Episodes

  • Richard III's Queen Anne Neville
    May 23 2025

    Why do we know so little about Anne Neville, despite her significant role in history?

    Anne Neville led a life shaped by power, tragedy, and shifting allegiances. Daughter of the formidable Warwick the Kingmaker, Anne was widowed at 15 before marrying Richard, Duke of Gloucester - later Richard III. Crowned alongside him in a dazzling coronation, Anne’s reign was brief and marred by heartbreak, especially after the death of her only son.


    Matt Lewis reflects on Anne Neville's life of resilience and sorrow - and the political and social dynamics of Medieval women in power - with historian Joanna Laynesmith.


    More

    A Voice for Richard III

    https://open.spotify.com/episode/0KhcblgXYqBTqfMAaAG18u

    The Wars of the Roses: Origins

    https://open.spotify.com/episode/3DHhrD90zRN0IppdA29QXk


    Gone Medieval is presented by Matt Lewis. It was edited by Amy Haddow, the producer is Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

    All music used is courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.

    Gone Medieval is a History Hit podcast.


    Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.


    You can take part in our listener survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on

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    48 mins
  • The Last Pagans
    May 20 2025

    What really happened when the last pagans of medieval Europe were 'converted' to Christianity?

    Dr. Eleanor Janega is joined by Dr. Francis Young unravel the fascinating story of Lithuania's dramatic conversion to Christianity in 1387. From the political intrigue, the Teutonic Knights' relentless crusades to the cultural clash that led to the end of Europe's last pagan stronghold. They discuss how ancient traditions blended with new beliefs and a pivotal moment in history.


    MORE

    Teutonic Knights:

    https://open.spotify.com/episode/0gUpGPLW74wnhDm7MI5h6V

    The Rise of Christianity:

    https://open.spotify.com/episode/4OadirQmTlIrxRjUFYhrEJ


    Gone Medieval is presented by Dr. Eleanor Janega. Edited by Amy Haddow. The producers are Rob Weinberg and Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

    All music used is courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.

    Gone Medieval is a History Hit podcast.


    Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.


    You can take part in our listener survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on

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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • Legends of Robin Hood
    May 16 2025

    Was Robin Hood a symbol of justice? A challenge to authority? Or simply a folk hero offering a fantasy of freedom? Whether or not he truly existed, Robin Hood is one of the most enduring figures from medieval England—so beloved that by the 15th century, churchmen complained their congregations liked stories of the outlaw more than sermons. But how did Robin Hood capture the medieval imagination so powerfully?


    Matt Lewis is joined by Professor Stephen H. Rigby to explore how Robin Hood’s legend took shape through ballads and dramas from as early as the 14th century, and how these tales evolved to reflect the social struggles, political anxieties, and popular culture of the time.


    MORE

    Defending a Castle:

    https://open.spotify.com/episode/4Ij54WeWRYBbcaIbRjrcVU

    Movie Knight (Robin Hood):

    https://open.spotify.com/episode/5uGVOS5S2Iz2Z23rtt3Od4


    Gone Medieval is presented by Matt Lewis. It was edited by Amy Haddow, the producers are Rob Weinberg and Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

    All music used is courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.

    Gone Medieval is a History Hit podcast.


    Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.


    You can take part in our listener survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on

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    50 mins
  • Ivar the Boneless
    May 13 2025

    Ivar the Boneless is renowned as a fearsome Norse leader who invaded England and Ireland. But beyond the myth-making, who was Ivar really? Was he a son of the legendary Ragnar Lothbrok? How did he get his not very fearsome name? What was his role in the infamous Great Heathen Army and the Viking invasion of England?


    Dr. Eleanor Janega returns to the bloody, brutal, and often baffling world of the Vikings with Professor Clare Downham to try to uncover the truth behind one of the most mysterious and fearsome figures in Norse history.


    MORE:

    Ragnar Lothbrok: The Viking Legend:

    https://shows.acast.com/gone-medieval/episodes/ragnar-lothbrok-the-viking-legend

    How to Live Like a Viking:

    https://open.spotify.com/episode/7DTRpIGPS9ygGa6pjodHnf


    Gone Medieval is presented by Dr. Eleanor Janega. It was edited by Amy Haddow, the producers are Rob Weinberg and Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

    All music used is courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.

