This episode explores Miramare Castle, a glittering seaside palace built as a love story- and remembered as a curse. From the moment its doors opened, tragedy seemed to follow those who stayed there- claiming life after life and nearly wiping out one branch of the royal Habsburg dynasty. Was Miramare truly cursed, or is it a place where power, obsession, and bad timing collided so violently that history itself started to feel supernatural... leaving behind a trail of grief that still clings to its marble halls?
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You can check out the elegant beauty of this cursed castle for yourself with this Miramare Castle Entrance Ticket and learn a bit more about the history behind the mystery. (This is a Viator affiliate link.) It's an incredible site in Trieste, Italy, well worth a visit if you're nearby.
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Some images and historical documents in this episode are public domain, Creative Commons licensed, or used under U.S. Fair Use for educational analysis, historical commentary, and transformative storytelling.
Full list of images and licensing links are included below.
🏆 Episode Credits
All research, writing, editing, narration, and production by:
Jessica M. Lathrop, M.A. (Ancient & Classical History)
Larry Lathrop, M.S. (Data Science + MBA)
NOTE: All content in this episode was created by Jess & Larry- from research and writing, to narration and production. Learn more about us and our passion for dark history here.
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🖼️ Image Attributions
• Castello di Miramare, Trieste – CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo by Diego Baglieri (2009).
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Castello_di_Miramare_-_Trieste_04.jpg
• Aerial view of Chapultepec Castle – CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo by ProtoplasmaKid (2024).
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vista_a%C3%A9rea_del_Castillo_de_Chapultepec_8.jpg
• Mercury escaped (illustration) – CC BY 4.0. Illustration by Tavo Romann (2017).
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mercury_escaped.jpg
• Gasser M1870 revolver – CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo by DoroshenkoE (2015).
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gasser_M1870_-_National_Military-Historical_Museum_of_Ukraine.PNG
• File used by Luigi Lucheni – CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo by KirchenMusiker1800 (2022).
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Feile_des_Luigi_Lucheni.jpg
• Maximilian’s bedroom, Miramare Castle – CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo by Zairon (2014).
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Trieste_Schloss_Miramare_Innen_Maximilans_Schlafzimmer_3.JPG
• Charlotte’s bedroom, Miramare Castle – CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo by Zairon (2014).
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Trieste_Schloss_Miramare_Innen_Charlottes_Schlafzimmer_1.JPG
• Miramare Castle interior (room view 1) – CC BY-SA 3.0 / GFDL. Photo by Aconcagua (2009).
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Castello_di_Miramare_0904_interior_1.jpg
• Miramare Castle interior (room view 2) – CC BY-SA 3.0 / GFDL. Photo by Aconcagua (2009).
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Castello_di_Miramare_0904_interior_2.jpg
• Miramare Castle interior (room view 3) – CC BY-SA 3.0 / GFDL. Photo by Aconcagua (2009).
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Castello_di_Miramare_0904_interior_3.jpg
• Miramare Castle interior (room view 4) – CC BY-SA 3.0 / GFDL. Photo by Aconcagua (2009).
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Castello_di_Miramare_0904_interior_4.jpg
• Bedroom, Miramare Castle – CC BY-SA 3.0. Photo by MatthiasKabel (2009).
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bedroom_Miramare.jpg
• Miramare Castle and Gulf of Trieste – CC BY-SA 3.0. Photo by Airin (2003).
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Trieste_miramare.jpg
• Iron chain – CC0 / Public Domain. Photo by Dsdugan (2021).
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:21-01-242-chain.jpg
• Castello di Miramare, Trieste (exterior view) – CC0 / Public Domain. Photo by Andrek02 (2025).
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Castello_di_Miramare_a_Trieste_%282025-01-04%29.jpg
• Leopold I, King of Belgium (portrait) – CC0 / Public Domain. Rijksmuseum (1855–1875).
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Portret_van_Leopold_I,_koning_van_Belgi%C3%AB,_RP-F-F00674-BD_%28crop%29.jpg
• Ethnographic Map of the Austrian Monarchy (1855) – Public Domain. Karl Freiherr von Czoernig (1855).
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ethnographic_map_of_austrian_monarchy_czoernig_1855.jpg
• Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico (portrait) – Public Domain. Photo by Andrew Burgess (1864).
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Maximilian_of_Mexico_bw.jpg
• Emperor Franz Joseph I (1885) – Public Domain. Photo by Carl Pietzner (1885).
