. Which I'll admit isn't something that I thought was possible. But Herobred nailed it. Their classic white bread is delicious and it's made with heart healthy olive oil. All your favorite recipes are covered with Herobreads, sliced bread loaves, tortillas, bagels and your dinner rolls and monthly small batch drops of indulgent favorites like gram net car bagel and new surprises coming this year Herobred is offering 10% off your order. Go to Hero Co and use the code Lore at checkout. That's Lore Co. This episode was also made possible by Acorns. Acorns makes it easy to start automatically saving and investing so your money has a chance to grow for you, your kids and your retirement. You don't need to be an expert. Acorns will recommend a diversified portfolio that fits you and your money goals. You don't need to be rich. Acorns lets you invest with the spare money you've got right now. You can start with $5 or even.

[Alex Robinson]

Just your spare change.

[Hero Bread Representative]

Basically, Acorns does the hard part so you can give your money a chance to grow and look, I know how confusing and intimidating the investment world can be, but I also know it's important for my future, which is why I love how easy Acorns makes it to jump in and get started. It didn't require me to become an expert or learn a bunch of lingo. It's really that simple. Head to acorns.com lore or download the Acorns app to start saving and investing for your future today. Paid client Endorsement Compensation provides incentive to positively promote Acorns tier one compensation provided investing involves risk. Acorns Advisors LLC, an SEC registered investment advisor. View important [e-mail] lore and finally, this episode was made possible by Squarespace. Squarespace is the all in one website platform for entrepreneurs to stand out and succeed online. Whether you're just starting out or managing a growing brand, Squarespace makes it easy to create a beautiful website, engage with your audience and sell anything, products, content, your time. All in one place and all on your terms. And Squarespace just made it even easier with their new Design Intelligence feature which combines two decades of industry leading design expertise with cutting edge AI technology to unlock your strongest creative potential. Design Intelligence empowers anyone to build a beautiful, more personalized website tailored to their unique needs and craft a bespoke digital identity to use across your entire online presence. Squarespace Payments is the easiest way to manage your payments all in one place. Onboarding is fast and simple. Get started with just a few clicks and start receiving payments right away. Plus give your customers more ways to pay with popular payment methods like Apple Pay, Klarna, ACH Direct Debit in the us, Afterpay in the US and Canada and Clearpay in the uk. And speaking of selling things, you can even use your Squarespace site to sell digital content. Things like memberships or courses or files that your customers can download like PDFs, music or eBooks.

[Aaron Manke]

So what are you waiting for?

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[Aaron Manke]

In the spring of 1855, 48 year.

[Alex Robinson]

Old Hannah Rawlingson dropped dead.

[Aaron Manke]

The official cause, sudden death. In a fit believed to have been.

[Alex Robinson]

Brought on by fright. But there's so much more to the story.

[Aaron Manke]

You see, the people of Sheffield have blamed that heart stopping fear on a ghost. Before her untimely death, Hannah and her.

[Alex Robinson]

Husband John were both members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, a new religion that at the time boasted some 50,000 members in the United Kingdom.

[Aaron Manke]

The Rawlingsons home of Sheffield contained only.

[Alex Robinson]

A small portion of that number.

[Aaron Manke]

Even so, Sheffield's little religious community was a close knit one. And the Rawlingsons regularly met with their fellow churchgoers, families like the Favells, who.

[Alex Robinson]

Lived just down the road from them on Campo Lane.

[Aaron Manke]

The Favels were your typical nuclear family.

[Alex Robinson]

But with one unusual addition.

[Aaron Manke]

Right before moving to their Campolane House in 1855, the Favills had opened their.

[Alex Robinson]

Home to a young widow named Harriet Ward.

[Aaron Manke]

She was only a recent convert to the Church of Latter Day Saints, but John Favell and the rest of his.

[Alex Robinson]

Family were more than happy to welcome her into their fold. After all, she needed the emotional support.

[Aaron Manke]

You see, Harriet was a bit, well, traumatized.

[Alex Robinson]

Apparently her husband's death was not actually the last time she saw him up and about. A local newspaper reported that after his.

[Aaron Manke]

Death, Harriet was frequently visited by his ghost. And the Favell family knew about Harriet's spiritual encounters, but they just shrugged them off.

