507. The French Revolution: The Marseillaise,...

Why is Sir Francis Drake enshrined as one of England’s greatest heroes? Where did he come from, and how did he rise to prominence and earn the adoration of Elizabeth I, from obscure poverty? And, why is he also such a controversial figure…? Join Tom and Dominic as they sail into ...  Show more

What inspired the deadliest bloodbath of the Tudor age: the St Bartholomew’s Day Massacre of 1572, in which protestants were slaughtered en masse? How did it drive Elizabeth I’s spy master, Francis Walsingham, to repress all treasonous activity in her realm? And, what terrible tr ...  Show more

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss one of the most consequential battles of recent centuries. On 20th September 1792 at Valmy, 120 miles to the east of Paris, the army of the French Revolution faced Prussians, Austrians and French royalists heading for Paris to free Louis XVI and re ...  Show more

In the latest of our series tackling the big questions on major historical topics, historian Marisa Linton responds to listener queries and popular search enquiries about the dramatic events that engulfed France in the late 18th century. Topics discussed include the causes of the ...  Show more

The road to the French Revolution. The Bastille, the Tennis Court Oath, the Women's March on Versailles, the Great Fear, and Lafayette (yes, that Lafayette) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 

It is the most famous revolution in Europe and saw the continent's most populous country execute its monarch and restructure its society.

From guillotines to out of touch queens, the French Revolution is the story of how France became the cou ...