This is History: A Dynasty to Die For
Sony Music Entertainment
In this gripping new special series from This Is History Presents, acclaimed historian Danièle Cybulskie unravels a tale of dazzling triumph and devastating collapse — the rise and fall of Charles VI of France, better known as Charles the Mad.It’s 1389. France is finally breathing after decades of war. A young king ascends the throne — charming, beloved, and burning with promise. He’s married for love. The people adore him. The future is his.But then… he breaks.Charles becomes convinced his body is made of glass. He refuses to be touched. He hides from the world. And as his mind fractures, so does his kingdom — spiraling into chaos, betrayal, and a ruthless power struggle that will decide the fate of France.Who will seize control? Who will fall? And who will blink first?This Is History Presents: The Glass King is a story of ambition, delusion, and the terrifying fragility of power.Want to go deeper? Join our Patreon court as a This Is History Royal Favourite — where you’ll get behind-the-scenes insights, medieval travel tips, and the chance to shape future episodes. We’d love to have you: patreon.com/thisishistoryA Sony Music Entertainment production.To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com
Episodes
Mentioned books
Apr 25, 2023 • 29min
Season 2 | 5. Jerusalem
Riding high after successfully laying siege to Acre, Richard marches his crusading armies towards the strategically vital city of Jaffa. But things take a turn for the worse, as his troops are facing hunger, exhaustion and even poisonous spiders. Plus, the great general Saladin is lying in wait, planning a deadly attack. Can Richard beat the odds and complete his quest to take the biggest prize in the Holy Land: Jerusalem?
This is History is a Somethin’ Else & Sony Music Entertainment production.
Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts
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Written and presented by Dan Jones
Producer - Clem Hitchcock
Series Producer and Story Editor - Georgia Mills
Executive Producer - Dave Anderson
Production Manager - Jen Mistri
Composer - Matt Acheson
Sound Design and Mixing - Chris O'Shaughnessy
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Apr 18, 2023 • 25min
Season 2 | 4. The Battle for Acre
The Mediterranean port city of Acre is under siege by the crusaders, who have been trying to breach its walls for two long years. Conquering Acre is essential if they are to reclaim the Holy Land, but the city is starting to look unbreakable. Morale among the Christian army is at its lowest ebb, when something happens that could turn the tide. Richard the Lionheart finally arrives, and he’s ready for war.
This is History is a Somethin’ Else & Sony Music Entertainment production.
Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts
To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com
Written and presented by Dan Jones
Producer - Clem Hitchcock
Series Producer and Story Editor - Georgia Mills
Executive Producer - Dave Anderson
Production Manager - Jen Mistri
Composer - Matt Acheson
Sound Design and Mixing - Chris O'Shaughnessy
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Apr 11, 2023 • 24min
Season 2 | 3. Here Comes the Bride
Richard the Lionheart continues to terrorise the islands of the Mediterranean, falling out with some very important people as he goes. Meanwhile his mother, Eleanore of Aquitaine, is desperately trying to catch up to the crusaders. She’s bringing someone with her who could throw Richard into a full-blown diplomatic incident.
This is History is a Somethin’ Else & Sony Music Entertainment production.
Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts
To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com
Written and presented by Dan Jones
Producer - Clem Hitchcock
Series Producer and Story Editor - Georgia Mills
Executive Producer - Dave Anderson
Production Manager - Jen Mistri
Composer - Matt Acheson
Sound Design and Mixing - Chris O'Shaughnessy
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Apr 4, 2023 • 26min
Season 2 | 2. Blood and Gold
In this episode, Richard the Lionheart embarks on a crusade but gets sidetracked by his sister's imprisonment in Sicily, leading to a clash with King Tancred. The podcast explores the risks and costs of leading a crusade and delves into the dark side of Richard's quest for wealth, involving anti-Semitic persecution in British history. Tensions between Richard and his crusade partner, Philip Augustus, add to the power struggles in Sicily, making for an intense and dramatic narrative.
Mar 28, 2023 • 33min
Season 2 | 1. Winds of Change
The new Plantagenet king, Richard the Lionheart, begins his reign with one thing on his mind: war. He plans to leave his empire undefended, venturing east to wreak vengeance and bloodshed on his enemies in the Holy Land. The Third Crusade is about to begin.
This is History is a Somethin’ Else & Sony Music Entertainment production.
Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts
To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com
Written and presented by Dan Jones
Producer - Clem Hitchcock
Series Producer and Story Editor - Georgia Mills
Executive Producer - Dave Anderson
Production Manager - Jen Mistri
Composer - Matt Acheson
Sound Design and Mixing - Chris O'Shaughnessy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Mar 21, 2023 • 2min
Introducing...Season 2 of This is History: A Dynasty to Die For
Power, greed, religion and sex: historian Dan Jones brings the drama of mediaeval history alive through compelling stories, larger-than-life characters and vivid scenes.
The saga of history’s most dysfunctional dynasty continues. Richard the Lionheart is on the throne and has one thing on his mind: victory in the Holy Land. But while Richard is away on crusade, his younger brother John has ambitions of his own.
A Somethin’ Else & Sony Music Entertainment production.
Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts
To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com
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Dec 20, 2022 • 16min
Season 1 | Bonus: How to be a Knight - with Tobias Capwell
In the wait for season two, This is History Plus will be releasing interviews with some of Dan’s favourite historians, talking all things Plantagenet.
In this episode, Dan is joined by Tobias Capwell to talk about what it was really like to be a knight. Tobias, a seasoned jouster himself, and Curator of Arms and Armour at the Wallace Collection, discusses how knights trained and why the concept of chivalry became important in the twelfth century.
There will be plenty more on This is History Plus, to get access go to apple podcasts and click ‘try free’, or visit thisishistorypod.com.
And the next chapter of the Plantagenet saga will return on this feed in the New Year.
Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts
To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com
Presented by Dan Jones
Producer - Elly Lazarides
Series Producer - Georgia Mills
Executive Producer - Dave Anderson
Production Manager - Jen Mistri
Engineer - Gulliver Lawrence-Tickell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dec 8, 2022 • 25min
Season 1 | 24. Endgame
Henry’s grip on power has never been more fragile. His son, Richard, has teamed up with King Philip to attack his lands and lay siege to his beloved hometown. There’s a dramatic showdown between Richard and the great knight William Marshall, and Henry finally discovers the truth about his son. It’s the season finale, and the Plantagenet world is about to change forever.
Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts
To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com
Written and presented by Dan Jones
Producer - Rosie Merotra
Series Producer and Story Editor - Georgia Mills
Executive Producer - Dave Anderson
Executive Producer - Peggy Sutton
Production Manager - Jen Mistri
Composer - Matt Acheson
Sound Design and Mixing - Chris O'Shaughnessy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dec 6, 2022 • 22min
Season 1 | 23. Face-Off
Crusader armies are setting sail to fight Saladin, but the most powerful rulers in Europe are nowhere to be seen. Richard is still desperate to test his mettle in the East, but his father is dragging his feet, anxious about leaving the empire unattended. After Richard goes on a wild rampage in Toulouse, relations between the two Plantagenet powerhouses are on the rocks and the French king smells blood in the water.
Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts
To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com
Written and presented by Dan Jones
Producer - Rosie Merotra
Series Producer and Story Editor - Georgia Mills
Executive Producer - Dave Anderson
Executive Producer - Peggy Sutton
Production Manager - Jen Mistri
Composer - Matt Acheson
Sound Design and Mixing - Chris O'Shaughnessy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dec 1, 2022 • 22min
Season 1 | 22. Crusade Fever
Religious fervour sweeps over the Plantagenet realms, as the Pope demands that all good Christians go to war and reclaim the Holy Land. Richard the Lionheart signs up and “takes the cross” immediately. This leaves Henry II with two concerns: will his son and heir survive this impulsive decision, and how weak will the old king look if he stays behind?
Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts
To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com
Written and presented by Dan Jones
Producer - Rosie Merotra
Series Producer and Story Editor - Georgia Mills
Executive Producer - Dave Anderson
Executive Producer - Peggy Sutton
Production Manager - Jen Mistri
Composer - Matt Acheson
Sound Design and Mixing - Chris O'Shaughnessy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
