~ cueing up the show ~
~ pulling every episode ~
Gone Medieval — Every episode — OmList
om
list
Swipe
Tournament
Lists
Friends
All
Movies
TV
Books
Games
Music
Podcasts
People
▾
Sign in
Every episode
Gone Medieval
30 episodes
Henry III vs. Simon de Montfort
Ep 552 · Aug 14, 2026 · 46 min
Was Henry III overthrown by England's first constitutional revolution? How did Simon de Montfort's rebellion change the course of history? In 1258, a revolutionary movement stripped Henry III of his authority, plunging England into a bitter crisis and a brutal civil war. As Henry fought to suppress an uprising in France, his queen Eleanor of Provence emerged as one of the most formidable political figures of the age. David Carpenter returns to Gone Medieval to speak to Matt Lewis about the extra…
Guinevere: The Queen Who Broke Camelot?
Ep 551 · Aug 11, 2026 · 54 min
Was Queen Guinevere a traitorous adulteress who caused the tragic downfall of Camelot, or a complex political survivor? Was she even real? Dr. Eleanor Janega and Arthurian expert Dr. Mary Bateman explore the changing faces of King Arthur’s legendary wife. They discuss her early mythological Welsh roots, scandalous 'affairs' with Lancelot and Mordred, and how medieval queens used this powerful romantic legend for their own real-world political influence. MORE King Arthur with Dr. Mary Bateman Lis…
Henry III: England's Longest Reigning King
Ep 550 · Aug 7, 2026 · 49 min
How did a nine-year-old boy save England from the brink of collapse? How did he transform a disastrous legacy into a remarkably stable reign? When King John died in 1216, civil war raged, barons invited a French prince to seize the throne, and the new monarch Henry III was just nine years old. Against all odds, the boy king navigated rebellion, rebuilt royal authority after Magna Carta, and laid the foundations for one of the longest reigns in English history. Matt Lewis finds out more from reno…
Medieval Sex Work & Brothels
Ep 549 · Aug 4, 2026 · 42 min
**WARNING: This episode contains explicit language and sexual content How did prostitution become so visible in medieval towns? How could sex work flourish, sometimes in the very same buildings as schools, churches and markets? Prostitutes were a familiar presence in medieval cities, raising fascinating questions about morality, religion, law and urban life. Dr. Eleanor Janega is joined by Dr. Kate Lister, host of our sister podcast Betwixt the Sheets, to uncover a surprising world where ideals…
Olaf Tryggvason: Viking Warlord or Christian King?
Ep 548 · Jul 31, 2026 · 58 min
Matt Lewis and guest Dr Eleanor Barraclough as they dive into the turbulent world of late 10th-century Scandinavia and the extraordinary life of Olaf Tryggvason. Exiled, enslaved, raider, and eventually king of Norway, Olaf was a force of nature in an age of shifting loyalties, pagan beliefs, and rising Christianity. From Kievan Rus to the British Isles, this episode traces his violent rise and his brutal drive to convert Norway and beyond. MORE Erik Bloodaxe Listen on Apple Listen on Spotify Le…
Folk Legends of Iceland
Ep 547 · Jul 28, 2026 · 57 min
How was folklore woven into the everyday life of medieval Icelanders? How did they make sense of the darkness of their world? During Iceland's endless nights, tales of trolls, ghosts, elves, hidden people and restless spirits were far more than entertainment: they explained an unpredictable existence, preserved history, and warned against unseen dangers. Dr Eleanor Janega is joined by Dr. Dagrún Ósk Jónsdóttir, to explore the extraordinary legends and oral traditions that continue to shape Icela…
High Kings of Ireland
Ep 546 · Jul 24, 2026 · 54 min
What if “High King” in medieval Ireland was less a fixed office than a fiercely contested prize, won through ritual, lineage, and force? On the Hill of Tara, a would-be ruler climbs toward the Stone of Destiny, hoping for the legendary cry that marks him as chosen. Matt Lewis and Dr Seán Ó Hoireabhárd explore a world of multiple kings, turn-taking dynasties, cattle raiding, and shifting power between church, Norse settlers, and Irish rivals. Along the way, they reveal how Tara, Brian Boru,…
How to Survive as a Medieval Woman
Ep 545 · Jul 21, 2026 · 1 hr 2 min
