Charles the Beloved, the Mad, the Fool

In the reign of Henry VIII, religion in England became a minefield of confusing and shifting doctrine. Anne Askew, the daughter of a well-connected courtier, preached her interpretation of the Bible. Her punishment was more a matter of politics than of doctrine. Support Noble Blo ...  Show more

In the new film Uprising, a ploughman played by Andrew Garfield joins in the 1381 Peasants' Revolt against Richard II of England. Historian Dan Jones served as the medieval consultant on the film, and joins us to discuss the movie, and his upcoming book, CASTLES. Support Noble Bl ...  Show more

Today we revisit a 2015 episode about French royalty. Much like many of the other mad royals that have been discussed on the podcast through the years, Charles IX of France was prone to fits of rage so intense that people at court feared for their lives. Learn more about your ad- ...  Show more

In 1422, King Charles VI died after ruling France for more than 40 years. He was also remembered as Charles the Mad, in part because he was convinced that his body was made of glass and would shatter upon contact with other people. In today's classic episode, we will revisit this ...  Show more

Charles II was known as the Merry Monarch – but his childhood was nothing to laugh about. When his father, the king, was executed and the English monarchy was dissolved, Charles went from pampered Prince to fugitive on the fun. During his teenage years, he discovers his two great ...  Show more

Charles II was known as the Merry Monarch – but his childhood was nothing to laugh about. When his father, the king, was executed and the English monarchy was dissolved, Charles went from pampered Prince to fugitive on the fun. During his teenage years, he discovers his two gr ...