How Medieval Kings Invented Modern Propaganda

Medieval kings might just have laid the blueprint for how 20th century dictators used propaganda and the cult of personality. In this video, we examine how totalitarian leaders like Stalin, Mussolini, and Franco used the same tools of power as medieval monarchs—from Charlemagne to Richard II. Learn how mythic ancestry, divine coronations, religious relics, and political propaganda created the illusion of sacred rule...and how that blueprint reappeared in the 20th century under new names.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: – Medieval propaganda and its political purpose – How kings used religious symbolism to legitimize power – Royal coronation rituals and sacred relics explained – Medieval origin myths: from Odin to Adam – How Mussolini, Hitler, and Stalin echoed royal spectacle – The Bayeux Tapestry as medieval state propaganda – Parallels between medieval monarchy and modern totalitarianism Whether it's Pope Leo III crowning Charlemagne or Stalin marching in Red Square, the techniques of power haven’t changed—just the costumes. TIMESTAMPS 0:00 – Intro: Kings, Dictators, and the Power of Theater 0:58 – Charlemagne’s Coronation and the Birth of Christian Imperialism 2:11 – Sacred Objects and Royal Symbols: The Crown as a Weapon 3:18 – Richard II and the Rise of Royal Spectacle 3:44 – Mussolini, Stalin, and Dictator Pageantry 4:12 – Mythic Lineages: Kings Who Claimed to Be Gods (Literally) 5:19 – The Trojan Connection: Brutus, Arthur, and the Plantagenets 6:14 – National Origin Stories in Spain, France, and Scandinavia 6:57 – From Odin to Adam: The Ultimate Ancestral Flex 7:45 – Propaganda: The Real Kingmaker 8:04 – The Bayeux Tapestry and William the Conqueror’s Justification 8:39 – Louis IX’s Crown of Thorns and the Theater of Piety 8:59 – Modern Media, Ancient Tricks: Hitler, Franco, and Stalin 9:47 – Conclusion: What Dictators Learned from Kings