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Rogue History
This Gender Nonconforming Secret Agent Almost Caused a War
Season 2
Episode 4
Not only was Chevalier d’Eon a respected diplomat, trusted spy, and cunning secret agent, they also were a pioneer of publicly expressing gender fluidity in 18th-century France. From an undercover mission in a Russian court to gathering intelligence against Great Britain to blackmailing a King with information that could have caused a war, d’Eon was a master of their craft.
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7:43
A network of traveling merchant-spies were essential to the expansion of the Aztec Empire.

7:37
The largest enslaved insurrection in US history was planned for 1856– and then called off.

9:56
A group of women mathematicians uncovered Soviet spies– but received none of the credit.

10:06
Ninjas are famous in popular culture, but behind the stereotypes lie a legendary history.

9:27
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9:09
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10:17
A year into the Civil War, the Union Army unveiled their secret weapon: spy balloons.

9:50
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9:29
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9:12
Though often overlooked, the Barbary pirates played a huge role in U.S. and world history.

9:22
When fresh food ran out, pirates found creative ways to survive long weeks at sea.

8:36
This is what pirate music actually sounded like.