logo
episode-header-image
Jun 2025
46m 50s

Theodora, the rags to riches Empress

History Hit
About this episode
tail spinning
Up next
Mar 24
1066 New Discovery: The Myth of Harold's March
What if one of the most famous stories in English history never happened? What if King Harold did not march his exhausted troops 200 miles before the Battle of Hastings?Matt Lewis is joined by Professor Tom Licence whose explosive research argues that King Harold’s legendary marc ... Show More
51m 33s
Mar 20
Viking Scotland: The Siege of Dumbarton
What happens when Vikings stop raiding and start laying siege to a mighty rock fortress on the Clyde?Matt Lewis is joined by Todd Ferguson to uncover the four-month Viking siege of Dumbarton in 870, exploring why this Brittonic stronghold mattered so much, how its fall reshaped S ... Show More
52m 18s
Mar 16
Early Medieval Croatia
What if everything you think you know about medieval Croatia is wrong?Dr Eleanor Janega is joined by Professor Florin Curta to uncover how Dalmatia’s coastal cities defied “Dark Age” collapse, why Slavic identity may have been a political invention, and how frontiers became homel ... Show More
57m 22s
Recommended Episodes
Apr 2025
History's Worst F*ckboys: Emperor Caligula
<p>Have you ever heard of the Emperor who made his horse a senator? Seems like a top bloke, right? Today on Betwixt the Sheets we’re going to meet (possibly) the most debauched Roman Emperor.</p><br><p>From stealing brides from their wedding days to an unhealthy obsession with hi ... Show More
46m 2s
Sep 2025
Rise of the Habsburgs
In the first of a special four-part series on the Habsburgs, Professor Suzannah Lipscomb traces the unlikely rise of Europe’s most enduring imperial family. Emerging from a modest Swiss noble house in the 10th century, the House of Habsburg would go on to dominate the political, ... Show More
44m 43s
Mar 2025
Aphra Behn: Revolutionary, Author, Spy
<p>Aphra Behn was a true original. Not only was she the first woman to earn a living by writing, she was also a spy, a political propagandist and a revolutionary. Publicly she was all brash sexuality and outspoken politics, but what is known about the woman beneath? Professor ... Show More
40m 26s
Jul 2025
The Queen of Sheba
<p>A figure of wealth, wisdom, and global fascination - how did the Queen of Sheba become one of history’s most enduring royal icons?</p><br><p>In this episode, Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr Jillian Stinchcomb to trace the enduring story of the Queen of Sheba — from her biblical ... Show More
52m 16s
Oct 2025
Voices of Thunder: Radical Women of the 17th Century
In 17th-century England, women weren’t asked what they believed, they were generally told to obey. But amid civil war, revolution, and religious upheaval, a remarkable group of women risked everything to speak out. They preached, prophesied and published their defiance, surviving ... Show More
46m 58s
Sep 2025
Inanna: Mesopotamian Sex Goddess
Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr. Kate Lister to take us on a journey through the fascinating history of Innana, an ancient goddess of love, war, fertility, and political power. They delve into her evolution from a humble agricultural deity to one of the most powerful and complex f ... Show More
41m 43s
Mar 2022
International, part 5: Hürrem Sultan: From Slavery To Queen (pt 1/2)
Hürrem Sultan, aka Haseki Sultan, aka Roxelana, was born around 1502 and was captured and sold into slavery as a young girl. She caught the attention of the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, and wound up shattering all kinds of glass ceilings for women, the enslaved, and concubines a ... Show More
1h 8m
Dec 2024
Elizabeth I & the Sultan of Morocco
<p>Elizabeth I and Sultan Ahmad al-Mansur of Morocco shared a common goal of empire building, despite their cultural, political and religious differences. Their alliance resulted in the transformation of sugar from a luxury item to a widespread commodity and their little-known co ... Show More
43m 9s
Mar 2025
Murderous Women
<p><strong>**This podcast contains graphic descriptions of murders and the punishments of those convicted**</strong></p><br><p>Gruesome murders carried out by women captivated the public imagination in Early Modern Britain. Pamphlets, ballads, and woodcuts spread the stories of t ... Show More
53m 26s
Dec 2024
Marie Antoinette
<p>In 1770, 14-year-old Archduchess Maria Antonia of Austria arrived in France to marry Louis XVI. As Marie Antoinette, she became the ultimate diva of her time; rebelling against the the rigid protocols of court and crafting a unique visual identity; wearing men's clothing and s ... Show More
40m 46s