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: 100

This is History: History’s Greatest Fails
Podcast Episodes
S8 E12 | To Jerusalem [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:51
Henry V stands at the peak of his power. He’s not just England’s king—he’s heir and regent of France. But for Henry, two crowns aren’t enough. His eyes are fixed on the ultimate prize: the Holy Land. A crusade promises g…
S8 E11 | Winner Takes All [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:07
Henry V’s lightning campaign across France is sputtering. His army is exhausted, starving, and dangerously restless—a powder keg waiting to blow. The French know time is on their side; all they have to do is wait. But th…
S8 E10 | The Road to Rouen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:28
Surely Henry V can’t like what he’s about to do, but he knows enough about what cruelty can deliver. It’s 1418 and his forces have been instructed to lay siege to Normandy’s glittering capital, Rouen. If he takes this ci…
S8 E9 | Henry the Conqueror [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:30
We have a small favour to ask! We’ve put together a survey about This Is History, and it would mean a lot to us if you could fill it out. You can find it at: https://bit.ly/4oFyVRg In northern France, Henry V spots a gla…
S8 E8 | The Triumph [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:59
We have a small favour to ask! We’ve put together a survey about This Is History, and it would mean a lot to us if you could fill it out. You can find it at: https://bit.ly/4oFyVRg Fresh from his jaw-dropping triumph at…
S8 E7 | The Battle of Agincourt [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:22
Outnumbered. Exhausted. Unyielding. Fresh from the brutal siege of Harfleur, King Henry V marches his exhausted, disease-ridden army across hostile French territory—toward Azincourt, and into the jaws of disaster. Outnum…
S8 E6 | The Gun Show [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:24
When the newly crowned King Henry V receives a mocking gift from the French Dauphin — a box of tennis balls — he doesn’t laugh. He retaliates with cannonballs and a thunderous claim to the French throne. What begins as a…
S8 E5 | The Switch-Up [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:41
Henry V has finally seized the throne—but this is no coronation of peace. With chilling precision, he tightens his grip on power, silencing reformists and casting former allies into prison. His reign begins not with cele…
S8 E4 | Ballads and Brawls [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:56
Henry of Monmouth’s impatience reaches fever pitch when he tries to snatch the crown from his father, Henry IV. It backfires royally. To teach him a lesson, the king makes Henry’s boozehound brother, Thomas, the heir app…
S8 E3 | The Score [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:02
The trial of a tailor-turned-heretic tests Henry of Monmouth’s authority. Word on the street is that the heir apparent is flirting with the Lollards, who want reform of the church and state. It all comes to a head at Oxf…