THIS IS HISTORY — A DYNASTY TO DIE FOR

What happens when you make a nine-year-old boy king of England? It turns out, it’s a recipe for unscrupulous advisers and a king unlike any the nation has ever known. Henry III is the opposite of his cruel father: he is compassionate and pious, but he’s also indecisive and easily manipulated. When trouble brews in Plantagenet lands in France, Henry’s brother, the wily and calculating Richard, is s...

Power, greed, religion and sex: historian Dan Jones brings the drama of mediaeval history alive through compelling stories, larger-than-life characters and vivid scenes.  Season 4 tells the story of two kings, Henry and Edward, who are desperately trying to save their dynasty. Their conflicting personalities will be put to the ultimate test as an old friend, Simon de Montfort, and his growing powe...

The new season of This is History will be landing on your feeds on February 20th. In the meantime, you can listen to hours of bonus content over on This is History Plus, where Dan has been interviewing the great and good of history about all things Plantagenet. In this free taster episode, Dan has a conversation with Mediaevalist Danièle Cybulskie about personal lessons we can take from the monks...

John desperately clings on to power while Louis the Lion declares himself king in London. Meanwhile, the rebels close in. This could be the end for John, and the House of Plantagenet. But standing in the way of ruin, there’s still one loyal knight left who’s ready to ride into battle and defend the dynasty one final time.  This is History is a Sony Music Entertainment production.   Find more great...

Magna Carta has failed and the country is plunged into war. John devises a cruel plan that involves taunting his starving enemies with the delicious smell of bacon. Meanwhile, Louis the Lion, the son of the French King, prepares to invade England, while the Pope’s representative race to beat him there. John is running out of time, but he’s not going down without a fight.  This is History is a Sony...

The Army of God secures a shocking victory in London. King John is totally blindsided and forced to negotiate. At Runnymede, in 1215, he gathers his barons and together they produce one of the most famous documents in Western History. But will Magna Carta be enough to stop this civil war in its tracks?   This is History is a Sony Music Entertainment production.   Find more great podcasts from Sony...

John returns from his humiliating defeat at Bouvines to an unhappy kingdom. His barons have finally reached their limit, sick of John’s extortionate taxes, failed campaigns and vicious vendettas. They demand he changes his ways, or else it’s war. This is History is a Sony Music Entertainment production.   Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts     To bring...

John assembles a mighty Plantagenet alliance to return to France and reclaim what Philip Augustus stole from him. After a decade of preparations, the fate of his dynasty rests on the outcome of one bloody battle. This is History is a Sony Music Entertainment production. Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts To bring your brand to life in this podcast, ema...

King John puts his grand plans of reclaiming his French lands on hold, so that he can spend some time fighting his neighbours in Wales. He is close to finally conquering the country once and for all, when he hears a rumour that makes his blood run cold. If he’s going to survive, John desperately needs an ally. This is History is a Sony Music Entertainment production. Find more great podcasts from...

This episode contains scenes that some listeners may find upsetting. One of King John’s closest allies, William de Briouze, knows exactly who murdered Arthur of Brittany. When his wife, Matilda, makes a public accusation, the King does everything in his power to take revenge. John may already have a reputation for cruelty, and a vicious streak, but what happens next shakes the people of England to...

King John makes a brand new enemy: Pope Innocent III, after they fall out over an archbishop. The Pope takes extreme measures and puts England under an interdict. This means the church is closed for business to everyone in England. He expects John to beg for mercy, but instead, the diabolical king has eyed a golden opportunity. This is History is a Sony Music Entertainment production. Find more gr...

John has been chased from his lands in Normandy, and is forced into permanent residence in England. The problem is, the people of England have got quite used to absentee kings, and aren’t taking too kindly to John’s meddling. But John’s meddling has a serious purpose; he needs England’s wealth in order to raise an army and return to France to win back his lost lands.  This is History is a Sony Mus...

The finest castle in the Plantagenet Empire, Château Gaillard, is under siege. French King Philip Augustus has it surrounded, and is willing to play dirty, literally, to claim it. If John doesn’t act fast, he could lose everything his father and brother fought to build. This is History is a Sony Music Entertainment production. Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com...

