449 – Chapter Ten: The Boys

is dead, and his cross-channel empire has shattered.

For the first time in over two decades, England was free from the dictates of Normandy.

But that didn't mean it was free from the Normans.

Far from it.

They now formed the new aristocracy of this land.

And it would have dawned on the English that Rufus shared a lot in common with his father.

He was ruthless, warlike, greedy, and his one guiding principle was to expand his power.

Even England's new Norman aristocracy would have looked upon Rufus anxiously as he took the throne.

But just as concerning were the ways in which he differed from William.

Rufus was born, raised, and reveled in the new culture of European chivalry.

He was the very model of a late 11th century knight, and that meant he was a gregarious party boy.

And once he was crowned, he would become an incredibly powerful party boy who could turn his whims into law and his vibes into international policy.

And that was a huge problem for everyone, because across the channel, in Normandy, ruled Duke Robert II.

And

well, let's not beat around the bush.

These two brothers hated each other, and they couldn't have been more different, except for one key aspect.

Neither of them had a problem with starting wars.

And that would have had the Norman nobility a bit worried, because in William's rush to colonize England, he had parceled out many English lands to pre-existing Norman nobles.

As such, a lot of the Norman nobility held possessions on both sides of the channel.

which made them subject to two separate lords who hated each other.

It's hard to imagine how one could please them both, even in peacetime, and it would be impossible if those two started fighting, which they probably would.

They were, after all, their father's sons.

And there was someone else who was his father's son.

William's youngest, Henry.

Might want to keep an eye on him.

A new generation is coming to power, and with their rise will come the brutal arrogance that spawned the Crusades.

And yet, at the very same time, we will be entering the long 12th century.

A small renaissance that will see the beginning of natural science and a renewed interest in literacy and the spreading of European philosophy.

Under the governance of this new generation of chivalric kings, we're going to see power struggles, tournaments, tragedies, campaigns, crusades, rebellions, assassinations, a civil war started by a booze crews, scandalous fashion, titillated monks, and amongst all of this, the foundation of law and administration that will be the future guide for England, the Commonwealth, and America.

Human history is always winding and takes unexpected turns.

But with William's kids in power, things are about to get straight up messy in season 10 of the British History Podcast, The Boys.

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