Journalist and author Ian Macgill found his writing passion traveling through the jungles of South America. As a young man Ian was awarded the Winston Churchill fellowship and traveled through South America studying ancient sites. His adventures in South America would make a great book as well! After his travels he returned to Britain and began his career as a journalist. Ian now owns and operates the Grapevine Magazine in Sheffeld, England. Most recently Ian authored the book The Rhyme of King Harold, the story of King Harold written entirely in verse. Join us today on the Medieval Archives podcast as we talk with Ian Macgill on his adventures in South America, his book The Rhyme of King Harold and the tumultuous year 1066! Did Harold usurp the English throne? Could the Norman invasion been avoided if Harold wasn't the King? Find out all that and more in our fascinating interview with Ian Macgill! The Rhyme of King Harold is the name of the book, Head over to the website and have a look! (http://www.rhymesofhistory.com/) Below are video performances of Ian's book The Rhyme of King Harold. Please send any comments or suggestions to [email protected] If you are enjoying the podcast please considering leaving a rating on iTunes. Rate the Medieval Archives Podcast now! Listen to the episode now In this episode we discuss: England before King Harold King Harold's rise to power Cause of the Danish Invasion Cause of the Norman Invasion And more... Get your free audio book from Audible.com at: http://www.medievalarchives.com/AudioBook The Rhyme of King Harold The Rhyme of King Harold - Queen Emma Download the MP3 and listen to it on your favorite MP3 player. Subscribe to the feed so you do not miss a single episode. iTunes | Stitcher Radio | Download MP3 | RSS Feed The music was provided by Tim Rayburn. It is available at Magnatune.com

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Gilles de Rais, an esteemed knight and the Marshall of France, who fought alongside Joan of Arc. Then he turned to the occult and tried to deal with the devil. Gilles isn't remembered as a hero of France, instead he is remembered as a gruesome child murderer. On today's episode we are going to look at Gilles de Rais, a knight who fought alongside Joan of Arc and was her trusted adviser. He was granted the title of Marshal of France by King Charles VII for his loyalty and military victories. But as the Hundred Years War started to end he turned to black magic. Gilles de Rais would stop at nothing to keep his wealth and gain more. He tried Alchemy to turn matter into gold, which lead to sorcery and summoning demons. Through it all he was a vile child killer, who killed so many children by his own admission he cannot count them all. In his testimony de Rais confessed to beating, hanging and beheading children, and that was just the start! His crimes are so vile they will make your stomach turn. Join us today on the Halloween episode of the Medieval Archives Podcast as we look at the valiant knight turned gruesome monster, Gilles de Rais. Please send any comments or suggestions to [email protected] If you are enjoying the podcast please considering leaving a rating on iTunes. Rate the Medieval Archives Podcast now! Listen to the episode now In this episode we discuss: Gilles de Rais childhood Gilles de Rais rise to greatness Gilles de Rais, the occultist and summoner of demons Gilles de Rais as a serial killer And more... Check out our Halloween Podcast page for more great spine-chilling podcasts! Get your free audio book from Audible.com at: http://www.medievalarchives.com/AudioBook Download the MP3 and listen to it on your favorite MP3 player. Subscribe to the feed so you do not miss a single episode. iTunes | Stitcher Radio | Download MP3 | RSS Feed The music was provided by Tim Rayburn. It is available at Magnatune.com

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I wanted to get out a quick update to let you know about the VIKINGS Season 2 Blu-ray giveaway! It's easy to enter and you could take home a great prize! Head over to http://www.medievalarchives.com/vikingsgiveaway to enter the contest. One lucky player will win a copy of VIKINGS Season 2 on Blu-ray Listen to the episode now The Blu-Ray version includes all 10 original episodes plus: 10 extended and unrated episodes (same episodes as the original with added scenes and no TV rating) “The Viking Sagas” – an interactive Archival Exploration “My Family, My Enemy” featurette “A Warrior Society: Rites of Passage” featurette “Imagining and Exploring Climatic Battles” featurette Commentary from Michael Hirst & Gustaf Skarsgard Download the MP3 and listen to it on your favorite MP3 player. Subscribe to the feed or in iTunes so you never miss a single episode. Direct Download (MP3) | Subscribe in iTunes | Miro | RSS Get your free audio book from Audible.com at: http://www.medievalarchives.com/AudioBook Copyright © 2013 · Dragon Moon Media All Rights are Reserved. No Infringement is Intended. The Vikings Podcast is a Medieval Archives & Dragon Moon Media production. Medieval Archives' use of any and all copyrighted material is only for parody, news analysis, critique, and/or for educational purposes as provided within United States Code (USC) Title 17 aka “Fair Use”.

