Gone Medieval

Once the powerhouse of the Anglo-Saxon world, the kingdom of Mercia dominated not just Wessex but nearly all its neighbouring realms. At its height, Mercia held sway over regions that include modern Birmingham and even London. Though the kingdom eventually faded with the rise of Alfred the Great, its story—and its influence—were far from over.In this episode, Matt Lewis sits down with historian Annie Whitehead to uncover the enduring legacy of the Mercians. From the fierce warrior-king Penda, to the empire-building Offa, to the legendary Lady Godiva, the people of Mercia helped shape the foundations of the English nation in ways both dramatic and surprising.MORERise of WessexListen on AppleListen on SpotifyWhy The Early Middle Ages MatterListen on AppleListen on SpotifyGone Medieval is presented by Matt Lewis, edited by Ella Blaxill and Amy Haddow and produced by Rob Weinberg. The Senior Producer is Anne-Marie Luff.All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.Gone Medieval is a History Hit podcast.Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who was the worst Medieval monarch?Dr. Eleanor Janega teams up with the hosts of our sister podcast After Dark to delve into the lives of some of Europe's most notorious medieval monarchs..and rank them! From Pedro the Cruel of Portugal to Richard the Lionheart, and from Isabella the She Wolf of France to Vlad the Impaler, the team unravel their nefarious deeds and personal vendettas to decide who can be crowned as the worst monarch.MORERichard the LionheartListen on AppleListen on SpotifyQueen Isabella: She-Wolf of FranceListen on AppleListen on SpotifyThis episode was edited by Tim Artsall and produced by Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Freddy Chick.Gone Medieval is presented by Dr. Eleanor Janega. Audio editor is Amy Haddow, the senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.All music used is courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.Gone Medieval is a History Hit podcast.Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The heart of the Assassin’s Creed franchise is the deadly rivalry between the brotherhoods of Assassins and Templars. These were real groups in history, whose power and influence in their lifetimes matched the longevity of their reputations. But how much of what we know of the two organisations is myth, and what is reality?To help separate fact from fiction, Matt Lewis is joined by Dr Steve Tibble, author of Assassins and Templars: A Battle in Myth and Blood.Echoes of History is a Ubisoft podcast, brought to you by History Hit. Listen to it here.Hosted by: Matt LewisEdited by: Michael McDaidProduced by: Robin McConnellSenior Producer: Anne-Marie LuffProduction Manager: Beth DonaldsonExecutive Producers: Etienne Bouvier, Julien Fabre, Steve Lanham, Jen BennettMusic by Elitsa AlexandrovaTell us your favourite Assassin's Creed game or podcast episode at echoes-of-history@historyhit.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Come closer, warm yourself by the fire, and don't look too closely at the shadows playing at the edges of the room. Dr. Eleanor Janega explores eerie medieval ghost tales with Dr. Michael Carter, of knights with blood-stained souls and transforming ravens, fleeing monks and night walkers.Together they explore how winter hauntings reflected beliefs about ghosts, purgatory, and prayers for the dead, and why such stories, later revived by M.R. James, still captivate us today.MOREThe Haunting Medieval World of M.R.JamesListen on AppleListen on SpotifySupernatural Medieval IrelandListen on AppleListen on SpotifyGone Medieval is presented by Dr Eleanor Janega. Audio editor is Max Carrey, the producer is Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.All music used is courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.Gone Medieval is a History Hit podcast.Sign up to History Hit to watch Eleanor's new documentary on Medieval Midwinter Ghosts, plus hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Did Lady Godiva ride naked through Coventry?Matt Lewis welcomes Annie Whitehead to delve into the legendary tale of Lady Godiva, uncovering the true historical figure behind the myth. They explore primary sources, the political landscape of 11th-century Mercia, and Godiva's significant role as a landholder and patron, as one of many independent and influential of Anglo-Saxon women.MORELegends of Robin HoodListen on AppleListen on SpotifyMurder in Anglo-Saxon England with Annie WhiteheadListen on AppleListen on SpotifyGone Medieval is presented by Matt Lewis. Audio editor is Max Carrey, the producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.All music used is courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.Gone Medieval is a History Hit podcast.Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The chilling discovery of a medieval well in Norwich, filled with the remains of 17 Jewish adults and children, opened a window into the lived reality of historical antisemitism. What do these findings tell us about the forces that shaped Jewish life and loss in medieval England?Dr. Eleanor Janega and Matt Lewis continue their exploration of Norwich, uncovering the rich, and often heartbreaking, story of the city’s once-thriving Jewish community. Dr. Oren Margolis joins Eleanor to trace the journey from the arrival of Jews after the Norman Conquest through centuries of resilience, discrimination, and ultimately expulsion in 1290.More:Antisemitism in Medieval EuropeListen on AppleListen on SpotifyJulian of NorwichListen on AppleListen on SpotifyGone Medieval is presented by Dr. Eleanor Janega and Matt Lewis. Audio editor is Amy Haddow, the producer is Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.All music used is courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.Gone Medieval is a History Hit podcast.Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. You can take part in our listener survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Medieval Norwich comes alive as Matt Lewis and Dr. Eleanor Janega visit Norwich Castle, once a hulking Norman fortress, royal palace and later a Victorian jail. Matt tours the huge Keep with archaeologist Dr Tim Pestell, exploring fire-scarred vaults from medieval sieges and exquisite high-status finds unearthed in recent excavations. Matt also gets to attend Henry I's feasting hall where he spent Christmas in 1121.MORECastles, Kings and Courtly LifeListen on AppleListen on SpotifyCastles in RuinsListen on AppleListen on SpotifyGone Medieval is presented by Matt Lewis. Audio editor is Amy Haddow. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.All music used is courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.Gone Medieval is a History Hit podcast.Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. You can take part in our listener survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christmas would not be complete without a nativity play: Baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph, all watched over by an ox, a donkey and assorted bystanders in the stable. St Francis of Assisi staged the very first nativity play way back in 1223, so like all the best things in life; it's medieval!Dr. Eleanor Janega is joined by Professor Tim Larsen to uncover how St Francis turned worship into theatre and how a single night in Italy transformed the way the world would celebrate Christmas forever.MOREMedieval Origins of Santa Claus: St NicholasListen on AppleListen on SpotifyMedieval Midwinter TraditionsListen on AppleListen on SpotifyGone Medieval is presented by Dr. Eleanor Janega. Audio editor is Amy Haddow, the producer is Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.All music used is courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.Gone Medieval is a History Hit podcast.Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. You can take part in our listener survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How did the alphabet we use today take shape?Matt Lewis welcomes Danny Bate to explore how the medieval period shaped the alphabet we use today. They discuss the transformation of Egyptian hieroglyphs, the significant impact of the Norman Conquest of 1066, and the eventual disappearance of medieval letters like thorn (þ) and ash (æ). This is a journey across millennia from the adaptability of letters during the fall of Rome to innovations in medieval script and chaotic English rules.MOREMedieval Writers, Extraordinary WomenListen on AppleListen on SpotifyThe Origins of EnglishListen on AppleListen on SpotifyGone Medieval is presented by Matt Lewis. Audio editor is Amy Haddow, the senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.All music used is courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.Gone Medieval is a History Hit podcast.Sign up to History Hit to watch the new Medieval Rebels series plus hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. You can take part in our listener survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if the Renaissance was powered by Arabic science?Dr. Eleanor Janega is joined by Dr. Elizabeth Drayson to uncover how figures like Constantine the African and Fibonacci transformed European learning and commerce by channelling Islamic knowledge into Latin Christendom. They dive into records from multicultural Spain and Sicily, where Islamic science, mathematics, and medicine helped forge the foundations of “Western” progress.MOREThe Rise and Fall of Al-AndalusListen on AppleListen on SpotifyThe Destruction of Charlemagne's LegacyListen on AppleListen on SpotifyGone Medieval is presented by Dr. Eleanor Janega. Audio editor is Amy Haddow, the producer is Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.All music used is courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.Gone Medieval is a History Hit podcast.Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. You can take part in our listener survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Journey east with Matt Lewis and Martyn Whittock to uncover how the Vikings came face to face with the Slavs. Using clues like the Ingvar Rune Stones, Matt and Martyn discover how the Vikings reshaped Northeastern Europe, with Norse trade, warfare, and cultural exchange, as well as their role in the Byzantine Empire and Islamic Caliphates, and how these adventurers helped forge the Kievan Rus and influence Russian and Ukrainian identities.MOREViking TravelsListen on AppleListen on SpotifyRunesListen on AppleGone Medieval is presented by Matt Lewis. Audio editor is Amy Haddow, the senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.All music used is courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.Gone Medieval is a History Hit podcast.Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. You can take part in our listener survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How did a teenage girl stand up to armies, theologians, and kings?Dr. Eleanor Janega is joined by Professor Anne Curry to trace Joan of Arc’s astonishing rise and tragic fall. From leading French forces to facing a ruthless 1431 heresy trial, they uncover the politics, pressure, and defiance that shaped her fate. Joan's defiance, the relentless efforts of her captors to discredit her, and the intricate political machinations at play have all fed into her enduring legacy as a symbol of faith and courage.MOREThe Real Joan of ArcListen on AppleListen on SpotifyJoan of Arc's Signature & Other Medieval MarvelsListen on AppleListen on SpotifyGone Medieval is presented by Dr Eleanor Janega. Audio editor is Amy Haddow, the producer is Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.All music used is courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.Gone Medieval is a History Hit podcast.Sign up to History to watch Eleanor's latest documentary all about Joan of Arc, as well as full access to our library of history documentaries, including Eleanor exploring the medieval apocalypse, medieval winter, the Normans and so much more.Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. You can take part in our listener survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How did a medieval Scottish stone become the centre of a daring heist in the 1950's?This is the extraordinary saga of the Stone of Scone, aka the Stone of Destiny, a relic that created the kings of Scotland, is shrouded in myth and legend and was taken by the English.Matt Lewis is joined by Professor Dauvit Broun to unravel the truth behind the tales and to revisit one of the most audacious acts of student rebellion in British history.Check out a 3D model of the Stone of Scone here: https://skfb.ly/oFNITMOREKing Edward I: Hammer of the ScotsListen on SpotifyListen on AppleDefending a Castle: ScotlandListen on SpotifyListen on AppleGone Medieval is presented by Matt Lewis. The audio editor is Amy Haddow, the producers are Amy Haddow and Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.All music used is courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.Gone Medieval is a History Hit podcast. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. You can take part in our listener survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-onSign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. You can take part in our listener survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From the tactical nautical decisions of the Normans and Vikings to medieval monks' meticulous wind records, medieval civilisations have always harnessed and feared the wind.Dr. Eleanor Janega and Simon Winchester explore the intimate relationship medieval people had with the wind, from it's role in agriculture and health, to its perceived divine and magical properties, providing a comprehensive look at the wind's historical significance.MORE:The Medieval MoonListen on AppleListen on SpotifyMonsters of the Medieval ApocalypseListen on AppleListen on SpotifyGone Medieval is presented by Dr. Eleanor Janega. Audio editor is Amy Haddow, the producers are Rob Weinberg and Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.All music used is courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.Gone Medieval is a History Hit podcast.Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. You can take part in our listener survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Lewis pays a visit to Gone Medieval's sister podcast The Ancients for a lively debate with Tristan Hughes about the blurred boundary between the ancient and medieval worlds. Can Tristan champion Roman Emperor Justinian as an Ancient? What about Charlemagne? Which period can lay claim to the worst year in history? And was there a single moment when people woke up and realised they'd entered a new era?Watch this episode on The Ancients YouTube channelMOREWhy the Early Middle Ages MatterListen on AppleListen on SpotifyWhat are the High Middle Ages?Listen on AppleListen on SpotifyGone Medieval is presented by Matt Lewis. This episode edited by Rob Weinberg. The producers are Rob Weinberg and Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.All music used is courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.Gone Medieval is a History Hit podcast.Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. You can take part in our listener survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can vultures eyes wrapped in fox pelt help heal sore skin? How important are leeches? Medieval people cared deeply about beauty, health and wellness; they were obsessed with remedies, beauty hacks and astrological predictions. Dr. Eleanor Janega hears about fascinating new research led by Professor James Palmer, from global ingredients and moon-based health charts, to how to achieve a medieval 'glow up'.More:Midwinter Medieval TraditionsMedieval Guide to MagicGone Medieval is presented by Dr. Eleanor Janega. Audio editor is Amy Haddow, the producers are Rob Weinberg and Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.All music used is courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.Gone Medieval is a History Hit podcast.Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. You can take part in our listener survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Was the Hundred Years War actually a two-century long conflict?Matt Lewis sits down with Professor Michael Livingston to re-examine the traditional concept of the Hundred Years War between France and England. From the murder that sparked the initial conflict, to the collapse of French resistance up until the rise of Joan of Arc, crises on both sides of the channel framed these tumultuous centuries.MORE1217: The Year That Forged EnglandHenry V with Dan JonesGone Medieval is presented by Matt Lewis. Audio editor is Amy Haddow, the senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.All music used is courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.Gone Medieval is a History Hit podcast.Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. You can take part in our listener survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Eleanor Janega is on a field trip to uncover the secrets of the Anglo-Saxon palace at Ad Gefrin, the summer residence of King Edwin of Northumbria. Joined on site by experts Chris Ferguson and Professor Sarah Semple, she explores recent archaeological discoveries that reveal grand halls, unique timber structures, and hints of mass Christian conversions. From the mysterious grandstand to the epic feasts hosted by kings and queens, these find buried deep in the ground paint a vivid picture of medieval power dynamics and the site's critical role in Northumbria's golden age.See the artefacts at the Ad Gefrin MuseumMore:How The North Turned ChristianThe Venerable BedeGone Medieval is presented by Dr. Eleanor Janega. Audio editor is Amy Haddow, the producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.All music used is courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.Gone Medieval is a History Hit podcast.Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. You can take part in our listener survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Come with us down the dark, damp woodland lane for Gone Medieval's Halloween Spooktacular.Matt Lewis is joined by Amy Boucher and Alix Chidley-Uttley to delve into the eerie world of medieval ghost stories, folklore, and superstitions. What is the ominous significance of yew trees in graveyards? What is a corpse road? Discover how medieval stories and superstitions were more than spooky tales; they carried moral lessons and deeply entangled with folklore, religion and death.MoreDragons: From Eden to Middle EarthMonsters of the Medieval WorldWelsh Folk TalesGone Medieval is presented by Matt Lewis. Audio editor is Amy Haddow, the producer is Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.All music used is courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.Gone Medieval is a History Hit podcast.Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. You can take part in our listener survey here: https://uk.surveymonkey.com/r/6FFT7MK Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who was the self-proclaimed Prince of Wales, who was foretold in myth to free Wales from the tyrannical English and who was also a fabled wizard?Dr. Eleanor Janega is joined by Dr. Rhun Emlyn to find the real Owain Glyndwr. They discuss his legendary rebellion against English rule in 1400 and explore the transformation of 14th-century Wales, from Glyndwr's ambitious military feats and his efforts to unite a fractured country, to the myths and legends surrounding this revolutionary character who is still cherished today.More:Welsh Folk TalesWilliam Wallace, Scottish RebelGone Medieval is presented by Dr. Eleanor Janega. Audio editor is Amy Haddow, the senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.All music used is courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.Gone Medieval is a History Hit podcast.Sign up to History Hit to watch the new Rebel series starring Owain Glyndwr! Plus hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. You can take part in our listener survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.