Before the first cannon fires, the Stuart kingdoms are already starting to crack

In this episode, we travel across 17th-century England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland to uncover the religious, political, and cultural pressures tugging at the Stuart crown. From the explosive Bishops’ Wars to Europe’s wider religious upheavals, historian Rebecca Rideal speaks to experts to explore how events escalated, and reveals why it was Scotland that fired the first shot.

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On 30 January 1649, King Charles I was led on to a freshly

What led to this brutal outcome? How did the dynamic between the three Stuart kingdoms evolve as the wars progressed? And had conflict always been inevitable?

In our new HistoryExtra podcast series, historian Rebecca Rideal runs you through events blow-by-blow – from the first battles in Scotland, to resistance and rebellion in Ireland and all-out war in England and Wales. Speaking to historical experts, she explores a story of shifting loyalties, changing times, and devastating conflict.

You can listen ad-free to this episode and more by subscribing to HistoryExtra Plus here: https://historyextra.supportingcast.fm/

Produced by HistFest Productions.

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