Vikings have long been depicted as that stereotype of the hairy, nameless warrior, leaping ashore from his longboat, ready to... more

For centuries, one English monarch basked in an almost unblemished, heroic reputation. But more recently questions have been asked about... more

One of the enduring mysteries of the Viking Age is the identity of two people buried in a spectacular blood... more

The Crusades still capture the imagination today, for all of their professed good intentions they were also bloody ideological wars.But... more

In the year 940 in North-Eastern France, a young peasant girl began to experience vivid visions that mirrored the brutal... more

For millions of Tolkien lovers around the world, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings are more than just... more

It’s summer, so let’s kick back, give our brains a break and indulge in a little fantasy. Hollywood, like us,... more

William Marshal was one of the most famous and influential figures in English medieval history, rising from a lowly start... more

On Gone Medieval we like to celebrate the best stories - and storytellers - of history, so today Dr.Eleanor Janega... more

Please be aware that this episode mentions sexual violenceAmongst the countless crusaders who travelled to the Holy Land, there were... more

How did a peasant girl go on to lead French armies at the age of 17? How did her... more

Christians had a problematic relationship with Jewish populations as the Medieval period progressed. Jews were frequently persecuted, targeted and... more

Say Norman Conquests; think 1066 and William the Conqueror. But the massive success of the English conquest often overshadows the... more

Cecily Neville was the matriarch of the House of York, the mother of two kings of England and an ancestor... more

Rollo was a Viking leader who became the first ruler of Normandy in the early 10th century. His descendants,... more

Almost immediately after Thomas Becket’s murder, reports of miraculous healings and divine interventions spread like wildfire. Canterbury witnessed a huge... more

One of the most important of Holy Roman Emperors, Frederick II was revered and reviled in equal measures.  He was... more

We don't often use the word 'Tudor' on Gone Medieval but we can't ignore how the Tudors have a sensational... more

Today on Gone Medieval we arrive at one of the most consequential events in English history; the murder of the... more

It's 1163; Thomas Becket has cast off the shackles of his working class roots to become King Henry II's right-hand... more

When you think of drama in the medieval period the appointment of bishops would not naturally come to mind. ... more

Parliament is perhaps the single most significant institution in the United Kingdom. Like anything worthwhile, it's a medieval creation. But... more

"Who will rid me of this troublesome priest?!"These words supposedly uttered by a King over 800 years ago set in... more

Two years after King John had agreed to the terms of Magna Carta, he reneged on his word, plunging England... more

What does a document written in 1215 in England have to do with the United States? Surprisingly a lot actually!... more

Once connected to a busy and thriving hospital, Great St Bart's Church in Smithfield is not only a survivor of... more

Out of the shadowy world of the medieval church, an extraordinary legend emerged of a woman who disguised herself as... more

The Crusader states in the Near East were created after the First Crusade in order to keep hold of the... more

One of the last kings of Anglo-Saxon England, Edward the Confessor regained the throne for the House of Wessex and... more

The Anarchy is an intriguing and often forgotten period of history. There are fascinating characters and moments of deep political importance... more

In the Middle Ages, animals were often the means for survival and the source of great wealth. No wonder then that... more

If you are planning - or dreaming of - your next holiday, have you stopped to wonder whether our medieval... more

Did you know we have our medieval ancestors to thank for whisky? It wasn’t exactly a medieval invention but the... more

Dating from 1467-1603, the Sengoku or ‘Warring States’ period is known as the bloodiest in Japan’s history; an era of... more

King Richard I of England - Richard the Lionheart - is one of those historical figures whose reputation stands out... more

The supernatural in the Medieval world was always close at hand. In this episode of Gone Medieval, Matt Lewis pays a... more

​Do you know the difference between a church and a chapel? A bishop and an archbishop? An abbey and an... more

The Vikings continue to fascinate us because their compelling stories connect with universal human desires for exploration and adventure. ... more

The image we usually associate with a Crusader - of a dashing nobleman on a mighty steed heading out for... more

The Mongol Empire that rose in the early 13th century was fractured and in crisis by the mid-14th. But then... more

Because of William the Conqueror’s victory at the Battle of Hastings in 1066, the Normans have remained a familiar and... more

Athelstan, grandson of Alfred the Great, was a great king who united what was once a collection of petty Anglo-Saxon... more

The huge peninsula of what we today call Italy saw waves of invasions and sweeping changes over the course of... more

Six Plantagenet kings ruled between 1199 and 1399 - two centuries that witnessed civil war, deposition, the murder of kings... more

In Gone Medieval’s special series exploring some of Anglo-Saxon Britain’s most influential kingdoms, we reach Wessex - the last kingdom... more

In Gone Medieval’s special series examining some of Anglo-Saxon Britain’s most significant kingdoms, we arrive at the kingdom of Mercia,... more

Accounts of the Crusades were usually commissioned by wealthy and influential people about themselves, to make their piety and righteousness... more

From Hugh Capet to Eleanor of Aquitaine, the Capetian dynasty considered itself divinely chosen to fulfil a great destiny. From an... more

In a time of in-fighting and tribal warfare, what did it take to form the politically dominant, culturally rich and... more

In medieval times, Britain was criss-crossed by pilgrim routes, that took in such world-famous sites as Canterbury and Lindisfarne as... more

Prostitutes were everywhere in the streets and neighbourhoods of medieval cities. In one and the same building, there might be... more

One of the pivotal figures in Medieval history, King Henry II centralised royal power, instituted legal reforms and established common... more

In the Middle Ages, how did art - particularly Christian icons - serve to connect humanity with heavenly realms?  How... more

The Peasants’ Revolt of 1381 was a public rebellion that sent revolutionary ripples across the entire medieval world. In a new... more

When we think about women in the Middle Ages, we know about Eleanor of Aquitaine or Hildegard of Bingen, but... more

For a thousand years, Italy’s cities have been magnets for everything that makes for great eating: ingredients, talent, money and... more

One of Medieval England’s most influential figures, Thurstan was the Archbishop of York from 1114 to 1140 who fought attempts... more

Court records of naked, murderous monks, tavern brawls, robberies gone wrong, tragic accidents and criminal gangs reveal how the English... more

This episode contains strong language, graphic scenes of torture and sexual content The chances are, when we think of William Wallace,... more

Preparing, serving and sharing food has always played a critical role in human history. But what did people in the... more