The British History Podcast
Episodes
413 – The D
04 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In the fall of 1069, King Swegn of Denmark launches an invasion of England with a massive fleet, motivated by ambition and the lure of wealth rather t...
412 – The B Word
18 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Harold Godwinson’s sons, continuing their family’s tradition of piracy, return to England with a fleet from Ireland to challenge the crown. Despit...
411 – Tell it to St. Peter
11 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The 1069 turmoil in the North of England sees a chaotic blend of failed leadership, noble mismanagement, and dramatic confrontations with King William...
New Members Episode and a Site Update
03 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
410 – The F Word
27 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In 1069, William the Conqueror’s sudden assault on York with a formidable army takes the city by surprise, exploiting strategies learned from previo...
409 – The First Sparks
20 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In 1068, a pivotal moment unfolds in Northumbria, where the assassination of Earl Robert at Durham sparks a large-scale rebellion against Norman rule....
408 – Kerosene
14 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Happy New Year! It was 1069… nice… and as the new year dawned…things in England were getting a bit weird. The post 408 – Kerosene first appe...
407 – Robbing the Hood
06 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I feel for the English commoners in the late 1060’s. They had nothing to do with the arrival of the Normans… everything they suffered was the re...
406 – King’s Rook Takes Pawn
02 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In early 1068… as William was preparing for the tactical Coronation of Matilda… the three sons of Harold Godwinson were in Ireland. They had com...
405 – Hereward the Wake: The Bourne Identity
17 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Here is the beginning of Hereward the Wake. And to tell this story, we have to begin with the legend, because nothing in this story is straightforwa...
404 – The Coronation of Queen Matilda
03 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Gytha and her supporters had fled into the Severn Estuary, and it was the final nail in the coffin of the Exeter rebellion. With no help coming, they ...
403 – The Siege of Exeter
20 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Exeter stood in open defiance against William and his army. The post 403 – The Siege of Exeter first appeared on The British History Podcast.
402 – Fire Sale
24 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Earl Osulf II of Bamburgh was a Northumbrian, and he had earned his seat ruling over the region North of the Tyne in true Northumbrian fashion. The ...
401 – Norms and Normans
16 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Last week we left off with Dover with some good old fashioned french on french violence… Count Eustace had attacked and attempted to seize the South...
400 – William: This is Fine
09 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Feudalism had officially come to England, courtesy of the Normans… The post 400 – William: This is Fine first appeared on The British History Pod...
399 – Into the Wild
01 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
1067 was a time of incredible change within England. Fortresses were being constructed everywhere. Existing fortresses were seized and then manned by ...
398 – William: Winning Friends and Influencing People Is For Suckers
20 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Do you remember the holy man who asked Edgar the AEtheling to confirm him as the Abbot of Peterborough, just after the Battle of Hastings? Well, that ...
397 – William: The Devil Inside
08 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It was Christmas Day of 1066 and England was crowning it’s new King. In celebration, the King’s men…heavily armed and backed by divine authority...
396 – King William I of England
27 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Duke William was experienced at wielding terror. Whether he was at home or on campaign, William often employed terror tactics. The people of France ...
395 – Rearranging the Deck chairs on HMS England
05 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It was autumn of 1066 and after weeks of deliberation, political wrangling, and arguing the English nobility had finally selected their next King. Thi...
394 – Godwinson’s Revenge
10 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The Battle of Hastings had been brutal – even for the Normans. The invading army had suffered terrible losses. The post 394 – Godwinson’s Reveng...
393 – To Kill a Legend
20 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Here is how you probably heard the story of the Battle of Hastings. William the Conqueror boarded a ship, won a battle at Hastings, and was crowned Ki...
392 – The Night is Dark and Full of Terrors
12 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Chaos. The orderly rhythm of attacks… and the steady wall of the war hedge had dissolved, and it was replaced by a raging melee. The post 392 – Th...
A Quick Update From Zee
02 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A New Shoptalk Just Dropped The post A Quick Update From Zee first appeared on The British History Podcast.
Chapter Nine – The Normans
28 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The King is dead. The post Chapter Nine – The Normans first appeared on The British History Podcast.
391 – The Battle of Hastings
18 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Stamford Bridge had been a nightmare. Thousands of dead… untold numbers of wounded. And the fallout was just beginning. All over Britain, all over...
390 – Stamford Bridge
20 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
King Harold, his Huscarls, and the fyrd of Wessex were driving north as fast as they could. The post 390 – Stamford Bridge first appeared on The Bri...
389 – The Tyrant and the Muddy Crossing
27 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The shores of Saint Valery must have been quite the sight. Looking at the records, which discuss the size of this fleet and other notes that let us es...
388 – The Stupid Before The Storm
11 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We left off in the Court of Harald Hardrada. And you probably feel like you know a lot about this man by now. There’s the stories about the empress,...
387 – The Douche is Cast
28 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
War was coming. That much was clear. The post 387 – The Douche is Cast first appeared on The British History Podcast.
386 – God’s Messenger
18 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
William had secured his promises. Each Baron and lesser noble of Normandy swore to serve him faithfully and take part the invasion of England. A...
385 – The Audacity of Boats
06 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ok nerds, take this down. Dear Harry, I was saddened to hear of King Edward’s death. but, I am writing to inform you that my beloved cousin promised...
384 – King Harold Godwinson
02 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Edward was dead. Harold was King. Edith was sidelined. And as far as the Vita Edwardii was concerned, this was the moment where the wheels came comple...
383 – The Death of King Edward
19 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Christmas of 1065 would have been a grim affair. And as 1066 approached, the Court was likely consumed with anxiety. The King was childless and the th...
2021 Halloween Special
20 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A 14th century monk made it weird. Or Wyrd? I dunno… it’s weirdly wyrd, though. The post 2021 Halloween Special first appeared on The British Hist...
382 – Bros Before Thrones
15 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It was 1065. And King Edward was falling ever more ill. The post 382 – Bros Before Thrones first appeared on The British History Podcast.
381 – Weekend at William’s
03 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
After the traitorous murder of King Gruffydd, Harold returned to England victorious… and as for Wales. Well, their King had been assassinated an...
380 – Everybody Is Killing Everybody Else And Nobody Is Talking About It: Part 3
04 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Up in the hills of Snowdonia, pinned between the sea and the English midlands, King Gruffydd fought against the invading forces of the Godwinsons. A...
379 – Everybody Is Killing Everybody Else And Nobody Is Talking About It: Part 2
29 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Earl AElfgar and his alliance with King Gruffydd of Wales was likely the one true barrier that stood between Harold Godwinson and the throne of Englan...
378 – Everybody is killing everybody else and no one is talking about it
25 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On the year 1059, there is an enigmatic entry in the Welsh Chronicle. The post 378 – Everybody is killing everybody else and no one is talking about...
377 – The King of Wales
30 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Water, and the ability to control water ways, was an important aspect in the Welsh imagination. In fact, the importance of Welsh power on the seas eve...
376 – Lost Years and Lost Lands
21 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Things are moving quickly in our story, now. Pieces are moving into place, and the board is shifting rapidly. Thanks to the benefit of hindsight, we c...
375 – Life and Death Politics. But Mostly Death.
03 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
For the first time in a long time, Wales was experiencing a time of internal peace, thanks in large part to its unification under King Gruffydd. The p...
374 – Be Careful What You Wish For
22 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
1055 had been an absolutely crazy year. But, for the Godwinsons, it hadn’t been all bad. Having clearly given up on King Edward, Queen Edith was now...
373 – The First King
05 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Earl AElfgar was having a rough time. The clergy and local lords of East Anglia had never really warmed up to him since his appointment to the post in...
372 – Hostile Takeover
20 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
If I could interview one figure from this period, I think it would be Queen Edith. That woman had a WEIRD life. She was married off to a King. Then sh...
371 – Naked Ambition
13 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Godwin was dead, and now Harold Godwinson found himself leading the family. Befitting this new role, he was due to inherit the wealthy and politically...
370 – Breaking Bread
22 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Earl Godwin and his family were back, baby. Well, mostly. The post 370 – Breaking Bread first appeared on The British History Podcast.
Bonus Episode from the Archive: The Poet’s Curse
12 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This is an old one, but it was specifically requested. Please forgive the audio quality and delivery. The post Bonus Episode from the Archive: The Poe...
369 – Move or You Will Be Moved: Part 4
26 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When you come at the King, you best not miss… and now the Godwins had the King of France and the Holy Roman Emperor acting as their surrogates while...
