The History of England: Kings, Empires, and the Birth of Britain — Fexingo History

In June 1381, England erupted in a violent uprising that shocked the medieval world. This episode explores the immediate triggers of the Peasants' Revolt, focusing on the Poll Tax and the charismatic preacher John Ball. We follow the marchers as they converge on London, detailing their interactions with the young King Richard II at Smithfield. The narrative examines the execution of Wat Tyler and the complex aftermath where promises were broken but social structures began to shift. Listeners will encounter key figures like Simon Sudbury and Robert Hales, alongside primary source accounts from Thomas Walsingham and Henry Knighton. We also clarify the historical record regarding the Bill of Rights 1381, distinguishing legend from documented statute revisions. This is a story of rage, negotiation, and the fragile nature of royal authority in late fourteenth-century Europe. #PeasantsRevolt #WatTyler #JohnBall #RichardII #Smithfield #SimonSudbury #RobertHales #ThomasWalsingham #HenryKnighton #HerefordCathedral #BillOfRights1381 #PollTax #MedievalEngland #1381Uprising #Lollardy #StatuteOfLaborers #EnglishHistory #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

When the Black Death swept through England in 1348, it didn't just kill a third of the population; it shattered the feudal economy. Lucas and Luna explore how the labor shortage empowered peasants to demand wages, leading to the Statute of Laborers and ultimately the Peasants' Revolt. We look at specific figures like John of Gaunt and the economic shifts that turned serfs into free men, laying the groundwork for modern labor rights. #BlackDeath #EnglishHistory #Feudalism #PeasantsRevolt #14thCentury #MedievalEconomy #Serfdom #StatuteOfLaborers #JohnOfGaunt #LaborShortage #WageControls #SocialMobility #PostPlague #FexingoHistory #HistoryPodcast #MedievalEngland #EconomicHistory #ClassStruggle Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Episode 229 explores the intricate web of succession laws that defined England’s transition from medieval feudalism to modern constitutional monarchy. We focus on the critical years between 1533 and 1603, examining how Henry VIII’s break with Rome necessitated new legal frameworks to secure the Tudor line against both Catholic and Protestant challenges. The episode details the role of Thomas Cromwell in drafting the Acts of Succession, which legally erased Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn from history when they fell out of favor. We also look at the reigns of Edward VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I, highlighting how each monarch navigated religious turmoil through legislative means rather than just divine right. By analyzing the Statute of Proclamations and the eventual Act of Settlement under William III and Mary II, we trace how power shifted from the crown to Parliament. This conversation connects the dots between the Reformation, the rise of common law, and the establishment of a parliamentary sovereignty that would eventually influence democracies worldwide. Listeners will discover the specific political maneuverings that turned England into a global empire, driven by internal legal stability as much as external military conquest. #TudorDynasty #HenryVIII #AnneBoleyn #ElizabethI #ActOfSupremacy #ThomasCromwell #EnglishReformation #ParliamentarySovereignty #MaryITudor #EdwardVIEngland #SuccessionCrisis #CommonLaw #StatuteOfProclamations #WilliamIII #MaryII #ActOfSettlement #ConstitutionalMonarchy #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In 1381, England erupted in the most significant popular uprising of the Middle Ages. This episode explores the immediate triggers of the Peasants' Revolt, focusing on the unpopular poll tax and the radical preaching of John Ball. We trace the march from Kent to London, where rebels led by Wat Tyler confronted King Richard II at Smithfield. The narrative examines the political landscape under the young king, the role of the Church in fueling dissent, and the violent suppression that followed. By looking at primary sources like the chronicles of Thomas Walsingham and Henry Knighton, we uncover the human stories behind the violence, including the fate of Simon Sudbury and Sir Robert Hales. This is not just a story of rebellion but a pivotal moment in the decline of serfdom and the birth of English political consciousness. #PeasantsRevolt #WatTyler #JohnBall #RichardII #Smithfield #1381 #MedievalEngland #PollTax #SimonSudbury #RobertHales #ThomasWalsingham #HenryKnighton #Serfdom #Kent #London #RadicalPreaching #EnglishHistory #FexingoHistory #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In the summer of 1381, England erupted in its most violent and politically significant popular uprising. This episode traces the origins of the revolt from the oppressive Poll Tax of 1380 to the chaotic climax at Smithfield, where King Richard II faced down Wat Tyler. We explore the radical ideas circulated by preacher John Ball, the role of the young king’s unprecedented concessions, and the brutal aftermath that saw thousands executed. Through the eyes of chroniclers like Thomas Walsingham and Henry Knighton, we uncover how a tax dispute became a challenge to the very foundations of feudal society, revealing tensions between laborers, the clergy, and the crown that would echo for centuries. #PeasantsRevolt #WatTyler #JohnBall #RichardII #Smithfield #PollTax #StatuteOfLaborers #SimonBaker #ThomasWalsingham #HenryKnighton #MedievalEngland #1381 #Feudalism #EnglishHistory #Lollardy #HerefordCathedral #BillOfRights1381 #FexingoHistory #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In 1534, Henry VIII broke with Rome, a rupture that would reshape England's church, politics, and identity. This episode follows the Act of Supremacy and its turbulent aftermath: the dissolution of the monasteries, the Pilgrimage of Grace, and the quiet resistance of figures like Thomas More and John Fisher. We explore how Henry's desperate need for a male heir against the backdrop of European power plays led to a national church under royal control. With Thomas Cranmer's cautious reforms and the printing press spreading the English Bible, the break was both sudden and slow-burning. Lucas and Luna trace the threads from the king's 'Great Matter' to the execution of More, the surrender of the last abbeys, and the lasting imprint on English identity. It's a story of conscience, coercion, and the birth of the Church of England—one that still echoes in modern Britain. #HenryVIII #ActOfSupremacy #EnglishReformation #ThomasCranmer #ThomasMore #DissolutionOfTheMonasteries #PilgrimageOfGrace #ChurchOfEngland #TudorEngland #16thCentury #ReligiousHistory #BritishHistory #EuropeanHistory #RoyalSupremacy #AnneBoleyn #ThomasCromwell #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

