Shows
The Kings and Queens podcast10. Sweyn ForkbeardIn 1013, the audacious Sweyn Forkbeard (1013-14) reappeared at Sandwich, with a powerful fleet He was accompanied by his three usual attendants, Fire, slaughter, and pillage; and all England trembled before him, like the rustling of a bed of reeds shaken by the western wind.CharactersSweyn Forkbeard - King of Denmark (986-1014), King of Norway (1000-1014), King of England (1014) Harald Bluetooth - King of Denmark (958-986), King of Norway (970-985), father of SweynGunhild - mother of Swein Cnut - son of Sweyn ForkbeardGunhild - first wife of Sweyn...
2025-07-2025 minThe Kings and Queens podcast9. Æthelred the UnreadyÆthelred's (978-1013, 1014-16) story would be one of turbulence, political intrigue, and the relentless march of fate. The boy who would become king would soon be marked by the legacy of doubt and misfortune, a monarch whose reign would be defined by both his early promise and his later failures. According to William and Malmesbury, he was an accomplice to murder, a coward who fled from danger, a wastrel who died a miserable death.CharactersAethelred - King of England (978-1013, 1014-16)Edward the Martyr - King of England (975-78), half-brother of Aethelred
2025-05-2942 minThe Kings and Queens podcast8. Edward the MartyrFrom the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle describing Edward the Martyr (975-78). 'Men murdered him, but God exalted him. In life he was an earthly king; after death he is now a heavenly saint. His earthly kinsmen would not avenge him, but his heavenly Father has greatly avenged him. The earthly killers would have destroyed his memory. Those who would not bow to his living body now humbly on their knees bow to his dead bones. How we may understand that the wisdom of men, their plans and counsel, are nothing against God’s purpose.'
Characters
...
2025-01-1923 minThe Kings and Queens podcast7. EdgarAccording to the Anglo-Saxon chronicle, ‘in Edgar's (959-75) days all things gladly grew good, and God granted that he dwelt in peace while he lived, and he did, as was necessary, work eagerly towards it. He was mighty in arms, exulting in sceptres and diadems, and regally protected the laws of the kingdom with militant authority.’
Characters
Edgar - King of England (959-975), King of the Mercians and Northumbrians (957-59)
Aethelflaed - first wife of Edgar
Wulfthryth - possible second wife of Edgar
Aelfthryth - third wife...
2024-12-0830 minThe Kings and Queens podcast6. EadwigPerhaps no image of an Anglo-Saxon king has been shaped as unyieldingly by his enemies as Eadwig's (955-59). Ruthless purging of the old guard of his father and uncle and the appointments of favourites resulted in his character assassination in the hagiographies of the men he’d dismissed. He was labelled an incorrigible rascal and lecher. The accounts paint a picture of a naïve, capricious, salacious misguided boy, who side-lined experienced advisors when they resisted his childish impulses.
Characters
Eadwig - King of England (955-59)
Aelfgifu - wife of Eadwig
2024-10-2118 minThe Kings and Queens podcast5. EadredWithin a year of being crowned, Eadred (946-55) was faced with possibly the most feared, most ruthless and most famous Viking to set foot on English shores. The battle to save Northumbria from Viking control was also fought in conjunction with a battle against a truly debilitating illness. Like his brothers before him, in securing the legacy of his forebears, he could not fail.
Characters
Eadred - King of England (946-55)
Edmund I - King of England (939-46), elder brother of Eadred
Eadgifu - third wife...
2024-08-3026 minThe Kings and Queens podcast4. Edmund IMuch like those who came before and those who would follow, Edmund I’s (939-46) reign was largely dominated by the Viking threat. Though his early years were tense and characterised by Viking resurgence, he recovered the land won by his father and half-brother and ultimately succeeded in keeping the Viking threat at bay and thus continued the dream of his forebears, the dream of a united, peaceful England.
Characters
Edmund I - King of England (939-46)
Eadgifu - third wife of Edward, mother of Edmund and Eadred
Ae...
2024-08-0222 minThe Kings and Queens podcast3. ÆthelstanAethelstan (924-939), renowned through the whole world whose fame flourishes and whose honour endures everywhere, whom God set as king over the English people. Raised on the high throne, and leader of these earthly armies, so that the king himself, mighty in war, could conquer other fierce kings and crush their proud necks.