    Gone Medieval is a History Hit podcast.


    Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.


    You can take part in our listener survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on

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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • Medieval Guide to Magic
    May 9 2025

    What did medieval minds truly believe about the cosmos, demons, and the hidden forces of the universe? Could ancient manuscripts still hold meaning, or danger, today?


    Matt Lewis delves into the world of medieval enchantment with historian Anne Lawrence-Mathers, author of The Magic Books. They discover how magic shaped decisions in royal courts, crept into monasteries, and influenced the balance of power across Europe. From forbidden knowledge to practical instruction, magical texts weren’t just superstition—they were tools of science, strategy, and survival.


    MORE:

    How to spot magic in medieval buildings >

    Supernatural Medieval Ireland >


    Gone Medieval is presented by Matt Lewis. It was edited and produced by Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

    All music used is courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.

    Gone Medieval is a History Hit podcast.


    Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.


    You can take part in our listener survey here >

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    49 mins
  • Conclave: Picking Popes
    May 6 2025

    Choosing a new Pope has always been a blend of the sacred, the political, and the downright theatrical. In the middle ages, the papal election was a high-stakes game, with powerful families and entire cities invested in the outcome and willing to pull strings to get their man into the job.


    Dr. Eleanor Janega takes a look at the medieval origins of the process of deciding the next Pontiff. She is joined by Jessica Wärnberg to look into the origins of the papal conclave, explore its medieval twists and turns, and uncover the very human, sometimes bizarre, stories behind one of history’s most secretive and suspenseful elections.


    More:

    Pope Joan: Sacred Scandal

    https://open.spotify.com/episode/6f8OBBcJAjceSfr6vW6weX

    The Rise of Christianity

    https://open.spotify.com/episode/4OadirQmTlIrxRjUFYhrEJ


    Gone Medieval is presented by Dr. Eleanor Janega. It was edited by Amy Haddow, the producers are Rob Weinberg and Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

    All music used is courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.

    Gone Medieval is a History Hit podcast.


    Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.


    You can take part in our listener survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on

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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • Magna Carta 1225
    May 2 2025

    What's the true story behind the Magna Carta, and how did a 17-year-old King Henry III shape a document that impacted the course of history?


    Matt Lewis is joined by Professor David Carpenter to explore the origins of the Magna Carta, finding out how it laid the foundations for a new way of living for all subjects, from the protections offered to 'merry widows' who gained the right to manage their own estates, to protections of life for poachers. This episode sheds light on how these and other clauses of the Magna Carta shaped English law and governance, influencing modern concepts of individual rights and limited government.


    MORE

    Myths of Magna Carta:

    https://open.spotify.com/episode/7xatVZ23U0HqXyXZl2xCtg

    King John: Worst Medieval Monarch?

    https://open.spotify.com/episode/2O5vN33xBGeREbv250bwvC


    Gone Medieval is presented by Matt Lewis and edited by Amy Haddow. The producer is Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

    Gone Medieval is a History Hit podcast.


    You can take part in our listener survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on

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    57 mins
  • Genghis Khan's Pax Mongolica
    Apr 29 2025

    Dr. Eleanor Janega is joined by Dr. Jeremiah Jenne to explore the incredible impact of the Mongol Empire on medieval history. From Marco Polo's travels, to the Mongol postal system and groundbreaking innovations such as paper money under the Pax Mongolica.

    The Mongols unified a vast territory, allowing for unprecedented cultural exchange and technological advancements leading to a unique era of stability and interconnectedness shaped the world far beyond the 13th and 14th centuries.

    More:

    Genghis Khan to Tamerlane

    https://open.spotify.com/episode/62GXJOJWKCOHEijcyVLUu8?si=8d698a9f680d4b91


    Gone Medieval is presented by Dr. Eleanor Janega. It was edited by Amy Haddow, the producers are Rob Weinberg and Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

    All music used is courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.

    Gone Medieval is a History Hit podcast.


    Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.


    You can take part in our listener survey here: https://uk.surveymonkey.com/r/6FFT7MK

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    1 hr
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