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Award-winning journalist, best selling author and Historian Dan Jones joins the Medieval Archives Podcast to talk all things Plantagenets! His first book on the subject The Plantagents: The Kings Who made England covers the first two centuries of Plantagenet Kings from Henry II to Richard II. In his latest book Wars of the Roses(Hollow Crown, UK Title), Dan chronicles the last century of the Plantagenet dynasty and the Wars of the Roses. He sets the stage with Henry V, takes readers through the Wars of the Roses and finishes with the rise of the Tudor dynasty. Join us on the podcast as Dan and I discuss his writing style, his upcoming TV series on the Plantagenets and how the Plantagenet Kings shaped the medieval era and modern England. Please send any comments or suggestions to [email protected] If you are enjoying the podcast please considering leaving a rating on iTunes. Rate the Medieval Archives Podcast now! Listen to the episode now In this episode we discuss: Dan's background The Plantagenet Dynasty His new book Hollow Crown(UK), Wars of the Roses(USA) Dan's upcoming TV series based on the Book The Plantagenets And more... Get your free audio book from Audible.com at: http://www.medievalarchives.com/AudioBook Download the MP3 and listen to it on your favorite MP3 player. Subscribe to the feed so you do not miss a single episode. iTunes | Stitcher Radio | Download MP3 | RSS Feed The music was provided by Tim Rayburn. It is available at Magnatune.com

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Jan Hus was a Czech or more accurately for his time, a Bohemian priest, philosopher and religious reformer who shock up the catholic church in the 15th century. We'll look at his life, his ideas about religion and the catholic church and the wars fought in his name. I have shelves and shelves of medieval history books and almost all of them handle the history of Jan Hus and the Hussite Wars the same way...briefly. Most give the subject one or two paragraphs and nothing more. On today's episode we are going to look at Jan Hus and the Hussite Wars in depth. We'll look at the history of Hus and the Hussite Wars. A series of Wars, Crusades really, fought against his followers. We'll also look at the Military mastermind Jan Zizka. Zizka holds a very significant distinction with only 7 other military leaders in all of history! Tune in to find out. Please send any comments or suggestions to [email protected] If you are enjoying the podcast please considering leaving a rating on iTunes. Rate the Medieval Archives Podcast now! Listen to the episode now In this episode we discuss: Jan Hus Hus and his reformation process Hussite Wars Jan Zizka And more... Get your free audio book from Audible.com at: http://www.medievalarchives.com/AudioBook Download the MP3 and listen to it on your favorite MP3 player. Subscribe to the feed so you do not miss a single episode. iTunes | Stitcher Radio | Download MP3 | RSS Feed The music was provided by Tim Rayburn. It is available at Magnatune.com

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Few authors can capture the atmosphere of the middle ages as well as Bernard Cornwell. A master storyteller Bernard has written over 50 books! I first discovered Bernard Cornwell in the early 2000s when I was browsing at a local bookstore. A book titled The Archer's Tale caught my attention and the main character was an archer fighting in the Hundred Years' War. SOLD! Now I own all Bernard Cornwell's books and anxiously await the newest installment in the Saxon Series, The Empty Throne! Bernard was gracious enough to take time out of his busy schedule and sit down for an interview. It would have been great to sit face to face for the interview but seeing how we live 2000 miles apart a phone conversation would have to do. Please send any comments or suggestions to [email protected] If you are enjoying the podcast please considering leaving a rating on iTunes. Rate the Medieval Archives Podcast now! Listen to the episode now Visit the Official Bernard Cornwell site (www.bernardcornwell.net) to get the latest news and book information. Don't miss Bernard's upcoming book tour! Find all the dates and locations on his website (http://www.bernardcornwell.net/uk-book-tour-october-2014/) In this episode we discuss: Why Bernard took up writing for a living Advice for new writers Fiction vs Non-Fiction The Empty Throne and upcoming book tour And more... Get your free audio book from Audible.com at: http://www.medievalarchives.com/AudioBook Download the MP3 and listen to it on your favorite MP3 player. Subscribe to the feed so you do not miss a single episode. iTunes | Stitcher Radio | Download MP3 | RSS Feed The music was provided by Tim Rayburn. It is available at Magnatune.com Photos courtesy of bernardcornwell.net