Characters
Aethelstan - King of the Anglo-Saxons (924-927), King of the English (927-939)
Edward the Elder - King of the Anglo-Saxons (899-924), father of Aethelstan
Ecgwynn - first wife of Edward, mother of Aethelstan
Aelfflaed...
2024-06-3033 minThe Kings and Queens podcast2. Edward the ElderThough Edward the Elder's reign (899-924) is overshadowed by his father and his son. His achievements during his 25 years reign were unquestionable. He continued his father’s work with determination and courage. Historian Frank Stenton characterised his reign as one of the best sustained and most decisive campaigns in the whole of the Dark Ages.
Characters
Edward the Elder - King of the Anglo-Saxons (899-924)
Aethelflaed - Lady of Mercia (911-918), elder sister of Edward
Alfred - King of the West-Saxons (871-886), King of the Anglo-Saxons (886-899), father Ed...
2024-05-2921 minThe Kings and Queens podcast1. Alfred the GreatAlfred the Great (871-99) was the embodiment of the ideal, but practical, Christian ruler. He was the ‘truth teller’, described as a brave, resourceful, pious man.
Despite his legacy being warped by Victorian and contemporary accounts, his achievements remain visible and profound. They allowed his son and grandsons to build on his political and military initiatives to unite England under the rule of one king.
Characters
Alfred - King of Wessex (871-86), King of the Anglo-Saxons (886-99)
Ealhswith - wife of Alfred
Aethelred - King of Wesse...
2024-05-1237 minThe Kings and Queens podcast40. Elizabeth IIElizabeth II (1952-2022) ruled for 70 years, the second longest verifiably recorded reign of any monarch in world history behind Louis XIV. For 4 out of 5 Brits, she was the only monarch they had ever known. In a reign that was characterised by a redefinition of monarchy and empire. She offered calmness, reassurance, comfort, leadership and perspective over perhaps the most significant period of social, economic and technological change of any reign in British history. Despite the challenges of modern perspectives around the principles and practicalities of monarchy her adaptability and strong sense of civic duty ensured its survival.
2024-03-0457 minThe Kings and Queens podcast39. George VIGeorge VI (1936-52) led Britain through one of the most consequential periods in world history. His modest and undramatic style of rule in stark contrast to the controversy and drama which surrounded the short reign of his brother was required to guide Britain through the Second World War and the death of the British Empire. He was a steady hand, who overcame his own personal limitations and won the respect of the British people.
Characters
George VI - King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions (1936-52), Emperor of India (1936-47)
2023-12-1751 minThe Kings and Queens podcast38. Edward VIIIEdward VIII (1936) ruled for 325 days, the shortest reign of any English monarch since Lady Jane Grey in the 16th century. The first monarch to abdicate since James II in 1688 and the first to do so voluntarily. The abdication crisis shook the British establishment to its core. His connections to Nazi Germany has undoubtedly shrouded his life in ignominy. Even after the war, he was known to describe Hitler as ‘not such a bad chap’. Shunned by the royal family for the crisis he had created and for putting private desire above public duty. It could also have been because they...
2023-10-2855 minThe Kings and Queens podcast37. George VGeorge V's reign (1910-36) stretched across perhaps the most tumultuous period in world history. It saw the bloodiest war to date, the financial markets melt and the rise of fascism and communism
His calm, dutiful leadership would be put to the test, the British monarchy faced perhaps its biggest existential threat as Europe faced unparalleled political and social change.
Characters
George V - King of the United Kingdom and the British dominions, Emperor of India (1910-36)
Mary of Teck - Queen of the United Kingdom and the British d...
2023-09-101h 05The Kings and Queens podcastÆthelstan with Ed CastelPolitips host Ed Castel deep dives into the remarkable reign
of Aethelstan, the man recognised as the first King of England as well as the Anglo-Saxons themselves. Many key questions are answered:
Who were the Anglo-Saxons?
What were the seven kingdoms and how did the deal with
Viking invasions?
How are sources found?
The reign of Athelstan: his rise and consolidation of power,
his historic coronation, becoming ‘King of the whole of Britain’, the Battle of Brunanburh and the birth of English national identity, his foreign and domestic policy, and his lega...
2023-08-1759 minThe Kings and Queens podcastInterview with best-selling historical fiction writer Ben KaneIt was a real privilege to interview Ben Kane.
We spoke about his Lionheart series, his new book Napoleon’s spy, as well as the challenges faced and rewards gained from writing historical fiction.