What was life really like for working peasant women in the Middle Ages? How did family, marriage, work and social class shape their choices, joys and struggles? Taking a break from the usual queens, noblewomen and saints of the Medieval period, Dr. Eleanor Janega is joined by Dr. Catherine Hanley to explore the unsung experiences of mothers and daughters, wives, widows and women workers across medieval society. MORE The Anarchy: Disruptive Women Listen on Apple Listen on Spotify How to Survive t…
Edmund Ironside: The 222-Day King
Ep 544 · Jul 17, 2026 · 53 min
What does it take to face a Danish invasion and fight for a kingdom in just 222 days? In 1016, England is at war as Edmund Ironside meets Cnut for a crown on the line. Matt Lewis and Dr David McDermott trace a young warrior king who fought six battles, won his name for speed and strength, and held the field at Sherston, Brentford, and beyond. MORE Æthelstan: First King of the English Listen on Apple Listen on Spotify King Cnut & the End of the Viking Age Listen on Apple Listen on Spotify Gone Me…
Empress Matilda: Queen of the Romans, Ruler of the English
Ep 543 · Jul 14, 2026 · 50 min
How did an empress become the most dangerous claimant to the English throne? From the Battle of Lincoln to her legendary escape from Oxford Castle, Matilda was a formidable political actor whose legacy shaped the Plantagenet dynasty. Dr Eleanor Janega is joined by Professor Elisabeth van Houts to explore Matilda’s imperial upbringing, her contested claim after Henry I’s death, the infamous White Ship disaster, and the brutal civil war known as the Anarchy. MORE The Anarchy: Disruptive Women List…
Battle of the Golden Spurs
Ep 542 · Jul 10, 2026 · 55 min
In 1302, an army of Flemish townsmen achieved the impossible. At the Battle of the Golden Spurs, infantry armed with pikes and determination crushed the mounted knights of Kingdom of France in one of the greatest military upsets of the Middle Ages. Matt Lewis is joined by Danièle Cybulski to uncover the truth behind this classic David v Goliath story. Why did France invade Flanders? How did ordinary craftsmen defeat Europe's most feared cavalry? And did this famous victory change the course of m…
St Benedict
Ep 541 · Jul 7, 2026 · 1 hr 6 min
Why did a young Roman nobleman reject status and education for a life of prayer, solitude and discipline? St Benedict’s quiet choices would go on to shape the future of Western civilisation. His is a story of medieval Christianity, monastic life, hospitality, order, prayer and work — and of a different kind of greatness. Dr. Eleanor Janega is joined by Dr. Tim Larsen to explore the extraordinary life and legacy of St Benedict, founder of Western monasticism and patron saint of Europe. MORE: St.…
King Stephen
Ep 540 · Jul 3, 2026 · 60 min
Was King Stephen a weak ruler who plunged England into chaos, or an unlucky monarch trapped by impossible circumstances? How did one disputed succession unleash nearly two decades of civil war, betrayal and brutality, which inspired George R. R. Martin's House of the Dragon? Matt Lewis and Professor Carl Watkins explore the troubled reign of the king whose seizure of the throne in 1135 helped ignite the devastating conflict remembered as The Anarchy. More: Matilda: Empress, Queen, Warrior Listen…
Deadly Rivalry: Armagnac vs. Burgundy
Ep 539 · Jun 30, 2026 · 60 min
What starts as a shocking street murder in Paris turns into one of the most vicious civil wars in medieval Europe? Dr Eleanor Janega is joined by Professor Justine Firnhaber-Baker to unravel the blood-soaked conflict between Burgundy and the Armagnacs, a struggle triggered by assassination, fuelled by propaganda, and made more dangerous by a mad king, a divided court and a war-torn France. They explore the brutal killing of Louis of Orleans, John the Fearless’s rise as a populist strongman, the…
A Complete History of Medieval Scotland
Ep 538 · Jun 26, 2026 · 52 min
What if Scotland’s story began with a miracle in battle, a white cross in the sky, and a kingdom forged through war, faith and sheer ambition? Matt Lewis is joined by Professor Murray Pittock to race through medieval Scotland, from the Saltire’s legendary origins to Picts, Gaels, Vikings and the rise of Alba. They trace how a patchwork of peoples became a nation. MORE Viking Siege of Dumbarton Listen on Apple Listen on Spotify Origins of Scottish Independance Listen on Apple Listen on Spotify Go…
