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

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

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

The Battle of Crécy in 1346 saw an outnumbered English army under King Edward III win an unexpected and decisive victory that reshaped the Hundred Years’ War — and the future of Europe. But what if everything we thought we knew about the Battle of Crécy was wrong?

Matt Lewis is joined by Professor Michael Livingston to peel back centuries of myth to uncover the real Crécy, the truth behind the battle’s location, its legendary longbowmen, and the five kings who played their part in this epic confrontation.

More:

The Battle of Agincourt >

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3hp2D8T7XnGXumMpBHpopQ

The Hundred Years War

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3UQkEb0MTdJdwYmJB333RX

Gone Medieval is presented by Matt Lewis and 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

Dr. Eleanor Janega welcomes back Amy Jeffs, author of Saints: A New Legendary of Heroes, Humans, and Magic, to revel in the fascinating stories of spring saints, including England's patron saint St. George. Along the way they encounter that famous tale with the dragon, speaking corpses beneath St. Paul's Cathedral and Brendan the Voyager's epic adventures. They uncover the deep connections these legends have with medieval Christian thought and the creation of national and local mythologies.

More:

Edward the Confessor and the New Year Saints

https://open.spotify.com/episode/7i4V3LuC73ZezCgtBAlGQ4

Gone Medieval is presented by Dr. Eleanor Janega. Additional voice Sophie Gee. 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

What if one of the most iconic symbols of suffering and triumph in Christian history isn't what you think it is? Matt Lewis is joined by Dr. Faith Tibble to uncover the history and significance of the Crown of Thorns, exploring its Medieval - not ancient - origins, how this symbol evolved from a relic to a powerful icon of suffering and triumph and how kings used it to legitimise their rule by comparing themselves to Christ. They reveals the fascinating ways faith, art, and politics intertwined to shape the story of the Crown of Thorns.

Vatican sarcophagus: https://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en/collezioni/musei/museo-pio-cristiano/sarcofagi-_a-colonne/sarcofago-con-scene-della-passione-di-cristo.html

More:

Charlemagne

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4zrQc5pHsqCjOSyQZ7m2vP

Gone Medieval is presented by Matt Lewis. Audio editor is Amy Haddow, 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

**This podcast contains descriptions of sexual violence, enslavement and human sacrifice**

"I have never seen more perfect physical specimens, tall as date palms, blond and ruddy. Each man were tattooed with dark-green figures from fingernails to neck."

These are the first observations of Vikings from the Arab traveler and diplomat Ibn Fadlan.

Dr. Eleanor Janega is joined by Dr. Thorir Jonsson Hraundal to explore Ibn Fadlan's extraordinary observations of a Viking ship burial during his journey to the Volga Bulgars in 921 CE. From the initial preparation of the body to the final emotionally and culturally charged moments of cremation, Ibn Fadlan provides a rare and vivid description that offers unparalleled insights into Viking funerary practices. This riveting account paints a picture of ritual, belief, and cultural intersection.

The Rise of the Vikings

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0MNLrJxc5ri920VjZ2mqKv

The Viking Age: New Discoveries

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0aChBL6wP2qPpSz5al8tp2

Gone Medieval is presented by Dr. Eleanor Janega. 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

Edward of Woodstock, famously known as the Black Prince, was held up as the epitomy of Medieval Chivalry. Matt Lewis is joined by the Black Prince's biographer, Michael Jones to discuss King Edward III's eldest son; how he took command of the English vanguard at the Battle of Crécy at just 16 years old, captured the French King at Poitiers, his potential as a king, and the enigmatic origins of his nickname.

Gone Medieval is presented by Matt Lewis. It was edited by Amy Haddow. The producer is 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