Best Jonny Langton Podcasts (2024)

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3. Æthelstan 33:14

25d ago33:14

33:14

Aethelstan (924-939), renowned through the whole world whose fame flourishes and whose honour endures everywhere, whom God set as king over the English people. Raised on the high throne, and leader of these earthly armies, so that the king himself, mighty in war, could conquer other fierce kings and crush their proud necks. Characters Aethelstan - …

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2. Edward the Elder 21:25

2M ago21:25

21:25

Though Edward the Elder's reign (899-924) is overshadowed by his father and his son. His achievements during his 25 years reign were unquestionable. He continued his father’s work with determination and courage. Historian Frank Stenton characterised his reign as one of the best sustained and most decisive campaigns in the whole of the Dark Ages. Ch…

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1. Alfred the Great 37:22

3M ago37:22

37:22

Alfred the Great (871-99) was the embodiment of the ideal, but practical, Christian ruler. He was the ‘truth teller’, described as a brave, resourceful, pious man. Despite his legacy being warped by Victorian and contemporary accounts, his achievements remain visible and profound. They allowed his son and grandsons to build on his political and mil…

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40. Elizabeth II 57:29

5M ago57:29

57:29

Elizabeth II (1952-2022) ruled for 70 years, the second longest verifiably recorded reign of any monarch in world history behind Louis XIV. For 4 out of 5 Brits, she was the only monarch they had ever known. In a reign that was characterised by a redefinition of monarchy and empire. She offered calmness, reassurance, comfort, leadership and perspec…

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39. George VI 51:19

7M ago51:19

51:19

George VI (1936-52) led Britain through one of the most consequential periods in world history. His modest and undramatic style of rule in stark contrast to the controversy and drama which surrounded the short reign of his brother was required to guide Britain through the Second World War and the death of the British Empire. He was a steady hand, w…

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38. Edward VIII 55:56

9M ago55:56

55:56

Edward VIII (1936) ruled for 325 days, the shortest reign of any English monarch since Lady Jane Grey in the 16th century. The first monarch to abdicate since James II in 1688 and the first to do so voluntarily. The abdication crisis shook the British establishment to its core. His connections to Nazi Germany has undoubtedly shrouded his life in ig…

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37. George V 1:05:17

11M ago1:05:17

1:05:17

George V's reign (1910-36) stretched across perhaps the most tumultuous period in world history. It saw the bloodiest war to date, the financial markets melt and the rise of fascism and communism His calm, dutiful leadership would be put to the test, the British monarchy faced perhaps its biggest existential threat as Europe faced unparalleled poli…

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Æthelstan with Ed Castel 59:10

12M ago59:10

59:10

Politips host Ed Castel deep dives into the remarkable reignof Aethelstan, the man recognised as the first King of England as well as the Anglo-Saxons themselves. Many key questions are answered: Who were the Anglo-Saxons? What were the seven kingdoms and how did the deal withViking invasions? How are sources found? The reign of Athelstan: his rise…

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Interview with best-selling historical fiction writer Ben Kane 34:22

1y ago34:22

34:22

It was a real privilege to interview Ben Kane. We spoke about his Lionheart series, his new book Napoleon’s spy, as well as the challenges faced and rewards gained from writing historical fiction. Initially well known for his excellent trilogies set in ancient Rome including the Forgotten Legion and the Spartacus series. More recently he has ventur…

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36. Edward VII 51:03

1y ago51:03

51:03

In the words of the Edward VII (1901-1910) ‘I don’t mind praying to the Eternal Father, but I must be the only man in the country afflicted with an eternal mother. He had to wait 59 years to become king. Though only 9 years, the king also lent his name to an era. The Edwardian era was distinct in its social and cultural change with a rejection of c…

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35. Victoria 1:07:39

1y ago1:07:39

1:07:39

On the death of Queen Victoria (1837-1901), Arthur Balfour wrote, ‘I suppose that, in all the history of the British Monarchy, there never has been a case in which the feeling of national grief was so deep-seated as it is at present, so universal, so spontaneous. And that grief affects us not merely because we have lost a great personality, but bec…

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34. William IV 41:26

1+ y ago41:26

41:26

When William IV (1830-37) was a teenage sailor drinking and debauching his way across the empire alongside such esteemed friends as Horatio Nelson, no one expected that one day he would king. He was taught no royal graces or decorum, yet his time would come. He was described as unassuming and disinterested in pomp and as hard-working and conscienti…

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Episode 2 of Politips - my new podcast 20:29