October 25, 1415. A muddy field in northern France. Henry V's exhausted, starving army—outnumbered perhaps three to one—faces the flower of French chivalry. In this episode, Lucas and Luna revisit the Hundred Years War's most iconic clash. They trace the road to Agincourt, from Henry's claim to the French throne, the siege of Harfleur, and the desperate march to Calais, to the fateful decision by the French constable, Charles d'Albret, to block the English at a narrow defile. They examine the longbow's devastating effect on French knights, the mud that turned a battle into a slaughter, and the controversial order to kill prisoners—an act that stained Henry's victory. With vivid detail, they also consider the battle's aftermath: how Agincourt became a national myth, immortalized by Shakespeare, and hardened English identity. But they also ask: was it a strategic dead end? Could Henry's triumph have ultimately cost England its French empire? A gripping, nuanced look at one of history's most celebrated—and misunderstood—battles. #BattleOfAgincourt #HenryV #HundredYearsWar #Longbow #CharlesDA lbret #Harfleur #Crécy #Poitiers #Shakespeare #MedievalEngland #MedievalFrance #MilitaryHistory #History #FexingoHistory #Agincourt #Azincourt #StCrispin'sDay #EnglishArchers Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In this episode, Lucas and Luna unravel the Bayeux Tapestry, the remarkable embroidered chronicle of the Norman Conquest. They explore its creation, likely commissioned by Bishop Odo of Bayeux, and the debates over who stitched it—possibly Kentish nuns. The tapestry's visual storytelling, from Harold Godwinson's oath to Edward the Confessor, to the Battle of Hastings and Harold's death, offers a unique, almost cinematic view of 1066. Lucas and Luna discuss the tapestry's biases, its Latin inscriptions, and its survival through centuries, including its near-destruction during the French Revolution and its role in modern popular culture. They also touch on how it compares to other medieval sources like the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. This episode reveals how a textile became one of the most important historical documents of the Middle Ages, blending art and history in a way that still captivates us today. #BayeuxTapestry #NormanConquest #1066 #HaroldGodwinson #WilliamTheConqueror #BishopOdo #BattleOfHastings #MedievalArt #Embroidery #AngloSaxonEngland #NormanEngland #MedievalHistory #EuropeanHistory #HistoricalTextiles #FexingoHistory #History #Podcast #Documentary Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

When King John lost Normandy in 1204, England's ties to the continent were severed after 150 years. This episode follows the collapse of the Angevin Empire's northern heartland, from Philip Augustus's siege of Château Gaillard to the surrender of Rouen. We look at the military engineering of Richard the Lionheart's fortress, the shifting loyalties of Norman barons like Robert de Beaumont, and the diplomatic maneuvering of John's mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine. Lucas and Luna explore how the loss reshaped English identity, from language to law, and set the stage for the Hundred Years' War. Featuring the Treaty of Le Goulet, the death of Arthur of Brittany, and the symbolic significance of the ducal coronet, this episode offers a fresh angle on a pivotal moment in English history. #History #FexingoHistory #AngevinEmpire #KingJohn #PhilipAugustus #Normandy #ChateauGaillard #Rouen #EleanorOfAquitaine #RichardTheLionheart #1204 #MedievalEngland #Capetian #NormanConquest #TreatyOfLeGoulet #ArthurOfBrittany #MedievalWarfare #EnglishIdentity Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the Witenagemot, the council of wise men that advised Anglo-Saxon kings from the 7th to the 11th centuries. They discuss its membership, its role in electing kings and witnessing charters, and how it evolved into the more formalized curia regis under the Normans. Through stories of specific kings like Offa of Mercia, Æthelred the Unready, and Edward the Confessor, they reveal how the witan functioned in practice — from debates over succession to the issuing of laws. The episode also examines the shift from a mobile court to a more centralized government, and the legacy of the witan in the development of English parliament. #Witenagemot #AngloSaxonEngland #AlfredTheGreat #EdwardTheConfessor #ÆthelredTheUnready #OffaOfMercia #CnutTheGreat #AngloSaxonChronicle #MedievalEngland #EnglishMonarchy #EarlyParliament #Witan #SecularCouncils #KingsAndCouncils #History #FexingoHistory #Podcast #BritishHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In this episode, Lucas and Luna uncover the hidden world of medieval monetary quality control. From the reign of Henry II to the present day, England's coins were regularly subjected to the Trial of the Pyx, a rigorous ceremony where randomly selected coins were weighed and assayed against strict standards. They explore the origins of the trial, the role of the Exchequer, the mysterious 'box' that held the coins, and the men who served as jurors—goldsmiths and merchants who risked the king's wrath with their verdicts. Learn about the specific tests, the punishments for moneyers who cheated, and how a system designed for medieval coins evolved into the modern British assay process. This episode also touches on the broader significance of coinage as a symbol of royal authority and economic stability, connecting the Trial of the Pyx to England's emerging identity. #TrialOfThePyx #MedievalCoins #HenryII #Exchequer #CoinTesting #Moneyer #SterlingSilver #Goldsmiths #Assay #MedievalEngland #RoyalMint #Numismatics #HistoryOfMoney #EconomicHistory #EnglishLegalHistory #FexingoHistory #MedievalEconomy #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In this episode, Lucas and Luna dig into the Exchequer, the medieval English institution that turned royal income into a reliable, audited system. They follow the annual journey of sheriffs to Westminster, where they settle accounts on a chequered cloth — the origin of the name. The conversation covers the innovative use of tallies as receipts and even as a form of currency, the creation of the Pipe Rolls, and the roles of key figures like Henry I and Richard FitzNeal. They also touch on the collapse of the system under King John, the debasement of coinage, and the Exchequer's lasting influence on modern financial practice. A look at how a kingdom's finances worked before spreadsheets — and why it still matters today. #Exchequer #MedievalEngland #HenryI #PipeRolls #Tallies #RichardFitzNeal #Westminster #Sheriffs #FinancialHistory #KingJohn #MedievalFinance #DomesdayBook #HenryII #Coinage #DialogueOfTheExchequer #RoyalTreasury #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In 1265, Simon de Montfort defied the king and summoned a parliament that changed everything. This episode follows the road to that landmark assembly — from the Provisions of Oxford and the Barons' War to the Battle of Lewes, where Henry III was captured, to Montfort's radical decision to invite not just knights but burgesses from the towns. We sit in on those tense debates at Westminster Hall, hear the names of the men who attended, and consider how a rebel's gambit became the seed of representation. We also trace the echoes of Montfort's parliament in the Model Parliament of 1295 and the long arc toward modern democracy. Along the way, we meet figures like Henry de Bracton the judge, and we visit the sites where it all happened — from the Surrey downs to the streets of London. Lucas and Luna explore the messy, human origins of an institution we often take for granted, asking how a moment of crisis became a foundation stone of political representation. #SimonDeMontfort #Parliament #BattleOfLewes #ProvisionsOfOxford #HenryIII #ModelParliament #Westminster #MedievalEngland #EnglishHistory #Democracy #Kings #Rebellion #13thCentury #Burgesses #Knights #BaronialReform #EduardI #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In 1348, the bubonic plague arrived in England through the port of Melcombe Regis. Within two years, it had killed perhaps half the population. This episode follows the path of the pestilence from its first suspected case in Dorset to the mass graves of London, and asks what it actually did to the people who lived through it. Lucas and Luna examine the accounts of chroniclers like Henry Knighton and Thomas Brinton, the desperate measures of towns and bishops, and the stark numbers recorded in manorial rolls. They discuss how the plague reshaped the countryside, loosened the bonds of serfdom, and opened the door to the Peasants' Revolt of 1381. But they also pause over the human texture of the catastrophe: the flagellants, the scapegoating of Jews, the abandonment of the sick, and the strange resilience that followed. This isn't just a story of death counts — it's about how a society coped when its certainties collapsed, and how the survivors rebuilt a different England. #BlackDeath #BubonicPlague #1348 #MedievalEngland #Plague #HenryKnighton #ThomasBrinton #MelcombeRegis #PeasantsRevolt #Serfdom #Flagellants #Jews #MassGraves #ManorialRolls #Epidemic #FexingoHistory #History #Medieval Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In this episode, Lucas and Luna step away from kings and battles to explore the everyday world of the medieval English reeve — the man who ran the manor and collected the lord's dues. Through the lens of Chaucer's 'Reeve's Tale' and real records like the Pipe Rolls and manorial court rolls, they uncover how reeves balanced duty and self-interest, how they were audited, and how corruption was punished. The conversation touches on the Statute of Laborers, the famous case of the reeve of Cuxham, and the broader system of manorial justice. Along the way, they discuss the roots of the word 'reeve', the Sheriff's role, and how these local officials shaped English law and administration. It's a fresh look at the people who made the medieval system work — and sometimes break it. #Reeve #Manorialism #MedievalEngland #Chaucer #ReevesTale #PipeRolls #ManorialCourts #StatuteOfLaborers #Cuxham #Sheriff #MedievalJustice #Feudalism #EnglishHistory #MedievalLaw #LocalGovernment #History #FexingoHistory #MedievalLife Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the surprisingly political world of medieval English clothing. From the sumptuary laws that tried to freeze social rank in cloth, to the economics of the wool trade that made England rich, to the Great Wardrobe that dressed kings and armies alike, they uncover how a simple garment could signal loyalty, rebellion, or ruin. Along the way they meet Edward III, who made English wool the backbone of royal finance, and the Flemish weavers who brought their looms to Norfolk. They also consider what medieval people actually wore — linen, wool, fur, and the occasional daring fashion statement — and how kings used cloth as a tool of patronage and control. It's a story of luxury, labor, and the threads that held a kingdom together. #MedievalEngland #RoyalWardrobe #SumptuaryLaws #WoolTrade #EdwardIII #GreatWardrobe #FashionHistory #ClothAndPower #MedievalEconomy #EnglishHistory #FlemishWeavers #LiveryAndMaintenance #MedievalTextiles #HistoryOfFashion #Plantagenet #1348Ordinance #WoolAndFinance #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the Great Famine of 1315-1317, a catastrophic climate event that struck England and northern Europe, killing millions and shaking the foundations of medieval society. They trace how relentless rain and cold ruined harvests for three years, leading to soaring grain prices, mass starvation, and even reports of cannibalism. The hosts examine the science behind the famine, including volcanic eruptions that may have caused the 'Little Ice Age' weather, and how contemporaries like chronicler Johannes de Trokelowe described the horror. They discuss the social and political fallout: the reign of Edward II, already plagued by conflict with his barons, faced riots, food riots, and a rise in crime. The episode also touches on attempts to control prices and the long-term effects, including a shift in agricultural practices and a precursor to the more famous Black Death. Through vivid details—like the haunting image of a father eating his own child, or the official records of parish grain shortages—Lucas and Luna bring this forgotten catastrophe to life, showing how a single climate shock could unravel a kingdom. #GreatFamine #1315 #MedievalEngland #EdwardII #ClimateHistory #LittleIceAge #JohannesDeTrokelowe #HarvestFailure #VolcanicWinter #FoodShortage #MedievalWeather #EnglishHistory #Famine #CropFailure #HistoryPodcast #MedievalEurope #FexingoHistory #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In 1085, William the Conqueror commissioned a survey so thorough that his own subjects compared it to the Last Judgment. The Domesday Book recorded over thirteen thousand settlements, every manor, every ox, every acre of England. But why did he do it? How did a kingdom recovering from conquest and rebellion submit to such an audit? And what can the dry columns of parchment tell us about ordinary lives—women, slaves, towns, and the brutal logic of the new Norman order? Lucas and Luna dig into the origins of the survey at Gloucester, the circuits of royal commissioners, the Anglo-Saxon geld system that made it possible, and the human cost behind the neat entries. They explore what the book was for, what it left out, and how it became the most complete snapshot of any medieval kingdom. From Little Domesday to the Exeter Domesday, from the devastation of the Harrying of the North to the thriving port of London, this episode is a map of England in 1086—and a portrait of a king who wanted to know everything. #DomesdayBook #WilliamTheConqueror #1086 #NormanEngland #MedievalHistory #GreatSurvey #HarryingOfTheNorth #LittleDomesday #ExeterDomesday #AngloSaxonEngland #Geld #SuttonHoo #EnglishHistory #FexingoHistory #HistoryPodcast #MedievalEurope #NormanConquest #KingsAndEmpires Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In this episode, Lucas and Luna step inside one of England's most storied buildings: the Tower of London. From its beginnings as William the Conqueror's wooden fortification in the 1060s to its role as a royal palace, menagerie, and prison, they trace how the Tower became a symbol of Norman power and later a stage for some of history's most dramatic moments. They discuss the building of the White Tower, its use by Henry III to house his royal menagerie, and the stories of prisoners like Ranulf Flambard, who escaped in 1101 using a rope smuggled in a wine cask, and Sir Thomas More, who was held there before his execution in 1535. The episode also explores the Tower's infamous reputation during the Wars of the Roses, including the disappearance of the Princes in the Tower, and touches on the legend of the ravens. Throughout, Lucas and Luna consider how this single structure evolved from a statement of conquest to a theater of power, punishment, and myth. #TowerOfLondon #WhiteTower #WilliamTheConqueror #HenryIII #RanulfFlambard #ThomasMore #PrincesInTheTower #MedievalEngland #NormanConquest #RoyalMenagerie #Ravens #WarsOfTheRoses #EnglishHistory #BritishHistory #Fortress #Prison #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the medieval Great Seal of England — the wax impression that made royal authority tangible. They trace its origins from Edward the Confessor through the Norman Conquest, showing how William the Conqueror and his successors used the seal to project power. The conversation covers the two-sided design: the king enthroned on one side, mounted on the other. They discuss the role of the Chancellor, who guarded the seal and became one of the most powerful officials in the realm. Lucas explains how the seal was used to authenticate charters, writs, and treaties, and how forgery was a serious crime — punishable by mutilation or worse. They touch on Thomas Becket's time as Chancellor, when he held the seal under Henry II, and the dramatic moments when kings lost or broke their seals, like King John and Henry III. The episode also reveals the practical side: the dies, the wax, the cords, and the 'great' seal versus the 'privy' seal. Luna asks how a piece of wax could carry such weight, and Lucas connects it to modern signatures and digital identities. By the end, listeners understand how a single object held the English state together for centuries. #GreatSeal #MedievalEngland #RoyalSeal #Chancellor #ThomasBecket #WilliamConqueror #HenryII #KingJohn #HenryIII #SealHistory #Charters #WaxSeal #MedievalDiplomacy #Monarchy #BritishHistory #History #FexingoHistory #MedievalEurope Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In this episode of The History of England, Lucas and Luna step off the beaten track and into the royal forests — the vast, legally protected woodlands that William the Conqueror and his heirs used for hunting and, just as importantly, for power. We meet the forest law, a harsh and separate jurisdiction that punished ordinary folk for taking a deer or cutting a tree, and the officials who enforced it: the wardens, the regarders, the verderers, and the justices of the forest. We hear how the Norman kings created a 'new forest' out of whole villages, why Henry II's forest eyres were so hated, and how the Forest Charter of 1217 — the sister document to Magna Carta — finally loosened the king's grip. Along the way we'll encounter legendary outlaws like Robin Hood, historical poachers who really existed, and the curious legal terms like regard, agistment, and assart. By the end, you'll see the greenwood not as a romantic backdrop but as a stage where medieval England's deepest tensions between crown and commoner played out. #RoyalForests #ForestLaw #WilliamTheConqueror #HenryII #ForestCharter #MagnaCarta #RobinHood #Poaching #MedievalEngland #NormanEngland #Plantagenet #ForestEyre #NewForest #Verderer #Greenwood #History #FexingoHistory #England Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the world of medieval English coinage, from the reign of Henry II to the thirteenth century. They discuss the role of the moneyer, the technology of hand-struck coins, the Exchequer's control over the currency, and the brutal punishments for counterfeiting. Along the way, they touch on the Trial of the Pyx, the sterling standard, and the royal mint at London. The conversation also covers the practicalities of everyday transactions and the surprising extent of coin forgery in medieval England. A light-hearted aside about listener support keeps the mood warm as they delve into a topic that shaped the economy and the crown's authority. #RoyalMint #MedievalCoinage #Sterling #HenryII #Exchequer #Moneyer #TheTrialOfThePyx #Counterfeiting #HistoryOfMoney #MedievalEngland #Numismatics #LondonTower #Mint #CoinClipping #12thCentury #13thCentury #FexingoHistory #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the turbulent first years after King John sealed Magna Carta at Runnymede in 1215. They trace how the charter was annulled by the pope within weeks, plunging England into civil war, and how it was resurrected and revised after John's death. Through the eyes of William Marshal, regent for the boy-king Henry III, they follow the reissue of 1216, the modified charter of 1217, and the famous 1225 version that became law. Along the way, they meet the archbishop Stephen Langton, hear the story of the Charter of the Forest, and uncover how a failed peace treaty morphed into a cornerstone of constitutional history. #MagnaCarta #Runnymede #KingJohn #HenryIII #WilliamMarshal #StephenLangton #CharterOfTheForest #1215 #1216 #1217 #1225 #EnglishConstitution #MedievalEngland #Angevin #Barons #CivilWar #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

When Henry II inherited the English throne in 1154, he also inherited a kingdom drained by civil war and a crown that was nearly bankrupt. Yet within a decade, the Angevin kings had built the most sophisticated financial administration in medieval Europe, centered on the Exchequer at Westminster. This episode follows the rise of the Exchequer from its Anglo-Saxon and Norman roots through the reforms of Henry II, the innovations of Richard I and John, and the creation of the Pipe Rolls — the continuous financial records that still survive today. We meet the Treasurer, the Chancellor, and the barons of the Exchequer, explore the famous chequered cloth that gave the court its name, and follow the money through the great campaigns of the Angevin Empire, from the Crusades to the loss of Normandy. Along the way, we uncover how the Exchequer's methods — from auditors to tallies — shaped the very concept of government, and how the same institutions that financed Richard the Lionheart's ransom also funded the Magna Carta. This is the story of how England learned to count, and how counting made England. #Exchequer #HenryII #PipeRolls #Westminster #MedievalFinance #Angevin #RichardI #KingJohn #Treasury #RoyalFinance #Domesday #NormanEngland #12thCentury #13thCentury #History #FexingoHistory #England #Medieval Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In 1214, King John of England faced a crisis that would define his reign and reshape the English monarchy. His grand continental strategy — a two-pronged attack on Philip Augustus of France — collapsed at the Battle of Bouvines in Flanders. With his allies routed and his own campaign in Poitou stalling, John returned to England to face rebellious barons, leading directly to Magna Carta the following year. This episode explores the build-up to Bouvines, the key players — including Emperor Otto IV, Renaud de Dammartin, and William des Roches — and the battle's aftermath, which not only ended John's hopes of reclaiming his Angevin inheritance but also strengthened the French crown and fueled tensions in England. We also consider how this battlefield defeat, so far from London, had profound constitutional consequences, setting the stage for the charter that would limit royal power. Join us as we untangle the politics, personalities, and pivotal moments that made 1214 a turning point in English history. #BattleOfBouvines #KingJohn #PhilipAugustus #AngevinEmpire #MagnaCarta #OttoIV #RenaudDeDammartin #WilliamDesRoches #MedievalWarfare #13thCentury #EnglishHistory #FrenchHistory #Flanders #Poitou #Capetian #Plantagenet #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the world Geoffrey Chaucer captured in The Canterbury Tales — the pilgrims, the roads, and the society they rode through. They discuss the Tabard Inn, the shrine of Thomas Becket, and the pilgrimage route to Canterbury. They dig into the tales themselves: the Knight's chivalric romance, the Miller's bawdy fabliau, the Wife of Bath's bold prologue, and the Pardoner's cynical confession. They look at how Chaucer drew from Boccaccio's Decameron and French courtly romance, and how his English — the London dialect of the late fourteenth century — helped shape the literary language. They also talk about the real roads, the pilgrim traffic, the inns, and the dangers and delights of the journey. Along the way, they touch on the social tensions of the time: the rise of the middle class, the corruption of the church, and the stirrings of a new sense of English identity after the Black Death. The episode ends with a quiet reflection on what Chaucer's unfinished masterpiece still says about the human comedy. #GeoffreyChaucer #CanterburyTales #Pilgrimage #MiddleEnglish #TabardInn #ThomasBecket #WifeOfBath #KnightTale #MillerTale #PardonerTale #Boccaccio #London #14thCentury #MedievalEngland #EnglishLiterature #History #FexingoHistory #Podcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In 1142, England was tearing itself apart in a civil war between King Stephen and Empress Matilda. Stephen had Matilda trapped in Oxford Castle, but she escaped on a snowy December night, crossing the frozen Thames to safety. This episode follows that dramatic winter escape and what it meant for the war. We piece together the evidence from the chronicles — William of Malmesbury, Henry of Huntingdon, and the Gesta Stephani — and separate fact from legend. We look at how Matilda, often remembered as harsh or proud, kept her cause alive through sheer determination, and how her narrow escape at Oxford shifted the war's momentum. We also touch on the wider context of the Anarchy: the castles, the sieges, the breakdown of order, and the shadow of earlier episodes on Stephen, Wallingford, and the eventual Treaty of Winchester that made Matilda's son Henry Plantagenet the next king. It's a story of winter, willpower, and the woman who nearly became England's first ruling queen. #EmpressMatilda #TheAnarchy #OxfordCastle #KingStephen #CivilWar #MedievalEngland #TwelfthCentury #Siege #Escape #Winter1142 #WilliamofMalmesbury #GestaStephani #HenryofHuntingdon #Thames #Wallingford #TreatyofWinchester #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the Norman invasion of Ireland, a pivotal yet often overlooked chapter in English history. They trace the arrival of Richard de Clare, known as Strongbow, in 1169, his alliance with the deposed king Diarmait Mac Murchada, and the dramatic siege of Wexford. The conversation covers the Battle of Baginbun, the acquisition of Dublin in 1170, and the subsequent arrival of Henry II, who sought to assert his lordship and prevent an independent Norman kingdom in Ireland. The episode examines the personal ambitions of Strongbow, the political maneuvering of Henry II, and the immediate consequences for both the Anglo-Normans and the Irish. It also touches on the early roots of the English presence in Ireland, the cultural and legal clashes that followed, and the long-term impact on Irish history. #History #FexingoHistory #NormanInvasion #Strongbow #HenryII #DiarmaitMacMurchada #MedievalIreland #Normans #AngloNorman #IrishHistory #Dublin #Wexford #BattleOfBaginbun #12thCentury #EnglishHistory #NormanConquest #Ireland #MedievalHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In this episode, Lucas and Luna dig into the Welsh Marches—the borderlands that were neither quite England nor Wales, where marcher lords ruled with their own laws, raised their own armies, and built castles that still dot the landscape. They explore how the Marches worked in practice: the power of lords like William fitz Osbern and Roger de Montgomery, the role of Offa's Dyke, the privileges that made marcher lords effectively kings in their own lands, and how the Crown tried to rein them in. They also trace the region's evolution from a violent frontier to the site of the first English-style parliament in Wales, and the cultural legacy of a place where languages and loyalties blurred. Expect names like Wigmore, Brecon, and the Mortimers, plus a look at the everyday realities of life under marcher rule—law, land, and the constant negotiation of power. #WelshMarches #MarcherLords #OffasDyke #WilliamFitzOsbern #RogerDeMontgomery #Mortimer #Wigmore #Brecon #LordshipOfBrecon #MedievalWales #NormanConquest #Borderlands #CastleBuilding #MarcherLaw #WelshHistory #EnglishMonarchy #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In this episode, Lucas and Luna step away from the great battles and royal dramas to explore the Welsh Marches — the turbulent borderland between England and Wales that shaped both nations. They follow the rise of the marcher lords, from the Norman conquest of Hereford and Shrewsbury to the brutal campaigns of Edward I, and the unique legal world where 'the king's writ did not run.' They meet figures like William fitz Osbern, Roger de Montgomery, and the Mortimers of Wigmore, and unpack the March's distinctive customs — the right to build castles, the power to declare war, and the notorious practice of 'widow-burning.' They also touch on the March's role in the Wars of the Roses, the rise of the Tudors from a marcher family, and the eventual dissolution of the March under Henry VIII. A conversation that reveals how a borderland, not a battlefield, truly defined the relationship between two kingdoms. #WelshMarches #MarcherLords #BorderHistory #EdwardI #WilliamFitzOsbern #Mortimers #WigmoreCastle #OffasDyke #LordshipOfBrecon #MedievalWales #NormanConquest #WarsOfTheRoses #Tudors #HenryVIII #CastleBuilding #MedievalLaw #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In October 1216, King John of England, already sick and retreating from a French invasion, watched his baggage train vanish into the quicksand and tidal waters of The Wash in East Anglia. Along with his gold and silver plate, his regalia, and his household goods, the disaster carried off the crown jewels and — more importantly — the administrative heart of his government. This episode digs into what exactly was lost, where it happened, and why it mattered. We follow John's final march from King's Lynn to Swineshead Abbey, examine the medieval accounts of the disaster from Roger of Wendover and Ralph of Coggeshall, and consider how the loss of the royal treasure and archives shaped the succession crisis that followed. We also look at the legend of the lost crown jewels, the modern searches for the hoard, and why the real story is less about gold than about the collapse of royal authority at the very end of John's reign. #KingJohn #TheWash #LostTreasure #MedievalEngland #CrownJewels #RogerOfWendover #RalphOfCoggeshall #1216 #SwinesheadAbbey #NewarkCastle #HenryIII #LouisVIII #EastAnglia #RoyalHousehold #Quicksand #HistoryOfEngland #FexingoHistory #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In this episode, Lucas and Luna trace the rise and fall of the Angevin Empire, the vast collection of territories ruled by Henry II in the twelfth century. They explore how Henry inherited Normandy, Anjou, and Aquitaine through his mother Empress Matilda and his marriage to Eleanor of Aquitaine, creating a realm that stretched from the Scottish border to the Pyrenees. The conversation covers the administrative innovations that held this empire together—the exchequer, itinerant justices, and the use of scutage—and the tensions that ultimately tore it apart. They discuss the significance of the Assize of Northampton, the role of Thomas Becket in challenging royal authority, and the rebellions of Henry's own sons, including Richard the Lionheart and John, which were fueled by the French king Philip Augustus. The narrative culminates in the Battle of Bouvines in 1214, where King John's defeat sealed the fate of the empire, paving the way for the modern nation-state. This episode offers a vivid portrait of a medieval superpower and the personalities that shaped its destiny. #AngevinEmpire #HenryII #EleanorOfAquitaine #ThomasBecket #RichardTheLionheart #KingJohn #PhilipAugustus #BattleOfBouvines #MedievalFrance #Plantagenet #HenryI #Matilda #GeoffreyOfAnjou #Exchequer #Scutage #AssizeOfNorthampton #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In the eleventh century, England was part of a vast maritime empire stretching from the Orkneys to the Baltic. This episode explores how Cnut, son of the Danish conqueror Sweyn Forkbeard, ruled England after 1016. We look at his conquest, his marriage to Emma of Normandy, his division of the kingdom into four earldoms, and his pilgrimage to Rome in 1027. We also confront the legend of his 'canute and the waves' — a story that tells us more about medieval kingship than about Cnut himself. How did a Viking king become one of medieval Europe's most effective rulers? #CnutTheGreat #NorthSeaEmpire #VikingEngland #SweynForkbeard #EmmaOfNormandy #Earldoms #CanuteAndTheWaves #ThorkellTheTall #EdmundIronside #EadricStreona #BattleOfAssandun #VikingAge #MedievalEngland #AngloSaxonEngland #DanishConquest #History #FexingoHistory #MedievalKings Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In 1120, the White Ship sank off the coast of Normandy, drowning the only legitimate son of King Henry I. The tragedy set England on a collision course with civil war. When Henry died in 1135, his daughter Empress Matilda and his nephew Stephen of Blois both claimed the throne. For nearly two decades, England was torn apart by a conflict known as the Anarchy. This episode explores the key battles—including the Battle of Lincoln where Stephen was captured—the dramatic siege of Oxford where Matilda escaped over frozen snow, and the eventual Treaty of Wallingford that brought Henry II to power. We examine the human cost, the breakdown of law and order, and how this chaotic period shaped the development of English monarchy and common law. Featuring the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle's haunting account of a land where men said 'Christ and his saints slept,' this is the story of a country nearly destroyed by disputed succession. #TheAnarchy #StephenOfEngland #EmpressMatilda #CivilWar #AngloSaxonChronicle #BattleOfLincoln #SiegeOfOxford #TreatyOfWallingford #RobertOfGloucester #HenryI #WhiteShip #12thCentury #MedievalEngland #Podcast #History #FexingoHistory #EnglishHistory #BritishHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In 1348, the bubonic plague arrived in England, wiping out a third to half the population within two years. This episode explores how the Black Death reshaped English society: the collapse of the manorial system, the rise of labor laws like the Ordinance of Labourers, the doomed flagellant movement, and the birth of a pessimistic literary and artistic culture — from William Langland's 'Piers Plowman' to the Danse Macabre. We look at firsthand accounts from chroniclers Henry Knighton and Geoffrey le Baker, and the long-term consequences that led to the Peasants' Revolt and the end of serfdom. How did a disease carried by fleas on rats upend the medieval world? Join Lucas and Luna for a deep look at England's greatest demographic catastrophe. #BlackDeath #MedievalEngland #Plague #1348 #BubonicPlague #OrdinanceOfLabourers #Flagellants #YersiniaPestis #HenryKnighton #GeoffreyLeBaker #DanseMacabre #PiersPlowman #Serfdom #PeasantsRevolt #DemographicCollapse #History #FexingoHistory #Europe Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In November 1120, the White Ship sank off the coast of Barfleur, drowning Henry I's only legitimate son, William Adelin, along with hundreds of nobles. This episode explores Henry I's reign—his administrative reforms, the Charter of Liberties, and his marriage to Matilda of Scotland—and then delves into the shipwreck itself: the captain's offer, the drunken revelry, the collision with a submerged rock, and the single survivor. We discuss the immediate aftermath: Henry's profound grief, the failed effort to secure the succession for his daughter Empress Matilda, and how this disaster set the stage for the Anarchy. Chronicler Orderic Vitalis provides our main source. The episode examines how a single night of celebration turned into a crisis that would reshape English monarchy. #WhiteShip #HenryI #NormanEngland #WilliamAdelin #OrdericVitalis #Barfleur #Shipwreck #MedievalHistory #EnglishSuccession #EmpressMatilda #CharterOfLiberties #MatildaOfScotland #Anarchy #12thCentury #NormanDynasty #MedievalDisaster #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In 1245, Henry III tore down the east end of Edward the Confessor's Romanesque abbey and began a lavish Gothic rebuilding that would become the coronation church of England. This episode explores the king's personal devotion to the sainted Confessor, the architectural innovations imported from France, and the political message embedded in every stone—from the soaring vaults to the exquisite Cosmati pavement. We follow the construction through the eyes of master mason Henry de Reyns, uncover the relics gathered for the new shrine, and see how Henry III's piety and pride transformed a Norman monastery into a national symbol. Along the way, we touch on the costs that strained the royal treasury, the opposition from some churchmen, and the enduring legacy of a project that took over forty years to complete. It's a story of faith, power, and the birth of English Gothic. #HenryIII #WestminsterAbbey #EdwardTheConfessor #GothicArchitecture #MedievalEngland #CosmatiPavement #Shrine #13thCentury #Plantagenet #London #ReligiousPatronage #KingsOfEngland #Architecture #History #FexingoHistory #MedievalArt #EnglishHistory #Westminster Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the life and legacy of John Wycliffe, the 14th-century theologian and scholar who challenged the Catholic Church's authority and promoted a translation of the Bible into English. From his early days at Oxford to his conflict with Archbishop Courtenay, we examine Wycliffe's key doctrines — including his denial of transubstantiation and his call for clerical poverty — and the political protection he received from John of Gaunt. We also discuss the Lollard movement, the persecution it faced under the Constitutions of Oxford, and how Wycliffe's ideas crossed the English Channel to influence Jan Hus and later Protestant reformers. A story of courage, censorship, and the power of the written word. #JohnWycliffe #Lollards #EnglishBible #MedievalEngland #ChurchHistory #Oxford #JohnOfGaunt #WilliamCourtenay #BlackfriarsCouncil #JanHus #ProtestantReformation #Transubstantiation #BibleTranslation #MiddleEnglish #14thCentury #History #FexingoHistory #England Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In 1381, England exploded. A generation after the Black Death, the poorest in society—freed by plague but crushed by taxes—rose up. They marched on London, burned John of Gaunt's Savoy Palace, beheaded the Archbishop of Canterbury, and met the fourteen-year-old King Richard II face-to-face at Smithfield. This episode tells the story of the Peasants' Revolt: the fiery sermons of John Ball ('When Adam delved and Eve span, who was then the gentleman?'), the leadership of Wat Tyler, the promises made at Mile End, and the violent climax when Tyler was cut down by the Lord Mayor. We explore what the revolt achieved—and what it didn't—and how it reshaped the relationship between crown and commons. #PeasantsRevolt #WatTyler #JohnBall #RichardII #1381 #MedievalEngland #SavoyPalace #Smithfield #MileEnd #PollTax #JackStraw #SimonSudbury #BlackDeathAftermath #EnglishHistory #MedievalHistory #Rebellion #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In this episode of The History of England, Lucas and Luna explore the Battle of Agincourt (1415) and the reign of Henry V. They walk through Henry's claim to the French throne, the grueling siege of Harfleur, the desperate march to Calais, and the muddy field where English longbowmen shattered French chivalry. Along the way, they discuss the role of the longbow, the significance of St Crispin's Day, the aftermath including the Treaty of Troyes, and how Henry's early death changed everything. This is a story of ambition, survival, and the making of a national legend. #Agincourt #HenryV #HundredYearsWar #Longbow #StCrispinsDay #MedievalEngland #MedievalFrance #BattleOfAgincourt #CharlesDAlbret #Harfleur #TreatyOfTroyes #CatherineOfValois #EnglishArchers #Mud #Plantagenet #FexingoHistory #History #Medieval Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In 1086, just twenty years after the Norman Conquest, William the Conqueror commissioned a survey of his new kingdom so exhaustive that it was compared to the Day of Judgment. The Domesday Book—actually two volumes, Great Domesday and Little Domesday—recorded who owned every piece of land, how much it was worth, how many people lived there, and even how many pigs and ploughs they had. This episode unpacks how the survey was conducted, what it tells us about life in 11th-century England, and why it remains one of the most important historical documents in the English language. We'll explore the process of sending royal commissioners to every shire, the inquests held in local courts, and the legacy of a book that was still being used in the 20th century. From the Anglo-Saxon thegns who lost their lands to the Norman barons, to the ordinary villagers whose every ox was counted, the Domesday Book offers an unparalleled snapshot of medieval society—and a lesson in state power. #DomesdayBook #WilliamTheConqueror #NormanConquest #1086 #MedievalSurvey #GreatDomesday #LittleDomesday #AngloSaxon #NormanEngland #FeudalSystem #EnglishHistory #MedievalHistory #Taxation #Census #HistoryPodcast #FexingoHistory #BritishHistory #HistoricalDocuments Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

After conquering Wales, Edward I turned his attention north. When King Alexander III of Scotland died in 1286, leaving only a granddaughter—the Maid of Norway—Scotland faced a succession crisis. Edward I, invited to arbitrate the 'Great Cause', chose John Balliol—but then demanded sovereignty over Scotland. The resulting war gave rise to William Wallace, whose victory at Stirling Bridge in 1297 stunned England. From the Treaty of Birgham to the execution of Wallace in 1305, this episode explores how Edward's relentless ambition forged the long War of Scottish Independence. We discuss the roles of the Guardians of Scotland, the Battle of Falkirk, and Edward's epitaph as 'Hammer of the Scots'. A story of nationhood, betrayal, and defiance. #EdwardI #WilliamWallace #ScottishWarsOfIndependence #StirlingBridge #Falkirk #JohnBalliol #MaidOfNorway #AlexanderIII #GreatCause #ToomTabard #GuardiansOfScotland #TreatyOfBirgham #MedievalEngland #MedievalScotland #HammerOfTheScots #History #FexingoHistory #Europe Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore Edward I's ruthless campaign to subdue Wales, focusing on the destruction of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd's principality and the construction of a ring of formidable castles—Caernarfon, Conwy, Harlech, and Beaumaris. They discuss the Treaty of Montgomery, the 1277 and 1282-83 wars, the significance of the Statute of Rhuddlan, and the cultural impact of English domination. The episode also touches on the legends surrounding Llywelyn's death and the symbolism of Caernarfon Castle. A deeper look at how medieval conquest reshaped the British Isles. #EdwardI #Wales #LlywelynapGruffudd #CaernarfonCastle #ConwyCastle #HarlechCastle #BeaumarisCastle #StatuteofRhuddlan #Towyn #Castles #Conquest #13thCentury #MiddleAges #EnglishHistory #WelshHistory #Plantagenet #FexingoHistory #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In 1215, a group of rebellious English barons forced King John to put his seal on a document that would become a cornerstone of justice: Magna Carta. This episode unpacks the dramatic events leading to the showdown at Runnymede, from John's loss of Normandy and his excommunication to the capture of London and the tense negotiations. We explore the key clauses—especially the famous 'no free man shall be imprisoned except by the law of the land'—and the controversial security clause that set up a council of 25 barons to enforce the terms. But John had no intention of keeping his word; he quickly got the pope to annul the charter, plunging England into civil war. Only after John's death did his son Henry III reissue the charter, and over centuries it evolved into a symbol of limited government. We also trace its influence on the American Revolution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Join Lucas and Luna as they examine how a feudal peace treaty became a global icon of liberty. #MagnaCarta #KingJohn #Runnymede #StephenLangton #WilliamMarshal #BaronsRebellion #Clause39 #Clause61 #CommonLaw #MedievalEngland #1215 #Feudalism #EnglishHistory #HenryIII #PrinceLouis #LawAndJustice #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In 1264, England was on the brink of civil war. King Henry III's arbitrary rule and reliance on foreign favourites had pushed a coalition of barons to the breaking point. Led by the charismatic Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester, the rebels demanded accountability through a radical new document: the Provisions of Oxford. This episode traces the dramatic road to the Battle of Lewes, where de Montfort captured Henry III and his son Prince Edward, and established a revolutionary parliament that included knights and burgesses for the first time. We explore the Mise of Amiens, the Song of Lewes, and the fleeting triumph of the baronial cause that ended at the Battle of Evesham. Learn how this rebellion shaped the future of English governance, laying the groundwork for the Model Parliament decades later. A story of idealism, ambition, and the high cost of reform. #SimonDeMontfort #BattleOfLewes #ProvisionsOfOxford #BaronsWar #HenryIII #MedievalEngland #EnglishParliament #BattleOfEvesham #MiseOfAmiens #PrinceEdward #SongOfLewes #DictumOfKenilworth #13thCentury #History #FexingoHistory #EuropeanHistory #Monarchy #Rebellion Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In this episode of The History of England, Lucas and Luna revisit one of the most shocking moments of the Middle Ages: the assassination of Thomas Becket in Canterbury Cathedral on December 29, 1170. We pick apart the dramatic conflict between Becket and his former friend King Henry II, from Becket's rise as Chancellor to his exile in France and the tense confrontation at Northampton. We explore the four knights who carried out the deed—Reginald FitzUrse, Hugh de Morville, William de Tracy, and Richard le Breton—and their motives. We discuss the immediate aftermath, including Henry's penance at Avranches and the gruesome details of Becket's martyrdom as recorded by eyewitness Edward Grim. The episode also covers the rapid canonization of Becket, the construction of his shrine at Canterbury, and the cult that turned him into one of Europe's most popular saints. Finally, we touch on the long-term consequences for the English Church and the Crown, and how Becket's story has been retold through the centuries, from Chaucer's Canterbury Tales to T.S. Eliot's play 'Murder in the Cathedral.' #ThomasBecket #MurderInTheCathedral #HenryII #Canterbury #MedievalHistory #EnglishHistory #ChurchAndState #Martyrdom #Canonization #EdwardGrim #ReginaldFitzUrse #Avranches #BecketShrine #CanterburyTales #TSEliot #FexingoHistory #History #Europe Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

King John of England died in 1216, but his corpse didn't stay put. His body was embalmed, then carried across a war-torn kingdom, and buried in Worcester Cathedral — or was it? In this episode of The History of England, Lucas and Luna follow the strange journey of John's remains: the open-casket funeral at Newark, the lost viscera buried at Croxton Abbey, the alleged theft of his bones during the Reformation, and the Victorian exhumation that claimed to find his skeleton. They explore what medieval burial practices reveal about power, piety, and the messy reality of royal death. Along the way they meet the Abbot of Croxton, the chronicler Roger of Wendover, and a 19th-century antiquarian named George Gilbert Scott. Did a 1797 flood really wash John's bones into the River Severn? And why does Worcester Cathedral's tomb have a hole in its base? This is medieval history through the lens of one restless king's final journey — and what we choose to believe about it. #KingJohn #WorcesterCathedral #MedievalBurial #CroxtonAbbey #RogerOfWendover #GeorgeGilbertScott #Reformation #Embalming #VisceraBurial #Angevin #MagnaCarta #NewarkCastle #RiverSevern #VictorianExhumation #13thCentury #RoyalDeath #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In 1295, King Edward I of England summoned a parliament that would become a template for representative government across the Western world. Known as the Model Parliament, it included not only barons and clergy but also knights from every shire and burgesses from every borough—commoners with no hereditary title. This episode unpacks how Edward, facing war with France and rebellion in Scotland, needed broad consent for taxation and turned to a principle rooted in Roman law: 'quod omnes tangit'—what touches all must be approved by all. We trace the writs of summons, the election of local representatives, and the political calculus behind this revolutionary assembly. We also explore the limits: who was left out? Women, peasants, and the urban poor had no voice. And we ask whether Edward intended a lasting institution or a one-time expedient. The Model Parliament of 1295 didn't create modern democracy overnight, but it planted a seed that would grow into the House of Commons and the idea that governance requires consent. #ModelParliament #EdwardI #1295 #QuodOmnesTangit #HouseOfCommons #KnightsOfTheShire #Burgesses #MedievalParliament #EnglishConstitution #TaxationAndConsent #ParliamentaryHistory #RepresentativeGovernment #MedievalEngland #Plantagenets #History #FexingoHistory #BritishHistory #EuropeanHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the Great Famine of 1315–1317, a catastrophic period of rain, crop failure, and mass starvation that struck northern Europe, especially England. They discuss the relentless downpours that rotted grain in the fields, the desperate measures people took—from eating horses and dogs to abandoning infants—and the long-term social and economic consequences. The conversation covers the price spikes chronicled in the Chronicon of William of Malmesbury, the collapse of trade and order, and how the trauma of the famine contributed to later unrest like the Peasants' Revolt. Lucas draws on contemporary accounts, including the Vita Edwardi Secundi, to paint a vivid picture of a society pushed to the brink. They also touch on the role of climate change, the breakdown of manorial obligations, and the eerie parallels with modern crises. A sobering look at how medieval England weathered—or failed to weather—one of its greatest natural disasters. #GreatFamine #1315 #MedievalEngland #EdwardII #ClimateChange #CropFailure #Starvation #VitaEdwardiSecundi #WilliamOfMalmesbury #ManorialSystem #PeasantsRevolt #MiddleAges #England #History #MedievalHistory #Famine #Disaster #EuropeanHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

Before the murder of Thomas Becket, Henry II was busy building an empire and a legal system. This episode explores the administrative and legal revolution that Henry II engineered: the Assize of Clarendon, the introduction of the jury system, the creation of the Court of Common Pleas, and the development of English common law. We discuss how Henry's reforms centralized royal power, the tensions they created with feudalism, and the legacy of the Angevin legal framework that still influences law today. Lucas and Luna also touch on the role of Ranulf de Glanvill, Henry's chief justiciar, and the significance of the Domesday Book's earlier precedent. A deep dive into the machinery of medieval governance. #HenryII #CommonLaw #AssizeOfClarendon #AngevinEmpire #JurySystem #CourtOfCommonPleas #RanulfDeGlanvill #EnglishLaw #MedievalEurope #Plantagenets #LegalHistory #DomesdayBook #Feudalism #ThomasBecket #HenryIIReforms #History #FexingoHistory #England Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo