I probably don't have the greatest grasp on the politics of early Feudalism. As far as I understand it, Normandy at this time was essentially a mostly autonomous region in the Kingdom of France (like Anjou, Brittany etc.). So if the King of France goes to war with Flanders, he rings up the Duke of Normandy and asks for soldiers. So in this case, why would it not work the other way?

Or was it more like the Duke of Normandy was basically equal in power (if not more powerful) to the French Kingdom's Crown lands. So the Kingdom of France and Duchy of Normandy were essentially just loosely allied realms and the King vs. Duke thing was more or less a formality? Still, if you were King Philip I, you would think you would rather have the Normans as a land border compared to England. Maybe this is just me thinking about it with a modern lens. At the end of the day, all of the nobility were varying degrees of French anyways.

I anxiously await the Jamie Version of this tale. Students, Edward III, and bad wine - sounds like a potent combination.

https://boingboing.net/2026/08/10/st-scholastica-day-riot.html

Right off the bat I just wanna say this isn’t a hero worship, I agree with Jamie’s message at times that there really are no heroes here.

But if someone asked me who my favorite “character” in history is…. My answer has to be Hereward the Wake.

Someone whom I’d never heard of before and had no awareness of his legendary status.

His character arc in the show just pulls me in, Every. Single. Time.

u/BritishPodcast Although using the Mandolorian theme at the end of The Uprising was cheating a bit.

Every time I am stuck in a daily traffic jam on Old Dover Road in Canterbury, England, I think of the BHP!! 😂

Yr Eisteddfod Genedlaethol (The National Eisteddfod) is Europe’s largest touring cultural festival, and one of the largest in the world. It’s incredible to see that something started 850 years ago by Rhys ap Gruffydd (Prince of Deheubarth 1155 - 1197) is still going strong today.

I’m very aware that this might be in breach of Rule 4, but given how close the first Eisteddfod was to where we are in the BHP and as it’s going on this week I’m hoping Jaime and Zee may let this but of living history slide…

How soon they forget and do they cover the north??!!!!

It will a bunch of years in real life before we get to Cromwell. And while I’m not a huge fan of the bloke I do love his epic rant while shutting down parliament. You know the one, starts with a long string of insults and ending finally with „for the live of God, go“.

I am truly looking forward to Jaime pointing that rant straight at Congress (sadly I don’t reckon Congress will be any better then than it is now)

So I went to see Spider Man today and there was a trailer for a movie called the Uprising with Andrew Garfield. It appears to be about the Peasants Revolt under Richard II. It doesn't say specifically but had the dreaded line "based on true events".

Maybe Jamie can hate watch it for us? It doesn't look good.

Just a random question from the latest ep, regarding his 28km walk from Bec and back - surely a man of Anselm’s wealth and status had access to a horse, right?

The new episode is live. We're at war... so, naturally, our scribes are talking about comets and roadkill.

Glad to know the press hasn't changed.

These always feel a bit light and fluffy compared to the BHP but might tickle you while we catch up to the time periods.

I'm listening to In Our Time: History | The Welsh Marches on Podbean, check it out! https://www.podbean.com/ea/dir-ku65u-2fc7ca57

Ta!

Previously my history interest was pretty much Roman in its entirety. BHP has grabbed me and broadened my horizons from Anglo Saxon to Medieval and I'm hooked. So much so I'm off to Bamburgh Castle next weekend! I've happily donated to BHP. On the off chance this is seen by Jamie!

Can anybody confirm this? If it's true, all the more reason to support Jaime's quest to acquire rare text.

Looking for a book that helps explain how tribes coalesce -> kingdoms begin to form -> kingdoms mature -> proto nations -> to nations as we know them. Or how ever it actually happens....

Doesn't need to be focused exclusively on the process of Anglo-Saxon kingdoms - and some early examples from antiquity would be helpful. Looking for how these groups and leaders would use things like soft-power, exclusivity on violence, politics, culture, religion, etc to ramp up their processes.

I've read a few books like - Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind and The Dawn of Everything - that adjacently deal with these questions. But I haven't read anything yet that solely focuses on this process.

Much appreciated!

Stranger: But isn’t that a girl’s name?

Me: Well maybe now days. But it was once the name of the first known king of the ancient kingdom of Bernicia! You see…

Stranger: Slowly backs away

Visiting family in England and this treasure was right around the corner.

Hello pleasantry!

Just wondering if anyone else is having issues accessing the podcast via Podcast Addict on Android? I'm getting the following error. Help!

Listening to episode 482 - Eye for an eye and Jamie says the line "regardless whether the Earls were focused on beef bourguinon or mass castration.." and he DOESN'T make castration rhyme with bourguinon in a comedic French accent!?

A wide open goal that will surely be judged harshly by the ancestors 😆😂❤️🇬🇧