Cadaver Synod: Trial of a Dead Pope

Cadaver Synod: Trial of a Dead Pope

Author: History Hit May 5, 2026 Duration: 55:34

What could drive a pope to put a corpse on trial?

In 897, Rome staged one of the Middle Ages’ strangest spectacles: the Cadaver Synod, where Pope Stephen VI exhumed his predecessor and put his body on trial. Dr. Eleanor Janega is joined by Jessica Wärnberg to unpack the violent politics behind the outrage, the rival factions at stake, and why this gruesome event still fascinates today.


MORE

Conclave: Picking Popes

Listen on Apple

Listen on Spotify


Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor

Listen on Apple

Listen on Spotify


Gone Medieval is presented by Dr. Eleanor Janega. It was edited by Amy Haddow, the producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

All music used is courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.

Gone Medieval is a History Hit podcast.


Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. 


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


Step beyond the simple dates and dusty timelines to find the vibrant, complex world of the medieval era. Each episode of Gone Medieval pulls you into a different corner of that sprawling age, whether it's tracing the journey of a Norse longship or piecing together the political intrigue that toppled a throne. This isn't just about kings and castles; it's equally concerned with the everyday experiences of ordinary people, their beliefs, their struggles, and the myths that shaped their world. You'll hear stories of startling discoveries, from misplaced royal remains to hidden histories that challenge our modern assumptions. Produced by History Hit, this podcast benefits from deep historical research and engaging storytelling, released every Tuesday and Friday. It’s a thorough exploration that makes a distant period feel immediate and surprisingly relevant, covering events across Europe and far beyond its borders. Tune in to find the human stories woven into the grand tapestry of a thousand years of history, where power, faith, and daily life collided in fascinating ways.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Gone Medieval
Podcast Episodes
Medieval England's Top 5 Sites [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:00
Here on Gone Medieval we love to share the historical nuggets you won't commonly find.We are the insider's guide to Medieval times. and today Matt Lewis is taken on a whistle-stop tour of Medieval England by Julian Humph…
The Republic of Venice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:38
Dr. Eleanor Janega is joined by historian Roger Crowley to unravel the captivating history of Venice, the Queen of the Adriatic. How did this city, born from a lagoon, ride the changing tides of trade in the 15th century…
Monsters of the Medieval World [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:01
Welcome to Monsterland.The Medieval world is a realm of dragons, demons and beasts. Matt Lewis and Nick Jubber step into this murky world to tell the magical tales of the Bavarian Dragon's fire-breathing spectacle, the d…
Childbirth in Medieval Times with Kate Lister [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:08
This episode contains explicit language and graphic descriptions of birthToday we're delving into historical childbirth's stark realities, facing the medieval attitudes toward childbirth, its dangers, and grizzly details…
Canterbury Tales: Pilgrims' Professions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:23
Do you know what a Squire did? Was a Merchant as fancy as he sounds?Gone Medieval continues our week of pilgrimage as Matt Lewis is joined by Professor Robert Mayer Lee to explore the diverse jobs and social status' of t…
Chaucer's Wife of Bath: Medieval Feminist [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:02
This episode contains explicit language and themesWe're revelling in the Canterbury Tales this week; who else to kick things off with a bang than the scandalous Wife of Bath?Dr. Eleanor Janega is joined by Dr. Hetta Howe…
St. Christopher & Summertime Saints [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:21
Ever worn a St. Christopher medallion and wondered about the man carrying the Christ child across a river? Or heard of St. Uncumber, the bearded female saint invoked by women desperate to escape unwanted marriages? In th…
Medieval Hungary [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:48
Dr. Eleanor Janega sifts through the myths to uncover the foundations of medieval Hungary and its peoples. From the legendary tales of the country's origins to the process of Christianization under King Stephen, Eleanor…
The Murder of Henry VI [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:21
An investigation into the dramatic siege of London in 1471 and the controversial and mysterious death of Henry VI. Matt Lewis is joined by Andrew Boardman to unpack Thomas Neville's assault on London, a rebellion that se…

«1...678910