History Hit

Napoleon Bonaparte. One of history’s greatest commanders or a bit overrated? In this video, Dan Snow breaks down the pivotal battles that shaped the legendary commander’s legacy and left an indelible mark on the pages of history. From his sweeping victories at the Battle of Marengo and the Battles of Austerliz to the disastrous Russian campaign and the iconic Battle of Waterloo, Dan revisits the epic clashes, analyses the strategies, and witnesses the drama and chaos of the biggest battles that shaped Napoleon's rise and fall. SONY social pages

When you think about Napoleon, you might think of the battles of Austerlitz, Borodino, the retreat from Moscow and Waterloo, but Napoleon was so much more than just a conqueror and emperor, he was a lover and he had an extraordinary love life. In particular, historians have been obsessed over the centuries with Napoleon's tempestuous, passionate and deeply complicated relationship with his wife, Joséphine de Beauharnais. That marriage and their traumatic divorce plays centre stage in the extraordinary new film 'Napoleon' (2023) directed by Ridley Scott, which features an image of this relationship that runs right the way through Napoleon's career. To get to the bottom of this complicated relationship, Dan Snow seeks the help of historian Dr Kate Lister, using Napoleon's raunchy love letters to get a better understanding of the real history behind their love life and how well both Joaquin Phoenix and Vanessa Kirby depict this on screen. SONY social pages

Military historian Dan Snow MBE reviews the evolution of warfare over the course of 250 years depicted in historical movies. Spanning from the late-18th to early-21st Century, Dan charts the development of battle tactics and strategy, as well as the rapid evolution of weapons technology which have transformed the battlefield. In the second episode, starting of with Fury (2014) starring Bard Pitt and Shia LaBoeuf, Dan explains how the concept of a pitched battle was made obsolete by the introduction of armoured vehicles, more specifically, tanks. Although tanks had been introduced in the latter years of the First World War, it was only in the Second World War that they became integral to the strategies of Allied and Axis armies. Two of the most iconic tanks from the conflict are seen in this scene from Fury, the German Tiger Tank and US M4 Sherman. Dan assesses the pro and cons of each tank and analyses how they were used in World War Two. Moving on two decades from the Second World War to the Vietnam War, depicted in Casualties of

Henry VIII is one of England’s most famous kings. Known for his love of feasting, getting married and chopping people’s heads off (in that order), Henry oversaw some of the most dramatic changes in England’s history. Chief of these was his break with the Catholic Church and the launch of the English Reformation. But it’s not just his policies that have caught people’s interest. Henry’s love life was just as juicy as his reign, and his six wives are renowned all over the world. Their history has been told and retold over and over again - in television, film… and a rather fun musical, live in CONSORT. Divorced, beheaded and died, divorced, beheaded, survived so the rhyme goes. In this video, Lily Johnson delves into the history of these six fascinating women who served as queens of England through times of intense change - and with a famously difficult King beside them. Each of their stories tell us a lot about both Henry VIII and England at the time - they’re so full of gossip, intrigue and downright outrageous moments

Military historian Dan Snow MBE reviews the evolution of warfare over the course of 250 years depicted in historical movies. Spanning from the late-18th to early-21st Century, Dan charts the development of battle tactics and strategy, as well as the rapid evolution of weapons technology which have transformed the battlefield. In the first episode, starting of with The Patriot (2000), Dan comments on the use of columns of infantry advancing slowly toward the enemy musket volleys in the American War of Independence from 1775 to 1783 - a battlefield strategy that seems almost archaic to us now. He also details the early forms of guerilla warfare seen in the American Revolutionary War, that were used to chip away at British morale. Moving on over half a century later in Glory (1989) - a film starring Denzel Washington, Matthew Broderick and Samuel L. Jackson depicting the horrors of the American Civil War from 1861 to 1865 - Dan notes how battlefield strategy, such as that seen at the Battle of Antietam in 1862, had barely changed from that seen several decades

