The British History Podcast

The British History Podcast

Jamie Jeffers
History Education Courses
en
The BHP is a chronological retelling of the history of Britain with a particular focus upon the lives of the people. You won’t find a dry recounting of dates and battles here, but instead you’ll learn about who these people were and how their desires, fears, and flaws shaped the scope of this island at the edge of the world. And some of those desires are downright scandalous.



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Episodes (50)

The British History Podcast

481 – Operation Baguette Storm

August 22, 2025 48m S10E481
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...
The British History Podcast

480 – All Gas, No Brakes

August 06, 2025 40m S10E480
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...
The British History Podcast

479 – Be Like Water

July 18, 2025 38m S10E479
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...
The British History Podcast

A Quick Update on the Show

July 10, 2025 1m S10E478
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.
The British History Podcast

Medieval Rise and Grind Sample

July 08, 2025 15m S10E478
It turns out hustle culture is nothing new.
The post Medieval Rise and Grind Sample first appeared on The British History Podcast.
The British History Podcast

478 – A Fire Sale for the Faithful

June 23, 2025 32m S10E478
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…...
The British History Podcast

477 – Deus Did Not Vult: The People’s Crusade

June 12, 2025 54m S10E477
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...
The British History Podcast

Lords and Landlords Sample

May 30, 2025 15m S10E476
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.
The British History Podcast

476 – The Crackdown

May 20, 2025 41m S10E476
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...
The British History Podcast

Medieval Urbanization Sample

May 13, 2025 20m S10E475
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...
The British History Podcast

475 – The Fall of Mowbray

May 05, 2025 29m S10E475
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...
The British History Podcast

474 – Malvoisin, the Evil Neighbor

April 25, 2025 37m S10E474
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...
The British History Podcast

473 – Stage Management

April 15, 2025 38m S10E473
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...
The British History Podcast

472 – Radicals

March 31, 2025 35m S10E472
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...
The British History Podcast

471 – How To Lose Friends and Irritate People

March 21, 2025 38m S10E471
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...
The British History Podcast

470 – Tough Treaty

March 14, 2025 41m S10E470
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...
The British History Podcast

469 – Robert of Rhuddlan

February 24, 2025 28m S10E469
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...
The British History Podcast

468 – Regicide’s Back On The Menu Boys

February 11, 2025 38m S10E468
King Malcom Canmore hit his breaking point.
The post 468 – Regicide’s Back On The Menu Boys first appeared on The British History Podcast.
The British History Podcast

Medieval Childhoods

January 29, 2025 15m S10E467
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.
The British History Podcast

467 – Saint Anselm

January 25, 2025 32m S10E467
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...
The British History Podcast

466 – The Bachelor

January 19, 2025 38m S10E466
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...
The British History Podcast

465 – Anselm Arrives

January 10, 2025 57m S10E465
Rufus was once again the only brother in England.
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The British History Podcast

Medieval Education Sample

December 14, 2024 14m S10E464
Come get schooled.
The post Medieval Education Sample first appeared on The British History Podcast.
The British History Podcast

464 – Rufus’ Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Campaign

December 14, 2024 35m S10E464
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...
The British History Podcast

463 – Finding Out

November 28, 2024 42m S10E463
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...
The British History Podcast

462 – Defenestration Nation

November 19, 2024 36m S10E462
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...
The British History Podcast

461 – Destabilizing a Nation: A How-To Guide

November 03, 2024 38m S10E461
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...
The British History Podcast

460 – The White Tower

October 24, 2024 32m S10E460
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...
The British History Podcast

459 – Lashing Out

October 11, 2024 27m S10E459
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...
The British History Podcast

458 – Henry’s Story

September 27, 2024 31m S10E458
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...
The British History Podcast

457 – The Bachelor King

September 17, 2024 54m S10E457
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...
The British History Podcast

Medieval Magic Sample: Shout at the Devil

September 01, 2024 9m S10E456
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.
The British History Podcast

456 – Law and Order: Durham

August 23, 2024 42m S10E456
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...
The British History Podcast

Medieval Magic Sample: We Read the Latin

August 22, 2024 12m S10E455
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.
The British History Podcast

455 – Odo’s Rebellion: Lord of the Flies

August 14, 2024 39m S10E455
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...
The British History Podcast

454 – Odo’s Rebellion: Worst Easter Ever

August 02, 2024 33m S10E454
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...
The British History Podcast

453 – Odo’s Rebellion: The Cold War

July 26, 2024 31m S10E453
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...
The British History Podcast

Medieval Medicine Sample: Trotula Edition

July 08, 2024 18m S10E452
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.
The British History Podcast

452 – Odo? Oh Yes.

July 02, 2024 35m S10E452
Somewhere around the time  William the First was bursting out of his tomb like roasted chestnut and  William the Second was making it rain with his dead dad’s money….something was turning in western...
The British History Podcast

451 – The Lucky Few

June 25, 2024 36m S10E451
You know, I almost titled the last episode  “The Gang Goes To A Funeral” but the trouble was that the gang /didn’t/ go to the funeral. All of them decided they had somewhere else to be. 
The post 451...
The British History Podcast

450 – Begin With A Bang

June 14, 2024 35m S10E450
It was early September of 1087, and for weeks…nearly two months, in fact… people had been discussing William’s impending death, and worrying about what would happen next.  And for good reason. This...
The British History Podcast

449 – Chapter Ten: The Boys

May 30, 2024 3m S10E449
Strap yourselves in. These kids are something else.
The post 449 – Chapter Ten: The Boys first appeared on The British History Podcast.
The British History Podcast

448 – The Death of William the Conqueror

May 25, 2024 59m S9E448
The story of William and the conquest has been a long road, and I’ve heard from some of you that this season has been challenging to listen to.   I get it.  No matter how awful William is he never...
The British History Podcast

Medieval Medicine Sample

May 09, 2024 8m S9E447
That’s right, just like big pharma, we’re giving out a free sample.
The post Medieval Medicine Sample first appeared on The British History Podcast.
The British History Podcast

447 – The End of the Conquest

May 03, 2024 29m S9E447
If the last few episodes have seemed a little confusing, then you’re hearing them right. Europe at the end of the 11th century was a rapidly changing world and it is all going to have a profound...
The British History Podcast

446 – Death and Taxes

April 27, 2024 35m S9E446
When we left off, things were looking pretty bad for William and William’s hope of a legacy. Maine was once again in rebellion against Normandy. But this time half of France seemed to be looking for...
The British History Podcast

445 – Feeding Frenzy

April 19, 2024 29m S9E445
Matilda was dead and now things were coming apart at the seams.
The post 445 – Feeding Frenzy first appeared on The British History Podcast.
The British History Podcast

444 – Holy Beef

April 05, 2024 40m S9E444
Based on the e-mails I have been getting, some of you are having a hard time understanding why on god’s green earth did Odo think he could just trot down to Rome and become the new Pope.  The truth is...
The British History Podcast

443 – We’re Bigger Than Jesus

March 26, 2024 36m S9E443
In this episode we delve into the tumultuous reign of King Gruffydd ap Cynan of Gwynedd and the political intricacies of William’s relationship with Matilda and his ambitious half-brother, Bishop Odo....
The British History Podcast

442 – Mynydd Carn

March 15, 2024 34m S9E442
Norman interventionism into their neighbors was only just beginning… and the events at Mynydd Carn gave them just the excuse they needed.
The post 442 – Mynydd Carn first appeared on The British...

About this Podcast

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Copyright © 2011 The British History Podcast, Inc. All rights reserved.
Language
en
Categories
History, Education, Courses, Society & Culture, Documentary