1+ y ago20:29

20:29

I have started a new podcast with my teaching colleagues. Politips... Politics for A-Level and Beyond. Reviewing the biggest stories in the world of politics in the UK and the US. Give it a try - links below for more episodes. https://anchor.fm/poli-tips Also available on Spotify, Google, Amazon and Apple podcasts…

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Napoleon III with Sam Fermor 48:34

1+ y ago48:34

48:34

Napoleon III, the nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte holds a unique distinction. He became the first President of France in 1848 before becoming its last monarch when he ruled as Emperor between 1852-1870 founding the second French empire. He oversaw the modernisation of the French economy, the grand reconstruction of Paris, considerable social reform, f…

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33. George IV 42:53

1+ y ago42:53

42:53

Contemporary poet and critic Leigh Hunt described George IV (1820-30) as a violator of his word, a libertine, over head and ears in debt, a disgrace, a despiser of domestic ties, the companion of demi-reps and gamblers without a single claim on the gratitude of his country, nor the respect of posterity. Characters George IV – King of Great Britain,…

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32. George III 1:14:09

1+ y ago1:14:09

1:14:09

The US declaration of Independence described George III (1760-1820) as “marked by every act which may define a tyrant.” At home he was described as one of the most conscientious sovereigns who ever sat upon the English throne. Yet, he vehemently opposed catholic emancipation and the abolition of slavery. His characterisations are almost as broad as…

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31. George II 42:10

1+ y ago42:10

42:10

George II's (1727-60) temper was warm and impetuous but was good natured and sincere. He was unskilled in royal of talent of dissimulation, he always was what he appeared to be. He might offend but he never deceived. What you saw was what you got. Could Britain’s second Hanoverian king provide calm composure against the immense challenges presented…

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30. George I 37:21

2y ago37:21

37:21

Author Simon Jenkins described the Georgian kings not as monarchs but as princelings, who came to power not by the sword or politics but merely descent from a distant protestant mistress. They were mostly bewigged, powdered non-entities who couldn’t even control their own children, nor say boo to a goose. The first, George I (1714-27), faced a peri…

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29. Anne 39:47

2y ago39:47

39:47

Anne (1702-14) was described as stubborn, miserable, weak-willed, vapid, grossly obese. A woman of ordinary character. Yet, she became the first Queen of Great Britain. Her reign would have long-lasting consequences, the establishment of the Bank of England meant the nation was now punching above its weight. The nation became the military force not…

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28. William III & Mary II 34:14

2y ago34:14

34:14

William III (1689-1702) had limited interest in the affairs of England, Scotland and Ireland. His interest lay in keeping the King of France at bay and would use England as weapon to achieve his goals. It was perhaps the king’s indifference that allowed parliament to gain permanent supremacy over the nation leading to a remarkable transformation in…

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27. James II of England and VII of Scotland 37:12

2y ago37:12

37:12

James II of England and VII of Scotland (1685-59) followed in the footsteps of his predecessors. He too, struggled with the scope and nature of government. He believed it his duty as a Roman Catholic prince to level the religious playing field and did not learn the lessons of the civil war. He woefully underestimated the power of parliament. His ru…

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26. Charles II 42:36

2+ y ago42:36

42:36

Charles II (1660-85) was described by Ronald Hutton as the playboy monarch, naughty but nice, the hero of all who prized urbanity, tolerance, good humour, and the pursuit of pleasure above more earnest, sober or material virtues. Yet, like his grandfather he struggled to pay for it. Though Restoration England brought a new respect and freedom to th…

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The Commonwealth of England 28:18

2+ y ago28:18

28:18

The Commonwealth of England - 1649-60 In a weary speech to parliament on 4 February 1658 Oliver Cromwell told MPs that ‘I would have been glad, as to my own conscience and spirit, to have been living under a woodside to have kept a flock of sheep, rather than to have undertaken such a place as this’. In the 1630s, Oliver Cromwell raised chickens an…

1
25. Charles I 59:30

2+ y ago59:30

59:30

For his obdurate and reckless governance Charles I (1625-49) faced an equally obdurate and formidable parliament and he lost. The monarchy too lost, yet Charles grasped a martyr’s crown becoming the first saint of the Church of England. His reign may have contributed hugely to the destruction of the monarchy but his conduct during the trial and the…

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24. James I of England and VI of Scotland 44:52

2+ y ago44:52

44:52

James I's (1603-25) ultimate aim was to unite the kingdoms of England and Scotland under one banner. However, his belief in the divine right of kings meant his relationship with parliament would be bitter, sour and destructive, with consequences long outlasting the reign of the first King of Great Britain. CHARACTERS James I & VI – King of England …

