Sex and Scandal of Medieval Royals
Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society
History Hit
4.8 • 2.1K Ratings
🗓️ 14 November 2025
⏱️ 54 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
What did Queen Isabella of France do to deserve the nickname She-Wolf? What sex scandals happened in the 14th century? And why did the Black Death improve peoples' sex lives?!
Joining Kate today is the fantastic author and historian, Helen Carr, to take us back to this time to find out.
This episode was edited by Tim Arstall and produced by Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Freddy Chick.
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Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hello, my lovely betwixters. It's me, Kate Lister, and you are listening to Betwicks the Sheeds. |
| 0:06.0 | And because we care about elf and safety around these parts, I have to tell you. |
| 0:09.9 | This is an adult podcast, broken by adults to other adults about adulty things in an adulty way, covering a range of adult subjects, and you should be an adult too. |
| 0:16.1 | Oh my God, I feel safer. Do you feel safer? Then let's proceed together. |
| 0:23.1 | It is March 1325 and we are down on the cliffs of Dover, overlooking the choppy waters. |
| 0:31.1 | And I am definitely not here for a cold swim. No, thank you. |
| 0:35.6 | I am here because on the beach down below, Queen Isabella of France is making |
| 0:40.1 | a diplomatic journey back to her homeland and leaving her husband, King Edward II behind, |
| 0:47.3 | to boot. Why does this journey become fateful for Edward's reign? Why does Isabella get the frankly |
| 0:52.7 | fantastic name? |
| 0:55.8 | The She-Wolf of France? |
| 0:59.2 | It's all built into some seriously sourcing historical scandal, |
| 1:01.0 | and I can't wait to find out more. Thank you. Hello and welcome back to Betwixt the Sheets, The History of Sex Scandal in Society with me, Kate Lister. |
| 1:26.9 | You know that if historical chroniclers are calling you the She-Wolf of France, then you are doing something right. God, I love a grandiose nickname like that. The She-Wolf of Yorkshire. Well, maybe not. I'll have to downgrade myself a little bit there. The she cockapoo of Yorkshire. No, that's fine. We'll move along. |
| 1:45.0 | But Isabella of France definitely deserved her nickname of the She-Wolf of France because she |
| 1:50.5 | pissed quite a few people off. English nobleman mostly, with how she played them in the 14th century. |
| 1:56.9 | Do you want to find out more? Well, I know I do. Joining me today is historian and author Helen Carr, |
| 2:02.0 | and she is going to help us get to know this woman, her husband, |
| 2:05.2 | and her reputation a little bit better. |
| 2:07.7 | So without further ado, let's crack on. |
| 2:17.2 | Hello, and welcome to Betwixt the Sheet. It's only Helen Carr. How are you doing? |
| 2:23.3 | I'm very well. Thank you so much for having me. |
... |
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