Princess Caraboo Fools England

In 1817, a mysterious young woman appeared in an English village speaking an unknown language and wearing exotic clothing.

She claimed to be Princess Caraboo, royalty from the distant island of Javasu who had been kidnapped by pirates and escaped by jumping overboard near England.

High society was captivated. Newspapers reported her story. Scholars examined her strange language. She performed unusual rituals and entertained fascinated aristocrats.

There was just one problem.

Princess Caraboo was actually Mary Baker, an English cobbler's daughter.

In this episode of History Shorts, we uncover one of Regency England's greatest hoaxes—and how an ordinary woman convinced some of Britain's wealthiest and most educated people that she was a foreign princess.

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