In the run up to Remembrance Day in the UK and Veterans Day in the US, we have unearthed an archived interview with Oscar-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson (director of Lord of the Rings), in which he details the process of making 'They Shall Not Grow Old', a remarkable documentary that uses state of the art technology to restore original archival footage from the First World War. To commemorate 100 years since the end of the First World War in 2018, Jackson and his team restored and colourised World War One footage from the Imperial War Museum, adding a soundtrack with original audio and transforming the entire project into 3D. In doing so, he created an astonishing new film called that brings the war to life in a way that has never been seen before, ensuring that the lives sacrificed a century ago will remain in the minds and hearts of the generations to come. Inspired by the experiences of his own grandfather, who died in 1940 after having served with the South Wales Borderers since 1910, Jackson trawled through thousands

What is it about the Viking Age that drives so much interest? A common view is that it was a violent period across Europe, beset by raiding, conquest and plunder, led by people from Scandinavia. But is this really an accurate take on some 300 years of history? In this video James Carson talks through the Viking Age, bringing in expert opinion from a range of History Hit podcasts and documentaries to explain the more complex reality. What actually is the definition of a Viking? Did they really wear horned helmets? What was the legacy of the Norse on Europe, both in terms of colonisation and trade? You can find out more about the Vikings in the following links

Around 800 BC, Britain entered the Iron Age. This era saw the gradual introduction of iron working technology, although the general adoption of iron artefacts did not become widespread until after 500-400 BC. As the Iron Age progressed through the first millennium BC, strong regional groupings emerged, reflected in styles of pottery, metal objects and settlement types. Technological innovation increased and the population of Britain grew substantially, probably exceeding one million. This population growth was partly made possible by the introduction of new crops, including improved varieties of barley and wheat, and increased farming of peas, beans, flax and other crops. Join bushcraft and survival expert Ray Mears in the third and final episode of our Ancient Britain series, as he explores the relics of Iron Age Britain. On his journey, Ray visits the magnificent forts at Malvern Hills and a recreation of an Iron Age village at Butser Ancient Farm in Chalton.

The First World War began in the summer of 1914, shortly after the assassination of Austria’s Archduke, Franz Ferdinand, and lasted more than four years, ending in 1918. The Great War left more than 20 million soldiers dead and 21 million more wounded, which can be attributed to trench warfare and the number of countries involved in the war. From European expansion in the late-19th and early-20th century, to the blank cheque assurance given to the Austro-Hungarian empire by Germany, Dan Snow explains the key events that led up to the "war to end all wars".

Dan Snow explains the most destructive war in history. From its origins through the dark days of 1940 through to the defeat of Germany and the dropping of the atomic bomb. World War Two changed the world.

12,000 years ago, Britain entered a new chapter in its long history. By this point, hunting tools had evolved, from hefty spears to the slick and stealthy bow and arrow. This revolution in technology would change the way humans hunted forever. In a period in which Britain was also thawing and exiting from an Ice Age, the warm and moist forest environments became home to the last of the hunter gatherers in Britain. They ate a diverse range of food, including wild meat, fish and fresh fruit from plants. This would nonetheless change as the Britain entered the New Stone Age in circa 4000 BC and an agricultural revolution swathed the British Isles. Join bushcraft and survival expert Ray Mears in Episode 2 of our Ancient Britain series, as he exits the Palaeolithic era and enters the Mesolithic and Neolithic era in Britain. On his journey, Ray will explore the evolution of hunting methods and equipment, and the eventual transformation of the hunter-gatherer culture and the adoption of agriculture and sedentary living.

In the early 19th Century, Britain's Royal Navy was the most technologically advanced and supremely efficient force in the history of naval warfare. But what was it like to live and work on board these ships? What did the men eat? How did the ships sail? What were the weapons they used? In this documentary, Dan Snow explores what life would have been like for those whose served in the Nelson's Navy.

Britain is an island where history is well and truly part of the landscape and an island where human feet have walked for a million years. We are constantly making groundbreaking archaeological discoveries that are helping us to better understand the way in which our distant ancestors lived. Join bushcraft and survival expert Ray Mears in the first episode of a new series as he explores Britain's distant past, from the earliest evidence of people in Britain, right up to the moment that everything would change. In the first episode of this series, Ray speaks to Dr David Waterhouse about the discovery made at Happisburgh beach in Norfolk of footprints dating back 900,000 years. The Happisburgh footprints were a set of fossilised hominid footprints that date to the early Pleistocene. They were discovered in May 2013 in a newly uncovered sediment layer of the Cromer Forest Bed on a beach at Happisburgh in Norfolk, England, and carefully photographed in 3D before being destroyed by the tide shortly afterwards. Research results on the footprints were announced on 7 February 2014, identifying

World War One is often seen as a pointless, bloody conflict with no lasting peace. Incompetent Generals sent their men to their deaths, using outdated tactics and never using new technology to innovate. But how much of this is true? Dan Snow explores 10 of the biggest myths that surround one of the bloodiest wars in history.

What do you think of when you hear the word ‘pirate?’ You might imagine men who sail the high seas to rob and loot any ships that cross their path. After burying chests of gold in a secret location…they splash the rest of their cash in taverns on booze and women. With a groggy hangover, they return to their ship to continue their plundering. But is there much historical truth in this idea of piracy? What’s the difference between a pirate, a buccaneer and a privateer? When did this age of piracy happen? In this video Luke Tomes explores the Golden Age of Piracy - interrogating the myths, and uncovering what a life at sea was really like. Who were the famous real pirates? Was Blackbeard really that terrifying? Were pirates always drunk? Were females allowed to be pirates? We'll be answering all of your question! If you want to know more, drop us a pirate question in the comments. And if this video gets 1 million views, then we’ll DEFINITELY be making more videos about pirates.

Who was the worst King and Queen of England? What made a King or Queen successful? In this video, comedian and author of 'Unruly: A History of England's King and Queens', David Mitchell, sits down with historian Dan Snow to explore how England's monarchs, while acting as feared rulers firmly guiding their subjects' destinies, were in reality a bunch of lucky sods who were mostly as silly and weird in real life as they appear today in their portraits. Taking us right back to King Arthur (spoiler: he didn't exist), David and Dan discuss the founding story of post-Roman England right up to the reign of Elizabeth I (spoiler: she dies). It's a tale of narcissists, inadequate self-control, excessive beheadings, middle-management insurrection, uncivil wars, and at least one total Cnut, as the population evolved from having their crops nicked by the thug with the largest armed gang to bowing and paying taxes to a divinely anointed king. How this happened, who it happened to and why it matters in modern Britain are all questions David answers with brilliance, wit and

Michael Wittmann was considered as one of the greatest Nazi tank commanders of WW2. Having served in the Battle of Kursk he was redeployed to Normandy soon after the D-Day landings. Receiving The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross from Hitler himself, Wittmann was considered a cult hero with the Nazi propaganda machine embellishing his already well known achievements. SS Hauptsturmführer Michael Wittmann was clearly one of the Nazis' greatest tank aces, but controversy has raged for 60 years as to which unit killed him. In this video, Norm Christie attempts to solve this mystery.

In the medieval feudal system, the nobility were generally those who held a fief, often land or office under vassalage in exchange for military allegiance to their sovereign. Living alongside serfs, it was their duty to ensure that the peasants, craftsmen and clergymen were defended so that they could live in peace and act as judges to handle disputes. To explore the often ostentatious and gluttonous lifestyles of the nobility, Eleanor Janega visits Hedingham Castle, perhaps the best preserved Norman keep in Essex, England.

What Was a Roman Emperor’s Daily Life Like?' Classicist and author Mary Beard sits down with Tristan Hughes in this filmed podcast for the The Ancients podcast to discuss the role of the Roman Emperor. From Julius Caesar to Romulus Augustulus, the two explore the daily lives of the most powerful people in the Roman Empire. How did they rule over and interact with their subjects? How often were they subject to assassination attempts? Who was the worst roman emperor? You can read more about all of which is discussed in Mary's new book, 'Emperor of Rome: Ruling the Ancient Roman World', out now!

One of the most unifying elements of the Medieval Period was the Roman Catholic Church. All classes and ranks of people, whether that be nobles, peasants or tradesmen, were profoundly affected by the rulings of the church. A hierachy existed within the clergy. Following the pope, in order of rank, there were bishops, priests, monks and nuns. In the latter part of the Middle Ages, the pope, as head of the church, had a huge influence over the monarchy and total control of the clergy. In this video, medieval historian Dr Eleanor Janega explores the lives of those who made up the single largest unifying organization in medieval Europe.

Three leading Egyptologists explore how Cleopatra became one of the most influential and powerful women of the ancient world. We trace how Cleopatra's learning and intelligence enabled her to gain control of her own Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt; skilfully and ruthlessly overcoming her own family and manipulating Egyptian politics and religion to her own advantage. We discover the influence that the magnificent city of Alexandria exerted over the eastern Mediterranean and how Rome's growing power impinged on Egypt. Cleopatra played a difficult and skilful game negotiating relations with Rome, engaging both diplomatically and personally first with Julius Caesar and then Marcus Antonius (Mark Antony). Our experts consider how Cleopatra's remarkable personality enabled her to play such a key role in the first century BCE. The film uses imagery from the worlds of art and motion pictures, as well as key Egyptian artefacts and locations, to investigate the representation and story of this remarkable and much misunderstood leader - unpicking the fact from the myth.

What was life really like for the merchants, craftsmen and traders in London in the middle ages? Whilst the majority of people who worked in the Medieval Period were peasants, a significant community of merchants and tradesmen existed, the majority of whom belonged to one of the most powerful and influential groups in medieval Europe - the Guilds. Guilds were associations of artisans and merchants who oversaw the practice of their craft or trade in a particular area. They were able to command prestige and power over medieval populations and membership of these organisations was extremely desirable. The Grocers' Guild for example, which oversaw the trade in spices (one of the most expensive and important commodities in the Middle Ages) was an incredibly rich and powerful association as is very apparent by the opulence and grandeur of Grocers' Hall in London. In this video, Dr Eleanor Janega visits the banqueting hall to explore the lives of those who earned in medieval London.

What was it like to be a knight in the middle ages? What were your roles and responsibilities? How dangerous were medieval tournaments? History Hit's Luke Tomes and Louee Dessent are back at the medieval tiltyard outside the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds for the medieval tournament challenge. Can our knight in shining armour complete our medieval gauntlet, including picking up a glove from horseback, the quintain and full contact jousting against a real opponent? Louee and Luke get to learn about what it was really like to be a knight in the Middle Ages, donning a full suit of armour themselves and completing their own set of physical tests. Can you sprint in armour? How cumbersome is it? Is the Hollywood image of the clunky, slow-moving knight really that accurate? Watch the video where we answer these questions and more!

He was one of the greatest enemies the Romans ever faced. An excellent general and a larger-than-life figure, who led an army across the alps and dealt a series of crushing defeats upon the Romans on Italian soil. His achievements have become a thing of legend and his name has become immortalised. He was Hannibal Barca. Hannibal rests amongst antiquity's greatest generals, but how did he rise to become such a stellar commander, leading his men to incredible victories against the then dominant powerhouse in the Mediterranean? In this episode of 'Rise Of', Dr Louis Rawlings, Adrian Goldsworthy and Eve MacDonald explore the impressive ascent of the Carthaginian general to the status of one of the most famous military leaders in antiquity.

Dan Snow flies on a mission to explore one of the most daring and dangerous aerial attacks of World War II. On 11th November 1940, 21 antiquated Swordfish aircraft took off from the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious. They were embarking on one of the most extraordinary raids of the Second World War, 'Operation Judgement', the assault on the Italian Fleet in the well-defended harbour at Taranto. It was a mission that would make history. In this film, Dan Snow takes to the air in the only Swordfish still flying - the aircraft operated by the Navy Wings Heritage Flight. Riding in the back of this remarkable bi-plane, he explores the story of Taranto as torpedo bombers just like this braved a hail of fire to drive home the attack. And back on the ground, Dan explores the archives of the Fleet Air Arm Museum, uncovering items from Taranto, including a battered 1940 diary that gives a vivid eyewitness account. Items like this, and a recorded interview with veteran Alfie Sutton, bring us face to face with the life and death

The familiar medieval Arthurian myths of a noble King ruling over his kingdom from Camelot, supported by his Round Table of loyal and brave knights who seek for the Holy Grail and slay dragons, is a legend that has been engaged with by English kings ever since the 13th Century. By the 14th Century, these tales provided a model for their kingship. What you may not know about, is the clash of cultures that occurred in the 12th Century, that led to the making, breaking and redefining of Arthur's story. Join author and medieval historian Matt Lewis as he delves deep into the historical context of the Arthurian legend, visiting Glastonbury Abbey and Winchester Cathedral along the way. Featuring historians Dr Cindy Wood and Dr Katherine Weikert.

