With the arrival of the 1380s, a reaction was in train in Oxford. The new Chancellor, William Barton was an old friend of Wycliffe – but friend he was noRead More
Plantagenets 1216 – 1485
122 John Wycliffe – and a University Education
Wycliffe's writings were to prove controversial and proved an interesting early echo of the Reformation. They heavily influenced the view of Jan Hus and the movement in Bohemia. And hisRead More
121 Counter Revolution
After Richard had broken the revolt in London at Smithfield it was time to tackle the chaos outside London. The Counter Revolution took something between 1,500-7,000 judicial executions, and did nothingRead More
120 … Who was then the Gentleman?
In June 1381 the revolt came to London. Before long, London was in flames, and the qualities of the young king Richard, and his advisers, were tested to the limitRead More
119 When Adam delved and Eve Span…
On a hill outside Blackheath, just to the south of London, a hedge priest called John Ball is preaching to a massive crowd of peasants. When Adam delved and EveRead More
118 Introducing Richard II
Richard arrived with the expectation of a nation on his shoulders – the son of the illustrious hero Edward the Black Prince. So what was Richard like, and how hasRead More
117a The Poet and the Mistress by Carrie Palmer
This week, a guest episode by Carrie Palmer – on Chaucer and Katherine Swynford Sadly, after this there is something of a gap to come – works has happened. SoRead More
117 The Medieval Year
The rhythm of the year would have been far more important to most medieval people that the goings on at Westminster and the court of the king. The stream ofRead More
116 The Good Parliament and a Bad Death
There were now unusual expecations for the parliament of 1376. But in fact a revolt from the Commons was brewing, dismayed by the failures of the war. The Good ParliamentRead More
115 The Rotten Apple
From 1371 to 1375 the army went from bad to worse. An English fleet was destroyed at La Rochelle and Poitou and the Saintonge fell to the French. The greatRead More
114 The Worm in the Apple
On the face of it, the 1360's were a continuation and celebration of the great victories of the 40's and 50's. In 1364, Charles of Blois was defeated and killedRead More
113 Fashion and Clothing in the 14th Century
Fashion finally comes to town in the 14th Century. At the start of the century people are wearing what they've been wearing for centuries. By the end of it thereRead More
112 On the Crest of a Wave
After the victory at Poitiers and capture of the French King, the English seemed to hold all the cards, and the Treaty of Bretigny in 1360 for a while maintainedRead More
111 Poitiers
1356 saw one of the greatest exchange of arms of the war. Early in the year, the Duke of Lancaster attacked into Normandy and with lightening marches ran rings roundRead More
110 Fire and Sword
In 1354 – 1355 Edward and his court wavered between optimism that a negotiated settlement was within their grasp – and determination to continue to prosecute the war. The TreatyRead More
109 The War between the Wars
The period between 1347 and 1353 was one of low level war and violence; punctuated by more or less effective truces. But even the truces don't stop the low levelRead More
108 What has the Black Death ever done for you?
The theory runs that the Black Death transformed medieval society. With a dramatic shortage of labour, the English peasant was able to demand whatever wages and terms they wanted –Read More
107 The Death of Joan
In 1348 a 14 year old royal princess, Joan, set out from Portsmouth to marry Pedro of Castile. Her route went by Bordeaux, and with the massive trousseau she carriedRead More
106 Calais and Neville’s Cross
By the end of the march across Normandy in 1346, Edward had accepted that he was not going to be able to hold French territory. But he had a clearRead More
105 Crecy
In 1346 Edward invaded finally launched the invasion he had hoped to lead in 1345. The target was Normandy a devastating raid through northern France, a glorious victory in battleRead More
104 Lancaster and the Battle of Auberoche
Edward had little intention of keeping the truce for long. After a brief period of reconstruction, he repudiated the truce a year early. And so enters one of the mostRead More
103 The war in Brittany
1341 saw a serious political crisis – Edward returned home determined to put his English administration, parliament and particularly Archbishop in their places. In fact it's Edward who is forcedRead More
102 Highs and Lows
In 1340 against all the odds – of numbers and quality – Edward defeated Philip VIth's Great Army of the Sea at Sluys. The impact on morale, English and FrenchRead More
101 King of France and England
Edward faced a weary time, a weary time. His allies demanded money, he had none to give them. So they refused to fight, while the French closed in on GasconyRead More
100 Theatres of War
This week, a bit of a scene setter; Edward and the development of consent from the commons in his parliaments, the theatres of the 100 years war ahead – andRead More
99a Stephen Guerra The Avignon Papacy
The Story of the early 14th Century papacy and their exile in Avignon – a guest episode from Stephen Guerra 99a Stephen Guerra Avignon Papacy
99 Year One of a Hundred
Edward had traditionally received much of the blame before the start of the Hundred Years War. But in fact there were many reasons why France and England ended up goingRead More
98 The Disinherited
In the early 1330's, Edward was a hero searching for a way to undo the humiliations visited on him by Mortimer and by the French. And Edward Balliol, son ofRead More
97 Above all Princes of his Age
In 1330 a group of Edward's friends gathered together at the foot of the rock on which Nottingham castle stands. They had learnt of a secret passage that led toRead More
96a Sharyn Eastaugh The Templar Knights
null The Templar Knights are endlessly fascinating; a glamorous and powerful order of warrior monks, with all kinds of mystique. In a guest episode, Sharyn Eastaugh gives a potted history.Read More
96 A history of Medieval Europe – Part IV
With the defeat of the Hohenstaufen, surely the Papacy had finally won it's battle for supremacy? Actually not. A new challenge rode into town in the form of Phillip IVthRead More
95 The History of Medieval Europe – Part III
Frederick II renewed the argument that had been going on since the time of Otto the Great – Emperor or Pope? This time there would be a solution one wayRead More
94a The Mysterious Death of Edward II
Time to vote? Did Edward die in 1327? Now, traditionally, Edward II is supposed to have died after an unfortunate meeting with a red hot poker. Which had always beenRead More
94 The Reign of Isabella and Mortimer
After Edward II's abdication in January 1327, England was ruled on behalf of the new King Edward III by Queen Isabella. But while Isabella probably wanted a life of respect,Read More
93 The Wages of Tyranny
With the fall of Lancaster, the Despencers were off the leash, and able to vent the full force of their avarice on England. Their power and Edward's inability to controlRead More
92a The Cult of Thomas of Lancaster
Medieval man loved their saints. Remember the Anglo Saxons? Saints popping up all over the place. The Martyrdom of Thomas Beckett I suppose is reasonable, but cult of Simon deRead More
92 The Fall of Lancaster
Lancaster and Edward have been picking at each other for years. In 1322, things finally came to a head, and rebellion was out in the open. Lancaster must have hadRead More
91 The New Favourites
In the 1310's, Robert Bruce's ambitions grew – not simply content with throwing the English out of Scotland, or burning the north of England – he now wanted to establishRead More
90 How to hold a parliament
The modus tenendi parliamentum is a very unusual document from around this time. It describes how parliaments should be held, but also includes a number of very interesting claims aboutRead More
89 The Great Famine
For a long time we have been having a ball, economy wise – the medieval warm period, towns springing up all over the place, prices gently rising, population growing. SoRead More
88 Politics, Scandal, Intrigue and Turmoil
The period between 1308 and 1311 was dominated by the attempts of the barons to resolve the issues left unsolved from Edward I's reign; and by the scandal and disruptionRead More
87 Scandal was brought upon the Kingdom
This week, and introduction to Edward II, quite probably the most reviled king in English history. So this week he have a bit of a survey of how history hasRead More
86 Handing over
In 1305 two Scottish lords had a fall out next to the altar of a church in Dumfries. One them, Robert Bruce, resolved the argument by sticking a knife inRead More
85 Crime and Punishment
A digression this week – the state of the crime and punishment in 14th century, and the story of the theft of the crown jewels in 1303. We also getRead More
84 War, Tournaments and Victory
We spend a bit of time in this episode having a bit of a catchup up – about arms, armour and armies, and about warfare for real and for pretend.Read More
83 Crisis
From 1297, things became harder for Edward. The relentless pressure of external wars led to increased taxation. This continuous pressure on the magnates, church and people eventually led to aRead More
82 The Sucker Punch
Since the Treaty of Paris in 1259, England and France had been friends, united by a monarchy with close ties and relationships. So when in 1293 a dispute blew upRead More
81 The Great Cause
Through a stunning piece of bad luck, Alexander III left no heirs. And now there was no clear successor to his throne of Scotland. For the search for the rightRead More
80 In which we Dawdle
When Edward I arrived back in 1289 from Gascony, he was in many ways at the height of his awesomeness. A chivalric monarch, a leading statesman in Christendom, and atRead More
79 Conqueror and Statesman
The second Anglo Welsh war was very different in character to the first. Here was a genuinely national uprising against rule by the English. Here was a war with noRead More