Who was the very worst of all the Medieval monarchs? No spoilers but we've got monarchs driven psychopathic by love, terrible sadists, and egos that straddled a continent. They were the worst of the worst, but who was the worst of all?

Our guest today is Dr Eleanor Janega, co-host of Gone Mediev...

WARNING: This podcast contains adult themes and discussion of paedophilia

A brilliant general. A brooding autocrat. A recluse surrounded by scandal. Few Roman emperors divide opinion like Tiberius. But was he truly a monster, or the victim of centuries of salacious storytelling?

In this episod...

Eleanor Janega explains everything you need to know about the Medieval Apocalypse. For Medieval Europe, the Apocalypse wasn’t just a metaphor - it was very real and very imminent. We are talking about the four horsemen, locusts the size of horses, the beast of the abyss, the Whore of Babylon, and...

In 1588, Spain’s mighty armada sailed to invade England and change the balance of power in Europe. Dan explains why Philip II launched the Armada, details the high-stakes clash in the Channel, and outlines the decisive tactics, leadership and luck that helped the English prevail.

Tristan Hughes and Matt Lewis (host of 'Gone Medieval') have a lively debate about the blurred boundary between the ancient and medieval worlds. Can Tristan champion Roman Emperor Justinian as an Ancient? What about Charlemagne? Which period can lay claim to the worst year in history? And was t...

Could the plucked backside of a chicken really cure the plague? If that question has ever crossed your mind, then this episode is for you. Today, we’re diving into the Black Death - where it originated, how it tore across continents at terrifying speed, and the gruesome symptoms it unleashed.

We...

Did Nostradamus really predict everything from the Great Fire of London to the rise of Hitler?

We predict that you'll find out in this episode...

Join Anthony and Maddy as they explore the life of 16th century astrologer and so-called seer, Nostradamus, to find out if he really had the abilit...

Rome. Egypt. Love. War. Over 2,000 years ago, the fates of two ancient worlds collided in one of history’s most legendary love stories: Antony and Cleopatra.

In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr Daisy Dunn to uncover the truth behind the myth - from their first meeting...

Henry VIII was a monarch everyone was excited for, and turned into someone who weaponised his powers for murder.

What happened in his life that caused the death toll to suddenly rise?

In this episode, Anthony and Maddy are joined by historian and author, Gareth Russell, to unpack the warning ...

We dive into the life and legacy of the North African-born ruler who rose through the ranks to seize the imperial throne. We discover how Severus transformed the Roman military, led daring campaigns across continents, and left a mark that shaped the empire for generations.

Joining us is Simon El...

Tristan Hughes and Raven Todd Dilva discuss Arctic archaeology, revealing the Thule Inuit, an ancient civilisation that mastered survival across northern Canada and Greenland. This episode explores the remarkable migration of the Thule Inuit from Alaska around 1000 CE, their eventual replacement ...

Was the Eye of Sauron based on ancient Irish mythology? What can we know about these prehistoric legends and their effect on our stories today?

Tristan Hughes and ancient history expert Anthony Murphy dive deep into the written tales to uncover how the seemingly "pagan" stories, written down by ...

Did you know fossil sharks are older than the dinosaurs and even the rings of Saturn?

Tristan Hughes and leading palaeontologist Professor John Long delve into the epic evolutionary journey of these ocean survivors, from the earliest microscopic scales to the monstrous apex predators of the 'Gol...

Tristan Hughes and Conn Iggulden talk all about Emperor Nero's traumatic rise to power in the Julio-Claudian dynasty, featuring Agrippina the Younger, Caligula, and Claudius in this episode of the Ancients.

In this in-depth ancient history podcast, host Tristan Hughes welcomes acclaimed historic...

Ancient Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, and the Persian Empire clash in this deep dive into the 539 BC conquest. Tristan Hughes and Reverend Professor Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones discuss the unexpected fall of the Neo-Babylonian Empire and the rise of Cyrus the Great's Achaemenid Persia.

They explore the pi...

Exploring the origins of the fall of Rome, ancient history expert Dr David Gwynn uncovers the 4th-century transformation of the Roman Empire under emperors like Diocletian and Constantine. This episode delves into a period often overlooked, examining how the empire consolidated after the tumultuo...

Watch this full episode of After Dark with Anthony Delaney and Maddy Pelling where they chat about ancient Irish burial traditions, keening, Irish wakes, and funerary rites. Joined by special guest historian Dan Snow, they explore the lost Gaelic ritual of "keening" — a powerful, thousand-year-ol...

Elizabeth I is often celebrated as one of the greatest English monarchs - but should she be? From her commanding portraits and grand speeches to her brutal suppression of dissent and controversial decisions, we explore whether Elizabeth’s legacy is one of power and stability or one marked by bloo...

Ann Jeffries's story of faeries and witchcraft in Cornwall is explored in this After Dark episode. Watch the full chat with Anthony Delaney and Maddy Pelling where they talk to Bodmin Jail manager Jess Marlton about this unbelievable 17th-century case of prophecy, imprisonment, and the English Ci...

Was the Industrial Revolution the most important event in human history? Dan Snow is joined by economist and journalist Duncan Weldon to explore why exactly the industrial revolution started on the soggy archipelago of Britain and the impact of its entrepreneurs, politics, and empire had on the c...

What did Medieval people think about rats? Did they have any idea that they were the cause of the Black Death? How did they use charms and poisons to try to get rid of them? Today we explore the world of the Black Death Rat with Kathleen Walker-Meikle, historian of Medieval pets and animals whose...

Medieval people weren’t prudish—far from it. Dan Snow is joined by medieval historian Dr Eleanor Janega to explore sex, marriage, and desire in the Middle Ages. They delve into the beliefs around sodomy as “non-procreative sex”; pilgrimages as raucous release valves, raunchy art and love spells. ...

Joining Anthony and Maddy today is the fantastic Philippa Gregory, historian and author of Boleyn Traitor. The Tudor court was dangerous and high-stakes at the best of times, where survival could often mean betraying others. Enter: Jane Boleyn, thrust into the Tudor limelight when her sister-in-...

In this episode, Dan explains the dramatic story of the Battle of Agincourt when, against overwhelming odds, Henry V’s underdog English army emerged victorious over their mighty French opponents. We explore why the battle happened in the first place, as well as the key characters, weaponry, and t...