The British History Podcast

We did it, it’s the year  1100…which means it’s time for us to take a moment and  place our story in the broader context of global human history.  Now, as always, this won’t be exhaustive… nor ultra detailed. Our only intent is to break the  myopia that’s inherent in any history podcast and give you […] The post 488 – The Year 1100 first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 12 December 2025

Edith, the daughter of King Malcolm Canmore, has appeared from time to time in our story and (by this point) she was about 20 years old… and many of those years had been weird ones. The post 487 – Stealing a Wife From God first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 5 December 2025

It’s time to hit REI and get some gear… because we’re going on a journey of self discovery in this sample of the newest Member’s Episode. The post Pilgrimage Sample first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 27 November 2025

The cart carrying the body of King Rufus eventually reached the cathedral at Winchester. And if we are to believe Malmesbury,  blood had been dripping from it from the forest all the way into the Cathedral.  Though, at some point it must have stopped. I mean, even if no one… ya know… sorted it out, […] The post 486 – Stealing a Crown from your Brother first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 15 November 2025

That moment when DIY turns into DIWHYHASGODFORSAKENME The post Tech Issues, We Got Em first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 24 October 2025

Zee runs us through the events and it’s… a lot. The post The First Crusade Sample first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 23 October 2025

It was a calm August afternoon in Winchester.   The Royal Palace (or potentially the Conqueror’s castle… our scribes aren’t precise when discussing the location, but probably the Palace)… either way, Winchester would have been full of activity,  but nothing out of the ordinary.  Just Royal functionaries carrying out their duties while the King was away, […] The post 485 – What Happened? first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 16 October 2025

Ok, when we left off, Rufus threw a big “look at me” celebration… and the prevailing response appears to have been “yeah, man. We see you.” And that wasn’t even the worst part of his year. The post 484 – Final Destination: The New Forest first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 4 October 2025

The final two years of the 11th century feel like someone was trying to tie up a bunch of plotlines before the start of season 12. Things are moving fast, everybody is suddenly in different countries, and inevitably…some of these characters aren’t having their contracts renewed. The post 483 – Standing on Ceremony first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 12 September 2025

Alright.  When we left off, I mentioned that while Rufus was in Normandy, things in England had been getting interesting in his absence. Let’s start with Bishop Walkelin. The post 482 – Eye for an Eye first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 5 September 2025

When we left off, Rufus and Robert of Belleme were marching upon Maine.  Specifically, Count Helias’ fortress at Danguel. This fortress made military incursions and raids into Maine insanely difficult.  Which Rufus and Robert found deeply inconsiderate, so it would have to be brought down or, at the very least it would have to be […] The post 481 – Operation Baguette Storm first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 22 August 2025

Alright, so when we left off Edgar (the eldest living son of Malcolm Canmore) had claimed the throne of Scotland.  But, in classic medieval style, the way that Edgar had gone about that was anything but simple. Edgar had taken the throne from his  Uncle, King Donald III, and to pull that off  Edgar had […] The post 480 – All Gas, No Brakes first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 6 August 2025

For years, Normandy had been wracked with internal conflict, war, and political unrest.  The Duchy had nearly been the end of Duke Robert countless times… and if there was a single defining characteristic of Normandy under Robert, it would be “chaos.” The post 479 – Be Like Water first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 18 July 2025

Don’t panic, we aren’t quitting. But we are making a change that might affect you. The post A Quick Update on the Show first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 10 July 2025

It turns out hustle culture is nothing new. The post Medieval Rise and Grind Sample first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 8 July 2025

It’s September of 1096, and Duke Robert was setting out on Crusade, intent on taking the main pilgrim road to Rome and Norman Italy.  Joining him were his retainers, soldiers, and supporters… including high ranked figures like Bishop Odo of Bayeux, Count Robert of Flanders, and Stephen of Aumale (who was the forgettable guy that […] The post 478 – A Fire Sale for the Faithful first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 23 June 2025

Everyone in England was angry with Rufus. He was fining, taxing, and now torturing his way through the country.  And Rufus was mad at everyone in England.   Which was why he was fining, taxing, and torturing his way through the country. The post 477 – Deus Did Not Vult: The People’s Crusade first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 12 June 2025

And the full version even includes a drinking game! You can hear the full episode by signing up for membership. The post Lords and Landlords Sample first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 30 May 2025

In 1096, Robert de Mowbray, the former Earl of Northumbria, was living in Windsor.  And he better get comfy, because his majesty seemed quite happy to keep him there as a permanent resident. The post 476 – The Crackdown first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 20 May 2025

We strive in this one to prove you can be urban without being urbane. You can hear the full episode by signing up for membership. The post Medieval Urbanization Sample first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 13 May 2025

Night fell… and gradually, everything within Bamburgh and the Malvoisin went quiet.  Sure, there were the occasional patrols, and the occasional muffled voice as two people shared a moment, or simply tried to keep themselves awake while on watch… but for the most part, there was no sound except for that of the waves lapping […] The post 475 – The Fall of Mowbray first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 5 May 2025

Rufus was marching North to directly challenge de Mowbray and anyone foolish enough to follow  him.  And of course he was.  There was only one response this King was ever going to have to de Mowbray’s instigation.  War.   The post 474 – Malvoisin, the Evil Neighbor first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 25 April 2025

So, when we left off, Anselm finally had his Pallium, and Rufus got… well… Rufus got all the independence and freedom from Church interference that he could have hoped for.  Even better, his Bishops were on the same page as him and were supporting the King’s independence from Rome. The post 473 – Stage Management first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 15 April 2025

We have spent a lot of time with the situation between Anselm and Rufus, and all their messy interpersonal drama, but we haven’t really discussed the true elephant in the room. Radicalism. The post 472 – Radicals first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 31 March 2025

It was January of 1095 and Rufus was still at war with his eldest brother, Duke Robert. A  war that could have been avoided if the Red King had simply kept his word… or even just apologized. But he wasn’t interested in doing either of those things, so people were dying in Normandy. The post 471 – How To Lose Friends and Irritate People first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 21 March 2025

As I’ve mentioned a few times… we are discussing one of those periods of history where everything was kind of happening all at once.  This presents a challenge when trying to create a clear narrative that you can follow, while also staying true to the order of events. And that’s assuming there is a clear […] The post 470 – Tough Treaty first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 14 March 2025

In the space of less than a year, the Norman barons had surged deep into Wales and were further entrenching themselves using castles and other fortifications. The post 469 – Robert of Rhuddlan first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 24 February 2025

King Malcom Canmore hit his breaking point. The post 468 – Regicide’s Back On The Menu Boys first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 11 February 2025

If you think that video games are too violent, wait until you hear about Face Slap. The post Medieval Childhoods first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 29 January 2025

Ok, I know at the end of that last episode I kinda sorta promised you a fight. And we are definitely going to have one. But we are pausing real quick to cover some SERIOUSLY good gossip…and possibly a murder? The post 467 – Saint Anselm first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 25 January 2025

All of those promises Rufus made to be a better man had finally convinced God.  After about two months of being bedridden, the King finally recovered from his mysterious illness.  And now that the Divine had delivered its side of the bargain… well, there was really no point to any of those promises anymore. So […] The post 466 – The Bachelor first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 19 January 2025

Rufus was once again the only brother in England. The post 465 – Anselm Arrives first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 10 January 2025

2024 went out swinging. The post A Quick Update (ft. Nazgûl) first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 4 January 2025

Come get schooled. The post Medieval Education Sample first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 14 December 2024

We don’t really know precisely what Henry got up to once he fled Mont Saint Michel. What few records we have are incomplete and some contradictory.  But from those records we /are/ able to glean some details… and when we take the accounts in total, what immediately becomes clear is that, just because Henry was […] The post 464 – Rufus’ Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Campaign first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 14 December 2024

After Robert kicked Henry out of Rouen, the Duke tried to restabilize his position in Normandy. And his first move was to make an alliance with Robert of Belleme.  The post 463 – Finding Out first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 28 November 2024

You’ve probably heard the phrase “it takes money to make money,” and while usually the person telling you that is just trying to sell you something you don’t need….there is some truth to it. At least in the way our economy works. It’s also true of how feudal economies worked. The post 462 – Defenestration Nation first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 19 November 2024

We’ve been spending a lot of time with Rufus and Robert. And that was the way things were back in the 11th century, too.  Rufus and Robert got the attention, while Henry… the youngest, and apparently most forgettable brother… was often left out.  And this reality was made most clear when their father died… and, […] The post 461 – Destabilizing a Nation: A How-To Guide first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 3 November 2024

It’s one of the most famous landmarks in the world. The White Tower, or more recently, the Tower of London. If you’ve visited London you likely took time to go see it. The post 460 – The White Tower first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 24 October 2024

With Count Henry and Robert of Belleme imprisoned under his tender care, Bishop Odo had free rein to guide the impressionable Duke Robert in whatever direction he wanted.  And he had a direction in mind. The post 459 – Lashing Out first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 11 October 2024

The last two episodes have been focused on how King William Rufus handled the aftermath of the rebellion, and the political moves being made.  But Rufus didn’t exist in a vacuum… and across the Channel, his brothers were also making moves. The post 458 – Henry’s Story first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 27 September 2024

William the Conqueror had not set his sons up for success, and at the heart of it was land. Obviously, the way he distributed those lands in his Will had been a bit of a disaster, as it had set his two eldest sons up for war.   The post 457 – The Bachelor King first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 17 September 2024

I’ve gotta be honest, some of these spells seem a bit rude. The post Medieval Magic Sample: Shout at the Devil first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 1 September 2024

William Rufus’ first year as King had probably not gone down as he hoped. And as Bishop Odo and his co-conspirators boarded their ships and sought sanctuary in Normandy…Rufus could only return to court and count the rest of his problems.. The post 456 – Law and Order: Durham first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 23 August 2024

Got a jealousy problem and a spare leek? Boy, do we ever have a cure for you. The post Medieval Magic Sample: We Read the Latin first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 22 August 2024

Word of Rufus’ army, and the destruction of the rebel forces at Tunbridge, had no doubt reached Pevensey and its commander, Robert of Mortain… and I think it’s highly likely that the messengers also reported that the King’s army had turned north, towards Rochester. Bishop Odo’s stronghold. The post 455 – Odo’s Rebellion: Lord of the Flies first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 14 August 2024

Word of Rufus’ army, and the destruction of the rebel forces at Tunbridge, had no doubt reached Pevensey and its commander, Robert of Mortain… and I think it’s highly likely that the messengers also reported that the King’s army had turned north, towards Rochester. Bishop Odo’s stronghold. The post 455 – Odo’s Rebellion: Lord of the Flies first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 14 August 2024

It was Easter of 1088.  This was, typically, a  time when the most powerful figures of England would gather at Court.  But this wasn’t a typical  year. The post 454 – Odo’s Rebellion: Worst Easter Ever first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 2 August 2024

Primogeniture, the practice of handing all wealth and power from father to the eldest son, had done a lot to consolidate power along single family lines. But it created all manner of problems for …well, pretty much everyone else. The post 453 – Odo’s Rebellion: The Cold War first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 26 July 2024

We’re joining the Sisterhood of the Travelling Uterus for this one. The post Medieval Medicine Sample: Trotula Edition first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 8 July 2024