Initially well known for his excellent trilogies set in ancient Rome including the Forgotten Legion and the Spartacus series. More recently he has ventured into medieval England with his Lionheart series focussing on the reign of Richard I of England. His most recent book is set in the Napoleonic era.
You can follow Ben on twitter - @BenKaneAuthor or on his we...
2023-07-1634 minThe Kings and Queens podcast36. Edward VIIIn the words of the Edward VII (1901-1910) ‘I don’t mind praying to the Eternal Father, but I must be the only man in the country afflicted with an eternal mother. He had to wait 59 years to become king. Though only 9 years, the king also lent his name to an era. The Edwardian era was distinct in its social and cultural change with a rejection of certain Victorian values. The era saw significant social mobility, reform yet also hedonism. In the words of W. B. Yeats ‘everybody got down off their stilts.' He was perhaps the final monarc...
2023-07-0251 minThe Kings and Queens podcast35. VictoriaOn the death of Queen Victoria (1837-1901), Arthur Balfour wrote, ‘I suppose that, in all the history of the British Monarchy, there never has been a case in which the feeling of national grief was so deep-seated as it is at present, so universal, so spontaneous. And that grief affects us not merely because we have lost a great personality, but because we feel that the end of a great epoch has come upon us—an epoch the beginning of which stretches beyond the memory, I suppose, of any individual whom I am now addressing, and which embraces within its...
2023-05-201h 07The Kings and Queens podcast34. William IVWhen William IV (1830-37) was a teenage sailor drinking and debauching his way across the empire alongside such esteemed friends as Horatio Nelson, no one expected that one day he would king. He was taught no royal graces or decorum, yet his time would come. He was described as unassuming and disinterested in pomp and as hard-working and conscientious. Despite a short rule, he would provide royal assent to some of the most significant acts in British history. He had political views and his lack of royal training meant; he would not be lightly brushed aside.
Characters
2023-03-1541 minThe Kings and Queens podcastEpisode 2 of Politips - my new podcastI have started a new podcast with my teaching colleagues. Politips... Politics for A-Level and Beyond. Reviewing the biggest stories in the world of politics in the UK and the US. Give it a try - links below for more episodes.
https://anchor.fm/poli-tips
Also available on Spotify, Google, Amazon and Apple podcasts
2023-02-2120 minThe Kings and Queens podcastNapoleon III with Sam FermorNapoleon III, the nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte holds a unique distinction. He became the first President of France in 1848 before becoming its last monarch when he ruled as Emperor between 1852-1870 founding the second French empire. He oversaw the modernisation of the French economy, the grand reconstruction of Paris, considerable social reform, further colonisation overseas and renewed rivalries in Europe. The impact of his rule would be felt deep into the 20th century. I was lucky enough to speak to Sam, my British housemate who grew up in France about Napoleon III.
2023-02-1548 minThe Kings and Queens podcast33. George IVContemporary poet and critic Leigh Hunt described George IV (1820-30) as a violator of his word, a libertine, over head and ears in debt, a disgrace, a despiser of domestic ties, the companion of demi-reps and gamblers without a single claim on the gratitude of his country, nor the respect of posterity.
Characters
George IV – King of Great Britain, Ireland and Hanover (1820-30)
George III – King of Great Britain and Ireland (1760-1820), King of Hanover (1814-20)
Charlotte of Mecklenberg- Strelitz – Queen consort of Great Britain and Ireland (1761-1818), Queen consort of Hano...
2023-02-0542 minThe Kings and Queens podcast32. George IIIThe US declaration of Independence described George III (1760-1820) as “marked by every act which may define a tyrant.” At home he was described as one of the most conscientious sovereigns who ever sat upon the English throne. Yet, he vehemently opposed catholic emancipation and the abolition of slavery. His characterisations are almost as broad as the events that unfolded during long reign. It saw an independent United States and a revolutionary France. It saw the age of enlightenment, the age of industry, science and technology and the age of imperialism that would see Europe reach the peak of its...
2023-01-021h 14The Kings and Queens podcast31. George IIGeorge II's (1727-60) temper was warm and impetuous but was good natured and sincere. He was unskilled in royal of talent of dissimulation, he always was what he appeared to be. He might offend but he never deceived. What you saw was what you got. Could Britain’s second Hanoverian king provide calm composure against the immense challenges presented by a new Jacobite claimant and the first true global conflict in an unforgiving environment led by burgeoning prime ministers?
Characters
George II – King of Great Britain, Elector of Hanover (1727-60)
Caroline of Ansbach – Queen consort...
