This Is History: A Dynasty to Die For

Season 9, Episode 6 | "The Ambush"

Host: Dan Jones
Release Date: February 10, 2026

Episode Overview

In this pivotal episode, historian Dan Jones unravels the political intrigue and deadly conspiracies surrounding the sudden downfall of Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, during the turbulent reign of infant King Henry VI. Against the bleak backdrop of a cold February 1447 and the escalating Hundred Years’ War, Jones explores how fake news, paranoia, and medieval power struggles set the stage for England’s slide toward the Wars of the Roses. At the heart of it all lies the mysterious "ambush" at Bury St Edmunds—an event that changed the fate of England's nobility and highlighted the timeless human penchant for conspiracy theory.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

The Setting: Bury St Edmunds, February 1447

• Dan Jones sets the stage by vividly describing the frigid, foreboding atmosphere as Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, arrives late to a suspiciously timed Parliament meeting in Bury St Edmunds.

  "It's a freezing February day in 1447 when Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, and a big group of his attendants ride into Bury St Edmunds." (01:11)

• Context:

  • No pressing financial or military business; the Parliament seems to have been called under false pretenses.
  • The ostensible reason is to arrange security for King Henry VI’s potential peace visit to France, but the rationale is flimsy.

Political Conspiracy & International Tension

• Backroom Political Maneuvering:

  • Parliament is packed with loyalists to King Henry and his chief advisor, William de la Pole (Marquess of Suffolk), raising suspicion.
  • Senior judges are summoned; local power lies with Suffolk—suggesting a trap.
  • "To cut a long story short, on the surface this is just another parliament. But take a closer look and you'll see it's lining up to be a political hammer. A hammer that's about to be smashed double hard right on Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester's soft dangly bits." (08:46)

• Duke Humphrey’s Predicament:

  • A longtime firebrand, advocate for war against France, and next in line to the throne—yet out of step with the political mood.
  • His previous opposition led to his wife’s imprisonment on charges of witchcraft ("trying to commune with the dead").

• Suspicions & Conspiracy Theories:

  • The episode draws explicit parallels between medieval and modern anxieties about "fake news," shadowy political dealings, and coverups.
  • "These days you often hear people mutter that the news is fake, that politics is a con... You could call it the conspiracy theory state of mind. It boils down to a suspicion that the truth is buried beneath a spun narrative. Whether that's true or not, here's one thing you can say for nothing about the mindset is new." (06:35)

The Ambush: Humphrey’s Arrest and Mysterious Death

• The Arrest:

  • As Humphrey tries to recover from travel, John Lord Beaumont and King's men arrest him and his household under charges of plotting regicide—seen by many as fabrication to neutralize his opposition. (11:43)
  • Shocked, old, and ill, Humphrey collapses. He never reaches trial; three days later he is dead.
  • The circumstances of his death are shrouded in rumour:
    • Some say heart attack or grief.
    • More lurid theories: "smothered to death in bed," or "a red hot poker shoved where the sun don't shine. Edward II style." (13:40)

• Public Perception and Fallout:

  • The official line claims treason; but popular suspicion is that Suffolk and the King's advisers engineered Humphrey’s demise.
  • "The news is fake. It doesn't take long for all sorts of lurid rumours to start flying about what really happened to Gloucester." (13:30)
  • A London chronicler laments:

    “Them that were governors and had promised the county of Maine caused the destruction of this noble man, for they dread him that he would have impeached that deliverance.” (14:51)

International Consequences: Ceding Maine to France

• Aftermath:

  • England stalls in handing over the French territory of Maine, trying to secure compensation for displaced nobles.
  • French King Charles VII is impatient with English stalling and, backed by his new professional army, gives an ultimatum.
  • In March 1448, the English garrison quietly abandons Maine without a fight—demonstrating England’s political and military weakness.
  • Charles VII’s “game-changing” army reforms (standing army, franc archers) are highlighted as key to the coming shift in balance of power. (18:40)

• Domino Effect:

  • The loss of Maine demoralizes the English and raises doubts about Henry VI’s leadership and Suffolk’s policies, setting up further internal strife.
  • Suffolk is rewarded with promotion but faces intensifying public outrage—which will feed into the wider chaos and rebellion on the horizon.

