Best 17thcentury Podcasts (2024)

Send us a Text Message. Hartlebury Castle was the home of the Bishops of Worcester for centuries. But in 2022, a chance meeting between historian, Doug Smith, and archaeologist, Tim Cornah led to a whirlwind excavation that brought the civil war back to Hartlebury. The sights, sounds and smell of the period were re-enactment by the Sealed Knot in J…

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Episode 28 - Alice Thornton's Manuscripts 53:01

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11M ago53:01

53:01

Send us a Text Message. I speak with Professor Cordelia Beattie about the remarkable manuscripts penned by Alice Thornton, a Yorkshire woman who lived through many key events of the 17th century. Though from a well-to-do family, she wasn't rich, and the war affected her in many ways. Cordelia and The Alice Thornton Project are studying Alice's memo…

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Episode 27 - Dunbar Part 2 (Durham Death March) 49:46

12M ago49:46

49:46

Send us a Text Message. Historian John Sadler is my guest, speaking about the fates of the 5000 prisoners taken at the Battle of Dunbar and force marched across the border to Durham. Much of their story was forgotten until 2013, when a mass grave was discovered in the shadow of the world heritage site that is Durham Cathedral. Warwick Louth also re…

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Episode 26 - English Civil War Society 31:41

12M ago31:41

31:41

Send us a Text Message. I speak to Thomas Zugic, a captain in Lunsford's Regiment of the English Civil War Society, about a forthcoming re-enactment at Hylton Castle, Sunderland. ▪️Discover more about the ECWS ▪️Find out about this event, as well as some of Thomas's favourites ▪️Learn why Thomas thinks the capture of royalist Selby was a key event …

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Episode 25 - Battle of Dunbar 1:06:02

1y ago1:06:02

1:06:02

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Episode 24 - Montrose's Military Report 43:15

1y ago43:15

43:15

Send us a Text Message. Warwick and I assess the battle record of The Great Montrose & ponder some fascinating 'what if' questions. Do we both agree? ▪️Which victory was his greatest? ▪️What might have happened if the king's cavalry had managed to link up with him after Naseby? ▪️How would he have fared in a pitched battle with Fairfax & Cromwell? …

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Episode 23 - Montrose 1:01:39

1y ago1:01:39

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Send us a Text Message. Find out more about The Great Montrose & his 'year of miracles'. Montrose's latest biographer, Dominic Pearce, describes the man, his campaigns & relationship with Charles I & II. ▪️After a glorious year of miracles, what led to Montrose's defeat at Philiphaugh? ▪️Did Charles II knowingly send the marquis to his death? ▪️Dis…

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Episode 22 - Civil War Wargaming 44:22

1y ago44:22

44:22

Send us a Text Message. Scott Moore, creator of the boardgame 'This War Without an Enemy' joins me to discuss the game, and his interest in the civil wars. ▪️ Which childhood friend, and civil war historian, helped generate his interest in the period? ▪️ What are the different types of wargaming? ▪️ Which battle would both Scott and Warwick like to…

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Episode 21 - John Hampden 45:15

1+ y ago45:15

45:15

Send us a Text Message. Ian Beckett, a Vice-Chair of the John Hampden Society joins me to talk about this parliamentarian military and political leader. Known as for his civil war regiment of green coats, and opposition to Ship Money tax, Hampden has become an obscure and clouded figure through the centuries. ▪️What myths have grown up about John H…

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Episode 20 - Civil War Memorial Project 55:06

1+ y ago55:06

55:06

Send us a Text Message. I chat to Simon Marsh, Battlefield and Threat Co-Ordinator for The Battlefields Trust about an exciting new project aimed at recording all civil war memorials and markers across the world. ▪️How can you get involved? ▪️Hear about some of the lesser-known memorials logged so far. ▪️Find out about the work of The Battlefields …

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Episode 19 - Coleshill Manor (HS2 Discovery) 1:01:58

1+ y ago1:01:58

1:01:58

Send us a Text Message. Stuart Pierson, of Wessex Archaeologist, who appeared on BBC's 'Digging for Britain' joins me to discuss this amazing discovery. The episode brings you the very latest news about the site and its future, and explores the history of Coleshill Manor. I also chat to Warwick Louth, qualified conflict and battlefield archaeologis…

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Episode 18 - Lady Derby & Lathom House 1:04:21

