History's Greatest Battles

In 1485, England stood at a crossroads, scarred by decades of civil war. Against this grim backdrop, two armies headed for a fateful confrontation: one led by a battle-hardened king determined to ensure the success of a dynasty he had fought to protect for years; the other by a new challenger in an old conflict.
In this final episode of our History’s Greatest Battles series charting the Wars of the Roses, Emily Briffett is joined by historian and author Lauren Johnson to explore how, in one fateful meeting on one remarkable day, a new king would be crowned – and history would never look the same again.
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Curious to find out more about the Wars of the Roses? Check out HistoryExtra’s archive of essential reading, listening and watching here: https://bit.ly/4qCI8KQ

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Survivors desperately fleeing to the apparent safety of a nearby abbey. A young prince on the brink of death. A dynasty on the precipice. The battle of Tewkesbury, which played out during May 1471, certainly had its fair share of high drama, and high stakes, as armies clashed and the Lancastrian cause was shattered.

In this fourth episode of our History’s Greatest Battles series charting the Wars of the Roses, Emily Briffett joins historian and author Lauren Johnson to consider those remarkable events – and their legacy.

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Curious to find out more about the Wars of the Roses? Check out HistoryExtra’s archive of essential reading, listening and watching here: https://bit.ly/4qCI8KQ

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HISTORY'S GREATEST DISHES

Don't miss HistoryExtra's new podcast series, History's Greatest Dishes, which will offer a feast of facts about some of the past's most remarkable delicacies. The first episode is served on 13 April – click here to find out more and follow the series: https://play.megaphone.fm/pcu-1bwer3mzabgf50tomg

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April 1471: a thick, blinding fog smothered the fields near Barnet, swallowing banners, muffling orders and turning friend into foe. Opposing armies became disoriented – and then one mistake proved fatal.
In this third episode of our History’s Greatest Battles series charting the Wars of the Roses, Emily Briffett joins historian and author Lauren Johnson to chronicle the clash at Barnet, in which lines buckled and trust collapsed.
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Curious to find out more about the Wars of the Roses? Check out HistoryExtra’s archive of essential reading, listening and watching here: https://bit.ly/4qCI8KQ

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In the bitter spring of 1461, the freezing fields of Yorkshire became a blood-soaked battlefield in which two rivals fought for the throne of a divided nation. But who would emerge victorious? In this second episode of our History’s Greatest Battles series charting the Wars of the Roses, Emily Briffett joins historian and author Lauren Johnson at the 1461 battle of Towton.

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Want to find out more about the Wars of the Roses? Check out HistoryExtra’s archive of essential reading, listening and watching here: https://bit.ly/4qCI8KQ

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History’s Greatest Battles is back! This time around, Emily Briffett and historian and author Lauren Johnson will be chronicling the most momentous clashes of the Wars of the Roses. In this first episode, they explore 1455’s First Battle of St Albans, a bitter brawl that sparked a dynastic struggle and set in motion a chain of events that would redefine power in England for centuries to come.

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Curious to find out more about the Wars of the Roses? Check out HistoryExtra’s archive of essential reading, listening and watching here: https://bit.ly/4qCI8KQ

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This new run delves into the Wars of the Roses, exploring the blood-soaked 15th-century struggle for the English throne. Across five dramatic episodes, Emily Briffett and historian Lauren Johnson offer expert insights into the decisive moments, power players and most gripping clashes, revealing what these brutal encounters tell us about survival and supremacy in medieval England.

Listen to new episodes on this feed weekly from 24 February, or get them early and ad-free by subscribing to HistoryExtra Plus.

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What was the Romans’ weakest link when it came to warfare? Do we
underestimate the military might of other ancient civilisations in favour
of Rome? And which battles from the imperial era have been overlooked?

In this special bonus episode of History’s Greatest Battles, Emily Briffett
is joined once again by Dr Adrian Goldsworthy to revisit the five epic
clashes they explored in our first series on the Roman empire – from
naval showdowns and brutal sieges to disastrous defeats and tales of
betrayal. Together, they reflect on what these battles reveal about the
Roman world – and consider whether they are really representative of
the ancient civilisation’s military prowess.

If you’re interested in finding out more about the military history of
ancient Rome, Adrian recently appeared on the HistoryExtra podcast to
answer listener questions on the tactics and strategy of the Roman war
machine – from why soldiers didn’t always wear red to how and when
their seemingly invincible army was defeated by a hedge: https://link.chtbl.com/HEXHGB

History’s Greatest Battles is produced by HistoryExtra, the home of ‘History’s Greatest’ podcasts. Listen to our other podcasts History’s Greatest Conspiracy Theories, History’s Greatest Scandals, History’s Greatest Cities, HistoryExtra Long Reads and the HistoryExtra podcast at historyextra.com/podcast.

