Documentary overview

About Who Was The Best English Monarch? David Mitchell Rates The Royals!

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

Who Was The Best English Monarch? David Mitchell Rates The Royals! is presented by History Hit. Its listed runtime is 30 minutes. The source link and publisher attribution are provided with the embedded film.

As a society documentary, Who Was The Best English Monarch? David Mitchell Rates The Royals! uses english, monarch, david as its central frame. Social documentaries work best as invitations to examine systems through lived experience. Distinguish individual testimony from wider claims, and consider which institutions, incentives and inequalities shape the choices shown.

Viewing context

What to consider before watching

  1. What evidence, testimony or observation does the film use to explain english, monarch, david?
  2. Which people, institutions or historical conditions most influence the story told in Who Was The Best English Monarch? David Mitchell Rates The Royals!?
  3. How does History Hit's framing affect the documentary's emphasis, and which perspectives may deserve further research?
Subjects

Topics covered in this documentary

Societyenglishmonarchdavidmitchellrates
Film information

Documentary details and original source

Title
Who Was The Best English Monarch? David Mitchell Rates The Royals!
Category
Society
Runtime
30 minutes
Language
English
Publisher
History Hit

Free Documentary Vault provides independent discovery, organization and editorial context. The film remains hosted by its original publisher, who controls availability and playback.

Continue exploring
What Was a Roman Emperor’s Daily Life Like? | With Mary Beard documentary thumbnailEN38 min
What Was a Roman Emperor’s Daily Life Like? | With Mary Beard

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!

History Hit

What Was a Roman Emperor’s Daily Life Like? | With Mary Beard

38 minSociety
Historian Answers Google's Most Popular Questions About The Napoleonic Wars documentary thumbnailEN20 min
Historian Answers Google's Most Popular Questions About The Napoleonic Wars

Historian Dan Snow answers the most asked questions about the Napoleonic Wars. Did Napoleon start the wars? How many Napoleonic Wars were there? How passionate is Dan about this history? Watch to find out. You can now become a History Hit member right here on the original video platform! Join for access to a new exclusive documentary every week, and access to over 160+ of our documentaries presented by world-renowned historians like Dan Snow, Eleanor Janega, Tristan Hughes, Mary Beard, Matt Lewis and more.

History Hit

Historian Answers Google's Most Popular Questions About The Napoleonic Wars

20 minSociety
Alice Roberts On The Origins of Christianity documentary thumbnailEN43 min
Alice Roberts On The Origins of Christianity

Dan is joined by author, broadcaster and historian Professor Alice Roberts to examine how Christianity out-organised and outlasted the Roman Empire. Around 50 CE, a small group of travellers began to preach that a Jewish man, crucified by the Romans, had risen from the dead. Teaching love, forgiveness and eternal life, this new faith quickly gained followers. By the early fourth century, it was thriving, and over the next hundred years, it exploded, spreading across the entire Roman Empire before becoming its official religion. What enabled it to take such a strong hold so quickly and so steadfastly? Produced by James Hickmann and Mariana Des Forges, and edited by Matthew Wilson and Dougal Patmore. You can now become a History Hit member right here on the original video platform! Join for access to a new exclusive documentary every week, and access to over 160+ of our documentaries presented by world-renowned historians like Dan Snow, Eleanor Janega, Tristan Hughes, Mary Beard, Matt Lewis and more.

History Hit

Alice Roberts On The Origins of Christianity

43 minSociety
WW2 Historians LOVE Inglourious Basterds documentary thumbnailEN37 min
WW2 Historians LOVE Inglourious Basterds

We love it, but can any historical truths be found in Tarantino's epic Inglourious Basterds?? War historian Jennifer Howe takes us through the real stories of the SS, Nazi occupation and The Richie boys, portrayed in this movie by Christoph Waltz, Brad Pitt, Diane Kruger, Eli Roth, and Mélanie Laurent. You can now become a History Hit member right here on the original video platform! Join for access to a new exclusive documentary every week, and access to over 160+ of our documentaries presented by world-renowned historians like Dan Snow, Eleanor Janega, Tristan Hughes, Mary Beard, Matt Lewis and more.

History Hit

WW2 Historians LOVE Inglourious Basterds

37 minSociety
Inside the Duke of Wellington’s Hidden Residence documentary thumbnailEN41 min
Inside the Duke of Wellington’s Hidden Residence

We got exclusive access to the Duke of Wellington's priceless private collection at Apsley House! Join historian Dan Snow MBE as he tours the former home of the 1st Duke of Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, hero of the Battle of Waterloo and defeater of Napoleon Bonaparte. In his visit Dan is shown some of the most extraordinary objects from the Duke's private collection, including priceless artwork from conquests on the continent, stunning military uniforms, swords, medals and downright whacky inventions from his later life! Make sure to explore Apsley House for yourself! Links below 👇 Wellington Arch (English Heritage website): Wellington Collection website (for further information on the site and collection): You can now become a History Hit member right here on the original video platform! Join for access to a new exclusive documentary every week, and access to over 160+ of our documentaries presented by world-renowned historians like Dan Snow, Eleanor Janega, Tristan Hughes, Mary Beard, Matt Lewis and more.

History Hit

Inside the Duke of Wellington’s Hidden Residence

41 minSociety
What Do Historians Really Think of Winston Churchill? documentary thumbnailEN35 min
What Do Historians Really Think of Winston Churchill?

Hero in war. Villain in peace? Historian Kevin Ruane answers your questions about Winston Churchill, the two-time Prime Minister celebrated for leading Britain through the Second World War, yet still one of the most controversial figures in modern British history. You can now become a History Hit member right here on the original video platform! Join for access to a new exclusive documentary every week, and access to over 160+ of our documentaries presented by world-renowned historians like Dan Snow, Eleanor Janega, Tristan Hughes, Mary Beard, Matt Lewis and more.

History Hit

What Do Historians Really Think of Winston Churchill?

35 minSociety