logo
episode-header-image
Nov 2022
58m 25s

The Sunday Debate: Who was the greatest ...

Intelligence Squared
About this episode

Sign up for Intelligence Squared Premium here: https://iq2premium.supercast.com/ for ad-free listening, bonus content, early access and much more. See below for details.

In October Intelligence Squared partnered with History Hit to ask, who was the greatest English monarch? Each of the kings and queens competing for the title left a distinctive stamp on their era – but who did most to shape the nation and the lives of its people? Who was the cleverest? Who was the bravest? Who was the most loved? Hosted by History Hit's Dan Snow, this lively event throws light on the monarchy as an institution, exploring how it has survived the challenges and vicissitudes of the ages. 


Tom Holland - Alfred the Great

Tracy Borman - Henry VIII

Helen Castor - Elizabeth I

Jane Ridley - Queen Victoria


Premium subscribers to Intelligence Squared can also access an extended audience Q&A with our panel as well as the final votes for the debate.

We are incredibly grateful for your support. To become an Intelligence Squared Premium subscriber, follow the link: https://iq2premium.supercast.com/ 

Here’s a reminder of the benefits you’ll receive as a subscriber:

  • Ad-free listening, because we know some of you would prefer to listen without interruption 
  • One early episode per week
  • Two bonus episodes per month
  • A 25% discount on IQ2+, our exciting streaming service, where you can watch and take part in events live at home and enjoy watching past events on demand and without ads 
  • A 15% discount and priority access to live, in-person events in London, so you won’t miss out on tickets
  • Our premium monthly newsletter 
  • Intelligence Squared Merch

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Up next
Jul 8
Classic Debate: Neville Chamberlain Did The Right Thing
If ever a politician got a bum rap it’s Neville Chamberlain. He has gone down in history as the British prime minster whose policy of appeasement in the 1930s allowed the Nazis to flourish unopposed. He has never been forgiven for ceding part of Czechoslovakia to Hitler in the Mu ... Show More
1h 6m
Jul 7
Are bureaucrats a force for good? With Michael Lewis and Gillian Tett (Part Two)
The concept of government is under attack. In the United States, Donald Trump has fired tens of thousands of federal workers; ignored congressional statutes; insulted judges; and allowed Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, access to sensitive government information in a slash-and ... Show More
40m 33s
Jul 5
Are bureaucrats a force for good? With Michael Lewis and Gillian Tett (Part One)
The concept of government is under attack. In the United States, Donald Trump has fired tens of thousands of federal workers; ignored congressional statutes; insulted judges; and allowed Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, access to sensitive government information in a slash-and ... Show More
40m 50s
Recommended Episodes
Nov 2023
The Birth of a Nation
Saudi Arabian professor of social anthropology and author of Salman's Legacy: The Dilemmas of a New Era in Saudi Arabia, Madawi Al-Rasheed, explains the foundations of the Saudi state and how two key factors – religion and oil – shaped the kingdom. This episode was hosted and pro ... Show More
16m 59s
Mar 2025
Final Flight: The Last Surviving Battle Of Britain Pilot Dies
As a free bonus livestream episode, James Holland and Al Murray discuss the life and times of the last surviving RAF veteran of The Battle Of Britain, John 'Paddy' Hemingway, who sadly passed away this week at 105. It is also a good time to revisit the myths of The Battle Of Brit ... Show More
52m 16s
Apr 6
The Tudors, Part 2 of 2
The later Tudor years were a time of turmoil, political intrigue, and national transformation. Initially defined by crises of succession, and shifts in the religious landscape, the period went on to see the reign of some of the most famous royal women in history. And, under the 4 ... Show More
1h 3m
May 15
The Norman Conquest
On October 14, 1066, England changed forever. Forces from Normandy, France, defeated the English King and changed life in England forever. It affected everyone from the aristocracy down to the commoners, and it even trickled down to the very language spoken in the country itself. ... Show More
16m 48s
Mar 2025
The Tudors, Part 1 of 2
The Tudors are the most famous royal family in English history, ruling from 1485 to 1603. The dynasty began with the reign of King Henry VII, and ended with his granddaughter, Elizabeth I. Marked by political, religious, and cultural change, the Tudor era shaped the course of Eng ... Show More
1h 5m
Apr 2024
Season 4 | 10. Dead Queens
Margaret of Norway is a six-year-old child who has just found out she’s the only surviving heir to the throne of Scotland. She’s summoned to make the crossing from Norway, where Edward I intends to marry her to his son. He sees Margaret as the key to his Scottish takeover, but ev ... Show More
33m 57s
May 7
The Battle of Tours (Encore)
In the year 732, one of the most important battles in world history took place between the cities of Tours and Portier in France. On one side was an unstoppable juggernaut that had amassed one of the largest empires in world history in less than a century. On the other side was a ... Show More
14m 20s
May 18
566. The Great Northern War: Slaughter on the Steppes (Part 3)
Why was the greatest and most climactic battle of the Great Northern War, the Battle of Poltova, one of the most important in all European history? What drove Charles XII of Sweden to invade Russia in the Summer of 1707, in the lead up to that totemic clash? Exactly what happened ... Show More
1h 3m
Jun 10
King Charles’ will "die with cancer", Meghan Markle's Twerk-gate Triumph, & Princess Lilibet's Disneyland Birthday
A new report reveals King Charles’ health battle and its potential long-term effects, despite his return to royal duties. Meanwhile, Meghan Markle celebrates a victorious "Twerk-gate," gaining a massive following in the U.S., while Princess Lilibet enjoys a magical birthday at Di ... Show More
7m 21s
Feb 2025
The Execution of Lady Jane Grey
February 12, 1554. England’s shortest-reigning monarch is executed, seven months after her time on the throne came to an end. This episode originally aired in 2024. Support the show! Join Into History for ad-free listening and more. History Daily is a co-production of Airship and ... Show More
15m 51s