409 – The First Sparks
Earl Robert lay dead at Durham. Along with 700 of his men. At least. The Chronicle bumps the numbers up a bit, claiming Earl Robert had died 900 of his soldiers at Durham. Either way, that’s a lot...
20 Jan 202325min
408 – Kerosene
Happy New Year! It was 1069… nice… and as the new year dawned…things in England were getting a bit weird.
14 Jan 202335min
407 – Robbing the Hood
I feel for the English commoners in the late 1060’s. They had nothing to do with the arrival of the Normans… everything they suffered was the result of the actions of the nobles. Exclusively.
6 Jan 202343min
406 – King’s Rook Takes Pawn
In early 1068… as William was preparing for the tactical Coronation of Matilda… the three sons of Harold Godwinson were in Ireland. They had come to meet with King Diarmad of Dublin and prepare an i...
2 Des 202237min
405 – Hereward the Wake: The Bourne Identity
Here is the beginning of Hereward the Wake. And to tell this story, we have to begin with the legend. Because nothing in this story is straightforward. Probably because at least some of it is true.
17 Nov 20221h 3min
404 – The Coronation of Queen Matilda
Gytha and her supporters had fled into the Severn Estuary, and it was the final nail in the coffin of the Exeter rebellion.
3 Nov 202231min
403 – The Siege of Exeter
Exeter stood in open defiance against William and his army.
20 Okt 202233min
402 – Fire Sale
Earl Osulf II of Bamburgh was a Northumbrian, and he had earned his seat ruling over the region North of the Tyne in true Northumbrian fashion.
24 Sep 202244min