Rediscovered at the beginning of the 20th century through the work of British archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans, the Minoan Civilization, whose earliest beginnings were from c. 3500 BC on the island of Crete, became one of the most developed, complex urban civilizations in antiquity. Yet we still know so little about them. The Minoans may have left behind a number of impressive building complexes, sophisticated art, and writing systems, however archaeologists and scholars are yet to decipher Linear A and B, the only-known scripts used for writing the Minoan language. It is this mystery that makes the Minoans such a fascinating ancient civilization to study and explore, but which limits the extent to which we can understand Minoan culture and history. This documentary, featuring Dr Andrew Shapland, Prof Nicoletta Momigliano and Dr Ester Salgarella, explores what little we do know about the Minoans, as well as the challenges facing scholars looking study this mysterious, ancient civilization. Directed by Mark Bowsher.

History Hit's Tristan Hughes travels to Egypt to explore its extraordinary links to one of the most famous names from antiquity, Alexander the Great. Of all the lands in the Eastern Mediterranean, it is Egypt that has the most fascinating - and enduring - connection to this ancient conqueror. It’s a connection that began during Alexander’s lifetime, but endured and evolved significantly following his death, thanks to Alexander’s talismanic corpse, hijacked and fought over between former brothers in arms in an ancient 'Game of Thrones' - with a gruesome climax on the River Nile. From the holiest of holies at Luxor Temple to the Pyramids at Giza, join Tristan as he explores fascinating links to Alexander that can be found all along the Nile - if you know where to look. In the depths of an ancient temple, Tristan finds pharaonic depictions of Alexander, a Macedonian king making offerings to Egyptian gods, and looking no different to famous names such as Ramesses II and Tutankhamun. And he investigates the fascinating links to Alexander at the magnificent necropolis of Saqqara

2023 marks the 25th anniversary of signing of The Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement, which brought an end to 30 years of conflict in Northern Ireland known as 'the Troubles'. This conflict had a deep and embedded history that stretches back over a century. Between 1919 and 1921, Ireland played host to a long and bloody guerrilla conflict between British state forces and Irish republican guerrillas, in the form of Irish Volunteers or the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The conflict would completely transform the political landscape in Ireland. In this documentary, Dr Conor Mulvagh and Professor Marie Coleman break down this critical period of Irish history, and the legacy of the War of Independence today. Directed by Mark Bowsher.

Iszi Lawrence, comedian, podcaster and history presenter rates more portrayals of famous pirates in Hollywood historical movies. Iszi has worked on the Netflix documentary 'The Lost Pirate Kingdom' and is the author of Blackbeard's Treasure, a tale set in the eighteenth century during the golden age of piracy in the Caribbean. Iszi first reviews scenes from 'Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End' (2007), where she talks about the legend of the 'Pirate Code' and how much truth there is behind it. She then moves onto the next film in the franchise 'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides' (2011) where she takes slight issue with Ian McShane's depiction of Edward Teach aka 'Blackbeard', who would have been 35 years old when he died, despite the actor in question being almost 70 at the time of filming. The next film Iszi reviews is 'The Black Swan' (1942) in which Laird Cregar depicts infamous pirate captain and later Governor of Jamaica, Henry Morgan. Finally, Iszi rates the classic film 'Sea Hawk' (1940) starring Errol Flynn as an English privateer, loosely based

Does This Ancient Roman Artefact Proves Gladiators Fought in Roman Britain?' The renowned Colchester Gladiator Vase dates back to 175 AD and remains one of the most remarkable antiquarian objects ever found in Britain. Discovered in a Roman-era grave in 1853, the vase depicts a gladiator battle between two named fighters, Memnon and Valentinus (both stage names). Unique in this case is the depiction of a swastika on a gladiators shield, seemingly odd to us now, but back in Roman Britain it was a symbol of good luck. The vase depicts many other interesting seems, such as an animal hunt, all of which are discussed by History Hit presenter and host of The Ancients podcast Tristan Hughes, and Glynn Davis in this recorded podcast, filmed at Colchester Museums.

