THIS IS HISTORY — A DYNASTY TO DIE FOR

The Mediterranean port city of Acre is under siege by the crusaders, who have been trying to breach its walls for two long years. Conquering Acre is essential if they are to reclaim the Holy Land, but the city is starting to look unbreakable. Morale among the Christian army is at its lowest ebb, when something happens that could turn the tide. Richard the Lionheart finally arrives, and he’s ready...

Richard the Lionheart continues to terrorise the islands of the Mediterranean, falling out with some very important people as he goes. Meanwhile his mother, Eleanore of Aquitaine, is desperately trying to catch up to the crusaders. She’s bringing someone with her who could throw Richard into a full-blown diplomatic incident.  This is History is a Somethin’ Else & Sony Music Entertainment productio...

This episode contains disturbing themes and may not be suitable for all listeners Richard the Lionheart sets off with his massive crusading force for the long journey east. But soon he gets some news which sends him into a white hot rage. His little sister Joan has been locked up by King Tancred of Sicily. The Holy Land can wait – Richard is going to make Tancred rue the day he messed with the Pla...

The new Plantagenet king, Richard the Lionheart, begins his reign with one thing on his mind: war. He plans to leave his empire undefended, venturing east to wreak vengeance and bloodshed on his enemies in the Holy Land. The Third Crusade is about to begin.  This is History is a Somethin’ Else & Sony Music Entertainment production.  Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymus...

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. The saga of history’s most dysfunctional dynasty continues. Richard the Lionheart is on the throne and has one thing on his mind: victory in the Holy Land. But while Richard is away on crusade, his younger brother John has ambitio...

In the wait for season two, This is History Plus will be releasing interviews with some of Dan’s favourite historians, talking all things Plantagenet.  In this episode, Dan is joined by Tobias Capwell to talk about what it was really like to be a knight. Tobias, a seasoned jouster himself, and Curator of Arms and Armour at the Wallace Collection, discusses how knights trained and why the concept o...

Henry’s grip on power has never been more fragile. His son, Richard, has teamed up with King Philip to attack his lands and lay siege to his beloved hometown. There’s a dramatic showdown between Richard and the great knight William Marshall, and Henry finally discovers the truth about his son. It’s the season finale, and the Plantagenet world is about to change forever. Find more great podcasts fr...

Crusader armies are setting sail to fight Saladin, but the most powerful rulers in Europe are nowhere to be seen. Richard is still desperate to test his mettle in the East, but his father is dragging his feet, anxious about leaving the empire unattended. After Richard goes on a wild rampage in Toulouse, relations between the two Plantagenet powerhouses are on the rocks and the French king smells b...

Religious fervour sweeps over the Plantagenet realms, as the Pope demands that all good Christians go to war and reclaim the Holy Land. Richard the Lionheart signs up and “takes the cross” immediately. This leaves Henry II with two concerns: will his son and heir survive this impulsive decision, and how weak will the old king look if he stays behind? Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entert...

High on the plains above Galilee, a crusader army is surrounded as they set up camp for the night. The next day, they will face muslim forces commanded by the formidable general known as Saladin. The outcome of this battle will reverberate throughout the whole Christian world. As dawn breaks, history hangs in the balance. Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podc...

Henry is blindsided by a new threat from France, as King Philip Augustus decides it’s time to strike at the Plantagenets. Henry is still a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield, but Philip thinks he’s found a more cunning way to unseat his rival. All the while, Henry is dealing with an unexpected death in the family. Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/po...

Henry is still determined to give his youngest son, John, some land of his own to rule and Ireland seems the obvious choice. So John is sent over there with a huge warchest and a clear mission: assert Plantagenet authority and ‘persuade’ the tribes to fall in line. He can then rule Ireland as part of his father’s empire. It’s a golden opportunity. All he needs to do is not mess it up… Find more gr...

Plantagenet infighting is once again threatening to boil over into war. Henry II wants to give Aquitane to his youngest son, John, but Richard the Lionheart won’t have it. It seems like a stalemate, until Henry reveals his surprise trump card: a family member that Richard just can’t refuse. Meanwhile, Henry gets the offer of a lifetime from the East. Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entert...

