On 30 January 1649, King Charles I was led on to a freshly erected scaffold outside Whitehall’s Banqueting House in London. Thousands of spectators watched in shock and awe as the king of England, Scotland and Ireland was executed as a traitor. It was the climax of one of the most destructive sagas in Britain and Ireland's history: the Civil Wars.

What led to this brutal outcome? How did the dynamic between the three Stuart kingdoms evolve as the wars progressed? And had conflict always been inevitable?

In our new HistoryExtra podcast series, historian Rebecca Rideal runs you through events blow-by-blow – from the first battles in Scotland, to resistance and rebellion in Ireland and all-out war in England and Wales. Speaking to historical experts, she explores a story of shifting loyalties, changing times, and devastating conflict.

Produced by HistFest Productions.

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