The Road to the Wars of the Roses

• Broader Implications:

  • The episode situates Humphrey’s death and the loss of Maine as pivotal steps toward the collapse of royal authority and outbreak of the Wars of the Roses.
  • "There's one place where the mood is bleak as bleak can be. That's Normandy. Everyone knows that at some point, Charles is going to come knocking for this place too, and that the English will be hard pressed to stop him." (21:25)

• Reflection:

  • Dan Jones closes with thoughts on the aftermath for Eleanor (Humphrey's wife), the role of rumour, and the enduring appeal of conspiracy theories—inviting listeners to share their own.

  "Speaking of dodgy information, that ties neatly into what I want to know from my royal favourites this week, which is this: What is your favourite conspiracy theory, medieval or otherwise?" (22:53)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Medieval Suspicion:

  “The conspiracy theory state of mind isn't an anxiety born of the Internet era. People are complaining about exactly the same thing in the Middle Ages.” (06:56)

• On the Political Setup:

  “Already this is pretty sus. And then you look at who's actually here and it gets more so. The Commons have been packed with an unusually high number of members of King Henry's household… Not only that, but the most senior judges in England have been told to suspend all hearings and get themselves up to Parliament too.” (07:40)

• On Humphrey’s Arrest:

  “He seems genuinely not to have foreseen anything like this happening to him. Not now, not ever. The shock of his arrest poleaxes him…” (12:59)

• On Public Perception After Humphrey’s Death:

  “The truth is probably not as exciting. Humphrey most likely just dies from the shock of being arrested, which sets off illnesses he's already suffering. But a London chronicler sums up what a lot of people are really thinking...” (14:29)

• On French Military Reform:

  "Charles has built up a force of about 8,000 men. Known as franc archers… at any given moment, he can whip up an army of more than 10 to 15,000 men. There's nothing the English have to compete with that." (19:55)

• Foreshadowing the Coming Storm:

  "The dithering over Maine, followed by its weak capitulation, is a good indication of how useless Henry VI and his government have been and how outclassed they are by Charles VII. But there's plenty more they can still lose." (21:47)

Key Timestamps

• 01:11 — Humphrey arrives at Bury St Edmunds; context for Parliament
• 06:35 — Medieval conspiracy mindset; links to modern fears of “fake news”
• 07:40 — Parliament mechanics reveal the political trap
• 08:46 — “Political hammer” about to fall on Humphrey
• 11:43 — Humphrey’s arrest at dinner, start of downfall
• 12:59 — Humphrey collapses; never makes it to trial
• 13:40 — Rumors about Humphrey’s death (smothering, "red hot poker")
• 14:51 — Chronicler’s summary of public sentiment
• 18:40 — Charles VII’s military reforms and consequences for England
• 19:55 — France’s new army, strategic shift
• 21:25 — Bleak mood in Normandy, foreshadowing more loss
• 22:53 — Invitation for listeners to share their own conspiracy theories

Tone & Style

Dan Jones’s narration blends dark humor, modern parallels, and vivid storytelling. He uses colloquial language ("soft dangly bits," "whack the baguette munching bastards," "clusterfuck city") to paint fresh pictures of old events, making the history accessible and relatable while underlining the universality of political machination and scandal. The tone strikes a balance between irreverence and rigorous historical insight, engaging both casual listeners and history aficionados.

Conclusion

The episode artfully connects the downfall of Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, and the surrender of Maine with themes of suspicion, power politics, and the dangers of spin—arguing that the medieval mindset around “fake news” mirrors our own. The groundwork is laid for England’s descent into open civil war. Listeners are left both entertained and provoked, invited to compare past and present by sharing their own favorite conspiracy theories ahead of the next dramatic installment.