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Franz-Joseph-1885.jpg
• Maximilian and Charlotte of Belgium (1857) – Public Domain. Photographer unknown.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Maximilian_and_Charlotte.jpg
• Charlotte of Belgium (portrait) – Public Domain. Photographer unknown (1860s).
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Charlotte_of_Belgium.jpg
• Queen Victoria, Golden Jubilee (cropped) – Public Domain. Photo by Alexander Bassano (1882).
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Queen_Victoria_-Golden_Jubilee_-3a_cropped.JPG
• Benito Juárez (portrait, cropped) – Public Domain. Photographer unknown (c. 1850–1872).
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Benito_Juarez_%28cropped%29.jpg
• Napoleon III (portrait) – Public Domain. Photo by Pierre-Louis Pierson (1869).
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Napoleon_III.jpg
• Pope Pius IX (1875) – Public Domain. Photo by Adolphe Braun (1875).
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pius_IX,_by_Adolphe_Braun,_1875.jpg
• St. Peter’s Square, Rome – Public Domain. Photo by Robert MacPherson (1855).
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MacPherson,_Robert_-_Der_Petersplatz_in_Rom_%28Zeno_Fotografie%29.jpg
• Execution of Emperor Maximilian of Mexico (1867) – Public Domain. Library of Congress.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Execution_of_Emperor_Maximilian_of_Mexico,_General_Miguel_Miram%C3%B3n,_and_General_Tom%C3%A1s_Mejia_by_firing_squad_LCCN2004678561.jpg
• Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria (1887) – Public Domain. Photo by Károly Koller (1887).
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rudolf_Crown_Prince_of_Austria_LOC.jpg
• Baroness Mary Vetsera (portrait) – Public Domain. Photographer unknown (1887).
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Baroness_Mary_Vetsera.jpg
• Empress Elisabeth of Austria (1867) – Public Domain. Photo by Emil Rabending (1867).
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Erzsebet_kiralyne_photo_1867.jpg
• Archduke Franz Ferdinand and Duchess Sophie of Hohenberg (1914) – Public Domain. Photo by Hermann Clemens Kosel.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Erzherzog_Franz_Ferdinand_und_seine_Gemahlin_Herzogin_Sophie_von_Hohenberg_%28Hofatelier_Kosel%29.jpg
• Sarajevo assassination illustration (1914) – Public Domain. Illustration by Achille Beltrame (1914).
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:DC-1914-27-d-Sarajevo-cropped.jpg
• Friedrich W. Rainer (portrait) – Public Domain. Photographer unknown (1945).
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Friedrich_W._Rainer.jpg
• Bryant E. Moore (military portrait) – Public Domain. Photographer unknown.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bryant_E._Moore2.jpg
• Operation Haylift helicopter (February 1953) – Public Domain. Photo by Sgt. Robert E. Kiser, USMC.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HRS-2_HMR-161_OpHaylift_Feb1953.jpeg
• U.S. Army officers, April 17, 1952 – Public Domain. Harry S. Truman Library.
https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/photograph-records/63-1086
• Miramare Castle (exterior) – CC0 / Public Domain. Photo by Walwegs (2013).
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Miramare_Castle.jpg
• Castello di Miramare (1890 photograph) – Public Domain. Photo by Pierre Eugène Grandsire (1890).
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Castello_di_Miramar_%28Trieste%29.jpg
• Amadeo of Aosta, 3rd Duke (portrait) – Public Domain. Photographer unknown (1930s).
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Amadeo_Aosta3rd_01.jpg
• Assassination of Luigi Lucheni (illustration) – Public Domain. Author unknown (2008 reproduction).
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Assassinato_luigi.jpg
• Law and justice concept image – Public Domain. Source: Pixabay.
https://pixabay.com/photos/law-lawyer-attorney-justice-judge-4617873/
• Emperor Maximilian I (photograph) – Public Domain. Photo by François Aubert (1867).
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/285712
• Battle of Puebla (1862) – Public Domain. Illustration by Francisco P. Miranda.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Batalla_de_Puebla.png
• House of Habsburg-Lorraine coat of arms – Public Domain. Design by Hugo Gerard Ströhl.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Habsburg_Lothringen.png
😅 Whew!
You’ve reached the end of the details for this episode.
Thank you for being a part of the Cursed Voices community. We believe that history is most haunting when it’s handled with care, and your support allows us to keep digging for the truth behind these legendary tales. We sincerely appreciate every view, every like, every follower, and every donation.
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Stay curious, question everything, and we’ll meet you in the next episode. - Jess & Larry