S9 E11 | The Pact

S9 E11 | The Pact

Author: Sony Music Entertainment March 17, 2026 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, where Dan gives an explainer on Warwick's piracy, the value of Calais, and the risks of another royal usurpation. Plus, hear more about Dan’s meltdown over a parking ticket.  All is not well in a simmering kingdom.  Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick — a key ally of Richard Duke of York — is holding the last skerrick of English territory in France: Calais. He’s the top military boss over there, but in recent months he’s been behaving like a high‑born pirate king.  Queen Margaret of Anjou decides enough is enough. She summons him back to England for a crackdown, but in the process, she sends Warwick, York — and his towering heir Edward, Earl of March — into open revolt. England erupts into a series of battles between Lancastrians and Yorkists at Blore Heath, Ludford Bridge, and Northampton.  What emerges is a full blown succession crisis.  – 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 Dan Jones 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 5 | 3. Revenge of the Black Dog [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:20
Edward II is king, and he makes it clear to his people that nothing is more important to him than his best knight, Piers Gaveston. His focus on Gaveston causes major political upsets, including insulting his barons and i…
Season 5 | 2. Bros with Benefits [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:10
King Edward physically attacks his son, the heir to the throne, in a shocking display of violence. The reason for this outburst? The young prince’s relationship with his favourite knight, Piers Gaveston. The way Edward s…
Season 5 | Bonus: Beasts at feasts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:06
To mark the launch of season 5, we are dishing out a free sample of This is History Plus. Each week Dan and producer Georgia explore strange tangents and delicious Medieval gossip. This episode serves up some of the most…
Season 5 | 1. Generation Kill [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:49
Edward I is getting too old to fight his enormous list of enemies, and so begins handing over the reins of war to his son and a brand new generation of knights. But the old king has a gnawing feeling he can’t shake – doe…
Introducing… Season 5 of a Dynasty to Die for [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:06
The Plantagenets are back! This season we meet Edward II, a king who is head over heels with his favourite knight, Piers Gaveston. Their relationship sparks off a mighty conflict in court, pitching Edward against his cou…
The Iron King | 6. The Curse [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:56
Philip the Fair’s beloved daughter Isabella comes to his rooms in the dead of night with scandalous news: his son’s wives are having affairs. Philip reacts to this revelation with an explosion of paranoia, violence and c…
The Iron King | 5. The Last Templar [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:07
Philip the Fair turns his owl-like gaze onto the mighty order of the Knights Templar. They have amassed a huge amount of wealth: wealth Philip wants. He and his lawyer concoct a plan to take on one of the most famous hol…
The Iron King | 4. The Battle of the Golden Spurs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:30
Philip the Fair is determined to take control of the kingdom of Flanders, in his dream of a united France. But when he attacks, the people of Flanders throw up an astonishing resistance, defeating the French army and sla…
The Iron King | 3. The Pope Slap [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:38
Philip the Fair’s vindictive nature ignites when a drunken bishop mouths off about him, calling him “a useless owl”. Possibly not the most devastating burn, but Philip isn’t one to suffer insults, however slight. This se…

«1...678910