[Alex Robinson]

She was a widow and she missed her husband. Surely she was just imagining things.

[Aaron Manke]

But that assumption was challenged soon after Harriet moved in. The Favills and Harriet moved into the house on Campo Lane in February of 1855.

[Alex Robinson]

And as soon as they did, the trouble started.

[Aaron Manke]

On their very first night there, the Favils were kept awake by strange sounds. Then a few mornings later, John Favell saw a ghostly figure that looked like it was pushing through a window into their cellar. He ran downstairs and was greeted by.

[Alex Robinson]

A broken cellar window. But the intruder was nowhere to be seen.

[Aaron Manke]

And naturally, this could all have just.

[Alex Robinson]

Been blamed on a burglar or a group of neighborhood pranksters.

[Aaron Manke]

But soon it would be impossible to explain any of it without the supernatural. Around midnight on February 24th of 1855, Harriet went down to the cellar to grab something.

[Alex Robinson]

A moment later, the Favells heard her scream.

[Aaron Manke]

The entire family rushed down to the.

[Alex Robinson]

Cellar where they found Harriet. Her entire body tensed and her eyes glued to one spot.

[Aaron Manke]

She swore that she could see a.

[Alex Robinson]

Ghost, but there was nothing there. As gently as they could, the fables.

[Aaron Manke]

Told Harriet that she was the only.

[Alex Robinson]

One who could see anything. And then poor Harriet dropped into a dead faint. Once she awoke, she described what she had seen.

[Aaron Manke]

She claimed that it was a stern.

[Alex Robinson]

Faced old woman dressed in a cap and a white nightgown.

[Aaron Manke]

Whether or not Harriet had actually seen this woman, she believed that she did. And in fact, in the nights that followed, the woman even started appearing in Harriet's dreams, telling her that she had.

[Alex Robinson]

Once buried gold underneath the flagstone floor of the cellar.

[Aaron Manke]

The next Sunday, the entire Church of.

[Alex Robinson]

Latter Day Saints was all aflutter about the Campo Lane ghost. Everyone wanted to know, was it real? And if it was real, was there really gold buried underneath the house? There was, of course, only one way to find out.

[Aaron Manke]

After the service, a group of churchgoers went back to the house with the Favills, including the couple from the beginning.

[Alex Robinson]

Of our story, Hannah and John Rawlingson.

[Aaron Manke]

Harriet showed everyone the spot on the cellar floor that the ghost had indicated, and the community got to work. They removed the flagstones, and then they started to dig. But this wouldn't be the quick treasure.

[Alex Robinson]

Hunt that everyone seemed to think it would be.

[Aaron Manke]

Digging through a tight, packed foundation was.

[Alex Robinson]

A slow process, and by the time midnight rolled around, a large group of the Latter Day Saints were still at the fowl house. A small crowd had even gathered outside.

[Aaron Manke]

Peering through the cellar window to catch a glimpse of the rumored gold. Fearing that a mob outside would try.

[Alex Robinson]

To break in, Mrs. Favill asked if someone would go down to the cellar to block off the window from their prying eyes. Hannah Rawlingson volunteered, and she made her way downstairs. Down in the cellar, Hannah quickly covered the window.

[Aaron Manke]

But when she turned around, her heart stopped with fear.

[Alex Robinson]

And then Hannah Rawlingson fainted. The thud of her body sent everyone running downstairs.

[Aaron Manke]

Hannah briefly awoke to describe seeing a.

[Alex Robinson]

Woman in white rushing towards her and vanishing. And then she passed out again.

[Aaron Manke]

After this, the group took Hannah upstairs to revive her. But while they clustered around Hannah, Harriet.

[Alex Robinson]

Let out a shout.

[Aaron Manke]

The ghost was at the top of the cellar stairs, and Harriet claimed that.

[Alex Robinson]

The apparition had just opened its nightgown collar to reveal a deep, bloody gash on her throat.

[Aaron Manke]

Harriet commanded the ghost to tell her.

[Alex Robinson]

What it wanted, and the ghost motioned for Harriet to follow her.

