King Arthur: a tale of demon sex and dog-headed monsters
You may think of King Arthur as a chivalrous ruler, surrounded by noble knights, living in splendour in Camelot and setting out on amazing quests. However, that story originates from a late medieval a...
11 Nov 36min
Secrets of history's greatest commanders
Which battlefield victory did Napoleon rank as his most brilliant? How did Julius Caesar squeeze that extra one per cent commitment out of his soldiers? And what cunning ruse did George Washington imp...
10 Nov 35min
What really sparked the Tudor Reformation?
Why did Henry VIII decide to break with Rome? From his turbulent personal life to a desire to rid the Catholic church of corruption, the Tudor king’s motivations have long proven a source of fascinati...
9 Nov 39min
The WW2 nurses who saved lives in the skies
You might be forgiven for thinking there were no women on the frontline in the Second World War. But, that's not the case. In this episode of the HistoryExtra podcast, Lauren Good speaks to historian ...
6 Nov 39min
King Harold: tragic hero of the English
King Harold II of England – otherwise known as Harold Godwinson – famously died at the battle of Hastings, with his demise at the hands of Duke William of Normandy ushering in a new Norman era. Speaki...
4 Nov 41min
Ancient goddesses: love, violence and ecstatic experiences
What do goddesses of love have in common with goddesses of war? Historian Ronald Hutton argues that some of the ancient world’s most powerful female deities were united by a potent combination of sex,...
3 Nov 29min
Life and death in the Viking age
Who was the first Viking? Why did Norse people believe they could turn into animals? And what does all of this have to do with the fall of the western Roman empire? In this episode, Neil Price speaks ...
2 Nov 38min
D-Day’s secret hero: the true story behind Pressure (In paid partnership with StudioCanal)
What comes to mind when you think D-Day? Perhaps it’s the tactical brilliance of the commanders, or the brutal combat fought by the troops. But, what about meteorologist James Stagg? He’s the subject ...
30 Okt 43min
