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
S8 E2 | Whack a Mole [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:52
Henry IV is waking in the night screaming, convinced people are throwing fire at him. In truth, they’re throwing shade. Even the clergy are questioning his right to rule. And to silence the whispers, this pious king turn…
S8 E1 | A Hole in the Head [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:53
Turns out, wearing the crown is the easy part. Henry IV thought kingship would bring control—but the treasury’s running dry, rebellions are flaring, and his grip on power is slipping fast. Then his heir takes an arrow to…
Introducing… Season Eight of a Dynasty to Die For [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:24
When you survive an arrow shot to the face like Henry V did, you don’t waste your second chance. So when he’s finally crowned in 1413, it’s all systems go. He ruthlessly slaps down challenges to his rule, and launches a…
The Glass King | 6. A Jagged Peace [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:15
France is slipping through her fingers. With the kingdom on the brink of collapse, Queen Isabeau of Bavaria makes a desperate move: she offers her daughter’s hand to England’s King Henry V. It’s a bold bid for peace—but…
The Glass King | 5. The Enemy of My Enemy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:52
France is in ruins. Normandy has fallen to the English, and the rest of the kingdom is being ripped apart by civil war between the Burgundians and Armagnacs. In the midst of this chaos, Queen Isabeau of Bavaria faces an…
The Glass King | 4. A New Hope [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:04
Henry V shatters the Dauphin Louis’s hubris. Despite their superior numbers, carnage awaits the French at a battle called Agincourt. But the bad luck doesn’t end there. Two Dauphins die suddenly in quick succession, cata…
The Glass King | 3. Agent of Chaos [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:04
While King Charles VI is incapacitated, his brother Louis, and his queen, Isabeau, have been living large. The Duchy of Burgundy pays the price, drawing the ire of its powerful leader, John the Fearless. As England is dr…
The Glass King | 2. The Stranger [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:53
A glittering Parisian ball, erupts in flames. King Charles VI barely escapes with his life. The culprit? His own brother, Louis — drunk, impulsive, and dangerously ambitious. But instead of punishment, Louis is rewarded…
The Glass King | 1. Fracture [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:22
Charles VI has done everything right. His new queen charms the court. He’s taken power away from his regents. France is stable, for now. But one encounter in a forest — brief, almost incidental — changes everything. To d…
Introducing… The Glass King [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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 desc…