Medieval
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A Voice for Richard
Imagine if we could hear one of the most fascinating figures from history speak again.
In this special film, Richard III expert Matthew Lewis follows a remarkable project to give Richard III back his voice and to hear and see him speak again. Forget the words put into his mouth by Shakespeare a...
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24 Hours in Medieval Armour
Luke Tomes undertakes a series of challenges around England's capital wearing 14th century full-plate armour.
In this video, you'll find out what life was like for medieval knights in battle and on crusade, how they trained for combat, how much their armour cost them and most importantly, how th...
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The Galloway Hoard
A real treat for History Hit, this is an exceptional private view of a unique discovery, a glittering hoard of beautifully crafted objects in silver, gold and crystal, buried in the ground and forgotten 1100 years ago.
The Galloway Hoard opens an extraordinary window into the Viking Age, a time...
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Meet the Normans
1 season
They were the Northmen who changed history. Starting as heathen Viking warriors who plundered and settled in Northern France and forged the new Duchy of Normandy, becoming the most ferocious conquerors that medieval Europe had ever seen, and giving England its most famous date: 1066.
In this tw...
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Lindisfarne: Faith and Vikings
In 793 AD, the holy island of Lindisfarne was subject to one of the most infamous Viking raids on Britain. ‘Heathen' men plundered the sacred monastery in an event that shook Christian Europe.
Dan Snow travels across the tidal causeway to Lindisfarne to discover the rich culture of this holy pla...
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Treasures of the Royal Mint: The Portrayal Of A Monarch
With a history stretching over 1,100 years, The Royal Mint has forged a fascinating story through the world of historic coins. As the second oldest mint in the world, and the oldest company in the UK, their history is entwined with the 61 monarchs who have ruled England and Britain.
The Royal Mi...
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Medieval Punishments
Historian Matt Lewis explains the worst medieval torture techniques.
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Castles that Made Britain
1 season
Castles have loomed over the landscape of Britain for centuries. They hold the keys to unlocking some of the greatest stories of our past.
Join History Hit's medieval expert, Matt Lewis, in this new series as he explores some of Britain’s most iconic castles. It is a spectacular journey to some...
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Battle of Bosworth - Battlefield Detective
Matt Lewis travels to the Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre in Leicestershire to meet Richard Mackinder, an archaeologist who has spent the last two decades scouring the earth around the site where King Richard III and Henry Tudor clashed in one of the most famous battles in English history.
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Real Fake History: The Alternate Battle of Bosworth
In this episode of Real Fake History, Dan Snow is joined by historians Matt Lewis, Nathen Amin, and Tracy Borman to discuss the hypothetical scenario: what if Richard III had won the Battle of Bosworth?
On the 22nd of August 1485, the future of England was decided on the fields of Bosworth. Rich...
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The Battle of Shrewsbury
In 1403, a rebellion broke out in England that would culminate in one of the bloodiest battles to ever take place on English soil. On 21st July 1403, King Henry IV with his son, the future Henry V, went head to head with a Northern traitor - Henry Hotspur. The Battle of Shrewsbury would pit reb...
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Working (more than) 9 to 5 - The Labouring Lives of Medieval Women
Dr Eleanor Janega investigates one of the least recorded aspects of medieval life - working women. But dig deep and you can find the evidence - proving the medieval period is a fascinating window into the true history of women…and work!
Eleanor takes on the jobs and businesses of real medieval ...
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Treason
Treason is a word we all know, but how did treason law develop in England? Over the centuries, those linked with some of the most audacious attacks on the establishment have been branded traitors. If treason failed, it usually led to the most gruesome of death penalties. Some of those convicted w...
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The 7 Deadly Sins with Eleanor Janega
January, time to purge ourselves of the excesses of the holidays! Medievalist Eleanor Janega takes a deep historical dive into the 7 Deadly Sins. When did they begin, what's the worst sin, and should we be so anxious about our vices? And who decided what was evil anyway? Joined by Dr Rachel Sto...
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Digging up the 'Dark Ages'
Join Dan Snow as he explores this stunning set of discoveries in our brand new documentary ‘Digging Up the Dark Ages’ on History Hit TV.
While working on the HS2 high speed railway project in the UK, archaeologists made discoveries of national significance, uncovering a large Anglo-Saxon burial...
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Uncovering The Bayeux Tapestry
One of the world's most famous and well-preserved pieces of medieval embroidery, the 70-metre-wide Bayeux Tapestry depicts the events leading up to the Norman conquest of England concerning William, Duke of Normandy, and Harold, Earl of Wessex, later King of England, culminating in the Battle of ...
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Science in the Middle Ages
Seb Falk, a historian of medieval science at Cambridge University and the author of The Light Ages, tackles the big questions about science in the Middle Ages.
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Medieval Kings: Henry V
Henry V's exploits both as a King and as a young man have been cemented in the popular imagination thanks to Shakespeare’s plays. But how much of Shakespeare's depiction is true? Anne Curry, Emeritus Professor of Medieval History from the University of Southampton, answers key questions about thi...
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Medieval Kings: Richard II
Helen Carr, medieval historian and author of 'The Red Prince', answers the key questions about King Richard II. What kind of England did Richard inherit? Why was John of Gaunt so influential during his reign? What did John achieve? How significant was the 'Peasant's Revolt'? And many more.
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Whitefriars: The Lost Priory of Gloucester
In July 2021, the remains of a 13th Century Carmelite friary, also known as Whitefriars, were recently found by archaeologists beneath a demolished multi-storey car park in Gloucester city centre.
Historians knew roughly where Whitefriars had stood, but its exact location was a mystery. The dig,...
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King Arthur's Round Table Revealed
The mystery and legend of King Arthur has fascinated mankind for centuries. Was there really a fifth-century warrior king at war with the Angles and Saxons? Did he have a round table of knights? Where was Camelot? Now, twenty-first century forensic archaeology allows us to suggest new answers to ...
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The Sharp End: Testing Front Line Weapons
1 season
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Viking Empires
1 season
Over a thousand years ago, the Vikings swept like a storm through the world.
These Scandinavian warriors plundered, killed and enslaved many, but they also changed society forever and they still beguile and fascinate us. Now, new discoveries challenge what we thought we knew about them. 'Viking...
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Chivalry and Betrayal: The Hundred Years War
1 season
Dr Janina Ramirez follows the momentous and nation-shaping war between England and France.