368 – Move or You Will Be Moved: Part 3
19 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“O happy earl, in bairns and forebears blessedSiring four guarantors of England’s peace.First, Edith, gem-link on the kingdom’s brest,All virtue...
367 – Move, or You Will Be Moved Part 2
02 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Swegn Godwinson was exiled….again. Only this time it was for life. As that judgment came down, the Godwins must have realized they had been maneuver...
366 – Move, or You Will Be Moved: Part 1
27 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The summer of 1051 must have felt like some sort of nightmare. A French aristocrat rode into Dover, picked a fight and then slaughtered the townsfolk....
365 – The Red Cliffs of Dover
13 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In 1050, Thorrfinn the Jarl of Orkney went to Rome. And no trip to Rome is complete without a visit with the Pope. And when Thorrfin had his meeting, ...
364 – Reconciliation
31 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Complex societies are able to do incredible things. By having an interconnected civilization, with people from all over the place contributing to it...
363 – Treason!
13 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Piece by piece, the board was being set for a comeback. The Godwin family had been thrown from power decades ago. But Godwin knew how to be patient an...
362 – Meet the Godwins
09 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
History is just the story of humans across time. Therefore, like humanity, history is varied, it’s emotional, it’s complex. And often it’s just ...
361 – W A Poet
04 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
King Edward came to England with a political migraine. The post 361 – W A Poet first appeared on The British History Podcast.
360 – The Long Game
19 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In 1040, while England was dealing with the chaos of Harthacnut’s reign and the threat of yet another succession mess, Scotland was dealing with its...
359 – Play Autocrat Games; Win Autocrat Prizes
30 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In 1040, England once again had a new King. But England was finding Harthacnut a tough pill to swallow. The post 359 – Play Autocrat Games; Win Auto...
The Witch of Fife
23 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Happy Halloween! The post The Witch of Fife first appeared on The British History Podcast.
358 – King Harthacnut
16 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s story starts in 1039. It’s a big year, and a lot has happened to get us here. So let’s recap very quickly. The death of Cnut caused a ca...
357 – Walter Map’s Courtly Trifles
06 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The early 11th century was an unlikely time of heroes. By heroes I unfortunately don’t mean people of good character and brave deeds, but just peopl...
356 – Macbeth
15 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Here is the story of Macbeth. If you have just tuned into this episode because of the title, know that it is the second episode in a two-part series. ...
355 – Double, Double Toil and Trouble
20 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As we have been covering the Dark Ages, we have been at the mercy of the scribes. If they don’t write something down, there is almost no way for us ...
354 – The West, after Cnut
03 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The death of Cnut and the fall of his near-Empire would obviously have impacts on his own dynasty. But while Harold was trying to secure England, Emma...
353 – Mother of the Year
17 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Medieval chronicler, Adam of Bremen, was writing at around this point in history and among the many things he tells us he also includes how Cnut p...
352 – Chaos
08 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It was November 11 of 1035 and King Cnut was dead. He was buried at Winchester Cathedral. Cnut, and likely the Court, seemed to anticipate his death. ...
351 – Collapse
25 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I wonder if Cnut could see what was coming. All the signs were in front of him. Everything was starting to line up. But was he actually putting it tog...
350 – A Tough Cnut to Crack
11 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We have another mystery on our hands. We have a missing year. And I don’t think it was because nothing was happening. The post 350 – A Tough Cnut ...
349 – AElfgifu’s Tale
25 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Successful Kings don’t rule alone. This is especially true for Kings with as much going on as Cnut. And one of Cnut’s most influential right-hand ...
348 – Ruling Hard or Hardly Ruling
12 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Europe was in chaos in the 1020s. Crises just kept coming, and the powerful were trying to capitalize on disorder. And in times like these, actions ca...
347 – Aggressive Diplomacy
02 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What we call history was, at one point, just current events. And world affairs never happen in a vacuum. It’s never just one thing happening after a...
346 – Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Drakkars
22 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It’s 1025 Cnut had a problem on his hands. Barely a year after putting down Thorkell’s rebellion, Cnut was sailing for Denmark… again. To war, a...
345 – Building Blocks
10 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In the early 11th century, the English were crushed by the Scots in the Battle of Carham. We are told that King Malcolm of Scotland, supported by King...
Bonus Episode: Slavery
20 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
More material is coming, but here is a bonus episode to keep you company while you’re practicing social distancing. The post Bonus Episode: Slavery ...
344 – Cnut’s Mad Lads
12 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In the year of 1021, the Anglo Saxon Chronicle tells us two things. A Bishop died. And Thorkell the Tall was expelled from the country. And that’s a...
343 – By Thorkell’s Beard
27 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This is a story of palace intrigue, murder, and atypical alopecia… and it all begins where these things usually do… with a real estate transaction...
Bonus Episode: Shrove Tuesday
25 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Today is Shrove Tuesday. And if you’re not in Britain, you might be wondering what Shrove Tuesday is, and even if you are British, you might be wond...
342 – King Cnut of Denmark and England
14 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
If you have heard of King Cnut, what you probably heard was the story of Cnut and the Tides. The most common version of it goes like this. “Canute, ...
341 – King Cnut of England
05 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Cnut made a lot of smart moves in a very short amount of time. He outlawed much of the corruption that had plagued the courts of AEthelred. He scrubbe...
340 – A Bit of a Cnut
23 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
When we left off, Cnut had managed to get Eadric to go on the record calling for the execution of the English claimants to the throne… and then Cnut...
339 – Cnut the Conqueror
17 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It’s been a strange few years. The fall of the House of Wessex and the rise of Cnut looks like a simple story of conquest. After all, it’s right t...
338 – The Fall of King Edmund Ironsides
27 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Edmund hadn’t lost, and for now that was enough. He had shown himself to be a contender. So Ironside took his remaining men and marched East… but ...
337 – The Rise of King Edmund Ironside
22 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Can you feel it? It feels like there is a lull before the storm. AEthelred Unread is now gone, and Normandy is now officially on the board. 1066 is on...
336 – The End Is The Beginning Is The End
10 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Christmas is old. Older than Christianity, in fact. As a consequence, there’s a lot to it. Symbols and traditions that come from all over the world,...
335 – Acts of Spasmodic Violence
26 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Morcar and Sigeferth were under a lot of stress. These two noble brothers from the North had only just managed to join the Wulf dynasty through Sigefe...
334 – No Cnut November
14 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
There are worse things than spending a holiday in Normandy. And one of those things is spending a holiday in Normandy because you just lost your entir...
333 – The Conquest of England
08 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
England in 1013 was a Kingdom begging to be conquered. Decades of bad decisions have eroded its foundations and now it sat as a mere shadow of its for...
Teig O’Kane and the Corpse
31 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Happy Halloween The post Teig O’Kane and the Corpse first appeared on The British History Podcast.
332 – The Jomsvikings
25 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
So here we are. With two full companies of Jomsvikings laying waste to southern England… and in response, the nobility… the people tasked with d...
331 – Thoughts and Prayers
17 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
AEthelred, for the first time in quite a while, had a chance for a breather. King Sweyn Forkbeard, having been paid a king’s ransom, had withdrawn...
330 – The Purge
07 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The Court of AEthelred had turned over three times during his reign. First, there was his regency council. Then, when he took full power he replaced...
329 – Forkbeard
27 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
When you go to your local grocery store there’s a pattern. You go down your usual aisles, grab your bread, your tea, that thing you know you’re no...
328 – The St Brice’s Day Massacre
20 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The year 1002 was still 64 years away from 1066, but The House of Normandy had already begun a coup upon the Kingdom of England. The dynasty held only...
327 – Sail Away Sail Away Sail Away
14 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Now that we’ve checked in with the rest of the world, let’s get back to our story…which lately hasn’t been going so well. In the space of 70 y...
326 – The Year 1000
08 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
It’s so easy to lose the forest for the trees. This show is a show about one small island which, even at this part of the story, is still at the edg...
325 – From Bad to Worse
24 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
When we left off, England was reforming its legal structure. Now, law isn’t known for being a sexy subject…neither are lawyers for that matter. Bu...
324 – Law and Lawlessness
21 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
With the Scandinavian raiders gone, and with AElfric of Hampshire defanged, England was free to get back to work. And, as we saw last episode, this me...
323 – Brotherhood of the Wolf
10 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The Dowager Queen AElfthryth has returned to the King’s inner council following what looks like a political coup against AElfic of Hampshire and his...