1+ y ago1:04:21

1:04:21

Send us a Text Message. I speak to Jennifer Kewley Draskau (Senior research Fellow - University of Liverpool) who has written a book about Charlotte, Countess of Derby. The Earl of Derby owned Lathom, and garrisoned it for King Charles I's cause in the Civil War. His wife conducted its defence during the siege of 1644. Why myths surround Lady Derby…

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Episode 17 - The Levellers. 40:55

3+ y ago40:55

40:55

Send us a Text Message. I speak to John Rees about the Levellers; a movement that was 200 years ahead of its time, and who advocated a more democratic outcome to the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. John is a British political activist, academic and writer and one of his books is The Leveller Revolution. What were the Leveller beliefs and how did their …

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Episode 16 - Maimed Soldiers & Widows Petitions 46:31

3+ y ago46:31

46:31

Send us a Text Message. I speak to Dr Ismini Pells, who is leading the Civil War Petitions Project. She explains what these petitions tell us about the ordinary men and women who lived and fought during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. What wounds did they incur? How did they integrate back into society? Why were some petitions for relief granted, a…

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Christmas Special - Tim Bentinck. By the Sword Divided. 42:39

3+ y ago42:39

42:39

Send us a Text Message. This podcast looks at anything and everything to do with the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. In this episode I speak to the great Tim Bentinck, who played Tom Lacey in the BBC's, 'By the Sword Divided'. This iconic 80's costume drama really brought the Wars of the Three Kingdom's to life. Tim discusses filming the show, and offe…

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Episode 14 - Naseby, Two Kings & The Crown Jewels. 35:42

3+ y ago35:42

35:42

Send us a Text Message. This podcast looks at anything and everything to do with the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. In this episode I speak to the excellent historian, writer and broadcaster, Leanda de Lisle, about a mysterious 2017 metal detector find near the battlefield of Naseby. Leanda discusses whether the exquisite figure of King Henry VI is, i…

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Episode 13 - Part 2: Henrietta Maria, Queen Mother. 32:04

3+ y ago32:04

32:04

Send us a Text Message. This podcast looks at anything and everything to do with the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. In this episode I speak to the excellent historian and anthropologist Andrea Zuvich about Queen Henrietta Maria's years post 1649. It is the second of a two-part episode. Andrea sheds light on Henrietta's exile, her relations with her ch…

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Episode 12 - Part 1: Henrietta Maria, The Queen. 46:07

3+ y ago46:07

46:07

Send us a Text Message. This podcast looks at anything and everything to do with the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. In this episode I speak to the excellent historian, writer and broadcaster, Leanda de Lisle about Queen Henrietta Maria. It is the first of a two-part episode. Leanda sheds light on Henrietta's French heritage and childhood, along with: …

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Episode 11 - Sir Thomas Fairfax. 43:22

4y ago43:22

43:22

Send us a Text Message. This podcast looks at anything and everything to do with the War of the three Kingdoms. In this episode I speak to 3 expert guests about the overshadowed Sir Thomas Fairfax, General of Parliament's New Model Army. Professor Andrew Hopper, Colonel Nick Lipscombe and MJ Logue discuss who he isn't better remembered, along with:…

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8. The window of opportunity closes - Monteverdi and his constellation 59:45

4y ago59:45

59:45

Monteverdi’s swan-song, L’incoronazione di Poppea (1643),is a high-water mark of the new genre of public opera, Shakespearean in its contrasts of high and low-life characters, political chicanery and outrageous theatricality. It coincides with the death of the last two in this constellation of genius - Galileo in 1642 and Monteverdi a year later - …

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7. Celebrating the self - Monteverdi and his constellation 48:13

4y ago48:13

48:13

The focus here is on the growing awareness of the physical, mental and psychological attributes of the individual, and the development of a new philosophy which leads ultimately to Descartes’ formulation: cogito ergo sum. A growing awareness of the physical, mental and psychological attributes of the individual leads to a fresh focus on the ‘common…

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Episode 10 - Civil War Atlas - New Publication. 37:24

4y ago37:24

37:24

Send us a Text Message. This podcast looks at anything and everything to do with the War of the three Kingdoms. In this episode I speak to Colonel Nick Lipscombe, whose new book (published by Osprey) has just been released. An Atlas and Concise History of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms maps the various sieges and battles that took place in England …

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6. “More beautiful than the truth” - Monteverdi and his constellation 46:37

4y ago46:37

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Visual art – and especially the work of Caravaggio and Rubens (in different but complementary ways) now aimed to intensify sensory experience and drama. What Monteverdi called the “natural path to imitation” was a radical bid to represent, magnify and even ‘improve’ upon nature through song and music theatre. The Church was not alone in finding thi…

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5. The anatomy of melancholy - Monteverdi and his constellation 48:13

4y ago48:13

48:13

The young star chosen and coached by Monteverdi to sing the title role in his second opera, Arianna, died of smallpox just days before the scheduled première in 1608. Her replacement, an experienced singing actress, held strong views on the character of the abandoned heroine, Ariadne. This podcast explores how women suddenly step forward as creativ…

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4. How music catches up - Monteverdi and his constellation 49:35

4y ago49:35

49:35

Music can help us to grasp the true modernity of this enormous shift in human consciousness. Monteverdi’s first opera, L’Orfeo (1607), is almost a manifesto for the power of music now elevated to a level of virtuoso craftsmanship and universal human emotion far beyond anything previously attained or experienced - an example of what Stephen Sondheim…

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Episode 9 - Royal Armouries Interview. 40:11

4y ago40:11

40:11

Send us a Text Message. This podcast looks at anything and everything to do with the War of the three Kingdoms. In this episode I speak to Keith Dowen, deputy-curator of the Royal Armouries, about the Littlecote Collection (the most important surviving civil war armoury) and the individual civil war artefacts in the collection such as: Iconic armou…

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3. The new art of science - Monteverdi and his constellation 47:03

4y ago47:03

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Bacon’s formulation of the inductive method - the study of the empirical fact of antecedents and consequences - gave voice to the scientific advances being made by Galileo and Kepler in the face of widespread incredulity, opposition and persecution. The mind of Europe was now poised for a new venture of thought by this exceptional generation, one d…

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Episode 8 - Family Men: The King & Cromwell. 52:39

4y ago52:39

52:39

Send us a Text Message. This podcast looks at anything and everything to do with the War of the three Kingdoms. In this episode I'll be joined by two very special 17th century authors; Dr Linda Porter (author of Royal Renegades) and Miranda Malins (author of The Puritan Princess). We'll be at home with Charles and Oliver, finding out about the men …

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2. The “Intertrafficke of the minde” - Monteverdi and his constellation 49:09

4y ago49:09

49:09

A meeting of far-flung minds and a vigorous exchange of ideas occurred more frequently in these years than at any time hitherto. The paths of Galileo, Rubens, and Monteverdi crossed at the Gonzaga court in Mantua in March 1604. What might they have talked about and what can we learn about the interconnectedness of science and the arts at this time?…

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Episode 7 - Clubmen - Neutrals of the Civil War. 22:20

4y ago22:20

22:20

Send us a Text Message. This podcast looks at anything and everything to do with the War of the three Kingdoms. Clubmen. A third force. Neutrals. They are an overlooked party in a war when the main choice was given as King or Parliament. Yet many thousands did not make that choice and formed 'clubmen' associations against the war. Find out who the …

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Episode 6 - The Siege of Bristol. 25:03

4y ago25:03

25:03

Send us a Text Message. This podcast looks at anything and everything to do with the War of the three Kingdoms. In episode 6, I'll talk about the 1643 Siege of Bristol - the mother of all sieges - and one which would have failed were it not for the efforts of Prince Rupert. I'll also chat with Andy George, the commanding officer of Prince Rupert's …

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1. Something in the air - Monteverdi and his constellation 45:00

4y ago45:00

45:00

The year 1600 was the start of a century of unprecedented change, of extraordinary invention and of tumultuous advances in all the sciences and the art forms. For some it was a time of optimism and expanding horizons, while for others it was deeply unsettling. This introductory podcast lays the foundation for viewing the period through the lens of …

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Episode 5 - Civil War Museums Part 2: An Interview. 18:35

4y ago18:35

18:35

Send us a Text Message. CavalierCast - The Civil War in Words This podcast looks at anything and everything to do with the War of the three Kingdoms. For episode 5, I speak to Kevin Winter, Deputy curator of the National Civil War Centre, Newark Museum and Chair of the Battlefields Trust East Midlands Region. Discover more about their growing civil…

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Episode 4 - Civil War Museums: An Interview. 30:24

4y ago30:24

30:24

Send us a Text Message. CavalierCast - The Civil War in Words This podcast looks at anything and everything to do with the War of the Three Kingdoms. For episode 4, I interviewed Stuart Orme, Curator of The Cromwell Museum, in Huntingdon, about the museum's collection. Find out about Cromwell's death masks and the mystery of his wandering wart, lea…

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