Today we dive into the Second and Third Crusades with major players Eleanor of Aquitaine, Saladin and the bold entrance of Richard the Lionheart. Matt Lewis is joined by Dr Natasha Hodgson to trace the twelfth century struggle for the Holy Land.

They explore the wildly successful campaigns and disastrous battles such as the Field of Blood, royal marital struggles and pilgrims dragged into fighting with no more than a pot on their heads.

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The Hospitallers: Warrior Monks

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What Are The High Middle Ages?

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Gone Medieval is presented by Matt Lewis. Audio editor is 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. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1095, Pope Urban II’s fiery sermon lit the fuse for a so‑called holy war in the Holy Land. In the first episode of a new series, Dr. Eleanor Janega and Matt Lewis unpack the First Crusades, when this Christian armies fought against Muslim lords for possession of the arid deserts of the Holy Land.

What spurred thousands upon thousands of medieval Christians, noble and poor alike, to abandon their homes and risk their lives? Find out how this blood-soaked epic reshaped the medieval world.

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Women Crusaders

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Medieval Jerusalem

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Gone Medieval is presented by Dr. Eleanor Janega. Audio editor is 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. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scotland’s history is filled with war, betrayal, political intrigue. At the heart of it were powerful Queens; from saintly rulers to strategic alliances, the women behind the throne were anything but passive.

Matt Lewis is joined by historian Sharon Bennett Connolly to explore the remarkable life of Saint Margaret of Scotland, the political challenges faced by Queen Margaret of England, and the resilience of Elizabeth de Burgh, second wife of Robert the Bruce, who played a pivotal role in Scotland’s fight for independence.

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The Real Lady Macbeth with Val McDermid

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Women Crusaders

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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. 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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Were papal indulgences really just a medieval “get out of hell free” card? How were they expanded after the Crusades? And how were they used to fund projects, including the rebuilding of St Peter’s in Rome?

Dr. Eleanor Janega is joined by Dr. Felicity Hill to unpack this complicated system of confession, absolution, penance and purgatory.

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Conclave: Picking Popes

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Pope Joan: Sacred Scandal

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Gone Medieval is presented by Dr. Eleanor Janega. Audio editor is Amy Haddow, the producers are Joseph Knight and 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. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Lewis journeys into the world behind the latest story from the Game of Thrones universe, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, to discover how it illustrates that medieval history is far more colourful and spectacular than you might think.

After nerding out about the world created by George R.R. Martin with Dr. Eleanor Janega, Matt is joined by Dr Hugh Doherty, the show’s historical advisor, who worked with its writers to build a believable world of knights, codes, and clashing swords, bringing authentic medieval life to Westeros. They discuss what the show gets right — and why it matters.

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Dragons: From Eden to Middle Earth

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Tolkien: Middle Earth & the Middle Ages

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Gone Medieval is presented by Matt Lewis. Audio editor is Joseph Knight, 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. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

** Contains strong language**

What would Britain look like today if Richard III had won at Bosworth? What did medieval people sing when they were drunk and hanging out? What is the most historically accurate part of Monty Python and the Holy Grail?

For this special 500th episode of Gone Medieval, Matt Lewis and Dr. Eleanor Janega get stuck into the questions at the forefront of the minds of our listeners.

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Why the Early Middle Ages Matter

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What are the High Middle Ages?

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Gone Medieval is presented by Dr. Eleanor Janega and Matt Lewis. 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 to watch Matt and Eleanor's documentary on Medieval Midwinter, and for hundreds of hours of other original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who is the Sultan that beat back Richard the Lionheart, and earned his respect as a worthy foe?

Matt Lewis is joined by Professor Jonathan Phillips to delve into the life and legacy of Saladin, the formidable Muslim leader who reclaimed Jerusalem for Islam and triggered the Third Crusade. They discuss Saladin’s Kurdish origins, his strategic rise to power in Egypt, and the crucial battles that culminated in his historic victory at the Battle of Hattin.

Prepare to navigate centuries of historical narratives, military strategies, and the enduring legacy of one of medieval history's most iconic figures.

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Richard the Lionheart

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Medieval Jerusalem

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Gone Medieval is presented by Matt Lewis. Edited and produced by 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. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What would you do if a royal feast turned into a death sentence before dessert was served? Step into Edinburgh Castle as the boy-king James II looks on in horror, and the Douglas brothers are dragged from candlelit feast to shadowed courtyard.

Dr. Eleanor Janega is joined by Professor Michael Brown to dissect the Black Dinner of 1440 - often cited as the inspiration behind the "red wedding" in Game of Thrones - and ask how far will powerful nobles go to secure their grip on power? From sewer-assassinated kings to exploding cannons and murderous uncles, this episode unpacks the ruthless politics that forged late medieval Scotland.

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The Real Lady Macbeth with Val McDermid

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Scotland's Stone of Scone

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Gone Medieval is presented by Dr. Eleanor Janega. Edited and produced by Amy Haddow and 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. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.