It’s 1389, and young Charles VI of France is living the medieval dream. He’s married for love. The war-torn kingdom is finally healing. He’s handsome, adored, and destined for greatness.

But then — he snaps.

Charles descends into delusion, convinced his body is made of glass. He won’t let anyone touch him. He hides from the world. And as his mind fractures, so does France — a fragile kingdom now teetering on the brink of collapse.

This is a story of ambition without limits, power without control… and the terrifying question: who breaks first?

This Is History Presents: The Glass King — a haunting new series from historian Danièle Cybulskie — explores the tragic unraveling of a monarch and the chaos that follows.

To delve deeper into the history behind each episode, join This Is History’s royal favourites on Patreon. There, you can meet fellow mediaeval history buffs, chat with the team, and tell us what you want to hear more of. 

We’d love to see you there: patreon.com/thisishistory 

–

A Sony Music Entertainment production. 

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Written and presented by Danièle Cybulskie 

Producer - Alan Weedon Senior Producer - Dominic Tyerman

Executive Producer - Simon Poole 

Production Manager - Jen Mistri 

Production coordinator: Eric Ryan 

Mixing - Amber Devereux

Head of content – Chris Skinner

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The crown is slipping, and Richard II is running out of allies — even his loyal greyhound has had enough. As the kingdom turns against him, Richard scrambles to hold onto power. But his cousin, the formidable Henry Bolingbroke, is gaining ground fast. With betrayal in the air and a throne at stake, can Richard stop Henry’s return — or is the end already written? Listen to the season finale for a gripping tale of downfall, ambition, and the unraveling of a king.

If you can’t get enough of This Is History, we’d love to welcome you to the royal court over on our Patreon. There, you get bonus episodes, PLUS extra perks including dispatches from Dan and the team, the chance to vote on future subscriber episodes, and lively chat rooms with fellow history nerds. 

We’d love to see you there: patreon.com/thisishistory 

A 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 [email protected] 

Learn more about your ad choices. 

Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 

Presented by Dan Jones

Producer - Alan Weedon 

Senior Producer - Dominic Tyerman

Executive Producer - Simon Poole 

Production Manager - Jen Mistri 

Production coordinator - Eric Ryan 

Sound Design and Mixing - Amber Devereux

Head of content - Chris Skinner

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

The patriarch of the Lancastrian dynasty, John of Gaunt, is dead. His penultimate act was to show his nephew, Richard II, his rotting penis. While the king leaves gagging, this cunning Plantagenet also smells a jackpot. 

If you can’t get enough of This Is History, join our court of royal favourites on our Patreon. There, you get bonus episodes, PLUS extra perks including dispatches from Dan, and the chance to vote on future subscriber episodes, and lively chat rooms with fellow history nerds. 

We’d love to see you there: patreon.com/thisishistory 

A 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 [email protected] 

Learn more about your ad choices. 

Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 

Presented by Dan Jones

Producer - Alan Weedon 

Senior Producer - Dominic Tyerman

Executive Producer - Simon Poole 

Production Manager - Jen Mistri 

Production coordinator - Eric Ryan 

Sound Design and Mixing - Amber Devereux

Head of content - Chris Skinner

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

After making some major strategic blunders, Thomas Mowbray and Henry Bolingbroke now find themselves fighting to the death. But as the crowds amass, Richard II throws them a last-minute curveball that keeps them in a state of suspended animation. 

If you can’t get enough of This Is History, we’d love to welcome you to the royal court over on our Patreon. There, you get bonus episodes, PLUS extra perks including dispatches from Dan and the team, the chance to vote on future subscriber episodes, and lively chat rooms with fellow history nerds. 

We’d love to see you there: patreon.com/thisishistory 

A 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 [email protected] 

Learn more about your ad choices. 

Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 

Presented by Dan Jones

Producer - Alan Weedon 

Senior Producer - Dominic Tyerman

Executive Producer - Simon Poole 

Production Manager - Jen Mistri 

Production coordinator - Eric Ryan 

Sound Design and Mixing - Amber Devereux

Head of content - Chris Skinner 

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

London’s finest are gathering for 1397’s party of the year, but this isn’t a time to be celebrating… unless you’re Richard II. The 30-year-old king is emboldened, stronger than ever, and hell bent on retaliation. This leaves Henry Bolingbroke with a stark choice. 

If you can’t get enough of This Is History, we’d love to welcome you to the royal court over on our Patreon. There, you get bonus episodes, PLUS extra perks including dispatches from Dan and the team, the chance to vote on future subscriber episodes, and lively chat rooms with fellow history nerds. 

We’d love to see you there: patreon.com/thisishistory 

A 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 [email protected] 

Learn more about your ad choices. 

Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 

Presented by Dan Jones

Producer - Alan Weedon 

Senior Producer - Dominic Tyerman

Executive Producer - Simon Poole 

Production Manager - Jen Mistri 

Production coordinator - Eric Ryan 

Sound Design and Mixing - Amber Devereux

Head of content - Chris Skinner 

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

In 1392, nobody in the Plantagenet realm was expecting one of their own to be gored to death by a wild boar. The grim reaper’s busy. More shock deaths befall the Gaunt and Bolingbroke household, and Richard is made a widow. While the king puts on the waterworks, Richard turns grief into opportunity.

Remember, you can always keep the discussion as a royal favourite subscriber on our Patreon. Following this episode, we want to talk about other novel ways to die. Choose your untimely demise at: patreon.com/thisishistory

A 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 [email protected]

Learn more about your ad choices.

Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Presented by Dan Jones

Producer - Alan Weedon

Senior Producer - Dominic Tyerman

Executive Producer - Simon Poole

Production Manager - Jen Mistri

Production coordinator - Eric  Ryan

Sound Design and Mixing - Amber Devereux

Head of content - Chris Skinner

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

Henry Bolingbroke, exasperated at the parochial pettiness of Richard II’s court, decides it’s time to get out. After proving his mettle with the greatest warrior in the western world, he embarks on a whistle-stop tour of the known world to smash pagans and shop for exotic animals. He comes back to England on a high and sees the fruits of his growing family — one that already overshadows Richard II’s.

Learn more about Plantagenet-style tournaments way back in season one, under the reign of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. You can find that and more on our Patreon, where you can joust with fellow royal favourites in our chatrooms, and shape future episodes.

Choose your destiny at: patreon.com/thisishistory

A 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 [email protected]

Learn more about your ad choices.

Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Presented by Dan Jones

Producer - Alan Weedon

Senior Producer - Dominic Tyerman

Executive Producer - Simon Poole

Production Manager - Jen Mistri

Production coordinator - Eric Ryan

Sound Design and Mixing - Amber Devereux

Head of content - Chris Skinner

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

Richard sends his favourites scrambling. One tries to flee disguised as a chicken salesman, while another counts himself lucky for knowing how to swim. The Appellants want to depose Richard, but will they get their chance?

To hear about the last time a Plantagenet King was deposed, listen to season five, episode eleven to learn more about how Edward II was knocked off of his perch… by his wife.

You can find all of that and more on our Patreon, where you can become one of Dan’s ROYAL FAVOURITES. You can vote on future episode topics, chat with fellow favourites, and be in the running to win prizes.

We’d love to see you there: patreon.com/thisishistory

A 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 [email protected]

Learn more about your ad choices.

Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Presented by Dan Jones

Producer - Alan Weedon

Senior Producer - Dominic Tyerman

Executive Producer - Simon Poole

Production Manager - Jen Mistri

Production coordinator - Eric Ryan

Sound Design and Mixing - Amber Devereux

Head of content - Chris Skinner

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

The French are preparing for an all mighty invasion. The king doesn’t really seem to care — until the nobles use the parliamentary equivalent of a royal kick up the backside. And, will the French army even get off their coast, or backsides, before the portaloos are full?

If you want to find out more about the last French invasion of England, listen back to This Is History season three, episode twelve, and the accompanying bonus episode.

For this week’s bonus episode, hear about why this parliament was just so wonderful. Find that on our Patreon, where you can also vote on future episodes, share some spicy court gossip with fellow subscribers, and hear from Dan and the rest of the royal council.

We’d love to see you there: patreon.com/thisishistory

A 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 [email protected]

Learn more about your ad choices.

Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Presented by Dan Jones

Producer - Alan Weedon

Senior Producer - Selina Ream

Executive Producer - Louisa Field

Production Manager - Jen Mistri

Production coordinator - Eric Ryan

Sound Design and Mixing - Amber Devereux

Head of content - Chris Skinner

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

After surviving the Peasants’ Revolt, Richard II comes out on top. He has violently suppressed the rebels  and married the well-credentialed Anne of Bohemia. But this Plantagenet has his eye on another playmate, the handsome Robert De Vere. Richard’s wandering eye could spell disaster for England’s fortunes.

If you want to find out more about the last time a King had a handsome playmate, listen to This Is History’s second bonus episode from season five. You can also find out more about Anne of Bohemia and the regal reputation she carried in this week’s bonus episode.

Head to our Patreon to  vote on future episodes, join in on some spicy court gossip on This Is History chat rooms, and hear from Dan and the rest of the royal council.

We’d love to see you there: patreon.com/thisishistory

A 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 [email protected]

Learn more about your ad choices.

Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Presented by Dan Jones

Producer - Alan Weedon

Senior Producer - Selina Ream

Executive Producer - Louisa Field

Production Manager - Jen Mistri

Production coordinator - Eric Ryan

Sound Design and Mixing - Amber Devereux

Head of content - Chris Skinner

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