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23. Elizabeth I 56:34

3y ago56:34

56:34

According to contemporary John Hayward, ‘no one knew better than Elizabeth I (1558-1603) the art of commanding men.’ Even at 17 her tutor said the constitution of her mind is exempt from female weakness and she is endued with a masculine power of application. No apprehension quicker, no memory more retentive. With the nation perhaps more divided by…

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22. Mary I 40:16

3y ago40:16

40:16

Mary I (1553-58) led the only successful revolt in 16th century England becoming the first anointed Queen regnant. She had witnessed the decimation of the Roman Catholic church in England for her father's ultimate goal of siring a son. According to G.R. Elton, the vicious attack on her mother and her own bastardisation and the treatment of her reli…

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Lady Jane Grey 24:38

3y ago24:38

24:38

At the beginning of 1553, Henry VIII’s only son King Edward VI was dying. For the first time in English history all potential claimants were women. Henry’s daughters Mary and Elizabeth, and their cousins Jane Grey (1553) and Mary, Queen of Scots. For the first time in history, England would have a Queen regnant. Partisan councillors would jockey fo…

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21. Edward VI 35:01

3y ago35:01

35:01

In 1547, the last minority in English history was formed for 9 year old Edward VI (1547-53). After the titanic reign of his father Henry VIII, a contemporary may have wondered if the country may be engulfed in civil war once more.Had the rampant religious and administrative upheaval been possible due to the colossus at the helm? Would the country a…

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Juana Loca (Joanna the Mad) Queen of Castile and Aragon with Cristina Sanchez Gomez 36:43

3y ago36:43

36:43

Does Juana Loca (Joanna the Mad) Queen of Castile (1504-55) and Aragon (1516-55) deserve her title? Was she really unfit for rule or was she merely a victim of her father's, her husband's and her son's political machinations? Find out with Cristina Sanchez Gomez. CHARACTERS (names in Spanish) Juana - Queen of Castile (1504-55) and Aragon (1516-55) …

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20. Henry VIII 55:28

3y ago55:28

55:28

Henry VIII (1509-47) was described by historian Simon Jenkins as the ‘Hercules of English history – part tyrant, part polymath, part renaissance prince, who tore up the Plantagenet rulebook’. He was a prolific builder of English monarchy giving the nation a new identity, free from the shackles of Rome. His impact on religion, on government and on s…

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19. Henry VII 41:38

3+ y ago41:38

41:38

According to the chronicler Vergil, ‘Henry VII's (1485-1509) spirit was distinguished, wise and prudent; his mind was brave and resolute and it never, even at moments of great danger, deserted him’. He was the last king to win the crown on the battlefield in one of the most significant moments in English history. But history does not remember him a…

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Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh 15:09

3+ y ago15:09

15:09

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh was the longest serving consort in British history. His commitment was remarkable with over 22,000 royal engagements. If Queen Elizabeth II is remembered as the greatest monarch in British history, it will be largely due to the support of her husband Prince Philip. On their golden wedding anniversary in 1997 she sai…

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Interview with Jeremy Dronfield - author of 'The Boy Who Followed His Father Into Auschwitz' 1:01:17

3+ y ago1:01:17

1:01:17

The Holocaust was and remains one of the most unique, horrific and incomprehensible events of modern History. In this very special episode, I explore the causes, context and realities of History’s greatest crime by interviewing the author Jeremy Dronfield about his book, The Sunday Times and Amazon No.1 Bestseller ‘The Boy Who Followed His Father I…

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18. Richard III 35:55

3+ y ago35:55

35:55

Richard III (1483-85) has been portrayed as inhuman, tyrannical, treacherous and cruel. He had the monumental misfortune of character assassination by the dynasty that followed him determined to blacken his name. It will unquestionably be remembered as one of the most famous and consequential reigns in English history. CHARACTERS Richard III – King…

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17. Edward V - the Prince in the tower 25:12

3+ y ago25:12

25:12

Edward V (1483) was intelligent, articulate and ready to make the giant leap from a fresh-faced prince to a wily, formidable medieval king but even before his coronation could take place a pernicious scheme was set to take it all away. CHARACTERS Edward V – King of England, son of Edward IV Edward IV, King of England Richard, duke of Gloucester – E…

1
16. Edward IV 29:35

4y ago29:35

29:35

Edward IV (1461-70, 71-83) represented everything Henry VI didn’t. He offered courage, leadership and political intelligence but his promiscuous lifestyle and the overestimation of the power of his charm meant he was exposed to the sinister 15th century culture of deceit and treachery. CHARACTERS Edward IV – King of England (House of York) Elizabet…

