Podcast Episodes

Rufus' Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Campaign

Season 10 Episode 464

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…

Published on 11 months ago

Finding Out

Season 10 Episode 463

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 ap…

Published on 11 months, 2 weeks ago

Destabilizing a Nation: A How-To Guide

Season 10 Episode 461

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…

Published on 1 year ago

The White Tower

Season 10 Episode 460

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.

The post 460 – The White Tower …

Published on 1 year ago

Lashing Out

Season 10 Episode 459

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 m…

Published on 1 year, 1 month ago

The Bachelor King

Season 10 Episode 457

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 t…

Published on 1 year, 1 month ago

Odo's Rebellion: Worst Easter Ever

Season 10 Episode 454

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.

The post 454 – Odo’s Rebellion: Worst Easter Ev…

Published on 1 year, 3 months ago

Odo's Rebellion: The Cold War

Season 10 Episode 453

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 …we…

Published on 1 year, 3 months ago

Odo? Oh Yes!

Season 10 Episode 452

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 …

Published on 1 year, 4 months ago

Begin With A Bang

Season 10 Episode 450

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 f…

Published on 1 year, 5 months ago