Ranulf Flambard’s Great Escape: Bishop, Tower, and Medieval Power

Ranulf Flambard’s daring 1101 escape from the Tower of London reveals how a high‑ranking bishop leveraged privilege to outwit Henry I’s custody. The episode unpacks what contemporary sources say about his flight, why medieval incarceration functioned as political leverage, and how later mythologises have coloured our view. We also examine how the incident illustrates the interplay between royal power, ecclesiastical authority and the emerging idea of a prison. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices