In today’s History newsletter: Mary Magdalene is one of the Bible’s most recognized women, but what’s actually true about her? Plus, the female Viking warriors who are finally getting their due and we’ve added a fun video to a reader favorite about Japan’s greatest samurai. 

But first: The Roman emperors led lives fit for a reality show—and one died from eating too much cheese.  

From exiling their own children to introducing a tax on urine, the emperors of Rome made the most of their unfettered control. Here are some of the most ambitious, bizarre, and egotistical projects they embarked upon—and some of the most uncomfortable ways they ended their rule.

Thanks for reading today’s newsletter, edited and curated by Sidney Madden and produced by Amanda Williams-Bryant. Sign up here to get our future adventures in your inbox.