[Aaron Manke]

She led Harriet back down into the cellar, knelt at the hole that had been dug.

[Alex Robinson]

And then she disappeared into thin air.

[Aaron Manke]

Once Harriet returned back upstairs, the ghost.

[Alex Robinson]

Was already there again, waiting for her.

[Aaron Manke]

And according to Harriet, the ghost held.

[Alex Robinson]

Up a piece of paper that read, I am murdered.

[Aaron Manke]

No one else in the room could.

[Alex Robinson]

See the ghost, so we have to take Harriet's word for all of this. But she said that as she asked.

[Aaron Manke]

The ghost questions, the words on the.

[Alex Robinson]

Paper faded to make room for the ghost's answers.

[Aaron Manke]

And eventually, Harriet was able to piece.

[Alex Robinson]

Together the entire story.

[Aaron Manke]

The ghost claimed that she had once.

[Alex Robinson]

Been a woman named Elizabeth Johnson.

[Aaron Manke]

She told Harriet that she had been.

[Alex Robinson]

Murdered by her nephew, William Dawson, on March 26th of 1722, who then buried her underneath the cellar.

[Aaron Manke]

Her final message on the paper read, and I quote, the garret and the.

[Alex Robinson]

Cellar are now marked with my blood.

[Aaron Manke]

You must quit this house, because William.

[Alex Robinson]

Will trouble you if you don't.

[Aaron Manke]

And with that, Harriet joined Hannah, falling.

[Alex Robinson]

To the ground in a faint.

[Aaron Manke]

Harriet woke up soon after, but Hannah never did.

[Alex Robinson]

Her husband took her home, where she passed away the following morning. Hannah Rawlingson had quite literally died of fright.

[Aaron Manke]

As for Harriet Ward, she survived the spiritual encounters, but her end was still.

[Alex Robinson]

Not a happy one.

[Aaron Manke]

The ghost may not have stopped her heart, but it did cause her to.

[Alex Robinson]

Be excommunicated from the church.

[Aaron Manke]

The Latter Day Saints determined that the spirit was satanic in nature and that as the sole living witness to its form, Harriet was cooperating with the devil. And the Favels weren't much better off either. To their chagrin, the ghost story and.

[Alex Robinson]

Hannah's subsequent death were widely publicized, drawing the ire of the entire community.

[Aaron Manke]

Soon after the entire ordeal, hundreds of ghost hunters started breaking into their house.

[Alex Robinson]

And drunkenly fighting each other in the streets outside.

[Aaron Manke]

Looking to point fingers, the neighbors blamed the Fovels for believing in ghosts in the first place, even going so far as to insult their religious beliefs. The fables were forced to move out.

[Alex Robinson]

Of the Campolane house as soon as they possibly could. In the end, the body of Elizabeth Johnson was never found underneath the cellar.

[Aaron Manke]

It's unknown if she actually ever existed at all, or, for that matter, if her ghost did. But real or not, her specter had.

[Alex Robinson]

Ruined lives, Something the fear of death is very good at.

[Aaron Manke]

This episode of Lore Legends was produced.

[Alex Robinson]

By me, Erin Manke, with writing by.

[Aaron Manke]

Alex Robinson and research by Cassandra D'Alba. Don't like hearing the ads.

[Alex Robinson]

I've got a solution for you. There is a paid version of Lore on Apple podcasts and Patreon that is 100% ad free.

[Aaron Manke]

Plus subscribers there get weekly mini episodes called Lore Bytes. It's a bargain for all of that ad free storytelling and a great way.

[Alex Robinson]

To support the show and the team behind it. For more information about those ad free.

[Aaron Manke]

Options, go over to lorepodcast.com support lore, of course, is much more than just a podcast.

[Alex Robinson]

There's the book series available in bookstores and online and two seasons of the television show on Amazon Prime. Information about all that and more is available [e-mail] and you can also follow this show on threads, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. Just search for Lore podcast all one.

[Aaron Manke]

Word and click that follow button.

[Alex Robinson]

And when you do, say hi. I like it when people say hi. And as always, thanks for listening.

[Unknown]

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[Aaron Manke]

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[Alex Robinson]

To you by Progressive Insurance Fiscally responsible.

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