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We are about to do something a little unusual for the BHP.  We’re going to muddy the timeline. Now, normally we stick to the chronological timeline.  We live the story as it unfolds.  But the birth of the Exchequer presents us with a bit of a headache because it’s being built right now in the […] The post 510 – Exchequers and ExBalancers: Part One first appeared on The British History Podcast.

King Henry’s Court was huge. And that makes sense.  His predecessor, King Rufus, was a party animal and, as such, his Court had swollen into a massive, roving scene where anyone who wanted power… or just free wine… crowded in through the doors. The post 509 – Court Costs first appeared on The British History Podcast.

The King was triumphant and his older brother was, if we’re taking the King’s word for it, retired and happily living in the lap of luxury… and most of the King’s other enemies were either imprisoned, dead, or keeping their heads down for fear of the King throwing them into the lap of luxury, too.  The post 508 – The Reformation Begins first appeared on The British History Podcast.

A sample of our deep dive into the performance and the culture that surrounds the Song of Roland. The post Chansons de Geste and 12th Century Performance Sample first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Henry had defeated his brother… but he hadn’t defeated Normandy.  At least, not yet.  Duke Robert still had supporters out there and Falaise was still loyal to the Duke.  In fact, Duke Robert’s son, William Clito, was sheltering in Falaise. The post 507 – Law and Order: Normandy first appeared on The British History Podcast.

Buckle up for a retelling of the medieval MCU that was driving Crusader culture. The post The Song of Roland Sample first appeared on The British History Podcast.

At long last, the struggle was over. The post 506 – Chapter Eleven: The Machine first appeared on The British History Podcast.

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 King’s army had turned north, towards Rochester. Bishop Odo’s stronghold.

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.

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 everyone else.

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.

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.

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.

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 over Normandy, had a history of infighting and civil wars, especially during times of succession.

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