Introducing… The Glass King

Introducing… The Glass King

This is History: A Dynasty to Die For · 2025-07-22

It’s 1389, and young Charles VI of France is living the medieval dream. He’s married for love. The war-torn kingdom is finally healing. He’s handsome, adored, and destined for greatness.



But then — he snaps.



Charles descends into delusion, convinced his body is made of glass. He won’t let anyone touch him. He hides from the world. And as his mind fractures, so does France — a fragile kingdom now teetering on the brink of collapse.



This is a story of ambition without limits, power without control… and the terrifying question: who breaks first?



This Is History Presents: The Glass King — a haunting new series from historian Danièle Cybulskie — explores the tragic unraveling of a monarch and the chaos that follows.

To delve deeper into the history behind each episode, join This Is History’s royal favourites on Patreon. There, you can meet fellow mediaeval history buffs, chat with the team, and tell us what you want to hear more of.

We’d love to see you there: patreon.com/thisishistory



A Sony Music Entertainment production.

Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts

To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email [email protected]

Learn more about your ad choices.

Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Written and presented by Danièle Cybulskie

Producer - Alan Weedon Senior Producer - Dominic Tyerman

Executive Producer - Simon Poole

Production Manager - Jen Mistri

Production coordinator: Eric Ryan

Mixing - Amber Devereux

Head of content – Chris Skinner


Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is History: A Dynasty to Die For

England’s greatest warrior-king is ready for his close-up.

In Season 8 of This Is History: A Dynasty to Die For, acclaimed historian Dan Jones charts the rise of Henry V—a monarch who didn’t just wear the crown, he redefined it.

The 15th century opens with promise. Richard II is gone, and Henry Bolingbroke has seized the throne as Henry IV. But ruling proves harder than usurping. Rebellions erupt, the treasury dries up, and the king’s health crumbles under the weight of constant crisis.

Waiting in the wings is Prince Henry of Monmouth—studious, strategic, and battle-scarred. After surviving an arrow to the face, he’s not wasting his second chance. When the crown passes to him, it’s all systems go.

Henry V crushes dissent, storms France, and wins glory at Agincourt. His heir is set to become the first—and only—English monarch crowned King of France. But beneath the triumph lies a fatal flaw. One that will unravel everything Henry built, and echo through English history for centuries.

That’s all for you to discover on season eight of This Is History — A Dynasty to Die For.

Want to delve deeper? Become a This Is History Royal Favourite subscriber. You get ad free listening, bonus episodes, and access to our virtual royal court on Patreon. It’s your space to meet mediaeval history nerds, chat with Dan and the team, and get recommendations for the best books, podcasts, and documentaries that amplify the history behind each episode. 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]

Where can you listen?

Apple Podcasts Logo Spotify Logo Podtail Logo Google Podcasts Logo RSS

Episodes