The British History Podcast

Jamie Jeffers

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.

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541 episodes
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Episodes541

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Thursday · 41 min
504 – At Anslem’s Bec and Call
It was July 21st of 1105 and Henry was in Laigle. Just like he was in the late 1070s. And, just like in the late 1070s, he was in conflict with his older brother. Only this time he wasn’t in the town to do something fun, like pee on Robert from a balcony. No, this […] The post 504 – At Anslem’s Bec and Call first appeared on The British History Podcast.
July 11 · 34 min
503 – The Holy Ghosting
Curthose and his attendants, what remained of them, were rushing as quickly as they could to Rouen… and he was, presumably, crossing his fingers hoping that the people of that city would welcome him. And, honestly, after Caen I’d say it was even odds at best. The post 503 – The Holy Ghosting first appeared on The British History Podcast.
June 26 · 35 min
502 – The Cage Match of Bayeux
Henry, with the help of Bishop Serlo, had just rebranded himself and his knights as the pious leaders of Greater Christian Normandy by going through little more than a ritualized barber shop scene and, while we know it was just cosplay, the fact is that people fall for bad faith optics all the time Which […] The post 502 – The Cage Match of Bayeux first appeared on The British History Podcast.
June 10 · 1 hr 1 min
An Offa Interview with Rory Naismith
Today we have a special episode with the return of Professor Rory Naismith! You will remember him from his interview on Anglo Saxon Economics and Money, and today he is back to talk with us about his new book on Offa, King of the Mercians. Professor Rory Naismith is the Professor of Early Medieval History […] The post An Offa Interview with Rory Naismith first appeared on The British History Podcast.
June 6 · 43 min
501 – Bishop Serlo’s Pop Up Hair Salon
For months, messengers had been arriving from Normandy carrying news of the disorder and chaos that was gripping the Duchy. Now, normally, this would have been good news for King Henry. It was no secret that the King wanted to reunite his father’s cross channel empire under himself… nor was it a secret that he […] The post 501 – Bishop Serlo’s Pop Up Hair Salon first appeared on The British History Podcast.
May 17 · 1 hr 4 min
500 – 500th Episode AMA Extravaganza
We answer SO many questions. So… so many questions. The post 500 – 500th Episode AMA Extravaganza first appeared on The British History Podcast.
May 7 · 32 min
499 – William of Mortain and How Some People Never Have Enough Wealth
Some families are just…the worst. You know how it is, there’s the one or two in there that are half decent, but mostly you avoid them too because the rest of the family is just awful. The post 499 – William of Mortain and How Some People Never Have Enough Wealth first appeared on The British History Podcast.
April 24 · 46 min
498 – Power and Predictability
The death of Duke Robert’s chief ally, William of Breteuil, and the succession crisis it kicked off, was destabilizing the duchy of Normandy. And while I’m sure it was a relief that King Henry and Robert of Meulan had brokered a sort of resolution to the crisis… everyone watching knew their intrusion into Norman […] The post 498 – Power and Predictability first appeared on The British History Podcast.
April 9 · 23 min
497 – That’s Me In The Spot. Light.
It was 1103 and things were a mess. And…when are they not? But a major reason for this mess was (oddly) William of Breteuil. Now, as you might recall, William of Breteuil was the firstborn son of the Conqueror’s close friendWilliam fitz Osbern… and, thanks to this proximity to power, he was one of the […] The post 497 – That’s Me In The Spot. Light. first appeared on The British History Podcast.
March 25 · 37 min
496 – That’s Me In The Corner
For the first time since William the Conqueror, there was going to be a primatial council at Westminster Abbey. This was a HUGE deal. Like… enormous. Anselm had been trying to hold a major reform council for years, but King Rufus had refused. Reform, as you may remember, wasn’t something that the red king was […] The post 496 – That’s Me In The Corner first appeared on The British History Podcast.
March 16 · 38 min
495 – Power Struggles: Part Two
Ok, let’s return to 1101 and 1102, because Henry’s fight with Anselm, and fight between Henry and the Pope (and the fight between Anselm and the Pope) were …amazingly….only half of the story. The post 495 – Power Struggles: Part Two first appeared on The British History Podcast.
March 1 · 35 min
494 – Power Struggles: Part One
In early February of 1102 Queen Matilda was giving birth. The post 494 – Power Struggles: Part One first appeared on The British History Podcast.
February 23 · 25 min
493 – The Price of Peace
The Treaty penned at Alton had avoided outright war, but it wasn’t truly official. It needed to be finalized at Winchester. The post 493 – The Price of Peace first appeared on The British History Podcast.
February 12 · 37 min
492 – The War for Perception
In 1668, John Dryden became England’s very first Poet Laureate. But he had a rival. No, not just a rival. A nemesis. This man’s name was Thomas Shadwell, and I can’t overstate how much Dryden hated him. The post 492 – The War for Perception first appeared on The British History Podcast.
February 12 · 10 min
Project 1095
Much respect to u/AnnieCamOG for coming up with this title. The post Project 1095 first appeared on The British History Podcast.
January 28 · 30 min
491 – All Hats On Deck
Duke Robert Curthose was back in Normandy, having reclaimed the Duchy unopposed… and now he was looking to assert his claim on England. The post 491 – All Hats On Deck first appeared on The British History Podcast.
January 16 · 27 min
490 – Messengers from France
King Henry’s first Christmas Court in the closing days of 1100 had felt…off. The post 490 – Messengers from France first appeared on The British History Podcast.
January 9 · 40 min
489 – From Normandy With Love
Ok, let’s face it, last year was a lot. Rampant corruption, threats of war, tyrannical leaders, actual war, a greedy feckless aristocracy, rulers weaponizing the legal system, rulers completely disregarding the legal system, rulers making grandiose promises they had no interest in actually delivering on, international intrigue, at least one incredibly suspicious death, and finally […] The post 489 – From Normandy With Love first appeared on The British History Podcast.
January 8 · 1 hr 26 min
Bonus Episode: The Authoritarians
By popular request, we’re releasing the full member’s episode on The Authoritarians. The post Bonus Episode: The Authoritarians first appeared on The British History Podcast.
Dec 12, 2025 · 35 min
488 – The Year 1100
We did it, it’s the year 1100…which means it’s time for us to take a moment and place our story in the broader context of global human history. Now, as always, this won’t be exhaustive… nor ultra detailed. Our only intent is to break the myopia that’s inherent in any history podcast and give you […] The post 488 – The Year 1100 first appeared on The British History Podcast.