Podcasts · History · Education

The British History Podcast

Jamie Jeffers

300 episodes · in order

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.

Episodes page 5 of 6

  1. 430 – Is It Good To Be King?

    · 52 min · S9 E430

    We’ve been spending a lot of time with England lately… and there’s a good reason for that. England was the main target of the Norman invasion, and everything changed for the Kingdom when William arrived.

  2. 431 – The Gang Has A Wedding

    · 35 min · S9 E431

    In 1075, amidst the backdrop of William’s strained relations with England and his noble court, a grand wedding intertwines political machinations with matrimonial celebration. Earl Roger and Ralph de Gael, leveraging…

  3. 432 – The Revolt of the Earls

    · 49 min · S9 E432

    In 1075, Earl Roger and Earl Ralph lead a significant rebellion against King William, spurred by personal grievances and political ambitions. This insurrection, ignited at a wedding, quickly evolves into a major…

  4. Bonus Episode on Courtliness

    · 19 min · S9 E432 · Bonus

    Here’s a 15 minute sample of what we’re talking about on the Member’s feed. The post Bonus Episode on Courtliness first appeared on The British History Podcast.

  5. 433 – North Wales: I Love Mess

    · 31 min · S9 E433

    In 1075 King Bleddyn’s star was on the rise. He ruled over both Gwynedd and Powys. He struck fear into those he met on the battlefield. He had demonstrated himself such a threat that the Normans actually tried to…

  6. 434 – The Boys

    · 32 min · S9 E434

    For years the sons of William the Conqueror have lived closed to power but never truly able to wield it. Things were beginning to change, though. As their father ages, opportunities for advancement arise. Join us as…

  7. 435 – Trials and Tribulations

    · 43 min · S9 E435

    William the Conqueror reigns, but whispers of rebellion drift through England's halls. Earl Waltheof's imprisonment threatens to ignite a storm amongst the English. Meanwhile, William's half-brother, Odo, Bishop of…

  8. 436 – Taking the Piss

    · 42 min · S9 E436

    Welcome to the turbulent period of 1076 to 1078, where family tensions, political intrigue, and military challenges force William onto his back heel. And it all starts with the invasion of Dol... something that, in…

  9. 437 – Everyone’s Pissed

    · 29 min · S9 E437

    The hall exploded into chaos. The knights sitting outside of the firing line stared in shock, trying to process what was happening. Men stuck closer in tried to dive out of the way. The unlucky knights… the men…

  10. 438 – Robert’s Rebellion

    · 37 min · S9 E438

    The little guy's rebellion was about to get pretty big.

  11. 439 – Juggling Responsibilities

    · 35 min · S9 E439

    There was no getting around it. William had been humiliated. The Duke of Normandy and King of England had spent years mocking his son. He’d even recruited the upper crust of Norman society into using the cruel nickname…

  12. 440 – This is Fine

    · 30 min · S9 E440

    King Malcom and the Scots had spent the last several months raiding the northern reaches of England. They had murdered the English with impunity, took even more as slaves. But eventually they decided they had their…

  13. 441 – God Bothering

    · 25 min · S9 E441

    Northumbria was back at it again. The Continental Bishop turned Earl was dead. Most of his men lay slain at Gateshead, or BBQed in that Church. And any left alive were locked inside Durham Castle.

  14. 442 – Mynydd Carn

    · 34 min · S9 E442

    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 History Podcast.

  15. 443 – We’re Bigger Than Jesus

    · 37 min · S9 E443

    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. It is an…

  16. 444 – Holy Beef

    · 40 min · S9 E444

    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 he was less crazy…

  17. 445 – Feeding Frenzy

    · 30 min · S9 E445

    Matilda was dead and now things were coming apart at the seams.

  18. 446 – Death and Taxes

    · 35 min · S9 E446

    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 an excuse to join…

  19. 447 – The End of the Conquest

    · 30 min · S9 E447

    Europe at the end of the 11th century was a rapidly changing world and it is all going to have a profound impact on the history of Britain. I want you to really have a good understanding of what is going on here, and…

  20. Medieval Medicine Sample

    · 8:34 · S9 E447

    That's right, just like big pharma, we're giving out a free sample.

  21. 448 – The Death of William the Conqueror

    · 1 h 00 min · S9 E448

    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 seems to face any real…

  22. 449 – Chapter Ten: The Boys

    · 3:40 · S10 E449

    Strap yourselves in. These kids are something else. The post 449 – Chapter Ten: The Boys first appeared on The British History Podcast.

  23. 450 – Begin With A Bang

    · 35 min · S10 E450

    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 family, which ruled…

  24. 451 – The Lucky Few

    · 37 min · S10 E451

    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.

  25. 452 – Odo? Oh Yes.

    · 35 min · S10 E452

    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 culture as a whole.

  26. Medieval Medicine Sample: Trotula Edition

    · 19 min · S10 E452

    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.

  27. 453 – Odo’s Rebellion: The Cold War

    · 32 min · S10 E453

    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 …well, pretty much…

  28. 454 – Odo’s Rebellion: Worst Easter Ever

    · 34 min · S10 E454

    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.

  29. 455 – Odo’s Rebellion: Lord of the Flies

    · 40 min · S10 E455

    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 reported that the…

  30. Medieval Magic Sample: We Read the Latin

    · 13 min · S10 E455

    Got a jealousy problem and a spare leek? Boy, do we ever have a cure for you.

  31. 456 – Law and Order: Durham

    · 42 min · S10 E456

    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 court and count the…

  32. Medieval Magic Sample: Shout at the Devil

    · 9:27 · S10 E456

    I've gotta be honest, some of these spells seem a bit rude.

  33. 457 – The Bachelor King

    · 54 min · S10 E457

    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 two eldest sons up…

  34. 458 – Henry’s Story

    · 32 min · S10 E458

    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 Channel, his brothers…

  35. 459 – Lashing Out

    · 27 min · S10 E459

    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 mind.

  36. 460 – The White Tower

    · 33 min · S10 E460

    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.

  37. 461 – Destabilizing a Nation: A How-To Guide

    · 38 min · S10 E461

    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 most forgettable…

  38. 462 – Defenestration Nation

    · 36 min · S10 E462

    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…

  39. 463 – Finding Out

    · 43 min · S10 E463

    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.

  40. 464 – Rufus’ Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Campaign

    · 36 min · S10 E464

    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…

  41. Medieval Education Sample

    · 14 min · S10 E464

    Come get schooled.

  42. 465 – Anselm Arrives

    · 58 min · S10 E465

    Rufus was once again the only brother in England.

  43. 466 – The Bachelor

    · 38 min · S10 E466

    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…

  44. 467 – Saint Anselm

    · 32 min · S10 E467

    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?

  45. Medieval Childhoods

    · 16 min · S10 E467

    If you think that video games are too violent, wait until you hear about Face Slap.

  46. 468 – Regicide’s Back On The Menu Boys

    · 39 min · S10 E468

    King Malcom Canmore hit his breaking point.

  47. 469 – Robert of Rhuddlan

    · 29 min · S10 E469

    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.

  48. 470 – Tough Treaty

    · 41 min · S10 E470

    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…

  49. 471 – How To Lose Friends and Irritate People

    · 38 min · S10 E471

    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…

  50. 472 – Radicals

    · 36 min · S10 E472

    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.

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