S10 E8 | No Mercy

S10 E8 | No Mercy

Author: Sony Music Entertainment July 14, 2026 Duration: 32:43
A grieving George Duke of Clarence wants someone to blame for the tragic death of his wife and spare heir.  Isabel Neville, Duchess of Clarence, dies during childbirth in December 1476. Their infant son dies shortly afterward.  It’s a moment that would push anyone to the brink, but in George’s hands, it turns bloody. He sets his sights on two low-ranking staff members in the Clarence household, creates a kangaroo court, and sends them to the gallows.  This act of extrajudicial killing isn’t seen as a lapse from someone wracked with grief, but something entirely in keeping with what many see in George: someone who is greedy, volatile, and profoundly disloyal.  It’s these qualities that make King Edward IV realise England won’t be at peace with George alive. So naturally, he reaches for a supply of Portuguese wine to sort things out once and for all.  – As always, Dan’s royal favourites can chime in anytime on the royal court on Patreon at patreon.com/thisishistory. It’s where you get your bonus episodes, and on this week’s episode Dan explains why the ‘rule of law’ could be made brittle for certain nobles under Edward IV’s reign. Plus, we hear about whether George Duke of Clarence was a medieval gold digger, and why he decides to play “silly buggers” with a crystal ball.  – 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  –– Presented by Dan Jones  Producer - Alan Weedon Senior Producer - Dominic Tyerman Associate Producer - Dulcie Whadcock Executive Producer - Louisa Field  Executive Producer - Dan Jones Production Manager - Jen Mistri  Production Coordinator - Eric Ryan  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: 50

This is History: The Tudors
Podcast Episodes
War — History’s Ultimate Failure [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:17
Elizabeth Day grew up in Belfast and would as a child walk past the most bombed hotel in Europe. Dan Jones recalls a Croatian widow whose husband went out for bread and never returned. In this final episode of History’s…
Ear Today, Gone Tomorrow: Van Gogh’s Guide to Artistic Failure [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:23
If you’re an artist, when would you like recognition to strike? Do you want it to be in your lifetime, only to be forgotten decades after your death? Or do you want to remain undiscovered, with your story potentially ech…
Why isn’t Leonardo Da Vinci remembered as an engineer? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:18
If you judge him by his own elaborate metrics, Leonardo da Vinci was a failure. Long before the Mona Lisa became shorthand for genius, Leonardo imagined himself as something else entirely: a military engineer, a designer…
How, exactly, does a woman ‘slip’ out of history? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:16
What would you do if your life was omitted, reduced to an overlooked footnote, or filed away as an anomaly? In this episode, Dan and Elizabeth turn a lens on the practice of history itself, interrogating the choices and…
Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn are the Ross and Rachel of history [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:28
To love is to risk heartbreak. And while for some, breakups result in renewal, maybe some therapy (or a few months’ spent wallowing), for the historical figures of this episode… a relationship’s end has broken many more…
Was Richard III a Failure? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:58
He died at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. And we haven’t been able to stop talking about him since. Yes, it’s time to consider the story of England’s last Plantagenet king, Richard III — a centuries-old tangle involving…
Get in loser, we’re making history [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:06
We’re often taught that history’s written by the winners. But we’d like to argue that, in fact, it’s the losers who end up making history. In this brand new miniseries from Dan Jones and Elizabeth Day, History’s Greatest…
S9 E12 | Rise of the Yorks [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:23
To learn more about the last time an English king was usurped, listen to Season 7, Bonus Episode 12, where Dan tells the story of Henry VI’s grandfather, Henry Bolingbroke. In 1399, he toppled Richard II to become King H…
S9 E11 | The Pact [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:39
Royal favourites, we want your voice notes in our new miniseries on historical failures. Look out for Producer Al’s callout post on patreon.com/thisishistory. It’s there where you can listen to this week’s bonus episode,…
S9 E10 | The Battle of St Albans [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:02
Royal favourites, we want your voice notes in our new miniseries on historical failures. Look out for Producer Al’s callout post on patreon.com/thisishistory. It’s there where you can listen to this week’s bonus episode,…