logo
episode-header-image
Aug 2023
33m 4s

Roger Mortimer: medieval rebel

IMMEDIATE MEDIA
About this episode
Seven hundred years ago this August, Roger Mortimer broke out of the Tower of London and went on to mastermind the deposition of his captor and arch-enemy, Edward II. In conversation with Spencer Mizen, Paul Dryburgh explains why he believes the hugely talented baron was one of the most remarkable characters in medieval history – and could have cemented his ... Show More
Up next
Yesterday
Did Churchill save the monarchy?
Winston Churchill was a passionate defender of Britain’s monarchy – but that didn’t mean he always saw eye to eye with the royals themselves. Jon Bauckham talks to Ted Powell about Churchill’s complex relationship with the Crown – from his clashes with George V and controversial ... Show More
37m 57s
Jul 25
Gods and monsters: the hidden stories of the Odyssey
Twenty years away from home: 10 of them spent fighting a war, and 10 more spent battling monsters, gods and his own worst instincts. In the second episode of HistoryExtra's four-part series on the Odyssey, Kev Lochun and classicist Daisy Dunn explore Odysseus's greatest adventure ... Show More
46m 33s
Jul 24
Preview: Was Elizabeth I one of history’s greatest leaders?
From her defeat of the Spanish Armada to her iconic portraiture and status as the ‘Virgin Queen’, Elizabeth I is one of the past’s most famous figures – but what made her such an effective leader? Today on the HistoryExtra podcast, we’re bringing you a taste of our new series, Hi ... Show More
12m 55s
Recommended Episodes
May 2021
The Second Barons' War
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the years of bloody conflict that saw Simon de Montfort (1205-65) become the most powerful man in England, with Henry III as his prisoner. With others, he had toppled Henry in 1258 in a secret, bloodless coup and established provisions for more par ... Show More
56m 32s
May 2021
The Second Barons' War
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the years of bloody conflict that saw Simon de Montfort (1205-65) become the most powerful man in England, with Henry III as his prisoner. With others, he had toppled Henry in 1258 in a secret, bloodless coup and established provisions for more par ... Show More
56m 32s
Jan 2024
Henry VIII's Nemesis, Cardinal Pole
<p>Reginald Pole has been styled as both the nemesis of Henry VIII&nbsp;and as Mary I's bloody accomplice. Pole was related to the English royal family through the Plantagenets and was himself implicated in a plot against Henry VIII in 1538. So how did he rise to become the last ... Show More
46m 1s
Jul 2023
Richard the Third
Richard the Third was the last English king to die in battle. A key figure in the Wars of the Roses, he is also prime suspect in the enduring mystery of the Princes in the Tower. Shakespeare’s classic villain, he is immortalized as an anti-hero, cunning and monstrous. But is his ... Show More
54m 50s
Jan 2023
The Prester John Myth
<p>Matt Lewis continues his Mystery Month on Gone Medieval with another tantalising enigma of the Middle Ages - the legendary figure of Prester John.</p><br><p>There’s a long history to the myth that “out there” in the east, a pious and noble Christian king ruled over a mighty ki ... Show More
27m 9s
Jan 2024
William the Conqueror
<p>When his cousin King Edward the Confessor died childless, Duke William of Normandy saw the throne of England as his birthright. But one man stood in his way, Harold Godwinson, whom Edward had named as king on his deathbed.</p><br><p>In the third episode of our special series e ... Show More
42m 8s
Aug 2024
486. Henry IV: Warrior Princes and Fat Knights (Part 2)
The year is 1403, and the Usurper King, Henry IV, faces a seemingly insurmountable challenge to his rule. He has been brought the news that his old friend, Harry “Hotspur” Percy, has betrayed him, and plans to lead his army against the King. Meanwhile, to the West, the revolt in ... Show More
57m 9s
Feb 2023
Isabella of France: A Reign of Power and Intrigue
<p>Isabella of France and her husband Edward II's marriage was turbulent and marked by rumors of infidelity. Isabella's "affair" with Roger Mortimer, a powerful nobleman, became widely known and they plotted to overthrow Edward II. Their plot succeeded, resulting in Edward II's d ... Show More
1h 7m
Mar 2025
Edward II: King of Incompetence
<p>Gone Medieval begins a gripping 4 part series exploring scandal, power, and betrayal in the Plantagenet Court.</p><br><p>This one of England’s most dramatic royal sagas; from the ill-fated reign of Edward II to the rise of his son, Edward III, Matt Lewis and Dr. Eleanor Janega ... Show More
1h 16m
Aug 2024
485. Henry IV: The Usurper King (Part 1)
"Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown…” Henry IV has been portrayed as both a shadowy, obscure figure, and a strong king who was loved by his people. Prior to ascending the throne, Henry, the son of John of Gaunt, was admired for his glamour, clemency, courage and strong fait ... Show More
1h 4m