A full series of History Hit videos on the most fascinating archaeological discoveries over the past year. Join presenters Tristan Hughes, Luke Tomes, Dan Snow and James Rogers as they join some of the most exciting historical excavations across Europe. We start of at the British Museum, where host of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is given special access to the 'World of Stonehenge exhibition' to speak to the team responsible for the discovery of an elaborately decorated 5,000-year-old chalk cylinder, buried with three child skeletons in Yorkshire, and as old as the first phase of Stonehenge - described as the "most important piece of prehistoric art to be found in Britain in the last 100 years". Next, Dan Snow catches up with a team of archaeologists uncovering a large Anglo-Saxon burial site in Wendover, Buckinghamshire - found whilst working on the HS2 high speed railway project. Almost three quarters of the graves found contain high quality grave goods, suggesting the site was the final resting place of a wealthy Anglo-Saxon community. Luke Tomes then travels to Aldbourne in Wiltshire, which

In the winter of 1942, the armies of Hitler and Stalin went head to head in the bloodiest battle of the Second World War. Fought over five months through the bitter Russian Winter, the Battle for Stalingrad would serve as a turning point in the course of the Second World War and would mark a drastic change in the fortunes of the two dictators and the men who fought for them. But how did an industrial city on the banks of the Volga come to play such a decisive role in the course of the Second World War? In this series (‘Hitler vs Stalin’), historians James Holland, Guy Walters, author of The Lighthouse of Stalingrad Iain MacGregor and Research Fellow Sarah Ashbridge explore the personalities behind the battle to uncover the key moments, decisions and motivations that lead to this decisive moment. In this episode 1, we uncover the personalities and psychology of the two Tyrants, Hitler and Stalin and their Generals Paulus and Zhukov as they enter a new season of campaigning against the backdrop of a global war.

Are these Hollywood portrayals of some of history’s most brutal dictators accurate? War historian, NATO Advisor and presenter of History Hit’s Warfare podcast James Rogers is here to tell us. James begins with a review of 'Stalin' (1992), a tense and thought-provoking portrayal of the infamous dictator of the USSR, filmed in the Kremlin itself. James discusses the film's authenticity, and the psychological toll of war. He moves on to another satirical film featuring the Communist leader - 'The Death of Stalin’' (2017) starring Sir Michael Palin and Steve Buscemi. Next, James analyses the depiction of Adolf Hitler in both the Hollywood blockbuster ‘Valkyrie' (2008), starring Tom Cruise, and ‘Downfall’ (2004) in which Bruno Ganz offers perhaps the most accurate portrayal of the Nazi dictator. The focus then shifts to the military rule of Idi Amin, who served as the third Ugandan president. In ‘Last King of Scotland’ (2006), we see a Scottish doctor, played by James McAvoy, on a mission finding himself developing a close bond with the Ugandan dictator. James reviews the accuracy of Forest Whittaker’s oscar-winning performance

If you imagine a Catholic military order from the Middle Ages, it’s likely to be the Knights Templar - popularised by Dan Brown’s fictional thriller, The Da Vinci Code But in Medieval Europe, there was another, equally powerful religious society, which also had its English headquarters here in London. It was the Order of St John of Jerusalem. Better known, as the Knights Hospitaller. In this episode of Hidden London, London tour guide Katie Wignall explores the history of the Order of St John, visiting their base of operations here in Clerkenwell, London. The priory is one of the city’s hidden gems, with surprises around every corner. Formed in Jerusalem in the 11th century to care for pilgrims, the order went on to become an ambitious military organisation, owning lands and wielding influence across Europe. Join Katie as she uncovers the story of the Hospitallers’ rise to power, dramatic fall, and rebirth in the modern era…

This is the story of the Intruders, a group of airmen dubbed the `Bandits of the Air' by the Nazis during the Second World War thanks to its members' exploits in the skies above Europe's battlefields. This episode focuses on the 'Mosquito' - a seemingly innocuous and cheap fighter plane that terrorised the German Air Force. Made entirely out of wood, the Mosquito was initially dismissed by the British government, yet due to its remarkable speed and exceptional manoeuvrability, the bomber soon became a crucial part of the Royal Air Force during World War Two.

