From long-lost Viking ships to kings buried in unexpected places; from murders and power politics, to myths, religion, the lives of ordinary... more
Recreating Richard III's Voice: A Journey Through TimeJoin us as we dive into the fascinating project of reconstructing the voice... more
Dr. Eleanor Janega can hardly contain her excitement. She’s just seen Joan of Arc’s actual signature on show in the... more
What is a leper squint? Are the marks scratched into the exterior walls of churches from damned souls trying to... more
Rodrigo Díaz - known as el Cid - lived a violently colourful life in 11th Century Spain. By turns an... more
Join Matt Lewis and Professor Michael Livingston to unravel the legendary Battle of Agincourt.They cover the lesser-known strategic blunders to... more
Why are so many medieval castles left in ruins?Join Dr. Eleanor Janega as she steps through the rubble of these... more
Gone Medieval continues to explore the life cycle of castles, today considering the role for which they were explicitly designed... more
**This episode contains some strong language**Few women had the luxury of writing down their thoughts and feelings during medieval times.... more
Old Sarum was the earliest settlement of Salisbury in Wlitshire. While there are indications of a prehistoric settlement on the site from... more
All this month, Matt and Eleanor are ranging across England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland to discover the stories of our... more
Ireland has been known as the land of saints and scholars and once was the farthest reach of the known... more
Medieval churches are among our most enduring links with the Middle Ages. But it's not always easy to understand what... more
Castles in Medieval Britain didn't just serve a military purpose, they were central to the social and cultural life of... more
At the edge of the Gobi Desert, Dunhuang was once a bustling oasis on the famous Silk Road connecting China... more
For the Plantagenets, family might be a curse as often as a boon. They could provide invaluable support, or dangerous... more
Castles. For centuries they have held fast across the landscape of the British Isles. Like beacons on a hill... more
Bonfires of paperwork have accompanied human upheaval for centuries, eradicating, making space for rewriting. Imagine standing in the centre of... more
If you’ve ever been to Prague, you’ll have noticed that there are many places and institutions that bear the name... more
The stories often told and retold of the early medieval period are those of great kings, battles and daring deeds.... more
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
Sweyn Forkbeard was the first Viking King of England, however you'd be forgiven for potentially forgetting who he was given... more
One of the pivotal figures in Medieval history, King Henry II centralised royal power, instituted legal reforms and established common law. His marriage... more