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In June 1314 Scotland faced off against England in a battle that would be remembered through the ages. Outnumbered more than 2-1 the Scots banded together to fight the mighty English. The Battle of Bannockburn started out with an epic confrontation between King Robert the Bruce and the English knight Henry de Bohun. The outcome of that single combat would foretell the outcome of the battle. Bannockburn defined a man and a country and in its wake Scotland would remain a free and independent nation. Join us today on the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn, we'll look at the battle, the strategies and the outcome. Please send any comments or suggestions to [email protected] If you are enjoying the podcast please considering leaving a rating on iTunes. Rate the Medieval Archives Podcast now! Listen to the episode now In this episode we discuss: The Legend of the Spider Robert the Bruce v. Henry de Bohun Edward II Schiltrons And more... Get your free audio book from Audible.com at: http://www.medievalarchives.com/AudioBook Download the MP3 and listen to it on your favorite MP3 player. Subscribe to the feed so you do not miss a single episode. iTunes | Stitcher Radio | Download MP3 | RSS Feed The music was provided by Tim Rayburn. It is available at Magnatune.com Sound clips from Education Scotland and Braveheart

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For everyone living today the Kingdom of Scotland has been apart of the United Kingdom of Great Britain. But the two kingdoms weren't always united. In fact they have only been unified for 300 years. Prior to the 1707 Treaty of Union, Scotland was an independent nation. Travel back even farther, to the late 13th, early 14th century England led by Edward I, the 'Hammer of the Scots' was trying to bring Scotland under control. What Edward didn't count on was a group of Scots, noble and common, steadfast in their belief of a free independent nation. Legendary men like John 'the Red' Comyn, John Balliol, William Wallace and Robert the Bruce. Those men didn't vote for Scottish Independence, they fought and died for it! ...for, as long as but a hundred of us remain alive, never will we on any conditions be brought under English rule. It is in truth not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom – for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself. ~Declaration of Arbroath Scottish patriots, outnumbered by a superior army, used guerrilla tactics when possible and prevailed in full battle against all odds. King Edward I wouldn't live to see the end of the war, he died in 1307. It would be his grandson Edward III who signed the Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton in 1328. Edward II was deposed and killed in 1327! Join us today as we explore the Scottish War of Independence, we'll look at the battles, the key players and how Scotland was able to defeat the might Kingdom of England. Please send any comments or suggestions to [email protected] If you are enjoying the podcast please considering leaving a rating on iTunes. Rate the Medieval Archives Podcast now! Listen to the episode now In this episode we discuss: Battle of Stirling Bridge Robert the Bruce Edward II William Wallace Scottish Referendum 2014 And more... Get your free audio book from Audible.com at: http://www.medievalarchives.com/AudioBook Download the MP3 and listen to it on your favorite MP3 player. Subscribe to the feed so you do not miss a single episode. iTunes | Stitcher Radio | Download MP3 | RSS Feed The music was provided by Tim Rayburn. It is available at Magnatune.com Sound clips from BBC and Braveheart

