The British History Podcast

In 1069, William the Conqueror faces a strategic nightmare as his march north is stymied by natural obstacles and a well-coordinated Danish-led resistance. The rebels’ tactical use of geography, destroying bridges and leveraging seasonal weather, forces William into a difficult position. Amidst a backdrop of widespread rebellion and a lack of local support, William’s attempts […] The post 415 – Cry Me a River first appeared on The British History Podcast.

In 1069, the victory at York ignites widespread rebellion across England, challenging Norman dominance. The English, bolstered by alliances with the Danes, leverage this triumph to inspire uprisings, symbolizing a significant shift in resistance against Norman control. This period highlights a critical juncture where experienced leadership emerges, altering the dynamics of English resistance. The narrative […] The post 414 – The Uprising first appeared on The British History Podcast.

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 than revenge for Hastings. Despite the impressive size of the invading force, their raids along the English coast face unexpected resistance, leading to a series of repelled attacks […] The post 413 – The D first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Harold Godwinson’s sons, continuing their family’s tradition of piracy, return to England with a fleet from Ireland to challenge the crown. Despite the questionable success of this approach in the past, they inflict generational damage on the southern English coast, highlighting a mix of political motivation and opportunistic plunder. The campaign, however, ends disastrously for […] The post 412 – The B Word first appeared on The British History Podcast.

The 1069 turmoil in the North of England sees a chaotic blend of failed leadership, noble mismanagement, and dramatic confrontations with King William. A successful rebellion quickly disintegrates into a farcical retreat as English nobles, initially seizing the moment, falter spectacularly in their strategic endeavors. William, seemingly untroubled, returns to his southern domain, throwing an […] The post 411 – Tell it to St. Peter first appeared on The British History Podcast.

In 1069, William the Conqueror’s sudden assault on York with a formidable army takes the city by surprise, exploiting strategies learned from previous battles. The city’s defenders, comprising mostly non-combatants, are thrown into chaos, highlighting the harsh realities of warfare on civilian populations. The narrative further delves into the political complexities of the time, including […] The post 410 – The F Word first appeared on The British History Podcast.

In 1068, a pivotal moment unfolds in Northumbria, where the assassination of Earl Robert at Durham sparks a large-scale rebellion against Norman rule. This event signifies a shift in English resistance, transforming disparate uprisings into a coordinated army ready for rebellion. The construction of a castle in Durham underlines the strategic shift, emphasizing preparedness and […] The post 409 – The First Sparks first appeared on The British History Podcast.

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 appeared on The British History Podcast.

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 result of the actions of the nobles.  Exclusively.   The post 407 – Robbing the Hood first appeared on The British History Podcast.

In early 1068… as William was preparing for the tactical Coronation of Matilda…  the three sons of Harold Godwinson were in Ireland. They had come to meet with King Diarmad of Dublin and prepare  an invasion force to re-take England. The post 406 – King’s Rook Takes Pawn first appeared on The British History Podcast.

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 straightforward. Probably because at least some of it is true.  The post 405 – Hereward the Wake: The Bourne Identity first appeared on The British History Podcast.

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 were forced to negotiate a peace. But this wasn’t exactly a victory for William, either. He’d been on the throne for scarcely over a year, and he’d […] The post 404 – The Coronation of Queen Matilda first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Exeter stood in open defiance against William and his army. The post 403 – The Siege of Exeter first appeared on The British History Podcast.

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 post 402 – Fire Sale first appeared on The British History Podcast.

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 Southern Town… and lost. In fact, he had lost so badly that his poor young nephew (who had never fought in battle before but, trusting his uncle, joined him on […] The post 401 – Norms and Normans first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Feudalism had officially come to England, courtesy of the Normans… The post 400 – William: This is Fine first appeared on The British History Podcast.

1067 was a time of incredible change within England. Fortresses were being constructed everywhere. Existing fortresses were seized and then manned by foreign mercenaries. Estates and farms in the surrounding areas were being seized and handed over to many of these same foreigners. The post 399 – Into the Wild first appeared on The British History Podcast.

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 guy’s name was Brand. The previous Abbot of Peterborough, Leofric, had actually marched to Hastings with Harold. But Leofric didn’t make it. So the job fell to Brand, […] The post 398 – William: Winning Friends and Influencing People Is For Suckers first appeared on The British History Podcast.

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, were going from building to building… taking whatever they wanted, doing whatever they felt like to the people inside, and then lighting it all  on fire. The first act of Norman […] The post 397 – William: The Devil Inside first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Duke William was experienced at wielding terror.  Whether he was at home or on campaign, William often employed terror tactics. The people of France were well aware of this, and now the English were learning his skill first hand.  The post 396 – King William I of England first appeared on The British History Podcast.