Popular Historian and Television Presenter Dan Snow MBE reviews films depicting UK Prime Ministers in historical films. Dan reviews Gary Oldman's performance as Winston Churchill in the highly acclaimed 'Darkest Hour' (2017). He then rates Meryl Streep's depcition of Margaret Thatcher in 'The Iron lady' (2011). He also reviews 'The Queen' (2006), starring Helen Mirren and Michael Sheen as Prime Minister Tony Blair, who offers Queen Elizabeth II advice after the death of Princess Diana in 1997. He then moves on to rate Jeremy Irons as Neville Chamberlain in the film 'Munich: The Edge of War' (2021), depicting the tense negotiations between Hitler, Mussolini and Chamberlain in 1938. Next, Dan reviews 'The Madness of King George' (1995) in which Julian Wadham plays Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger as he deals with the growing problem of King George III's mental health. Finally, Dan reviews 'Mrs Brown' (1997) which sees Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli vie to draw Queen Victoria, played by Dame Judi Dench, out of retirement from public life as she continued to mourn her late husband, Prince Albert.

Matt Lewis explores the fascinating history of Conwy Castle on the coast of North Wales. Towards the end of the turbulent and blood-soaked 13th century, King Edward I of England sought to impose his rule on the rest of Britain. He set his sights first on Wales. Edward would build his infamous Ring of Iron, a series of castles designed to strangle Welsh resistance. Conwy was to be the royal jewel, with not only a castle, but a walled town stamping English control into the heart of Wales. From architectural experts to stonemasons, Matt will discover the castle’s French connections and how to spot them today. Historian Nathen Amin tells the story of Conwy’s connection to the Tudors, a Welsh family that would change British history forever. From Edward I’s hidden room in the chapel to the tale of a small boy who was the centre of a miracle, Conwy has wrapped hundreds of years of stories within its formidable walls. Let us know in the comments where you think the next series should go next in the hunt for

For 50 years, Berlin became synonymous with the Cold War. The city at the heart of the intelligence war between the US and the Soviet bloc. Thousands of KGB or CIA, agents observed each other, cogs in the biggest information war in history. But the war between the secret services was one dimension of a much larger conflict. A confrontation that almost boiled over just under the surface of the cold war. Economic pressures, secret diplomacy and espionage were the hallmarks of this hidden war that never turn into armed conflict. An underground war between two institutions, without the knowledge of official diplomacy. In this spy documentary, we hear from former CIA and KGB agents and discover the hidden face of the cold war.

He was the man who would define the start of the 19th century. He has more documented victories than any other battlefield commander in history. From a relatively humble background, he rose to become master of Europe. How did Napoleon Bonaparte rise from unknown artillery officer to become 'Master of Europe'? Born into a modest family in Corsica in 1769, he would survive the French Revolution and become one of the most influential military leaders in history. This is the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte. Featuring historians Dr Michael Rowe, Professor Pamela Pilbeam and Professor David Andress. This video is a reupload.

While working on the HS2 high speed railway project in the UK, archaeologists made discoveries of national significance, uncovering a large Anglo-Saxon burial site in Wendover, Buckinghamshire. Almost three quarters of the graves found contain high quality grave goods, suggesting the site was the final resting place of a wealthy Anglo-Saxon community. History Hit has been at the heart of this discovery, with an exclusive documentary exploring the magnificent finds. Intriguingly, the items uncovered are dated to the 5th and 6th century, a period with significant gaps in the historical and archaeological record. The site contained 138 graves, with 141 inhumation burials and 5 cremation burials – one of the largest Anglo-Saxon burial grounds ever uncovered in Britain. The discoveries made by HS2 archaeologists will contribute a significant amount to understanding how people in Anglo-Saxon Britain lived their lives, and what culture and society was like at that time. Join Dan Snow as he explores this stunning set of discoveries in our brand new documentary ‘Digging Up the Dark Ages’.

Historian Dan Jones sets out on a journey across Northern France, following in the footsteps of Edward III and his English army on their Crécy Campaign - one of the earliest and bloodiest raids of the Hundred Years' War. On 12th July 1346, a huge English invasion fleet landed on the shores of Normandy. The King of England was here to claim the throne of France for himself. But Dan isn’t just interested in the princes and lords in charge of the campaign, but the ordinary men of Edward’s army. In his latest project, the meticulously researched historic novel “Essex Dogs”, Dan has imagined what life would be like for these common soldiers battling through Normandy and beyond - this was an army that was notorious for destroying and pillaging everything in their path. In the first episode Dan travels through the beautiful cities and fertile countryside of Normandy, just like Edward and his men did in 1346, smashing through towns like Valognes and Carentan. Meeting with Prof. Michael Livingston, Dan explores how the English army fought, and crucially, how

