Rise of The Plantagenets

Rise of The Plantagenets

Author: History Hit June 16, 2026 Duration: 1:03:05

What happened when Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry II joined forces, and why did it set medieval Europe on fire?

Dr. Eleanor Janega and Matt Lewis break out of the Gone Medieval dungeon to explore the dramatic rise of the Plantagenets, from a demonic family legend in Anjou to the dazzling court of Poitiers and the whirlwind marriage that united vast French lands. Expect romance, rivalry, and a dynasty built on ambition, power, and scandal.


MORE

Joanna: Eleanor of Aquitaine's Fierce Daughter

Listen on Apple

Listen on Spotify


Edward II: King of Incompetence

Listen on Apple

Listen on Spotify


Gone Medieval is presented by Dr. Eleanor Janega and Matt Lewis. Audio editor is Amy Haddow. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

All music used is courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.

Gone Medieval is a History Hit podcast.


WATCH Matt and Eleanor's new documentary The ascent to power: Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry II NOW only on History Hit: https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe 

Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week PLUS early access, 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: 50

Gone Medieval
Podcast Episodes
Henry III vs. Simon de Montfort [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:04
Was Henry III overthrown by England's first constitutional revolution? How did Simon de Montfort's rebellion change the course of history?In 1258, a revolutionary movement stripped Henry III of his authority, plunging En…
Guinevere: The Queen Who Broke Camelot? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:21
Was Queen Guinevere a traitorous adulteress who caused the tragic downfall of Camelot, or a complex political survivor? Was she even real? Dr. Eleanor Janega and Arthurian expert Dr. Mary Bateman explore the changing fac…
Henry III: England's Longest Reigning King [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:44
How did a nine-year-old boy save England from the brink of collapse? How did he transform a disastrous legacy into a remarkably stable reign?When King John died in 1216, civil war raged, barons invited a French prince to…
Medieval Sex Work & Brothels [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:44
**WARNING: This episode contains explicit language and sexual content How did prostitution become so visible in medieval towns? How could sex work flourish, sometimes in the very same buildings as schools, churches and m…
Olaf Tryggvason: Viking Warlord or Christian King? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:34
Matt Lewis and guest Dr Eleanor Barraclough as they dive into the turbulent world of late 10th-century Scandinavia and the extraordinary life of Olaf Tryggvason. Exiled, enslaved, raider, and eventually king of Norway, O…
Folk Legends of Iceland [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:00
How was folklore woven into the everyday life of medieval Icelanders? How did they make sense of the darkness of their world?During Iceland's endless nights, tales of trolls, ghosts, elves, hidden people and restless spi…
High Kings of Ireland [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:18
What if “High King” in medieval Ireland was less a fixed office than a fiercely contested prize, won through ritual, lineage, and force? On the Hill of Tara, a would-be ruler climbs toward the Stone of Destiny, hoping fo…
How to Survive as a Medieval Woman [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:57
What was life really like for working peasant women in the Middle Ages? How did family, marriage, work and social class shape their choices, joys and struggles?Taking a break from the usual queens, noblewomen and saints…
Edmund Ironside: The 222-Day King [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:45
What does it take to face a Danish invasion and fight for a kingdom in just 222 days?In 1016, England is at war as Edmund Ironside meets Cnut for a crown on the line. Matt Lewis and Dr David McDermott trace a young warri…
Empress Matilda: Queen of the Romans, Ruler of the English [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:42
How did an empress become the most dangerous claimant to the English throne?From the Battle of Lincoln to her legendary escape from Oxford Castle, Matilda was a formidable political actor whose legacy shaped the Plantage…