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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 […] The post 481 – Operation Baguette Storm first appeared on...

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 post 480 – All Gas, No Brakes first appeared on The British History Podcast .

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.” The post 479 – Be Like Water first appeared on The British History Podcast .

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 .

It turns out hustle culture is nothing new. The post Medieval Rise and Grind Sample first appeared on The British History Podcast .

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 […] The post 478 – A Fire Sale for the Faithful first appeared...

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. The post 477 – Deus Did Not Vult: The People’s Crusade first appeared on The British History Podcast .

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 .

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 476 – The Crackdown first appeared on The British History Podcast .

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 .

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 post 475 – The Fall of Mowbray first appeared on The British...

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.   The post 474 – Malvoisin, the Evil Neighbor first appeared on The British History Podcast .

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. The post 473 – Stage Management first appeared on The British History Podcast .

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. The post 471 – How To Lose Friends and Irritate People first appeared on The British History Podcast .

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. And that’s assuming there is a clear […] The post 470 – Tough Treaty first appeared on The British History Podcast .

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 appeared on The British History Podcast .

King Malcom Canmore hit his breaking point. The post 468 – Regicide’s Back On The Menu Boys first appeared on The British History Podcast .

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 .

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? The post 467 – Saint Anselm first appeared on The British History Podcast .

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 […] The post 466 – The Bachelor first appeared on The British History Po...

Rufus was once again the only brother in England. The post 465 – Anselm Arrives first appeared on The British History Podcast .

Come get schooled. The post Medieval Education Sample first appeared on The British History Podcast .

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 […] The post 464 – Rufus’ Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Campaign first appeared...

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 appeared on The British History Podcast .

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 in the way our economy works. It’s also true of how feudal economies worked. The post 462 – Defenestration Nation first appeared on The British History Podcast .