William Marshal: the man behind the myth

Episode 19 of the The English Heritage Podcast podcast, hosted by English Heritage, titled "William Marshal: the man behind the myth" was published on August 21, 2025 and runs 40 minutes.

August 21, 2025 ·40m · The English Heritage Podcast

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Summary

How did a 13th century knight become one of the greatest national heroes of his time? In this episode of the English Heritage podcast, Amy Matthews and her guests discover a true knight’s tale. William, a low-level aristocrat, narrowly avoided a violent end as a child and rose to greatness through violent tournaments, warfare and royal service. But who was the real William Marshal, and can we trust the reverential account of his life that was written after his death? Medieval historian Lindy Grant and English Heritage’s Jeremy Ashbee help Amy sort the man from the myth and discuss the medieval concept of knighthood and chivalry. Don’t forget to follow this podcast and leave a review if you love the show. Join: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/join/ Support our work: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/support-us/ The English Heritage Trust is a charity, no. 1140351, and a limited company, no. 07447221, registered in England and Wales. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices