This is History: History’s Greatest Fails

History’s Greatest Fails is a miniseries from Dan Jones and Elizabeth Day that aims to answer the simple, but complex, question: Why do losers make history? From Richard III, to Vincent Van Gough, to the purposefully forgotten female Pharaoh Hatshepsut, this series is going to help you better understand how the idea of failure changes over time, and what lessons failure has for all of us. Dan and Elizabeth are old friends, fellow history graduates, and fellow authors and podcasters. Dan Jones is host of This Is History — A Dynasty to Die For, a narrative podcast that charts the bloody and complex drama of England’s Plantagenet dynasty, now up to its 10th season. Elizabeth is host of How To Fail, a podcast that has brought together hundreds of luminaries and thinkers including Kate Winslet, Yuval Noah Hariri, and Malala Yousafzai, to reflect on failure in the present. Over six episodes, History’s Greatest Fails will dissect failure of all kinds, from troubled historical rulers, to the failures of remembrance, to the failures that have created the happy accidents that last for generations. As always, Dan’s royal favourites can chime in anytime on the royal court on Patreon at patreon.com/thisishistory. And for the bonus episodes of this miniseries, Dan and Producer Al are hearing from the favourites directly via voice notes! Following along as they discuss the failures the royal favourites’ have deemed historic! A Sony Music Entertainment production. To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com

Episodes

Introducing...Season 1 of This is History: A Dynasty to Die For

August 24, 2022 • 59 secs

Power, greed, religion and sex: historian Dan Jones brings the drama of medieval history alive through compelling stories, larger-than-life characters and vivid scenes. In the first season, get to know the most dysfunctional family of the Middle Ages – the Plantagenets – and find out how their scandalous betrayals and bloody politics shaped the world we live in today. A Somethin’ Else & Sony Music Entertainment production. ...

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Season 1 | 1. Queen on The Run

September 20, 2022 • 19 mins

This episode contains descriptions of violence or sexual content that may not be suitable for all listeners. Until yesterday, Eleanor of Aquitaine was the queen of France. Now, divorced and dethroned, she’s running for her life. Noblemen are lying in wait to capture her and lay claim to her lands. But, if she can escape them, and reach her destination in time, she’ll become more powerful than ever before. This is the beginning ...

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Season 1 | 2. Power Couple

September 22, 2022 • 15 mins

Henry Plantagenet is a rowdy teenager full of nervous energy and big plans to invade England. He’s also the man Eleanor of Aquitaine chooses to marry. Their union is a savvy business deal that will change their lives, and the shape of Europe, forever. This is History is a Somethin’ Else & Sony Music Entertainment production. Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts To bring your b...

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There’s More to the Story…Introducing: This is History PLUS

September 27, 2022 • 1 min

Subscribe to This is History PLUS to get episodes ad-free and unlock exclusive additional episodes every week. Visit This Is History on Apple Podcasts to start your free trial or visit thisishistorypod.com to get access wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Season 1 | 3. Rough Crossings

September 27, 2022 • 18 mins

This episode contains descriptions of violence or sexual content that may not be suitable for all listeners. Braving dangerous winter storms, Henry Plantagenet crosses the English Channel. He’s come to settle a civil war, lay claim to his mother’s inheritance, and follow in the footsteps of William the Conqueror. In the way stands King Stephen and his barons. Who will win the throne, and how? This is History is a Somethin’ E...

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Season 1 | 4. Fathers and Sons

September 29, 2022 • 16 mins

Henry has shattered the delicate balance of power in England and King Stephen’s son, Eustace, is on the warpath. The Plantagenets are desperate to shore up their position and look to God for a miracle. This is History is a Somethin’ Else & 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...

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Season 1 | 5. The Ringmaster

October 4, 2022 • 16 mins

This episode contains descriptions of violence or sexual content that may not be suitable for all listeners. A new character enters the drama. Thomas Becket has come out of nowhere to become Henry’s powerful right-hand man. Now he’s entrusted with what seems to be an impossible mission: he must persuade a hostile King Louis VII of France – Eleanor’s bitter ex-husband – to accept a marriage alliance between his own daughter and ...

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Season 1 | 6. Meltdown

October 6, 2022 • 20 mins

This episode contains descriptions of violence or sexual content that may not be suitable for all listeners. Thomas Becket is on trial, facing a string of serious charges and in danger of losing his freedom. Once he was Henry Plantagenet’s right hand man, but now he’s become his greatest enemy. Dan puts Becket on the psychiatrist's couch to work out how he got himself into this mess. And, more importantly, can he get himself ou...

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Season 1 | 7. Succession

October 11, 2022 • 18 mins

Henry is rocked by the death of his mother and mentor, the Empress Matilda. The grief-stricken king is left to solve the problems of succession alone. Meanwhile Henry’s marriage to Eleanor is falling apart. Will she look past his rampant infidelity in order to secure greater power for herself? This is History is a Somethin’ Else & Sony Music Entertainment production. Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at...

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Season 1 | 8. Murder

October 13, 2022 • 19 mins

Thomas Becket returns to make Henry’s life miserable once again. The two men, once close friends, are now bitter enemies. But when Becket delivers a fiery sermon attacking Henry’s rule, even he fears he might have pushed the king too far… This is History is a Somethin’ Else & Sony Music Entertainment production. Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts To bring your brand to life ...

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Season 1 | 9. Conquest

October 18, 2022 • 18 mins

In the aftermath of Thomas Becket’s murder, Henry II is in big trouble with the pope. His grip on power, and his immortal soul, hang in the balance. In desperate need of a distraction, the king turns his gaze west, to a country that has so far escaped Plantagenet aggression: Ireland. This is History is a Somethin’ Else & Sony Music Entertainment production. Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic...

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Season 1 | 10. Collision Course

October 20, 2022 • 21 mins

Henry’s eldest son (helpfully also called Henry) is now 16 years old. Young Henry is a skilled fighter who’s itching for the chance to prove himself. But although his dad has spoiled him rotten with all sorts of titles, he has no real power yet. Young Henry’s teenage angst is building and it’s about to explode… spectacularly. This is History is a Somethin’ Else & Sony Music Entertainment production. Find more great podcasts...

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Season 1 | 11. Queen’s Gambit

October 25, 2022 • 18 mins

The Plantagenets are now at war. Henry II is facing an existential threat from the king of France, three of his own sons and even his wife: Eleanor of Aquitane. But Eleanor doesn’t have an easy road ahead to escape her husband’s kingdom and join the rebels. Dan tries to piece together the patchy record of her daring escape. This is History is a Somethin’ Else & Sony Music Entertainment production. Find more great podcasts f...

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Season 1 | 12. The War Without Love

October 27, 2022 • 23 mins

The three eldest Plantagenet princes are fed up with their domineering dad. They may only be teenagers, but they want more power now and the king won’t give it to them. That’s how they end up in the court of Henry’s greatest rival, the French king Louis VII, plotting to bring down their own father. But has this strange new alliance got what it takes to bring down the formidable Henry? This is History is a Somethin’ Else & Sony ...

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Season 1 | 13. Revenge

November 1, 2022 • 19 mins

The War Without Love is decisively won. This leaves Henry II with some tricky decisions to make about how to punish the rebels, including his own family. If he’s too lenient, people will think he’s weak. If he’s too harsh, they might rebel again. In the end, there’s just one person who ends up bearing the full brunt of Henry’s wrath: his wife. This is History is a Somethin’ Else & Sony Music Entertainment production. Find m...

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Season 1 | 14. Melee

November 3, 2022 • 22 mins

As the Plantagenet princes hit early adulthood, their home life remains… unusual. Mum is still imprisoned by Dad. Dad is still refusing to hand over the reins of power to his ambitious and warlike sons. So they find another way to prove themselves on the big stage: fighting in knightly tournaments. We join Henry the Young King at one of the grandest tournaments of the age, determined to show the world what a real warrior looks like...

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Season 1 | 15. The Lionheart

November 8, 2022 • 21 mins

While Henry the Young King lives the glamorous tournament lifestyle, his brother Richard is proving himself on real battlefields. The most formidable general of all the Plantagenet princes, he rules Aquitaine with an iron fist, crushing rebellions, smashing castles, and generally making a name for himself as someone you really don’t want to cross. But as another wave of unrest sweeps through the province, things are about to get pa...

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Season 1 | 16. Brothers at War

November 10, 2022 • 23 mins

Aquitaine is on fire. Young Henry and Geoffrey are openly backing rebels and stirring up conflict in an effort to bring their brother Richard down. Richard responds with his usual brutality and the situation spins way out of control. Their father, Old Henry, wades in to support Richard and now the family is embroiled in a full-blown war over the future of the empire. This is History is a Somethin’ Else & Sony Music Entertainment p...

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Season 1 | 17. The Knight’s Tale

November 15, 2022 • 24 mins

Legendary knight William Marshal sets off on a dangerous pilgrimage to Jerusalem. He’s determined to follow through on his vows to the dying Young King and take his friend’s crusader cloak to Christ’s tomb. The journey east is perilous enough, but when he arrives in Jerusalem, Marshal finds a city teetering on the edge of disaster. This is History is a Somethin’ Else & Sony Music Entertainment production. Find more great po...

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Season 1 | 18. The Reunion

November 17, 2022 • 21 mins

Plantagenet infighting is once again threatening to boil over into war. Henry II wants to give Aquitane to his youngest son, John, but Richard the Lionheart won’t have it. It seems like a stalemate, until Henry reveals his surprise trump card: a family member that Richard just can’t refuse. Meanwhile, Henry gets the offer of a lifetime from the East. Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcast...

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This is History: History’s Greatest Fails

Episodes

.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}Introducing...Season 1 of This is History: A Dynasty to Die For

.css-r6mb8g{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:1;overflow:hidden;}Season 1 | 1. Queen on The Run

Season 1 | 2. Power Couple

There’s More to the Story…Introducing: This is History PLUS

Season 1 | 3. Rough Crossings

Season 1 | 4. Fathers and Sons

Season 1 | 5. The Ringmaster

Season 1 | 6. Meltdown

Season 1 | 7. Succession

Season 1 | 8. Murder

Season 1 | 9. Conquest

Season 1 | 10. Collision Course

Season 1 | 11. Queen’s Gambit

Season 1 | 12. The War Without Love

Season 1 | 13. Revenge

Season 1 | 14. Melee

Season 1 | 15. The Lionheart

Season 1 | 16. Brothers at War

Season 1 | 17. The Knight’s Tale

Season 1 | 18. The Reunion

Popular Podcasts

Introducing...Season 1 of This is History: A Dynasty to Die For

Season 1 | 1. Queen on The Run