Exploring London's Hidden Medieval Metropolis' If you were asked to picture London during the Middle Ages, you might think of The White Tower, Westminster Abbey or Guildhall - some of the capital’s most famous landmarks. But scratch beneath the surface and you’ll find there are lots more clues to this medieval metropolis. In the second episode of 'Hidden London', London tour guide Katie Wignall seeks out the London of the Middle Ages - a city of narrow streets and soaring spires, almost completely destroyed by the Great Fire of 1666… and the Blitz during the Second World War. But despite the devastation and centuries of development, not all of that city is lost. Katie start her tour at the London Charterhouse, which has been home to many significant moments in London's history since 1371. It has been a monastery, grand mansion, boys school and an almshouse, which it remains to this day. More recently, Charterhouse square was dug up as part of London's cross rail construction and a mass burial dating back to the Black Death in the 14th Century

Iszi Lawrence, comedian, podcaster and history presenter rates portrayals of pirates in four Hollywood movies. Iszi worked on the Netflix documentary 'The Lost Pirate Kingdom' and is the author of Blackbeard's Treasure, a tale set in the eighteenth century during the golden age of piracy in the Caribbean. Iszi first reviews scenes from 'Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl' (2003). She thinks Johnny Depp's portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow as a 'rockstar' is accurate, given contemporary perceptions of pirate captains. Next, she looks at modern piracy in 'Captain Phillips' (2013), which recreates the true story of the Maersk Alabama hijacking by Somali pirates. Scenes from the classic film 'Treasure Island' (1950) are broken down next. Robert Newton's version of Long John Silver, with his distinct West Country accent, has been credited with creating the archetypal pirate for modern film. Finally, Iszi reviews more humorous depictions of pirates in 'Muppet Treasure Island' (1996), starring Tim Curry as Long John Silver.

This is the incredible true story of an elite Allied sniper unit during the Second World War. Black Watch Snipers documents the Canadian military experience during World War Two as seen through the eyes of the country's most storied regiment—the Black Watch. Using eyewitness interviews from Black Watch veterans, this documentary covers events in the ten months following D-Day in June 1944, as seen through the eyes of five snipers who led the charge through Nazi occupied Europe. The snipers, who led their platoon to victory and survived to tell the tale, reveal the harrowing details of their march towards Germany, while dramatic reconstructions of the major battles bring their story to life.

Historian, broadcaster and World War Two expert James Holland investigates the most iconic tanks and armoured fighting vehicles of the Second World War. Exclusively for History Hit, James takes an in-depth look at the Soviet T-34, the British Cromwell tank, American Sherman tank and German tank destroyer, the Jagdpanther. But which tank was the most effective during World War Two? We also give you the key statistics on each vehicle, including weight, speed and armament, so you can make up your own mind.

Two thousand years ago one of history's most notorious individuals was born. The son of the Roman general Germanicus and Agrippina the Elder, Augustus' granddaughter, Caligula was born into the first ruling family of the Roman Empire and became the third Emperor of Rome. Many consider Caligula to be Rome’s most tyrannical emperor, reaching levels beyond even his infamous nephew Nero. His reign from 37-41 AD is filled with murder and debauchery. The great-great grandson of Julius Caesar certainly left his mark by his possible madness and definitely horrific acts. In this documentary, Professor Mary Beard embarks on an investigative journey to rome, to explore the life and times of Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus...

Are these some of the earliest weapons in human history? History Hit’s Tristan Hughes speaks to Dr Annemieke Milks, Researcher at the University of Reading, about the significance of the Schöningen spears. These wooden spears prove that early humans, including Neanderthals, were hunting and interacting in complex social groups 300,000 years ago. The Schöningen spears are a set of ten wooden weapons from the Palaeolithic Age, excavated between 1994 and 1999 from the 'Spear Horizon' in the open-cast lignite mine in Schöningen, Germany. The spears are the oldest hunting weapons ever discovered and were found together with animal bones and stone and bone tools, providing proof early human ancestors were much closer to modern humans in both complex social structure and technical ability than previously thought. Dr Milks shows Tristan how these spears were built and the range of possibilities for how they were used. Wooden spears survived as a technology for hundreds of thousands of years, suggesting they were used effectively by hunters throughout human history.