History Hit Podcasts

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...

Mother Shipton: Tudor Prophetess of England's Doom

Did a Tudor prophetess correctly predict the English Civil War, the Crimean War, the sinking of the Titanic, World War One and the end of days?...

1. Napoleon: The Early Years

He clawed his way to the zenith of power with a relentless determination that few could fathom... he conquered empires, destroyed armies and out...

Treasures of Pompeii

Despite being uncovered in the 16th Century - new finds are still being discovered daily in Pompeii. With each new discovery offering a fresh...

Ancient Goddesses of Sex and War

Sex and death are often intertwined: one is the start of creation, the other is the end.

And as we’ll learn in today’s episode, ancient...

Habsburg Inbreeding with Dr. Adam Rutherford

One of Early Modern Europe’s most powerful families, the Habsburgs shared a physical trait so distinctive that it came to be regarded as a badge...

Princes in the Tower: New Evidence Revealed

For more than 500 years, history has judged that the Princes in the Tower were murdered on the orders of their uncle Richard III. Until now there...

JFK: The Most Popular President?

Who was JFK? How popular was he in his lifetime? And how did his untimely death impact the world's memory of him?

In this first of two...

The Real Witch Hunts: Persecution & Panic

Witch hunts blazed across Europe from the 1400s right into the 1700s. Their terror has been burned into the collective memory. But how accurate...

Kazakhstan's Valley of Kings

Gold and horses! Few ancient civilisations were greater masters of metalworking and horse riding than the Saka culture of Central Asia. Also known...

Anne Boleyn & Elizabeth I with Tracy Borman

Anne Boleyn is usually considered in the context of her marriage to - and demise at the hands of - King Henry VIII. But ultimately, the...

The Belfast Blitz

It wasn't just London that was devastated by German bombing raids in WWII, but Belfast in Northern Ireland too. The most intense bombing took...

Napoleon's Greatest Battles with Ridley Scott

Napoleon Bonaparte is one of the most accomplished military commanders in world history. He rose to become Emperor of the French after a series of...

Burma: Medieval Superpower

Burma – now Myanmar – was once a superpower playing a pivotal role at the crossroads of Asia. Located in one of the richest areas on the...

The Gettysburg Address

What makes the Gettysburg Address one of the most famous speeches in history? Did Lincoln really write it on the train? How did the audience...

JFK Special 2. | The Kennedy Sister They Tried To Hide

This November marks 60 years since President John F Kennedy was assassinated. 

His name is associated with history defining events, but...