History Hit Podcasts

President William Henry Harrison: 32 Days in Office

The ninth President of the United States holds two unique records. William Henry Harrison delivered the longest inaugural address in US...

Who was Qabiha?

The murder of al-Mutawakkil marked a drastic change in the politics of Baghdad and Samarra. In the emerging anarchy of the region, al-Qabiha was...

The Rise of Constantinople with Bettany Hughes

The city of Constantinople, founded by the Roman Emperor Constantine in 324 AD, was a glittering jewel in the eastern Mediterranean for more than...

The Real Origins of Witches

Have you ever wondered what the ancient origins of witchcraft is? How did the black-hat-broomstick stereotype emerge? And what causes the waves of...

The Vandals

Known for bringing about the fall of the Western Roman Empire - the Vandals have a reputation of violence, destruction, and conquering. Moving...

Saving Henry VIII's Lost Tapestry

For the Tudors, tapestries not only brought warmth and colour to a room, but they were magnificent demonstrations of artistic skill and of moral...

Rasputin

The legend of Rasputin's death goes that he survived poisoning, being shot in the head before being thrown through a hole in the ice in the Neva...

Section 28: The Anti-Gay Law That Sparked A Movement

The 1980s have a lot to answer for - spandex, for one.

It also saw the first new anti-gay law in Britain for over a century.

Against...

Napoleon in America

Napoleon Bonaparte. From military leader to revolutionary to Emperor of the French, his conquests and reforms have had a lasting impact across the...

Victorian Death Photography: Postmortem Posers

The Victorians created the unsettling art of death photography - posing their deceased love ones in family portraits as if they were alive. How...

Life on the Medieval Coast

The popular BBC television series Villages by the Sea explores coastal life through the centuries. Its presenter Ben Robinson is an archaeologist...

4. Napoleon: The Myth

Napoleon has become more than a man. His name is a concept, a way of being, a psychological term- the 'Napoleon' complex. Napoleon began working...

Mary I: What if She'd Lived?

On 17 November 1558, Queen Mary I died. But how would history have turned out differently if Mary had lived another 30 years? Where would her...

Keros: Bronze Age Mystery

While a small, uninhabited island today, Keros held significant importance during the Bronze Age. As a crucial centre for cultural practices,...

3. Napoleon: The Lover

CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains discussions about sex which may not be suitable for children.

Napoleon Bonaparte is one of the few...

Napoleon's Sex Life

Napoleon Bonaparte has been described in many way throughout history. Conquerer. Lover. Legend. Shrivelled Eel?

Perhaps you haven't heard...

2. Napoleon: The Commander

During the Napoleonic Wars, 18th-century leaders in Europe quickly decided the best way to beat Napoleon Bonaparte was to retreat and not meet him...

JFK Assassination: A Witness Remembers

On November 22nd 1963, President John F. Kennedy was shot dead. The ensuing years have been filled with questions and conspiracy about the events...

Who was al-Mutawakkil?

In the newly established political capital of Samarra, the Caliph is separated from Baghdad by 60 miles and a wall of soldiers. After becoming the...

Inside Hampton Court Palace

For centuries, Hampton Court has been a stage for monarchy, revolution, religious fundamentalism, sexual scandals, and military coups. In his new...

Leprosy in the Middle Ages

Leprosy in the Middle Ages

Medieval people were very concerned about how to deal with those in their midst who had leprosy, now called...