Medieval Royal Bastards
Ep 537 · Jun 23, 2026 · 52 min
What really made a royal bastard, and could illegitimacy be a path to power as much as a barrier? Dr Eleanor Janega is joined by Lauren Johnson, author of Margaret Beaufort; Survivor, Rebel, Kingmaker to dive into the scandalous world of medieval illegitimacy. They trace how the label of “bastard” developed, why it could upend inheritance, how an explosive accusations could turn the tables of power and how royal children born outside marriage still rose to command armies, influence kings, and re…
The Seljuk Turks
Ep 536 · Jun 19, 2026 · 54 min
How did a nomadic people from the Steppes become one of the great powers of the medieval Middle East? Matt Lewis is joined by Dr Nicholas Morton to explore the rise of the Seljuk Turks, the nomadic horsemen who carved out a vast empire, toppled old powers, and helped reshape the world of the Crusades. Along the way, they ask how the Seljuks conquered so much so fast, why mounted archers were so hard to defeat, and how a nomadic confederation became an empire. MORE The First Crusade: the Road to…
Rise of The Plantagenets
Ep 535 · Jun 16, 2026 · 1 hr 3 min
What happened when Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry II joined forces, and why did it set medieval Europe on fire? Dr. Eleanor Janega and Matt Lewis break out of the Gone Medieval dungeon to explore the dramatic rise of the Plantagenets, from a demonic family legend in Anjou to the dazzling court of Poitiers and the whirlwind marriage that united vast French lands. Expect romance, rivalry, and a dynasty built on ambition, power, and scandal. MORE Joanna: Eleanor of Aquitaine's Fierce Daughter Liste…
The Queer Court of William Rufus
Ep 534 · Jun 12, 2026 · 49 min
What really went on at the court of King William Rufus? William the Conqueror's son and successor was fierce and ruthless. He taxed heavily, refused to conform to the ideals of kingship, and reportedly presided over a court of extravagant young men and sexual licentiousness. But how much of Rufus's reputation was shaped by the monks that despised him? Matt Lewis is joined by Professor Tom Licence, to explore the life, reign and shocking death of a king, whose reputation remains as provocative to…
Hildegard of Bingen - Prophetess, Composer, Mystic
Ep 533 · Jun 9, 2026 · 1 hr 3 min
How did a cloistered, twelfth century nun become a visionary, composer, healer, preacher, and adviser to popes and emperors? Despite having visions from childhood - even in the womb, she claimed - Hildegard of Bingen waited until the age of 42 when she heard a divine command to “write what you see and hear”, a moment that launched one of the most remarkable careers of the medieval world, including as creator of the most distinctive surviving sacred music of the Middle Ages. Dr. Eleanor Janega is…
The Black Death: A Global Apocalypse?
Ep 532 · Jun 5, 2026 · 1 hr 1 min
A plague of terrifying speed, mysterious symptoms and global reach, the Black Death transformed more than Europe alone. Matt Lewis is joined by Thomas Asbridge to chart the medieval spread, from Caffa’s siege lines to Cairo’s crowded streets, from brutal medical experiments to self-flagellating penitents and a medieval world shaken to its core. MORE How To Survive Plague and War in the Middle Ages Listen on Apple Listen on Spotify Leprosy in the Middle Ages Listen on Apple Listen on Spotify Gone…
Seeking Sanctuary
Ep 531 · Jun 2, 2026 · 1 hr 5 min
Could a medieval church really protect a killer from the law? From the 40-day asylum of parish churches to the more permanent protections claimed by Westminster Abbey, sanctuary was never simply an escape route, it was a contested space where mercy and authority met. Dr. Eleanor Janega is joined by Professor Shannon McSheffrey to uncover the extraordinary history of a medieval institution that could save lives, provoke outrage and expose the uneasy balance between bloodshed, forgiveness and powe…
The First Troubadours
Ep 530 · May 29, 2026 · 47 min
How could a love song become a political weapon? How were scandals, wars and crusades turned into some of the most influential poetry ever written? The songs of the troubadours - celebrities in their day - helped define the emotional landscape of the Middle Ages and left a legacy that still echoes through European literature. Matt Lewis is joined by Professor Linda M. Paterson to explore the poet-musicians who shaped medieval ideas of courtly love, chivalry, gender, power and performance. More:…
Foolish Medieval Fatalities
Ep 529 · May 26, 2026 · 1 hr 9 min
Who survives when medieval deaths are turned into Top Trumps? In this riotous made up game of Foolish Fatalities, Dr. Eleanor Janega and Matt Lewis rank the most ridiculous ends of the Middle Ages, from a latrine disaster and Henry I’s fatal fish, to a king laughing himself to death and a ghoulish deadly bite delivered by a severed head. Expect gore, gossip, and (at least) one unforgettable toilet death. MORE The White Ship Disaster Listen on Apple Listen on Spotify James II and the Deadly Black…
Fatimid Dynasty: Descendants of Prophet Muhammad
Ep 528 · May 22, 2026 · 42 min
How did the Fatimids build one of Islam's most powerful medieval empires? What can the rise of this dynasty reveal about power, culture, tolerance, and women’s authority? Stretching across North Africa, Egypt, and parts of Sicily, Syria, Palestine and Arabia, the Fatimids created an empire renowned for prosperity, cultural brilliance and relative tolerance, one in which women were promoted to positions rarely seen elsewhere. Matt Lewis and Dr. Delia Cortese explore the Fatimid's remarkable origi…
The Merovingian Dynasty: France's First Kings
Ep 527 · May 19, 2026 · 58 min
Long-haired rulers, dynastic bloodshed, secret letters, and a kingdom built in the aftermath of empire; Dr. Eleanor Janega and Dr. James Palmer dive into the wild, Roman-adjacent world of the Merovingians. What made the first kings of France so unforgettable, and why were they later written out of the story? From myth to murder, this is the family that helped shape medieval France. MORE Why The Early Middle Ages Matter Listen on Apple Listen on Spotify The Destruction of Charlemagne's Legacy Lis…
After Agincourt: Henry V's French Campaigns
Ep 526 · May 15, 2026 · 52 min
What happened after the Battle of Agincourt? How did Henry V's victory turn into a seven-year struggle of sieges, diplomacy, ambition, murder and missed destiny? Matt Lewis is joined by W.B. Bartlett to explore a brutal and often overlooked phase of the Hundred Years’ War and why the post-Agincourt years matter so much to medieval, English and French history. MORE The Battle of Agincourt Listen on Apple Listen on Spotify Henry V with Dan Jones Listen on Apple Listen on Spotify Gone Medieval is p…
Matilda of Canossa: Medieval Italy's Iron Countess
Ep 525 · May 12, 2026 · 43 min
What if one medieval woman could outwit emperors, shape popes, and force Henry IV to stand barefoot in the snow? Dr. Katherine Harvey joins Dr. Eleanor Janega to tell the astonishing story of Matilda of Canossa, the Iron Countess of Tuscany, whose fortress at Canossa became the stage for the famous Walk to Canossa. Discover her political brilliance, brutal family dramas, papal alliances, failed marriages, and the legacy that kept her name alive for centuries. MORE Medieval Italy Listen on Apple…
Battle of the Eras: Medieval vs Early Modern
Ep 524 · May 8, 2026 · 55 min
What if the medieval world did not end with a bang, but with a messy argument over who gets to define history itself? Matt Lewis spars with Not Just The Tudors' host Professor Suzannah Lipscomb to spar over Gutenberg, the Reformation, witchcraft, plague, the Renaissance, and the Wars of the Roses to ask where medieval ends and early modern begins. The result is a lively, surprising fight over power, change, and the making of the modern world. MORE Why The Early Middle Ages Matter Listen on Apple…
Cadaver Synod: Trial of a Dead Pope
Ep 523 · May 5, 2026 · 56 min
What could drive a pope to put a corpse on trial? In 897, Rome staged one of the Middle Ages’ strangest spectacles: the Cadaver Synod, where Pope Stephen VI exhumed his predecessor and put his body on trial. Dr. Eleanor Janega is joined by Jessica Wärnberg to unpack the violent politics behind the outrage, the rival factions at stake, and why this gruesome event still fascinates today. MORE Conclave: Picking Popes Listen on Apple Listen on Spotify Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor Listen on Apple L…
← Back to the show
