S9 E8 | Royal Blood

S9 E8 | Royal Blood

Author: Sony Music Entertainment February 24, 2026 Duration: 31:39
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.  There you can also listen to this week’s bonus episode, where we discuss the Duke of York’s super-royal credentials, and why the Duke of Somerset fails upward.  Henry VI’s royal court breathes a collective sigh of relief — Queen Margaret of Anjou is pregnant. It’s a welcome addition to what remains of a vanishingly thin Plantagenet dynasty.  Aside from Henry, this is the first royal birth in 50 years.  The celebrations don’t last long. As 1453 rolls on, two prominent nobles are fighting to rule on behalf of an impotent king. Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset is the king’s favourite… but he’s also the man who lost Normandy. At his heels is Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York, a man feared by the nobility but loved by England’s increasingly frustrated populace.  The realm will soon have to make a stark choice, because a catastrophic blow to English power is imminent.  – 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
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,…
S9 E9 | Madness Descends [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:15
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 E7 | Cade’s Rebellion [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:18
Don’t forget! Dan’s gifted you his favourite bonus episode from this season. To listen for free, simply search for the last episode before this one. England is descending into mob rule. Henry VI has presided over a catas…
Was the Queen of England a French spy? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:19
Hello! We’ve gifted one of Dan’s favourite bonus episodes from Season 9 just for you. To listen to all bonus episodes, ad-free, subscribe at patreon.com/thisishistory Dan and Producer Al explore the likelihood of Margare…