S9 E12 | Rise of the Yorks

THIS IS HISTORY — A DYNASTY TO DIE FOR

Sony Music

History, Society & Culture

4.8 • 2.5K Ratings

🗓️ 24 March 2026

⏱️ 38 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

To learn more about the last time an English king was usurped, listen to Season 7, Bonus Episode 12, where Dan tells the story of Henry VI’s grandfather, Henry Bolingbroke. In 1399, he toppled Richard II to become King Henry IV. By 1460, England has emerged into a polycrisis. King Henry VI has been relegated to a pawn. His son and wife have been disinherited, with Richard, Duke of York, now heir presumptive. Violence pulses through the countryside. In this pivotal chapter of the Wars of the Roses, it appears that Yorkist forces have finally overwhelmed the Lancastrians in the battle for the crown. But then, Richard, Duke of York is killed in an ambush. It throws everything into disarray, and Queen Margaret of Anjou makes one last attempt at violent restoration. It appears the clock has run out for the Yorkists. That is, until the eleventh hour, when Richard's son, Edward Earl of March, is propelled into the decisive moment. – A 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices – Written and presented by Dan Jones Producer - Alan Weedon Senior Producer - Dominic Tyerman Executive Producer - Simon Poole Production Manager - Jen Mistri Production coordinator - Eric Ryan Mixing - Amber Devereux Head of content - Chris Skinner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Friends, I can hardly believe I'm saying this, but it's time for the finale of Season
0:05.8	9 of This Is History, a dynasty to die for.
0:10.1	If you've been here from the beginning, salute.
0:13.1	It's been quite the ride.
0:14.8	If you're joining us for the first time, well, there's a few things you need to catch up on.
0:19.3	A hundred and nineteen episodes of Plantagenet Mayhem, to be precise.
0:24.2	Fortunately, it's all in our archive, and if you sign up as a royal favourite on Patreon,
0:29.6	you get access to those ad-free and fully bingeable.
0:33.7	And if you're a royal favourite, I've got some more good news.
0:36.7	You can now order signed special editions of my books, the Plantagenet and the Hollow Crown, via millennia books.
0:44.3	Purchase links are in the show notes and head to our Patreon for a code that'll get you a 10% discount on the cover price.
0:51.9	For now, though, it's time to get back to the chaos of the 15th century,
0:56.8	where the Wars of the Roses are on. The wheel of fortune is spinning faster than my
1:02.0	Peloton bikes pedals, and someone is going to end this episode with their head on a spike.
1:09.0	Who? Well, I'm about to tell you after this short break.
1:14.1	Hello, I'm Dan Jones, a medievalist, and I'm thankful I'm not actually in the Middle Ages.
1:20.3	Why?
1:21.1	Because a restless boss didn't bode well for employees.
1:26.7	Well, I'm glad to say that finding the right hire now is safe and super convenient with
1:32.2	Indeed.
1:33.3	But don't take my word for it.
1:35.2	There are more than 3.3 million workplaces worldwide who've used Indeed to find the
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