Greg Jenner

And to help us understand this pair, we have a pair of very special guests. In History Corner, she's Senior Lecturer in the History of the Americas at Nottingham Trent University. Her research focuses on early modern Spain and Mexico, specifically religion, identity and empire. It's Dr Amy Fuller. Welcome, Amy. Thanks for having me. Delighted to have you here and in Comedy Corner.

She's a stand-up comedian, actor and writer. You'll have seen her on all the TV shows, including Live at the Apollo, Mock the Week, Frankie Boyle's New World Order. Perhaps you've seen her on tour or read or listened to her hilariously honest memoir, The Other Mother, I Love the Audiobook, or her podcast, WTB, which I think is short for a slightly ruder title.

She's a stand-up comedian, actor and writer. You'll have seen her on all the TV shows, including Live at the Apollo, Mock the Week, Frankie Boyle's New World Order. Perhaps you've seen her on tour or read or listened to her hilariously honest memoir, The Other Mother, I Love the Audiobook, or her podcast, WTB, which I think is short for a slightly ruder title.

And you'll definitely remember her from our episode on Emma of Normandy, an absolute classic. It's Jen Brister. Welcome, Jen. Oh, Greg, it's an absolute pleasure. We had a lot of fun last time in medieval England trying to remember that everyone was called Elfgivu.

And you'll definitely remember her from our episode on Emma of Normandy, an absolute classic. It's Jen Brister. Welcome, Jen. Oh, Greg, it's an absolute pleasure. We had a lot of fun last time in medieval England trying to remember that everyone was called Elfgivu.

This is the So What Do You Know, where I have a go at guessing what you, our lovely listener, might know about today's subject. I'm guessing you've heard the name Cortez, the Conquistador. I feel like it's a name that's in the ether. He's appeared in all kinds of TV shows and films, most notably as the big baddie in the DreamWorks animation The Road to El Dorado.

This is the So What Do You Know, where I have a go at guessing what you, our lovely listener, might know about today's subject. I'm guessing you've heard the name Cortez, the Conquistador. I feel like it's a name that's in the ether. He's appeared in all kinds of TV shows and films, most notably as the big baddie in the DreamWorks animation The Road to El Dorado.

But unless you are Mexican or maybe American, I suspect Melintzin, I imagine she's perhaps a lot less familiar as a name. She's the subject of several Spanish language plays, operas and books, and appears in some famous murals, one painted by Diego Rivera. In Mexico City, he was the husband of Frida Kahlo.

But unless you are Mexican or maybe American, I suspect Melintzin, I imagine she's perhaps a lot less familiar as a name. She's the subject of several Spanish language plays, operas and books, and appears in some famous murals, one painted by Diego Rivera. In Mexico City, he was the husband of Frida Kahlo.

Now, Melintzin has also been confusedly conflated with the Mexican folk tale of the wailing woman, La Llorona.

Now, Melintzin has also been confusedly conflated with the Mexican folk tale of the wailing woman, La Llorona.

Thank you. A vengeful ghost who drowns her own children. Yeesh, you don't want that in a children's movie, do you?

Thank you. A vengeful ghost who drowns her own children. Yeesh, you don't want that in a children's movie, do you?

No, no. But was the real story of Cortez and Melintzin its own different horror story involving ghosts and stabbings, maybe? How have their reputations changed over time? And what exactly is Moctezuma's revenge? Let's find out. Today, we're doing a bit of a buy one, get one free biography. We'll start with Cortez, purely because he happened to be born first. So, Amy, who was he?

No, no. But was the real story of Cortez and Melintzin its own different horror story involving ghosts and stabbings, maybe? How have their reputations changed over time? And what exactly is Moctezuma's revenge? Let's find out. Today, we're doing a bit of a buy one, get one free biography. We'll start with Cortez, purely because he happened to be born first. So, Amy, who was he?

Is he an aristocrat? You know, when he's born, is he rich?

Is he an aristocrat? You know, when he's born, is he rich?

Fernando Hernando Cortes y Monroy Ipizarro Altamirano is a great name. That does sound quite noble.

Fernando Hernando Cortes y Monroy Ipizarro Altamirano is a great name. That does sound quite noble.

It is. It's greedy. And what about his childhood?