Legendary knight William Marshal sets off on a dangerous pilgrimage to Jerusalem. He’s determined to follow through on his vows to the dying Young King and take his friend’s crusader cloak to Christ’s tomb. The journey east is perilous enough, but when he arrives in Jerusalem, Marshal finds a city teetering on the edge of disaster.  This is History is a Somethin’ Else & Sony Music Entertainment pr...

Aquitaine is on fire. Young Henry and Geoffrey are openly backing rebels and stirring up conflict in an effort to bring their brother Richard down. Richard responds with his usual brutality and the situation spins way out of control. Their father, Old Henry, wades in to support Richard and now the family is embroiled in a full-blown war over the future of the empire. This is History is a Somethin’...

While Henry the Young King lives the glamorous tournament lifestyle, his brother Richard is proving himself on real battlefields. The most formidable general of all the Plantagenet princes, he rules Aquitaine with an iron fist, crushing rebellions, smashing castles, and generally making a name for himself as someone you really don’t want to cross. But as another wave of unrest sweeps through the p...

As the Plantagenet princes hit early adulthood, their home life remains… unusual. Mum is still imprisoned by Dad. Dad is still refusing to hand over the reins of power to his ambitious and warlike sons. So they find another way to prove themselves on the big stage: fighting in knightly tournaments. We join Henry the Young King at one of the grandest tournaments of the age, determined to show the w...

The War Without Love is decisively won. This leaves Henry II with some tricky decisions to make about how to punish the rebels, including his own family. If he’s too lenient, people will think he’s weak. If he’s too harsh, they might rebel again. In the end, there’s just one person who ends up bearing the full brunt of Henry’s wrath: his wife.  This is History is a Somethin’ Else & Sony Music Ente...

The three eldest Plantagenet princes are fed up with their domineering dad. They may only be teenagers, but they want more power now and the king won’t give it to them. That’s how they end up in the court of Henry’s greatest rival, the French king Louis VII, plotting to bring down their own father. But has this strange new alliance got what it takes to bring down the formidable Henry?  This is His...

The Plantagenets are now at war. Henry II is facing an existential threat from the king of France, three of his own sons and even his wife: Eleanor of Aquitane. But Eleanor doesn’t have an easy road ahead to escape her husband’s kingdom and join the rebels. Dan tries to piece together the patchy record of her daring escape.  This is History is a Somethin’ Else & Sony Music Entertainment production...

Henry’s eldest son (helpfully also called Henry) is now 16 years old. Young Henry is a skilled fighter who’s itching for the chance to prove himself. But although his dad has spoiled him rotten with all sorts of titles, he has no real power yet. Young Henry’s teenage angst is building and it’s about to explode… spectacularly.  This is History is a Somethin’ Else & Sony Music Entertainment producti...

In the aftermath of Thomas Becket’s murder, Henry II is in big trouble with the pope. His grip on power, and his immortal soul, hang in the balance. In desperate need of a distraction, the king turns his gaze west, to a country that has so far escaped Plantagenet aggression: Ireland.  This is History is a Somethin’ Else & Sony Music Entertainment production.  Find more great podcasts from Sony Mus...

Thomas Becket returns to make Henry’s life miserable once again. The two men, once close friends, are now bitter enemies. But when Becket delivers a fiery sermon attacking Henry’s rule, even he fears he might have pushed the king too far…  This is History is a Somethin’ Else & Sony Music Entertainment production.  Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts  To...

Henry is rocked by the death of his mother and mentor, the Empress Matilda. The grief-stricken king is left to solve the problems of succession alone. Meanwhile Henry’s marriage to Eleanor is falling apart. Will she look past his rampant infidelity in order to secure greater power for herself?  This is History is a Somethin’ Else & Sony Music Entertainment production.  Find more great podcasts fro...

This episode contains descriptions of violence or sexual content that may not be suitable for all listeners.  Thomas Becket is on trial, facing a string of serious charges and in danger of losing his freedom. Once he was Henry Plantagenet’s right hand man, but now he’s become his greatest enemy. Dan puts Becket on the psychiatrist's couch to work out how he got himself into this mess. And, more im...