Introducing… The Glass King

Introducing… The Glass King

Author: Sony Music Entertainment July 22, 2025 Duration: 1:48
It’s 1389, and young Charles VI of France is living the medieval dream. He’s married for love. The war-torn kingdom is finally healing. He’s handsome, adored, and destined for greatness. But then — he snaps. Charles descends into delusion, convinced his body is made of glass. He won’t let anyone touch him. He hides from the world. And as his mind fractures, so does France — a fragile kingdom now teetering on the brink of collapse. This is a story of ambition without limits, power without control… and the terrifying question: who breaks first? This Is History Presents: The Glass King — a haunting new series from historian Danièle Cybulskie — explores the tragic unraveling of a monarch and the chaos that follows. To delve deeper into the history behind each episode, join This Is History’s royal favourites on Patreon. There, you can meet fellow mediaeval history buffs, chat with the team, and tell us what you want to hear more of.  We’d love to see you there: patreon.com/thisishistory  – 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, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com  Learn more about your ad choices.  Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Written and presented by Danièle Cybulskie  Producer - Alan Weedon Senior Producer - Dominic Tyerman Executive Producer - Simon Poole  Production Manager - Jen Mistri  Production coordinator: Eric Ryan  Mixing - Amber Devereux Head of content – Chris Skinner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is History: A Dynasty to Die For picks up the story after the death of Henry V, leaving England with an infant king, Henry VI. Historian Dan Jones guides listeners through the tumultuous reign that follows, a period defined by fragile regencies and escalating noble rivalries. This podcast delves into the power vacuums and personal dramas that set the stage for decades of conflict. The narrative explores how scandal, accusations of witchcraft, and the looming specter of madness intertwined with the brutal political machinations of the era. As factions vie for control both domestically and in England's French territories, the series charts the descent into the dynastic carnage known as the Wars of the Roses. Each episode builds a vivid picture of a kingdom teetering on the brink, where the crown itself becomes a lethal prize. The storytelling in this podcast focuses on the human ambitions and failures behind the historical events, offering a detailed and compelling audio experience. Listeners will hear a deep analysis of the key figures and turning points that shaped this pivotal century, moving beyond simple dates and battles to understand the motivations and consequences that defined a nation's destiny.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

This is History: History’s Greatest Fails
Podcast Episodes
Season 6 | 3. The Hundred Years’ War [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:44
A woman executed for her crimes. An outlaw fleeing from his king. A heron killed by a hawk. The stage is set for Edward III to walk England into a war unlike anything seen before. A Sony Music Entertainment production. F…
Season 6 | 2. The Flying Scotsman [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:35
Turmoil in Scotland leads an unexpected ally to Edward III’s door. What Edward doesn’t know is that this is the first step towards the longest war the world has ever seen. A Sony Music Entertainment production. Find more…
Season 6 | 1. The Raid [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:05
A young king finds himself locked out of power by his mother and her tyrannical lover. Time is running out, so he decides to take a huge risk and try to take back his country. A Sony Music Entertainment production. Find…
Introducing… Season Six of a Dynasty to Die for [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:14
The times they are a changin’ in the Middle Ages, as we step into the tumultuous reign of Edward III. This Plantagenet is a warrior, tactician, and party prince through-and-through, but with a dangerously ambitious strea…
In Conversation | Mediaeval Feasts and Foraging - with Annie Gray [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:41
Dan is joined by food historian Annie Gray, to take a culinary voyage back in time to the feasts of the Plantagenet courts, and for a peek inside a peasant’s pantry. Along the way, Annie busts plenty of Mediaeval food my…
In Conversation | Greek myths in the Middle Ages- with Stephen Fry [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:43
Stephen Fry joins Dan to discuss his latest book, Odyssey, and how Greek myths have delighted people for thousands of years, right through the Middle Ages to the current day. Plus, Britain’s secret origins as “a new Troy…
In Conversation | The tyrant and the usurper - with Helen Castor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:06
Dan is joined by his friend and mentor, the renowned historian and author of The Eagle and The Hart, Dr Helen Castor, for a rundown of the wildest rivalry in Plantagenet history. Richard is a king, with the ego to match,…
In Conversation | Sexy poets and killer queens - with Alice Loxton [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:00
For This is History’s first ever live show, Dan is joined at the London Podcast Festival by author Alice Loxton. Alice’s most recent book, Eighteen, examines the teenage years of some of history’s biggest legends, includ…