When the newly crowned King Henry V receives a mocking gift from the French Dauphin — a box of tennis balls — he doesn’t laugh. He retaliates with cannonballs and a thunderous claim to the French throne. What begins as a petty insult escalates into a seismic clash of empires. From the opulent courts of Paris to the blood-soaked fields of Agincourt, this episode unpacks the moment England’s young king turned humiliation into history — and launched a war that would shake Europe to its core.
For more context behind this episode’s history, listen back to The Battle of Crecy in season 6, or hear about the French version of the tennis ball story in episode 3 of our miniseries, The Glass King.
Remember, you can always delve deeper into the history behind each episode by becoming a This Is History Royal Favourite on Patreon. In addition to ad-free listening and bonus episodes — now available to watch on video — you get to chat with mediaeval buffs from around the world, chat with Dan and the team, and get exclusive access to behind the scenes extras just for favourites.
Don’t miss out. Sign up at patreon.com/thisishistory
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Written and presented by Dan Jones
Producer - Alan Weedon
Senior Producer - Dominic Tyerman
Executive Producer - Simon Poole
Production Manager - Jen Mistri
Production coordinator - Eric Ryan
Sound Design and Mixing - Amber Devereux
Head of content - Chris Skinner
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Season 8 brought us Henry V who was pretty fun but this mini season introduces a peasant girl called Mary whose piety even Henry would struggle to match. It’s time for Nativity!
Dan Jones retells the classic story of the Nativity and gives it the This Is History treatment as he does. A Nativity to Die For. Over three episodes join Dan for the biblical tale of Mary, Joseph and the whole Gospel-featuring Nativity crew, sticking to the stories told in the Gospels. Along the journey he asks questions about why the Nativity story — as we’ve come to know it — is the way it is.
Edinburgh University’s Professor Helen Bond, an incredible scholar of early Christianity, is joining us on the bonus episodes for this miniseries. Consider her your resident Nativity expert and follow the link below to join us as a subscriber to hear those.
That’s for you to discover on This Is History — A Nativity to Die For.
Become a This Is History Royal Favourite subscriber and get ad free listening, bonus video episodes, and access to our virtual royal court on Patreon. It’s your behind-the-scenes space where you can watch and hear all the goings-on at This Is History HQ. Oh, and a very fun royal menagerie. We’d love to have you: patreon.com/thisishistory
A Sony Music Entertainment production.
To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email [email protected]
