The British History Podcast

We answer SO many questions. So… so many questions. The post 500 – 500th Episode AMA Extravaganza first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 17 May 2026

Some families are just…the worst. You know how it is, there’s the one or two in there that are half decent, but mostly you avoid them too because the rest of the family is just awful. The post 499 – William of Mortain and How Some People Never Have Enough Wealth first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 7 May 2026

The death of Duke Robert’s chief ally, William of Breteuil, and the succession crisis it kicked off, was destabilizing the duchy of Normandy.   And while I’m sure it was a relief that King Henry and Robert of Meulan had brokered a sort of resolution to the crisis… everyone watching knew their intrusion into Norman […] The post 498 – Power and Predictability first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 24 April 2026

It was 1103 and things were a mess. And…when are they not? But a major reason for this mess was (oddly) William of Breteuil. Now, as you might recall, William of Breteuil was the firstborn son of the Conqueror’s close friendWilliam fitz Osbern… and, thanks to this proximity to power, he was one of the […] The post 497 – That’s Me In The Spot. Light. first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 9 April 2026

For the first time since William the Conqueror, there was going to be a primatial council at Westminster Abbey.   This was a HUGE deal.   Like… enormous.  Anselm had been trying to hold a major reform council for years, but King Rufus had refused.  Reform, as you may remember, wasn’t something that the red king was […] The post 496 – That’s Me In The Corner first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 25 March 2026

Ok, let’s return to 1101 and 1102, because Henry’s fight with Anselm, and fight between Henry and the Pope (and the fight between Anselm and the Pope) were …amazingly….only half of the story.   The post 495 – Power Struggles: Part Two first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 16 March 2026

In early February of 1102 Queen Matilda was giving birth.  The post 494 – Power Struggles: Part One first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 1 March 2026

The Treaty penned at Alton had avoided outright war, but it wasn’t truly official.  It needed to be finalized at Winchester. The post 493 – The Price of Peace first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 23 February 2026

In 1668, John Dryden became England’s very first Poet Laureate.  But he had a rival.  No, not just a rival.  A nemesis. This man’s name was Thomas Shadwell, and I can’t overstate how much Dryden hated him. The post 492 – The War for Perception first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 12 February 2026

Much respect to u/AnnieCamOG for coming up with this title. The post Project 1095 first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 12 February 2026

Duke Robert Curthose was back in Normandy, having  reclaimed the Duchy unopposed… and now he was looking to assert his claim on England. The post 491 – All Hats On Deck first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 28 January 2026

King Henry’s first Christmas Court in the closing days of 1100 had felt…off.  The post 490 – Messengers from France first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 16 January 2026

Ok, let’s face it, last year was a lot.  Rampant corruption, threats of war, tyrannical leaders, actual war, a greedy feckless aristocracy, rulers weaponizing the legal system, rulers completely disregarding the legal system, rulers making grandiose promises they had no interest in actually delivering on, international intrigue, at least one incredibly suspicious death, and finally […] The post 489 – From Normandy With Love first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 9 January 2026

By popular request, we’re releasing the full member’s episode on The Authoritarians. The post Bonus Episode: The Authoritarians first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Transcribed - Published: 8 January 2026

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, he would have run out of blood eventually.

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, and townsfolk going about their business.

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.

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.

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.

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 occupied by good honest Normans who wouldn’t interfere with the King’s god given right to raid and pillage the people of Maine.

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 help of another uncle Edgar the AEtheling - who happened to be the guy he was named after -  as well as King Rufus of England… and with their support, King Donald III was forced into exile.

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.”

Transcribed - Published: 18 July 2025

Don't panic, we aren't quitting. But we are making a change that might affect you.

Transcribed - Published: 10 July 2025

It turns out hustle culture is nothing new.

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 de Mowbray had tried to install on the throne of England).

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.

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.

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 shore.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Transcribed - Published: 24 February 2025

King Malcom Canmore hit his breaking point.

Transcribed - Published: 11 February 2025

If you think that video games are too violent, wait until you hear about Face Slap.

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?

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 Rufus immediately set about invalidating all his penitential acts.

Transcribed - Published: 19 January 2025

Rufus was once again the only brother in England.

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.

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 in exile, it didn’t mean he had accepted his defeat. He had plans and he set them in motion. His first plan was to have sex. Like… lots and lots of sex.

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.

Transcribed - Published: 28 November 2024