About this episode
Get early episodes & bonus perks on Patreon: https://patreon.com/DrowsyHistorian What happens when a pope puts a corpse on trial? You get one of the most absurd chapters in Church history: the Cadaver Synod.This is the true (and truly bizarre) story of Pope Formosus — posthumously exhumed, dressed in papal robes, and put on trial by his successor in a scene that can only be described as ecclesiastical theater of the grotesque.From political rivalries wrapped in scripture to medieval bureaucracy so intense it didn’t stop for death, this slow, immersive bedtime story walks you through every surreal twist in one of history’s strangest events. 🛏️ Drowsy Historian’s Favorite Sleep Tools Looking to upgrade your nighttime routine? These are a few things I personally use or recommend: • Sleep Earbuds for Enhanced Immersion → https://amzn.to/4pVFoJy • Blanket Soft Enough to Make the Plague Feel Tolerable → https://amzn.to/3GSOq8f • Weighted Blanket for Pretending You’re a Mummified Pharaoh → https://amzn.to/4kVJCgE • Sleep Mask Headphones For Total Historical Escape → https://amzn.to/4nWsNVn • Book Light for Reading About Plagues at 2AM → https://amzn.to/4eSg0iu • White Noise Machine for Blocking Out the 21st Century → https://amzn.to/3GJ9jTw These are affiliate links. I may earn a small commission if you purchase through them—at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting the show while staying cozy.