2022-11-0942 minThe Kings and Queens podcast30. George IAuthor Simon Jenkins described the Georgian kings not as monarchs but as princelings, who came to power not by the sword or politics but merely descent from a distant protestant mistress. They were mostly bewigged, powdered non-entities who couldn’t even control their own children, nor say boo to a goose.
The first, George I (1714-27), faced a perilous threat from the moment he stepped on British shores, the shadow of the Jacobites was widening. The foreigner would need to heavily rely upon his new British statesmen to ensure the House of Hanover would survive.
...
2022-09-2537 minThe Kings and Queens podcast29. AnneAnne (1702-14) was described as stubborn, miserable, weak-willed, vapid, grossly obese. A woman of ordinary character. Yet, she became the first Queen of Great Britain. Her reign would have long-lasting consequences, the establishment of the Bank of England meant the nation was now punching above its weight. The nation became the military force not seen since the days of Edward III and Henry V. Within the fledgling kingdom of Great Britain, the economic and political base was built for the golden age of the 18th century.
Characters
Anne – Queen of England, Scotland, and Ireland (1702-07), Qu...
2022-08-0639 min
The Kings and Queens podcast28. William III & Mary IIWilliam III (1689-1702) had limited interest in the affairs of England, Scotland and Ireland. His interest lay in keeping the King of France at bay and would use England as weapon to achieve his goals. It was perhaps the king’s indifference that allowed parliament to gain permanent supremacy over the nation leading to a remarkable transformation in the political and religious affairs of England. During William's reign, along with Mary II (1689-94) the parliamentary state was established, to this day it remains the enduring feature of the British political system.
Characters
William III – King of E...
2022-07-0134 minThe Kings and Queens podcast27. James II of England and VII of ScotlandJames II of England and VII of Scotland (1685-59) followed in the footsteps of his predecessors. He too, struggled with the scope and nature of government. He believed it his duty as a Roman Catholic prince to level the religious playing field and did not learn the lessons of the civil war. He woefully underestimated the power of parliament. His rule saw the beginnings of the modern British state and the ultimate death knell of absolute monarchy.
Characters
James II of England and VII of Scotland
Charles I – King of England, Sc...
2022-05-2037 minThe Kings and Queens podcast26. Charles IICharles II (1660-85) was described by Ronald Hutton as the playboy monarch, naughty but nice, the hero of all who prized urbanity, tolerance, good humour, and the pursuit of pleasure above more earnest, sober or material virtues. Yet, like his grandfather he struggled to pay for it. Though Restoration England brought a new respect and freedom to the monarchy, the country had survived 11 years without the crown. He would test the patience of the establishment when his lifestyle and his faith drew him to the webs of Catholic Europe.
Characters
Charles II – King of England, Sc...
2022-04-1742 minThe Kings and Queens podcastThe Commonwealth of EnglandThe Commonwealth of England - 1649-60
In a weary speech to parliament on 4 February 1658 Oliver Cromwell told MPs that ‘I would have been glad, as to my own conscience and spirit, to have been living under a woodside to have kept a flock of sheep, rather than to have undertaken such a place as this’. In the 1630s, Oliver Cromwell raised chickens and sheep for their eggs and wool. 20 years later he was offered the crown. He helped lead an army to defeat and execute Charles I, becoming one of the most successful military leaders in British history. He n...
2021-12-2528 minThe Kings and Queens podcast25. Charles IFor his obdurate and reckless governance Charles I (1625-49) faced an equally obdurate and formidable parliament and he lost. The monarchy too lost, yet Charles grasped a martyr’s crown becoming the first saint of the Church of England. His reign may have contributed hugely to the destruction of the monarchy but his conduct during the trial and the dignity he displayed afterwards also helped maintain the prestige of monarchy and contributed to its ultimate restoration.
CHARACTERS
Charles I – King of England, Scotland and Ireland
Henrietta Maria – Queen consort of England, Scotla...
2021-12-0259 minThe Kings and Queens podcast24. James I of England and VI of ScotlandJames I's (1603-25) ultimate aim was to unite the kingdoms of England and Scotland under one banner. However, his belief in the divine right of kings meant his relationship with parliament would be bitter, sour and destructive, with consequences long outlasting the reign of the first King of Great Britain.
CHARACTERS
James I & VI – King of England and Scotland
Anne of Denmark – Queen consort of England, wife of James
Mary, Queen of Scots – Queen of Scotland, mother of James
Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley – father of James
Prince Henry – first son of James ...
2021-11-1244 minThe Kings and Queens podcast23. Elizabeth IAccording to contemporary John Hayward, ‘no one knew better than Elizabeth I (1558-1603) the art of commanding men.’
Even at 17 her tutor said the constitution of her mind is exempt from female weakness and she is endued with a masculine power of application. No apprehension quicker, no memory more retentive.
With the nation perhaps more divided by religion than at any point in English history, the young Queen would require every ounce of skill, of nous, of guile afforded to her.
CHARACTERS
Elizabeth I – Queen of Engl...
2021-10-2156 minThe Kings and Queens podcast22. Mary IMary I (1553-58) led the only successful revolt in 16th century England becoming the first anointed Queen regnant. She had witnessed the decimation of the Roman Catholic church in England for her father's ultimate goal of siring a son. According to G.R. Elton, the vicious attack on her mother and her own bastardisation and the treatment of her religion ought to have turned Mary into a fierce instrument of hatred and vengeance upon ascending the throne but how merciful would be?
CHARACTERS
Mary I - Queen of England
Philip - King of Spain...
2021-07-1640 minThe Kings and Queens podcastLady Jane GreyAt the beginning of 1553, Henry VIII’s only son King Edward VI was dying. For the first time in English history all potential claimants were women. Henry’s daughters Mary and Elizabeth, and their cousins Jane Grey (1553) and Mary, Queen of Scots. For the first time in history, England would have a Queen regnant. Partisan councillors would jockey for position in order to secure their own futures and the religious destiny of the nation.
CHARACTERS
Lady Jane Grey – Queen of England (disputed)
Guildford Dudley – husband of Lady Jane Grey
Henry VIII – J...
2021-06-2524 minThe Kings and Queens podcast21. Edward VIIn 1547, the last minority in English history was formed for 9 year old Edward VI (1547-53). After the titanic reign of his father Henry VIII, a contemporary may have wondered if the country may be engulfed in civil war once more.Had the rampant religious and administrative upheaval been possible due to the colossus at the helm? Would the country accept such terms under a new king? Or would the country yield to the familiar squabbles of grasping councillors?If there were nerves, they were hidden on the 20th February 1547 when the 9-year-old walked through the nave of Westminster Abbey...
2021-06-0435 minThe Kings and Queens podcastJuana Loca (Joanna the Mad) Queen of Castile and Aragon with Cristina Sanchez GomezDoes Juana Loca (Joanna the Mad) Queen of Castile (1504-55) and Aragon (1516-55) deserve her title? Was she really unfit for rule or was she merely a victim of her father's, her husband's and her son's political machinations? Find out with Cristina Sanchez Gomez.
CHARACTERS (names in Spanish)
Juana - Queen of Castile (1504-55) and Aragon (1516-55)
Fernando II - King of Aragon (1479-1516), King of Castile (jure uxoris) (1475-1504), father of Juana
Isabel I - Queen of Castile (1474-1504), Queen consort of Aragon (1479-1504), mother of Juana
Philip - King of...
2021-05-1336 minThe Kings and Queens podcast20. Henry VIIIHenry VIII (1509-47) was described by historian Simon Jenkins as the ‘Hercules of English history – part tyrant, part polymath, part renaissance prince, who tore up the Plantagenet rulebook’. He was a prolific builder of English monarchy giving the nation a new identity, free from the shackles of Rome. His impact on religion, on government and on society was unprecedented, leaving a significant imprint on 21st century Britain. His countless iniquitous deeds, his disastrous marriages and the gratuitous purges of his foes and friends alike have done more to amalgamate his greatness than to tarnish is colossal legacy.
2021-05-0755 minThe Kings and Queens podcast19. Henry VIIAccording to the chronicler Vergil, ‘Henry VII's (1485-1509) spirit was distinguished, wise and prudent; his mind was brave and resolute and it never, even at moments of great danger, deserted him’.
He was the last king to win the crown on the battlefield in one of the most significant moments in English history. But history does not remember him as a warrior but as a rather grey miser, as Vergil added, ‘all his virtues were obscured by avarice’.
He was the only Tudor to be omitted from Shakespeare’s plays yet by combining the white and red ro...