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15. Henry VI 35:54

4y ago35:54

35:54

Henry VI (1422-61, 70-71) was the antithesis of a warrior king, he was the first since the Norman conquest never to command an army. Yet it was his incompetence and inertia that contributed to the unbridled, unparalleled bloodshed of his deeply turbulent reign. CHARACTERS Henry VI – King of England Margaret of Anjou – Queen of England Henry V – Fat…

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14. Henry V 29:31

4y ago29:31

29:31

Picking up the reins of a deeply fractured country, Henry V (1413-22) transformed it into a united, dominant force. He believed strongly in the divine right of kingship and used it to reignite the hundred years war. Beloved and revered by future kings, his success in all facets of rule is unparalleled. According to historian KB McFarlane, he was pe…

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13. Henry IV 27:59

4y ago27:59

27:59

DESCRIPTION The manner of Henry IV’s (1399-1413) ascent not only consumed the king with almighty guilt for the rest of his life, accusations of his illegitimacy completely dominated his reign. So deep was the rift, so potent was the suspicion and so rampant was the opportunism that it served as a precursor for the violent theatre of the war of the …

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12. Richard II 28:33

4y ago28:33

28:33

An era of camaraderie, chivalry and glory was a distant memory. Richard II's (1377-99) reign demonstrated just how rapidly tethered royal powers of post-Magna Carta could be dashed, how deep schisms could be dug and how susceptible England still was to absolute tyranny. CHARACTERS Richard II – King of England The Black Prince – Father of Richard II…

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11. Edward III 35:27

4y ago35:27

35:27

Edward III (1327-77) combined the regal majesty of Henry the third and the military prowess of Edward longshanks in marshaling the cult of chivalry. It produced the most glorious age in English history. CHARACTERS Kings of England Edward III Edward II – Father of Edward III Edward I (Longshanks) – Father of Edward II Henry III – Father of Edward I …

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Interview with Heather Darsie - author of 'Anna, Duchess of Cleves: The King's Beloved Sister' 48:44

4y ago48:44

48:44

I interview Heather Darsie about her new book - 'Anna, Duchess of Cleves: The King's Beloved Sister'. We talk about her life as a young princess before becoming the Queen and wife of the King of England, the mighty Henry VIII. You can buy her book here - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Anna-Duchess-Cleves-Beloved-Sister/dp/1445677105 You can follow her on…

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10. Edward II 32:18

4y ago32:18

32:18

Edward II's (1307-27) reign was plagued with military and political incompetence. He was concerned not with the deeds of chivalry but in fulfilling his own desires. So dangerous were the men he allowed to control him that it bred a sinister and violent culture not seen in England for centuries. Characters Edward II - King of England Edward I (longs…

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9. Edward I - Longshanks 32:58

4y ago32:58

32:58

Edward I – Longshanks (1272-1307) is one of the most important monarchs in English history. No other king left such a mark on the island of Britain. There were no bounds to his determination and to his malice. He treated Celts with belligerence sapping his own reign of wealth and peace. His reign saw the demolition of the last Welsh principality an…

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8. Henry III 29:56

4y ago29:56

29:56

Henry III (1216-72) was not cut from the same cloth as his belligerent predecessors. He was placid, he hated tournaments and grew to hate war. He was known to made bold ambitious policy pronouncements but to lack the drive and determination to see them through. It was his relationship with lords and barons that would characterise his reign releasin…

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Michael, King of Romania 12:42

4y ago12:42

12:42

In an extra episode we look at Michael (1927-30, 40-47) With Soviet troops approaching Bucharest in 1944, the apparent puppet king in Romania made a daring decision to defy Adolf Hitler and imprison his acolyte. After Soviet rule left Romania in decades of shadow, the king’s body was returned to his country 70 years after his banishment for full st…

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7. John 34:05

4y ago34:05

34:05

John (1199-1216) was described by historian Bishop Stubbs as ‘the very worst of our kings, a faithless son, treacherous brother, polluted with every crime. Whom no oaths could bind, there is no redeeming trait’. For Robin Hood he was the perfect iniquitous enemy. It’s a tale, popular throughout the centuries, that reflects his reputation among most…

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Correspondence 12:00

4y ago12:00

12:00

Answers to questions that have been sent in to the show!

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6. Richard I - the Lionheart 31:58

4y ago31:58

31:58

The reign of Richard the Lionheart (1189-99) was a brief but costly interlude in English monarchy characterised by war and chivalry. He would not continue his father’s legacy of law and order, instead the Lionheart was transfixed by honour and conquest. He was a masterful campaigner and a fine soldier who struck terror into the hearts of his enemie…

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