Welcome to the British History podcast. My name is Jamie and this is episode 47. Deos did not vault,

The People's Crusade. This show is ad-free due to member support and as a way of thanking members

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Everyone in England was angry with Rufus.

He was fining, taxing, and now torturing his way through the country.

And as for Rufus, he was mad at everyone in England,

which was why he was fining, taxing, and torturing his way through the

country. And the thing is, this wasn't making Rufus feel any better, and was making everybody else

even more angry. But public anger doesn't do much unless it's put into action.

And due to the nature of feudal society, the actions of aristocrats have far more consequences

than the feelings of the general public, since the nobility had a virtual monopoly on violence.

But despite the fact that Rufus was unpopular,

even amongst the no small part to the fact that he had escalated recently to literally chopping noble balls off and calling that justice, the Norman aristocracy of England still

wouldn't move against the king. Now, I've read historians who imply, and one who outright claims,

that the Anglo-Norman aristocracy was cowed into submission by Rufus's unhinged brutality.

And that's a tidy theory.

Fear breeds compliance, and so spare the rod, spoil the realm.

But I don't buy it.

First off, if fear alone guaranteed obedience, the conqueror wouldn't have spent his reign stomping

out rebellion after rebellion.

...