2021-04-1741 minThe Kings and Queens podcastPrince Philip, Duke of EdinburghPrince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh was the longest serving consort in British history. His commitment was remarkable with over 22,000 royal engagements. If Queen Elizabeth II is remembered as the greatest monarch in British history, it will be largely due to the support of her husband Prince Philip. On their golden wedding anniversary in 1997 she said, ‘Philip is a man who doesn’t take too easily to compliments, he has quite simply been my strength and stay all these years and I and his family owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim or he shall ever know.’
...
2021-04-1715 minThe Kings and Queens podcastInterview with Jeremy Dronfield - author of 'The Boy Who Followed His Father Into Auschwitz'The Holocaust was and remains one of the most unique, horrific and incomprehensible events of modern History. In this very special episode, I explore the causes, context and realities of History’s greatest crime by interviewing the author Jeremy Dronfield about his book, The Sunday Times and Amazon No.1 Bestseller ‘The Boy Who Followed His Father Into Auschwitz’. I am joined by a fellow teacher and my friend Tom Ferry.
You can buy Jeremy's book through his website jeremydronfield.com and follow him on Twitter - @jeremydronfield
The music was provided by Samuel J. Ferry - find him on Twitter - @sjfe...
2020-11-181h 01The Kings and Queens podcast18. Richard IIIRichard III (1483-85) has been portrayed as inhuman, tyrannical, treacherous and cruel. He had the monumental misfortune of character assassination by the dynasty that followed him determined to blacken his name. It will unquestionably be remembered as one of the most famous and consequential reigns in English history.
CHARACTERS
Richard III – King of England
Edward IV – King of England, brother of Richard
Edward V – King of England, son of Edward VI
Anne Neville – Queen of England, wife of Richard III
Elizabeth Woodville – Queen of England, wife of Edward IV
George, duke of Cl...
2020-11-1335 minThe Kings and Queens podcast17. Edward V - the Prince in the towerEdward V (1483) was intelligent, articulate and ready to make the giant leap from a fresh-faced prince to a wily, formidable medieval king but even before his coronation could take place a pernicious scheme was set to take it all away.
CHARACTERS
Edward V – King of England, son of Edward IV
Edward IV, King of England
Richard, duke of Gloucester – Edward IV’s brother, Edward V’s uncle
Richard of Shrewsbury – son of Edward IV, younger brother of Edward V
Elizabeth Woodville – Queen of England, wife of Edward IV, mother of Edward V and Richard...
2020-10-3025 minThe Kings and Queens podcast16. Edward IVEdward IV (1461-70, 71-83) represented everything Henry VI didn’t. He offered courage, leadership and political intelligence but his promiscuous lifestyle and the overestimation of the power of his charm meant he was exposed to the sinister 15th century culture of deceit and treachery.
CHARACTERS
Edward IV – King of England (House of York)
Elizabeth Woodville – Queen of England (House of York)
Henry VI – King of England (House of Lancaster)
Margaret of Anjou – Queen of England (House of Lancaster)
George, Duke of Clarence – Brother of Edward IV
Isabella Neville – Wife of the Duke of Cl...
2020-10-1629 minThe Kings and Queens podcast15. Henry VIHenry VI (1422-61, 70-71) was the antithesis of a warrior king, he was the first since the Norman conquest never to command an army. Yet it was his incompetence and inertia that contributed to the unbridled, unparalleled bloodshed of his deeply turbulent reign.
CHARACTERS
Henry VI – King of England
Margaret of Anjou – Queen of England
Henry V – Father of Henry VI, former King of England
Catherine of Valois – Mother of Henry VI, former Queen of England
Prince Edward – son of Henry VI
John, Duke of Bedford – Regent of France un...
2020-10-0235 minThe Kings and Queens podcast14. Henry VPicking up the reins of a deeply fractured country, Henry V (1413-22) transformed it into a united, dominant force. He believed strongly in the divine right of kingship and used it to reignite the hundred years war. Beloved and revered by future kings, his success in all facets of rule is unparalleled. According to historian KB McFarlane, he was perhaps the greatest man who ever ruled England.
CHARACTERS
Henry V – King of England
Henry IV – Henry V’s father, King of England
Richard II – King of England, Henry V’s cousin
Edward III – King...
2020-09-1829 minThe Kings and Queens podcast13. Henry IVDESCRIPTION
The manner of Henry IV’s (1399-1413) ascent not only consumed the king with almighty guilt for the rest of his life, accusations of his illegitimacy completely dominated his reign. So deep was the rift, so potent was the suspicion and so rampant was the opportunism that it served as a precursor for the violent theatre of the war of the roses.
