S9 E6 | The Ambush

S9 E6 | The Ambush

Author: Sony Music Entertainment February 10, 2026 Duration: 25:12
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   Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester — Henry V’s last surviving brother — is lost in delusion. He still believes England can somehow hold its possessions in France, even as its soldiers are exhausted, its treasury is drained, and its enemies grow stronger by the day. Across the Channel, King Charles VII of France hardly needs to fight; he simply needs to wait for England to collapse under the weight of its own war. But in Westminster, reality is catching up. William de la Pole, Henry VI’s most trusted advisor, summons a special parliament to confront the crisis head‑on — a moment designed to force the kingdom, and Humphrey himself, to face the truth. What happens next delivers the biggest shock of Humphrey’s political life, sending ripples through the court and reshaping England’s future. In this episode of This Is History: A Dynasty to Die For, historian Dan Jones unpacks a turning point where denial meets destiny — and a proud duke discovers the cost of refusing to see the world as it is. – And don’t forget, you can now WATCH every This Is History episode on YouTube. Subscribe at youtube.com/@thisishistorypod  – 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: 50

This is History: The Tudors
Podcast Episodes
Who’s afraid of Henry Tudor? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:24
He’s the man who schemed, smashed and slashed his way to power. But as it turns out, winning a crown is far easier than keeping one. This Is History: The Tudors traces the unlikely rise of King Henry VII — the man respon…
Paul Greengrass: Turning Andrew Garfield Into a Medieval Rebel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:23
The story of disgruntled citizens feeling the need to rise up against a rigged system and distant elites is one that defines our moment. But we’re not unique in that feeling. Mistrust of the elite goes back a long way —…
What King Arthur Reveals About Ourselves [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:12
Did King Arthur exist? Amy Jeffs isn't fussed. In this episode, the historian and artist behind Arthur: A New Life takes Dan Jones beyond Camelot and the search for a "real" Arthur, into a world of Welsh myth, Breton sto…
Did the Hundred Years war ever really end? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:02
Two men and two hundred years of history… On this week’s This Is History: In Conversation, Dan Jones meets Mike Livingston — award-winning historian and novelist from across the pond — to discuss the Hundred Years War. A…
Dan Snow is taking Dan Jones places [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:40
It’s time for a Dan-off. To celebrate the return of This Is History: In Conversation, Dan Jones meets the other history podcaster called Dan. Dan Snow’s an award-winning historian, best-selling author, and host of Dan Sn…
S10 E12 | To Bosworth [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:56
Richard III’s son and heir, Edward of Middleham, dies unexpectedly. Then tragedy strikes twice: his wife Queen Anne dies, too. Richard, who ruthlessly diverted the line of succession away from his nephews, now has to con…
S10 E11 | Last Hope [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:33
*THIS IS HISTORY — A DYNASTY TO DIE FOR* *Season 10, Episode 11: Last Hope* It’s 1482. Margaret Beaufort and her husband, Thomas Stanley hold the most power in Northwest England…and they’re hungry for more. They’ve asked…
S10 E10 | The Princes In The Tower [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:02
Richard Duke of Gloucester has the crown in his sights. But first, he needs to clear the room. Allies become enemies. Councillors are arrested. Lord Hastings is dead. And Edward IV’s heirs are locked in the Tower of Lond…
S10 E9 | Kidnap [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:23
Edward IV finally has it all. With his enemies vanquished, the Yorkist king can now focus on what really matters to him — pleasure. But, after one fateful fishing trip, he drops dead at 41. The kingdom is now left to his…