Uprising: The Civil Wars

7 Episodes

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Commonwealth

2025-12-0245:11

A dead king, a banished heir and a new kind of rule The war didn’t end with the executioner’s axe. In this episode we follow the new regime as it wages brutal campaigns in Ireland and Scotland, all while Charles II plots a return. Charting the final throes of war, from the subjugation of Ireland to the Battle of Worcester, historian Rebecca Rideal asks: with the monarchy now abolished, what would replace it? You can listen ad-free to this episode and more by subscribing to HistoryExtra Plus here: ⁠https://historyextra.supportingcast.fm/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

To Kill a King

2025-11-2540:41

The king is captured, and the scene is set for the trial of the century The trial of Charles I is an event with no precedent in English history – and one that ended in brutal justice. Yet, as historian Rebecca Rideal reveals, even after years of bloodshed, this was not a popular outcome, and the fallout was huge. So who was responsible for putting the king on trial? Did they always intend for him to die? And how did the other Stuart kingdoms react? You can listen ad-free to this episode and more by subscribing to HistoryExtra Plus here: ⁠https://historyextra.supportingcast.fm/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Print Wars

2025-11-1838:31

In the absence of certainty, the press drives the narrative In this episode, we discover that this was more than a war of weapons; it was one of words. From royalist broadsheets to radical parliamentarian pamphlets, historian Rebecca Rideal explores how the press fuelled the fire, shaped loyalties, and blurred the line between truth and propaganda. With circulation booming and literacy rising, this is the story of how print helped tear a country apart. You can listen ad-free to this episode and more by subscribing to HistoryExtra Plus here: ⁠https://historyextra.supportingcast.fm/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“Stubble to our Swords”

2025-11-1148:39

Blood, fire, and survival; this is the brutal reality of war In this episode, historian Rebecca Rideal explores what the conflict felt like for those who lived through it. Through pivotal battles and fierce sieges, she meets the people who defined and endured the conflict. From commanders and cavalry to women and foot soldiers, this is war as they lived it. You can listen ad-free to this episode and more by subscribing to HistoryExtra Plus here: ⁠https://historyextra.supportingcast.fm/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A World Turned Upside Down

2025-11-0444:42

Violence rages in Ireland, England splinters. Is war now inevitable? In this episode, we turn to Ireland in 1641 as a violent Catholic uprising erupts, sparking panic across the British Isles. Meanwhile, in Westminster, trust between parliament and King Charles collapses. Historian Rebecca Rideal charts the domino effect of rebellion, fear, and political failure that led to a stunning moment in history: the king raising his royal standard at Nottingham – and the beginning of war. You can listen ad-free to this episode and more by subscribing to HistoryExtra Plus here: ⁠https://historyextra.supportingcast.fm/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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