John decides to get married, but his controversial choice of bride causes his French lands to erupt in rebellion. John’s enemies ride for the castle of Mirebeau, where they aim to capture the ultimate prize: the King’s mother, Eleanor of Aquitane.  This is History is a Sony Music Entertainment production.   Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts     To bri...

King John’s first real test of leadership arrives, in the form of a treaty with Philip Augustus, the wily King of France. Will John spot the French King’s trap, or blunder straight into it? Meanwhile, a grim discovery in the river Seine sets the tone for the reign of England’s most diabolical ruler.  This is History is a Somethin’ Else & Sony Music Entertainment production.   Find more great podca...

Power, greed, religion and sex: historian Dan Jones brings the drama of mediaeval history alivethrough compelling stories, larger-than-life characters and vivid scenes. The third season tells the incredible story of England’s most diabolical ruler. King John makes enemies wherever he goes: from the king of France, to his own barons, and even god himself. But what happens when one of the most power...

From Dean of Black Twitter, Michael Harriot comes a Black history podcast like you've never heard before. Using a recipe that includes detailed research, barbershop humor and a little seasoned salt, a parade of cookout-certified celebrity guests helps Michael Harriot serve up a compelling, hilarious, and more accurate version of Black history that was conveniently whitewashed from your social stud...

Richard has worn down French King Philip into agreeing a truce, but still has plenty of enemies to take care of. He heads to a castle in Aquitaine to teach the rebellious lord there a lesson. The Lionheart has won countless sieges and these defenders don’t look well prepared, so he jumps into the action himself. But fate is about to intervene, changing the Plantagenet world forever.  This is Histo...

Richard’s war to reconquer his empire is in full swing. With John back under his thumb and Philip squarely in his sights, he’s now building a huge castle to act as a forward base against the french king. But as Richard visits the construction site, he’s greeted by a strange and terrifying storm unlike anything in living memory. Is it a bad omen for his campaign?  This is History is a Sony Music En...

Richard kicks his plan for vengeance into gear. The first step is to flush out his devious brother John, who’s hiding in Normandy. Once John is in his clutches, Richard has the perfect punishment in store: one that’s going to cost his other enemies dearly.  This is History is a Somethin’ Else & Sony Music Entertainment production.  Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusi...

Richard comes roaring back onto the scene, having finally won his freedom. Now, he’s got his work cut out, reclaiming the lands his brother gave away or lost to the French King. But also, there’s the small matter of revenge. The people who dared put The Lionheart behind bars are about to get what’s coming to them.  This is History is a Sony Music Entertainment production.   Find more great podcast...

Richard is stuck in prison, and the Holy Roman Emperor, Henry VI, is demanding an eye-watering ransom before he has any hope of release. While Richard’s allies set about raising the funds, his brother John and French King Philip Augustus do everything in their power to keep him there.  This is History is a Sony Music Entertainment production.   Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainmen...

In a hurry to return to England and rescue his kingdom from the clutches of his younger brother, Richard makes the rash decision to sail across the Adriatic in winter. He finds himself shipwrecked off the Italian coast, forced to travel on foot through lands governed by a hostile Duke. The Lionheart is never afraid to ride his luck, but this time, it’s about to run out…  This is History is a Somet...

While Richard is away crusading, back home his brother John and half-brother Geoffrey are up to no good. After being banned from England, John returns to badmouth Richard’s regime and set himself up as a king-in-waiting. The Lionheart sends back trusted advisors and even his mum Eleanor to tackle his scheming siblings, but he’s starting to fear this may not be enough… This is History is a Somethin...

Riding high after successfully laying siege to Acre, Richard marches his crusading armies towards the strategically vital city of Jaffa. But things take a turn for the worse, as his troops are facing hunger, exhaustion and even poisonous spiders. Plus, the great general Saladin is lying in wait, planning a deadly attack. Can Richard beat the odds and complete his quest to take the biggest prize in...