CHARACTERS
Henry IV – King of England
Richard II – King of England, Henry VI’s cousin
The Black Prince – Father of Richard II
Edward III – King of England, father of the Black...
2020-09-0427 min
History, eh?1:34 Watergate with Jonny LangtonWant to know more about the scandal of Watergate? Join this episode!
Book Recommendations:
The Nixon Tapes: 1971-1972 By Douglas Brinkley and Luke Nichter
All the President's Men by Carl Bernstein
Host: Rosie
Social Media: Twitter @historyeh | Instagram @historyeh.podcast | Facebook @historyeh | Website www.historyeh.com
Follow the Guest
Guest: Jonny Langton
Social Media: Podcast The Kings and Queens podcast | Twitter @kingsqueenspod | Facebook @Kingsqueenspod |
Join me on the Blog for more in-depth information: Watergate with Jonny Langton
#History #Histor...
2020-08-261h 02The Kings and Queens podcast12. Richard IIAn era of camaraderie, chivalry and glory was a distant memory. Richard II's (1377-99) reign demonstrated just how rapidly tethered royal powers of post-Magna Carta could be dashed, how deep schisms could be dug and how susceptible England still was to absolute tyranny.
CHARACTERS
Richard II – King of England
The Black Prince – Father of Richard II
Edward III – King of England, father of the Black Prince and grandfather of Richard II
John of Gaunt – Duke of Lancaster, son of Edward III, uncle of Richard II
Robert de Vere – earl of Oxford, companion...
2020-08-2128 minThe Kings and Queens podcast11. Edward IIIEdward III (1327-77) combined the regal majesty of Henry the third and the military prowess of Edward longshanks in marshaling the cult of chivalry. It produced the most glorious age in English history.
CHARACTERS
Kings of England
Edward III
Edward II – Father of Edward III
Edward I (Longshanks) – Father of Edward II
Henry III – Father of Edward I (Longshanks)
John – Father of Henry III
Richard the Lionheart – Brother of John
Queen Philippa – Wife of Edward III
Queen Isabella – Mother of Edward III and wife of Edward II
Ro...
2020-08-0735 minThe Kings and Queens podcastInterview with Heather Darsie - author of 'Anna, Duchess of Cleves: The King's Beloved Sister'I interview Heather Darsie about her new book - 'Anna, Duchess of Cleves: The King's Beloved Sister'. We talk about her life as a young princess before becoming the Queen and wife of the King of England, the mighty Henry VIII.
You can buy her book here - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Anna-Duchess-Cleves-Beloved-Sister/dp/1445677105
You can follow her on twitter here - @HRDarsieHistory
2020-07-3148 minThe Kings and Queens podcast10. Edward IIEdward II's (1307-27) reign was plagued with military and political incompetence. He was concerned not with the deeds of chivalry but in fulfilling his own desires. So dangerous were the men he allowed to control him that it bred a sinister and violent culture not seen in England for centuries.
Characters
Edward II - King of England
Edward I (longshanks) - Father of Edward II and former King of England
Isabella of France - Queen of England, Princess and daughter of Phillip IV, King of France
Henry III - Fa...
2020-07-1732 minThe Kings and Queens podcast9. Edward I - LongshanksEdward I – Longshanks (1272-1307) is one of the most important monarchs in English history. No other king left such a mark on the island of Britain. There were no bounds to his determination and to his malice. He treated Celts with belligerence sapping his own reign of wealth and peace. His reign saw the demolition of the last Welsh principality and brought Scotland to its knees.
CHARACTERS
Edward I – King of England
Eleanor of Castile – Queen of England
Edward of Caernarfon – the son of Edward I and the heir to the throne of England
2020-07-0332 minThe Kings and Queens podcast8. Henry IIIHenry III (1216-72) was not cut from the same cloth as his belligerent predecessors. He was placid, he hated tournaments and grew to hate war. He was known to made bold ambitious policy pronouncements but to lack the drive and determination to see them through. It was his relationship with lords and barons that would characterise his reign releasing his own predilection for tyranny. It would bolster his critics as Magna Carta was etched into history and England saw the dawn of parliamentary democracy.
CREDITS
Village Consort Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative...
2020-06-1929 minThe Kings and Queens podcastMichael, King of RomaniaIn an extra episode we look at Michael (1927-30, 40-47)
With Soviet troops approaching Bucharest in 1944, the apparent puppet king in Romania made a daring decision to defy Adolf Hitler and imprison his acolyte. After Soviet rule left Romania in decades of shadow, the king’s body was returned to his country 70 years after his banishment for full state honours.
2020-06-1212 minThe Kings and Queens podcast7. JohnJohn (1199-1216) was described by historian Bishop Stubbs as ‘the very worst of our kings, a faithless son, treacherous brother, polluted with every crime. Whom no oaths could bind, there is no redeeming trait’. For Robin Hood he was the perfect iniquitous enemy. It’s a tale, popular throughout the centuries, that reflects his reputation among most contemporaries and historians alike.
Credits
Gregorian Chant by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3825-gregorian-chant
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Soundmary – wildhorses
Srehpog – light crate smash2
Ogsoundf...
2020-06-0534 min2020-05-2912 minThe Kings and Queens podcast6. Richard I - the LionheartThe reign of Richard the Lionheart (1189-99) was a brief but costly interlude in English monarchy characterised by war and chivalry. He would not continue his father’s legacy of law and order, instead the Lionheart was transfixed by honour and conquest. He was a masterful campaigner and a fine soldier who struck terror into the hearts of his enemies, but his conquests would come at a tremendous cost to his people both financially and with the leader to which his empire would be bequeathed.
Credits
Music: Battle of the Creek by Alexander Nakarada (www.se...
2020-05-2231 minThe Kings and Queens podcast5. Henry IIHenry II (1154-89) was the absolute image of a king, he was thick set, red-haired, strong, broad and powerful. As a contemporary claimed, he had a face upon which a man might gaze a thousand times and still feel drawn to gaze again. His accomplishments during his 34-year reign were unmatched in English history, he was Europe’s trailblazer. CREDITS
Editing – Richard Gough Thomas
sofonisbamusic – Trinity College Cambridge - Miserere, Gregorio Allegri
visualasylum – unsheathing a short
soundmary – wild horses running
bone666138 – fanfare
jordishaw – stabbing sound
klankbeeld – choir singing christe adoramus te
cgeffex – wh...
2020-05-1532 minThe Kings and Queens podcast4. StephenKing Stephen’s reign (1135-1154) was dominated by The Anarchy. A war between cousins vying for the crown which plagued England for nearly two decades. It led a country once rich and overflowing with luxuries into one that was wretched and desolate.
CHARACTERS
Stephen – King of England
Matilda of Boulogne – Queen of England, wife of Stephen
Henry of Blois – brother of Stephen, bishop of Winchester
Eustace – son of Stephen
Empress Matilda – daughter of Henry I, main claimant to the English throne
Geoffrey Plantagenet – husband of Empress Matilda, count of Anjou
Henry Plan...
2020-05-0827 minThe Kings and Queens podcast3. Henry I(1100-35) 'Against this man, no one could prevail except God himself’. The skillful, intelligent monarch championed not crushing warfare and submission but calming, shrewd diplomacy to meet his objectives. However, the nature of kingship and volatility of medieval life meant control over his biggest objective was dashed.
CHARACTERS
Henry I – King of England
Matilda of Scotland – first wife of Henry I
Adelaide of Louvrain – second wife of Henry I
William II (Rufus) – King of England (1087-1100), brother of Henry I
Robert Curthose – duke of Normandy, brother of Henry I
William I (The Conqu...
2020-05-0123 minThe Kings and Queens podcast2. William II (Rufus)William Rufus (1087-1100) was a king who shared many of the militaristic and oppressive tendencies of his conquering father, however the focus of his tyranny would differ. His modernity and defiance of rigid medieval etiquette along with his mockery and general disregard for the church would deeply damage his legacy when the very victims of his greed and ridicule became the scribes of his reign as King of England.
Hosted by Jonny Langton.
CHARACTERS
William II (Rufus) – King of England
Robert Curthose – elder brother of William II, duke of Normandy
Henry Beauclerk – younge...
2020-04-2421 minThe Kings and Queens podcast1. William I - the ConquerorWilliam the Conqueror’s (1066-87) arrival on England’s shores shook the land to its very core. No leader left such a perennial legacy upon England as William the Conqueror. The language and the culture would be forever altered as the Norman conquest eviscerated Saxon civilisation. Discover the story of the young duke who went from an enduring a childhood with a target on his back in a crumbling duchy to being the most influential and significant figure in the 11th century.
CHARACTERS
William I – King of England, Duke of Normandy
Matilda of Flanders – wife of...
2020-04-1722 min