For more fascinating stories from the past, check out BBC History Magazine or head to HistoryExtra.com.

We'd love to know what you think about the podcast, so leave us a review and let us know the topics you think we should be covering. Or, follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram or YouTube to keep in touch.

You can listen ad-free to this episode and more by subscribing to HistoryExtra Plus here: https://apple.co/4fgRA1d.

This episode was hosted by Emily Briffett and produced by Jack Bateman.

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Across the 370s AD, displaced Gothic tribes had flooded into the eastern Roman empire seeking refuge and settlement – but what they found instead was hardship and desperation. Such appalling ill treatment soon ignited a furious revolt that the Romans were determined to crush swiftly. However, these attempts to dampen resistance would instead culminate in one of Rome’s most disastrous defeats, the death of an emperor and a legacy that would ultimately bring western empire to its end. In this first series of History’s Greatest Battles, Emily Briffett heads back to the ancient Roman empire in the company of historian Dr Adrian Goldsworthy. And in this episode, they chart the pivotal battle of Adrianople in 378 AD.

History’s Greatest Battles is produced by HistoryExtra, the home of ‘History’s Greatest’ podcasts. Listen to our other podcasts History’s Greatest Conspiracy Theories, History’s Greatest Scandals, History’s Greatest Cities, HistoryExtra Long Reads and the HistoryExtra podcast at historyextra.com/podcast.

For more fascinating stories from the past, check out BBC History Magazine or head to HistoryExtra.com.

We'd love to know what you think about the podcast, so leave us a review and let us know the topics you think we should be covering. Or, follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram or YouTube to keep in touch.

You can listen ad-free to this episode and more by subscribing to HistoryExtra Plus here: https://apple.co/4fgRA1d.

This episode was hosted by Emily Briffett and produced by Jack Bateman.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 359 AD, the Roman fortress of Amida held fast against the might of the Sassanian Persian army, in a gruelling 73-day siege that saw the city’s defenders face desperation, disease… and betrayal. This was a standoff that left the honour of two formidable military opponents hanging in the balance. The question was, who would come out on top? In this first series of History’s Greatest Battles, Emily Briffett heads back to the ancient Roman empire in the company of historian Dr Adrian Goldsworthy – and in this episode, they revisit the brutal siege of Amida.

History’s Greatest Battles is produced by HistoryExtra, the home of ‘History’s Greatest’ podcasts. Listen to our other podcasts History’s Greatest Conspiracy Theories, History’s Greatest Scandals, History’s Greatest Cities, HistoryExtra Long Reads and the HistoryExtra podcast at historyextra.com/podcast.

For more fascinating stories from the past, check out BBC History Magazine or head to HistoryExtra.com.

We'd love to know what you think about the podcast, so leave us a review and let us know the topics you think we should be covering. Or, follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram or YouTube to keep in touch.

You can listen ad-free to this episode and more by subscribing to HistoryExtra Plus here: https://apple.co/4fgRA1d.

This episode was hosted by Emily Briffett and produced by Jack Bateman.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 61 AD, the fate of Britannia hung in the balance. Thousands had risen up in open rebellion against Roman rule – at their head was Iceni queen Boudica, seeking vengeance for her people’s suffering. Overwhelmingly outnumbered but unyielding, the Roman legions made their desperate last stand at Watling Street, in one of the most famous clashes of the imperial age. In this first series of History’s Greatest Battles, Emily Briffett heads back to the ancient Roman empire in the company of historian Dr Adrian Goldsworthy – and in this episode, they explore the famed rout of Boudica’s rebellion.

History’s Greatest Battles is produced by HistoryExtra, the home of ‘History’s Greatest’ podcasts. Listen to our other podcasts History’s Greatest Conspiracy Theories, History’s Greatest Scandals, History’s Greatest Cities, HistoryExtra Long Reads and the HistoryExtra podcast at historyextra.com/podcast.

For more fascinating stories from the past, check out BBC History Magazine or head to HistoryExtra.com.

We'd love to know what you think about the podcast, so leave us a review and let us know the topics you think we should be covering. Or, follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram or YouTube to keep in touch.

You can listen ad-free to this episode and more by subscribing to HistoryExtra Plus here: https://apple.co/4fgRA1d.

This episode was hosted by Emily Briffett and produced by Jack Bateman.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices