Rex Factor

After 15 episodes we finally come to the most famous year in English history. Harold Godwinson has taken the throne to become Harold II, but he is facing invasion from two powerful rivals. In Normandy, Duke William is massing an invasion force to take the crown promised to him by Edward the Confessor. Meanwhile, the fearsome Viking Harald Hardrada, backed by Tostig Godwinson, is planning to press...

After the Viking dynasty peters out, the Saxons are back on the throne when Edward the Confessor becomes king in 1042. He's something of a late starter at 38, but he is clearly a man with staying power, as Godwin and his mother Emma are set to find out. However, as the fateful year of 1066 approaches, will Edward be able to ensure a peaceful succession and secure his kingdom for the next generatio...

After faffing about in Denmark, Cnut's legitimate son by Emma finally takes his place as king of the English in 1040. Unfortunately when he does arrive he turns out to be a bit of a moody chap and treats his new realm with minimal affection. Heavy taxes, brutal law enforcement and a naked woman riding through the streets of Coventry ensue - will the Viking rule of England survive? Hosted on Acast....

When Cnut dies in 1035 England has enjoyed a period of stability, but the legacy of his bigamy is that his two widows are battling it out for dominance at court. Emma, the queen, had the legitimate son in Harthacnut, but he is out of the country meaning that Aelgifu's son, Harold Harefoot, gets the chance to rule. Will Aelgifu be able to cling on to power? Will Emma find a way to defeat her rival?...

In 1016 the country passes into new ownership with the Vikings now in control of England in the person of Cnut. Unlike William the Conqueror 50 years later, Cnut is perfectly happy to 'go native' and embrace Saxon culture, ably supported by the ever-present Emma. In fact, things go so well he is even able to cast his eye towards dominion over his Scandinavian homeland. For a thousand years Cnut ha...

In 1016, fifty years before Hastings, England is under threat of conquest from the young Viking leader, Cnut. Aethelred the Unready had proved unable to defend his kingdom, but his son Edmund proves a far more powerful and courageous warrior. Has the damage already been done, or will Edmund reprise the glories of his ancestors and victory for England and, for himself, the Rex Factor? Hosted on Aca...

The last of the boy kings and one of the most infamous of the Saxons, poor Aethelred has a rather torrid time. As if coming to the throne after his brother was murdered was not enough, he is faced with the most powerful Viking force in a century and struggles to keep the Scandinavian hordes at bay. Listen in to find out why this reign sets us on the path to 1066, why we really shouldn't call him "...

Following the triumphal reign of Edgar the Peaceable, everything was looking rosy for the Saxons, but life is far from easy for our fifth boy king and the nation's fortunes enter into something of a rapid decline. Why does everything fall apart so quickly? Why is Edward rather ominously known as 'the martyr'? Find out in Rex Factor! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Lear...

After several difficult reigns, Edgar oversees something of a golden age for the Anglo-Saxons and despite his nickname is also a rather colourful character to boot. In our longest podcast thus far we encounter our toughest decision yet when it comes to assessing whether or not Edgar the not-so-peaceable is worthy of the Rex Factor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn...

Eadwig's accession to the throne in 955 sees a new generation wearing the crown in Anglo-Saxon England, but the ministers of state remain the same and from the very start Eadwig finds himself at odds with Dunstan, Odo and Eadgifu. Will the third boy king, with a penchant for scandal, be able to win the struggle for control of his kingdom? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information...

At 23 years old, Eadred is perhaps a little old to be the second "boy king", which is just as well because facing him is the most notorious Viking to grace these shores: Eric Bloodaxe! Will this grandson of Alfred the Great have the stomach for the fight? Will he even have the stomach for his dinner? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Vis...

Our story thus far has been one of constant triumph for the Anglo-Saxon kings, and in 939AD the young Edmund I inherits a fully fledged English kingdom. But can the first "boy king" live up to the glories of his forebears and earn himself the ultimate accolade...the Rex Factor! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/a...

We're back from our summer break and to kick us off we have King Athelstan, the first true king of all England (if not Britain). He was a powerful warrior, a prolific law-maker and he even managed to find the time to dally in foreign affairs and create some genuine scandal (though not by having foreign affairs). Is he a shoe-in for the Rex Factor or will this be the toughest challenge yet for the...

Our monarchic journey hurtles headlong into the tenth century as we move on to Edward the Elder, a Saxon warrior king who sets a trend for not being Edward I. However, following Alfred the Great is no mean feat - not only did he earn our Rex Factor accolade last week, but he was even the original subject for Rule Britannia! Did Edward slay his enemies, scandalise the world and rule his kingdom wit...

In our second podcast we do our first review of a king, namely Alfred the Great (871-99). He impresses us with his record on defensive tactics and cultural endeavours, but we are forced to get creative to try and find some evidence of scandal from the great man. But does he have the Rex Factor? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit pod...

In our first ever podcast we take a brisk stroll through history with sweeping generalisations taking us from Stonehenge to the ninth century. Reviewing proper will start with Alfred the Great next time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to Rex Factor, where we review kings and Queens in History. This week, after an introduction to the podcast, we review Offa, the eighth century king of an early English kingdom called Mercia. We learn about why he was not the first king of England, links to Charlemagne and the building of the famous Offa's Dyke, plus consider whether he has the Rex Factor. Sign up for lots of bonus content...