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Defender of the City of God is a new book by award winning author Sharan Newman. It examines the First Crusade, the Crusader state of Jerusalem and Queen Melisande. Sharan also writes fiction novels based in the Middle Ages, including a series of Medieval mysteries. In this lesson we talk with Sharan about her background, her books, both fiction and non-fiction, her writing style and her love of the Middle Ages. Defender of the City of God: Jerusalem sits at the crossroads of three continents and has been continuously invaded for millennia. Yet, in the middle of one of the region’s most violent eras, the Crusades, an amazing multicultural world was forming. Templar knights, Muslim peasants, Turkish caliphs, Jewish merchants, and the native Christians, along with the children of the first crusaders, blended cultures while struggling to survive in a land constantly at war. Defending the City of God explores this fascinating and forgotten world, and how a group of sisters, daughters of the King of Jerusalem, whose supporters included Grand Masters of the Templars and Armenian clerics, held together the fragile treaties, understandings, and marriages that allowed for relative peace among the many different factions. As the crusaders fought to maintain their conquests, these relationships quickly unraveled, and the religious and cultural diversity was lost as hardline factions took over. Weaving together the political intrigues and dynastic battles that transformed the Near East with an evocative portrait of medieval Jerusalem, this is an astonishing look at a forgotten side of the first Crusades. You can find Sharan online at: Sharan Newman's website Sharan's Facebook Fan Page The LagyKillers Blog Please send any comments, suggestions or topic ideas to [email protected] If you are enjoying the podcast please considering leaving a rating on iTunes. Rate the Medieval Archives Podcast now! Listen to the episode now Get your free audio book from Audible.com at: http://www.medievalarchives.com/AudioBook In this lesson we discuss: Sharan's background Crusader States Queen Melisende Writing advice And more... Download the MP3 and listen to it on your favorite MP3 player. Subscribe to the feed so you do not miss a single episode. iTunes | Stitcher Radio | Download MP3 | RSS Feed The music was provided by Tim Rayburn. It is available at Magnatune.com Sound clips from National Geographic Channel and The Da Vinci Code

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Jacques de Molay the 23rd and final Grand Master of The Poor Fellow Soldiers of Christ and the Temple of Solomon, better know as The Knights Templar. The Knights Templar formed in 1119 and quickly rose in power and wealth. With help from the church they were able to amass a fortune in money and property. They were fierce warriors of God that set out to protect the Holy Land and Christian pilgrims. Lead by Jacques de Molay in the late 13th Century the Knights Templar were the wealthiest institution in Europe. They revolutionized the banking industry, granting lines of credit and loaning money to the Nobles and Kings of Europe. A Templar Knight is truly a fearless knight, and secure on every side, for his soul is protected by the armour of faith, just as his body is protected by the armour of steel. He is thus doubly armed, and need fear neither demons nor men. ~Bernard de Clairvaux King Philip IV of France, with the help of Pope Clement V, plotted to dissolve the Templar Order, seize their treasure and rule a new Order of Knights. On Friday the 13th, October 1307 King Philip arrested Jacques de Molay and thousands of Knights Templar all across France. The Knights were tortured until they confessed heresy. Jacques de Molay recanted his confession and Pope Clement V ordered his execution along with senior members of the Knights Templar. On 18 March 1314, 700 years ago this month, Jacques de Molay was burned at the stake for heresy and devil worship, with his last breath he placed a curse on King Philip and Pope Clement. After the death of de Molay the Knights disbanded and their fleet of ships disappeared along with all their treasure. In this lesson we will examine the life and death of Jacques de Molay, the Origin of the Knights Templar, the treasures they held and the conspiracy theories that surround them. Please send any comments, suggestions or topic ideas to [email protected] If you are enjoying the podcast please considering leaving a rating on iTunes. Rate the Medieval Archives Podcast now! Listen to the episode now Get your free audio book from Audible.com at: http://www.medievalarchives.com/AudioBook In this episode we discuss: Jacques de Molay Knights Templar and the Crusades Origins of the Knights Templar Downfall of Jacques de Molay and The Knights Templar Knights Templar Conspiracy Theory And more... Download the MP3 and listen to it on your favorite MP3 player. Subscribe to the feed so you do not miss a single episode. iTunes | Stitcher Radio | Download MP3 | RSS Feed The music was provided by Tim Rayburn. It is available at Magnatune.com Sound clips from National Geographic Channel and The Da Vinci Code

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