It was autumn of 1066 and after weeks of deliberation, political wrangling, and arguing the English nobility had finally selected their next King. This may seem like a long time, considering there was a whole invasion happening at the time. And it was. But, to be fair, the politics were very confusing. The post 395 – Rearranging the Deck chairs on HMS England first appeared on The British History Podcast.

The Battle of Hastings had been brutal – even for the Normans. The invading army had suffered terrible losses. The post 394 – Godwinson’s Revenge first appeared on The British History Podcast.

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 King.  Kingdom. Conqueror. Conquered. The post 393 – To Kill a Legend first appeared on The British History Podcast.

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 – The Night is Dark and Full of Terrors first appeared on The British History Podcast.

A New Shoptalk Just Dropped The post A Quick Update From Zee first appeared on The British History Podcast.

The King is dead. The post Chapter Nine – The Normans first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Stamford Bridge had been a nightmare.  Thousands of dead… untold numbers of wounded. And the fallout was just beginning. All over Britain, all over Europe, families would slowly be learning the fate of their loved ones. Word was spreading across England and up to Orkney. Out to Flanders, and Norway. The post 391 – The Battle of Hastings first appeared on The British History Podcast.

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 British History Podcast.

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 estimate the size of the original fleet launched from the River Dives, and comparing those to the records of the fleet following it’s mooring at Saint Valery…historians […] The post 389 – The Tyrant and the Muddy Crossing first appeared on The British History Podcast.

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, and his time as a Varagian, and about his reputation as a seductive warrior poet. And all of the “oh my god this guy is hot” […] The post 388 – The Stupid Before The Storm first appeared on The British History Podcast.

War was coming.  That much was clear. The post 387 – The Douche is Cast first appeared on The British History Podcast.

William had secured his promises.  Each Baron and lesser noble of Normandy swore to serve him faithfully and take part the invasion of  England.  And William made sure the nerds wrote every single oath down on paper. The post 386 – God’s Messenger first appeared on The British History Podcast.

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 me the throne a while back. Don’t worry if this is news to you, it was a secret so I understand if you are a little surprised. […] The post 385 – The Audacity of Boats first appeared on The British History Podcast.

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 completely off the wagon. The post 384 – King Harold Godwinson first appeared on The British History Podcast.

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 throne was being eyed from all sides by foreign dynasties and, according to sources like William of Poitiers, the King had been terribly ill for quite some time. Poitiers […] The post 383 – The Death of King Edward first appeared on The British History Podcast.

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 History Podcast.

It was 1065.  And King Edward was falling ever more ill. The post 382 – Bros Before Thrones first appeared on The British History Podcast.

After the traitorous murder of King Gruffydd,  Harold returned to England victorious… and as for Wales.  Well, their King had been assassinated and their lands were carved up between rival nobles who were subservient to England. The post 381 – Weekend at William’s first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Up in the hills of Snowdonia, pinned between the sea and the English midlands, King Gruffydd fought against the invading forces of the Godwinsons.  And he was giving the English such a hard time that even  the Life of King Edward admits it in the record. The post 380 – Everybody Is Killing Everybody Else And Nobody Is Talking About It: Part 3 first appeared on The British History Podcast.

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 England. The post 379 – Everybody Is Killing Everybody Else And Nobody Is Talking About It: Part 2 first appeared on The British History Podcast.

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 it first appeared on The British History Podcast.

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 even appears in the Mabinogion. The post 377 – The King of Wales first appeared on The British History Podcast.

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 can see where this is going and see how these events are leading to a calamity in just a few years. The post 376 – Lost Years and Lost Lands first appeared on The British History Podcast.

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 post 375 – Life and Death Politics. But Mostly Death. first appeared on The British History Podcast.

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 fully on team Godwinson and bending all of her political and diplomatic talent towards advancing her brother’s positions…and since then they’d made significant advancements with large numbers of […] The post 374 – Be Careful What You Wish For first appeared on The British History Podcast.

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 1053. Their loyalty to Harold went so deep that we can still see evidence of their loyalty to the House of Godwin in surviving records. The post 373 – The First King first appeared on The British History Podcast.

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 she watched that King try to destroy her family…As thanks she got stuffed into a nunnery by said King… then got to watch as her […] The post 372 – Hostile Takeover first appeared on The British History Podcast.

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 potent Earldom of Wessex. His father’s Earldom. And according to the Vita Edwardi, the Kingdom rejoiced at Harold’s impending promotion. The post 371 – Naked Ambition first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Earl Godwin and his family were back, baby.   Well, mostly. The post 370 – Breaking Bread first appeared on The British History Podcast.