Season 7 | 10. Deathmatch

This is History: A Dynasty to Die For

Sony Music

Society & Culture, History

4.8 • 2.2K Ratings

🗓️ 1 July 2025

⏱️ 27 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

After making some major strategic blunders, Thomas Mowbray and Henry Bolingbroke now find themselves fighting to the death. But as the crowds amass, Richard II throws them a last-minute curveball that keeps them in a state of suspended animation. If you can’t get enough of This Is History, we’d love to welcome you to the royal court over on our Patreon. There, you get bonus episodes, PLUS extra perks including dispatches from Dan and the team, the chance to vote on future subscriber episodes, and lively chat rooms with fellow history nerds. We’d love to see you there: patreon.com/thisishistory 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 [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Presented by Dan Jones Producer - Alan Weedon Senior Producer - Dominic Tyerman Executive Producer - Simon Poole Production Manager - Jen Mistri Production coordinator - Eric Ryan Sound Design and 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	Hello, dear listeners. Now, before we head to a diabolical duel, I want to remind you about the fun our royal favourites are having over on Patreon.
0:09.0	It's where you get all bonus episodes plus access to the Royal Court, a place where you weigh in on future episodes, infuse about past ones, and chat to me directly.
0:20.7	I've been loving the book recommendations thread. There's something for everyone there. enthuse about past ones and chat to me directly.
0:23.0	I've been loving the book recommendations thread.
0:24.5	There's something for everyone there,
0:28.8	tomes on medieval mysticism and the plague, perfect for summer.
0:30.2	But I digress.
0:32.1	Let's get to the duel. Trumpets blast and a huge crowd pressing against the wooden rails of the tournament field falls quiet.
0:47.3	A royal herald strides out into the middle of the fighting ground to announce the start of the contest.
0:55.0	You could cut the tension in the air with a knife or a sword.
1:01.0	A duel is about to begin.
1:04.0	There's another trumpet fanfare, and all eyes turn to the stands.
1:10.0	Richard II, Plantagenet King of England, is in Christend fair, and all eyes turn to the stands.
1:18.2	Richard II, Plantagenet King of England, is in pride of place, dressed up to the nines, as usual.
1:24.1	He's surrounded by a bodyguard of his vicious militia of Cheshire archers.
1:32.3	Everyone knows, the herald says, why they've gathered today, September 16, 1398, at this field near Coventry.
1:34.3	They're here to witness a trial by combat inside these rails, known as the lists.
1:41.3	Two pavilions have been pitched, one at either end of the field.
1:47.2	The combatants are inside them, making their final preparations.
1:52.3	When the call comes, they'll emerge, and fight with lance, sword, axe, shield, and then
1:58.7	finally fists, until one of them has surrendered or been killed.
2:04.5	There's a hubbub of anticipation from the crowd.
	...

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