Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
August 10, 1792. At midnight, a single church bell begins to ring in Paris. Then another. And another. It's not a call to mass… it's a call to arms. For three years, King Louis XVI and his family have been living as prisoners in a palace, under virtual house arrest at the Tuileries, while France fights over one seething question: can the monarchy survive the Revolution? The radicals have issued a deadline: get rid of the king by the end of August 9th, or we'll take matters into our own hands. The deadline has just passed.
Today, midnight for the monarchy. How did France, whose kings were once anointed with holy oil and believed to cure disease by touch, come to loathe Louis XVI so much? And how does centuries of royal rule come crashing down in a single day?
Special thanks to our guests: David Andress, professor of modern history at the University of Portsmouth and author of The Terror: Civil War in the French Revolution; and Marisa Linton, professor emerita of history at Kingston University and author of Choosing Terror: Virtue, Friendship, and Authenticity in the French Revolution.
To stay updated on all things HISTORY This Week, sign up at historythisweekpodcast.com. Have thoughts or questions? Email us at historythisweek@history.com.
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Credits:
Danny Vagnoni | Producer
Sally Helm | Host/Producer
Tyler Morrisette | Sound Design/Mix
Ben Dickstein | Executive Producer
Eli Lehrer | Executive Producer
Liv Fidler | Executive Producer
Get in touch: historythisweek@history.com
Follow on Instagram: @historythisweekpodcast
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To stay updated: historythisweekpodcast.com
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/history-this-week/id1493453604
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/2YFm0ezrXmMqLXbxgZpkmd?si=9a84fadee11447d4
Audacy: audacy.com/podcast/history-this-week-71b4d
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History Newsletter - histv.co/newsletter
Website - histv.co/History
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TikTok - bit.ly/4kZKjXi
HISTORY® is the leading destination for award-winning original series and specials that connect viewers with history in an informative, immersive, and entertaining manner across all platforms. The network’s all-original programming slate features a roster of hit series, premium documentaries, and scripted event programming.
August 10, 1792. At midnight, a single church bell begins to ring in Paris. Then another. And another. It's not a call to mass… it's a call to arms. For three years, King Louis XVI and his family have been living as prisoners in a palace, under virtual house arrest at the Tuileries, while France fights over one seething question: can the monarchy survive the Revolution? The radicals have issued a deadline: get rid of the king by the end of August 9th, or we'll take matters into our own hands. The deadline has just passed.
Today, midnight for the monarchy. How did France, whose kings were once anointed with holy oil and believed to cure disease by touch, come to loathe Louis XVI so much? And how does centuries of royal rule come crashing down in a single day?
Special thanks to our guests: David Andress, professor of modern history at the University of Portsmouth and author of The Terror: Civil War in the French Revolution; and Marisa Linton, professor emerita of history at Kingston University and author of Choosing Terror: Virtue, Friendship, and Authenticity in the French Revolution.
To stay updated on all things HISTORY This Week, sign up at historythisweekpodcast.com. Have thoughts or questions? Email us at historythisweek@history.com.
Sign up for ad-free listening and bonus episodes at htwpod.com.
Credits:
Danny Vagnoni | Producer
Sally Helm | Host/Producer
Tyler Morrisette | Sound Design/Mix
Ben Dickstein | Executive Producer
Eli Lehrer | Executive Producer
Liv Fidler | Executive Producer
Get in touch: historythisweek@history.com
Follow on Instagram: @historythisweekpodcast
Follow on Facebook: HISTORY This Week Podcast
To stay updated: historythisweekpodcast.com
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/history-this-week/id1493453604
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/2YFm0ezrXmMqLXbxgZpkmd?si=9a84fadee11447d4
Audacy: audacy.com/podcast/history-this-week-71b4d
Subscribe for more HISTORY:
histv.co/SubscribeHistoryYT
Check out exclusive HISTORY content:
History Newsletter - histv.co/newsletter
Website - histv.co/History
Facebook - histv.co/Facebook
TikTok - bit.ly/4kZKjXi
HISTORY® is the leading destination for award-winning original series and specials that connect viewers with history in an informative, immersive, and entertaining manner across all platforms. The network’s all-original programming slate features a roster of hit series, premium documentaries, and scripted event programming.
