S4.12 Empress Matilda

The Empress Matilda is perhaps one of the nearliest monarchs of the Nearly Monarch series! The only surviving legitimate child of Henry I and his acknowledged heir, her cousin, Stephen, snatched the throne, leading to the civil war known as the Anarchy. But in 1141, Matilda came incredibly close to being crowned England's first queen regnant - so what stopped her getting the crown on her head? And does she do enough for the Rex Factor? You can watch the recording of this episode on Spotify or on YouTube: https://youtu.be/19ZlIWDTnRQ Sign up for lots of bonus content, including an ad-free version of the main podcast and over 450 additional bonus podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.patreon.com/rexfactor⁠⁠⁠⁠  "(00:00:00) Introduction" "(00:01:40) Biography" "(00:41:07) Battleyness" "(00:50:56) Scandal" "(00:52:53) Subjectivity" "(00:59:41) Longevity" "(01:01:05) Dynasty" "(01:01:48) Rex Factor" "(01:05:42) C Corner" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

William Clito was the son of Robert Curthose and a thorn in the side of Henry I. With many in England, Normandy and France seeing Clito as the rightful heir, Henry's foreign policy largely centred around dealing with Clito, who was brave, well-thought of and a genuine threat. So, as with all the Nearly Monarchs, where did it go wrong for Clito, and did he do enough for the Rex Factor? You can watch the recording of this episode on Spotify or on YouTube: https://youtu.be/SC1IaOZFOio Sign up for lots of bonus content, including an ad-free version of the main podcast and over 450 additional bonus podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.patreon.com/rexfactor⁠⁠⁠⁠ "(00:00:00) Introduction" "(00:01:53) Biography" "(00:41:52) Battleyness" "(00:53:00) Scandal" "(00:53:25) Subjectivity" "(00:58:33) Longevity" "(00:59:35) Dynasty" "(01:00:05) Rex Factor" "(01:05:47) C Corner" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our nearly monarch this week is William Adelin, only legitimate son of Henry I and famously a victim of the White Ship Disaster. Before this, however, he was being shaped for kingship, learning governance from his mother, Matilda of Scotland, seeing high stakes diplomacy from his father and even engaging in his first battle. So what might have been for William Adelin? You can watch the recording of this episode on Spotify or on YouTube: https://youtu.be/1xk7gga9Kw0 Sign up for lots of bonus content, including an ad-free version of the main podcast and over 450 additional bonus podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://www.patreon.com/rexfactor⁠⁠⁠⁠ "(00:00:00) Introduction" "(00:01:22) Biography" "(00:32:29) Battleyness" "(00:36:28) Scandal" "(00:38:56) Subjectivity" "(00:42:50) Longevity" "(00:43:40) Dynasty" "(00:44:38) Rex Factor" "(00:46:03) C Corner" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We kick off the Norman nearly monarchs with Robert Curthose, the eldest son of William the Conqueror who managed to miss out on becoming king twice. A dramatic life story, tussling with his father and brothers, a bromance with Edgar the Ætheling and a starring role in the First Crusade. But is it enough for the Rex Factor? You can watch the recording of this episode on Spotify or on YouTube: https://youtu.be/I9BMnk48blk Sign up for lots of bonus content, including an ad-free version of the main podcast and over 450 additional bonus podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.patreon.com/rexfactor⁠⁠⁠ "(00:00:00) Introduction" "(00:01:30) Biography" "(00:35:43) Battleyness" "(00:50:37) Scandal" "(00:52:20) Subjectivity" "(01:01:10) Longevity" "(01:02:18) Dynasty" "(01:03:01) Rex Factor" "(01:09:01) C Corner" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's our first Right to Reply of the Nearly Monarch series as we go through your messages on the Anglo-Saxons (and Viking) We hear of suggestions for other Nearly Monarchs to include, different approaches to the scoring system, plus your thoughts on all the nearly monarchs we've covered so far (including Offa). You can watch the recording of this episode on Spotify or on YouTube: https://youtu.be/HDZ7S_7AI6I Sign up for lots of bonus content, including an ad-free version of the main podcast and over 450 additional bonus podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.patreon.com/rexfactor⁠⁠⁠ "(00:00:00) Introduction" "(00:05:28) General Messages" "()00:30:17) Offa "(00:35:19) Æthelwold" "(00:41:18) Ælfweard and Edwin" "(00:45:10) Edith of Wilton" "(00:52:59) Edward the Exile" "(00:57:36) Harald Hardrada" "(01:06:47) Edgar the Ætheling" "(01:10:47) Corner" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we chat to Dr Eleanor Parker about the next generation of Anglo-Saxons in 1066 - the young men and women whose lives took a very different path with the Conquest and how they adapted. From the semi-legendary Hereward the Wake to the children of Harold Godwinson, old favourites like Edgar the Ætheling and St Margaret of Scotland, and many more! You can now watch the video of the recording on Spotify (or YouTube via the link below): https://youtu.be/yHu3XT189uY We are doing a live show in Ludlow on Friday 21 August 2026 at 19:00 - come and see us compare the contenders for the throne in 1066 at the Ludlow Assembly Rooms: ⁠ https://ludlowassemblyrooms.co.uk/show/rex-factor/⁠⁠ Sign up for lots of bonus content, including an ad-free version of the main podcast and over 450 additional bonus podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.patreon.com/rexfactor⁠⁠⁠ "(00:00:00) Introduction" "(00:03:14) Interview" "(00:58:42 ) C Corner" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we chat to Professor Tom Licence about 1066 - initially the question of the succession and who should have succeeded Edward the Confessor, but our timing was excellent as Tom had recently been in the news for his new research that is changing how we should assess Harold Godwinson's campaigning in 1066, so we talk about that as well. You can now watch the video of the recording on Spotify (or YouTube via the link below): https://youtu.be/fSL3xRKDZPQ We are doing a live show in Ludlow on Friday 21 August 2026 at 19:00 - come and see us compare the contenders for the throne in 1066 at the Ludlow Assembly Rooms: https://ludlowassemblyrooms.co.uk/show/rex-factor/⁠⁠ Sign up for lots of bonus content, including an ad-free version of the main podcast and over 450 additional bonus podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.patreon.com/rexfactor⁠⁠⁠ "(00:00:00) Introduction" "(00:02:44) Interview" "(01:12:48) C Corner" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The final Nearly Monarch of our first mini-series, Edgar the Ætheling is the forgotten figure of 1066 but the one with the best claim to the throne. The only royal Saxon prince left alive, the son of Edward the Exile, he was passed over in favour of Harold Godwinson, but was turned to after Hastings. We consider whether he was the true heir of Edward the Confessor, why he didn't become king in 1066, and his remarkable post-Conquest life as a figurehead for Saxon rebellions and more beyond. (Unfortunately, Ali's camera stopped working for the last twenty minutes!) We are doing a live show in Ludlow on Friday 21 August 2026 at 19:00 - come and see us compare the contenders for the throne in 1066 at the Ludlow Assembly Rooms: https://ludlowassemblyrooms.co.uk/show/rex-factor/⁠⁠ Sign up for lots of bonus content, including an ad-free version of the main podcast and over 450 additional bonus podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.patreon.com/rexfactor⁠⁠⁠ "(00:00:00) Introduction" "(00:01:36) Biography" "(00:29:56 Battleyness" "(00:47:13) Scandal" "(00:49:28) Subjectivity" "(00:52:17) Longevity"  "(00:54:33) Dynasty" "(00:56:02) Rex Factor" "(00:59:59) C Corner" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the second part of the Harald Hardrada podcast, we review him and decide whether his exploits in Russia, Byzantium, Norway and his invasion of England will earn him the Rex Factor. (Unfortunately the camera pointed at Graham stopped working for part of the recording, so apologies for his lack of motion at times!) We are doing a live show in Ludlow on Friday 21 August 2026 at 19:00 - come and see us compare the contenders for the throne in 1066 at the Ludlow Assembly Rooms: ⁠https://ludlowassemblyrooms.co.uk/show/rex-factor/⁠ Sign up for lots of bonus content, including an ad-free version of the main podcast and over 450 additional bonus podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.patreon.com/rexfactor⁠⁠⁠ "(00:00:00) Introduction" "(00:01:28) Biography" "(00:04:54) Battleyness" "(00:31:39) Scandal" "(00:43:51) Subjectivity" "(00:58:43) Longevity"  "(01:01:06) Dynasty" "(01:02:23) Rex Factor" "(01:04:52) C Corner" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The legendary Viking ruler, Harald Hardrada, is our first two-parter of the series due to his remarkable life story. Russian exile, adventures in the Byzantine Emperor, and becoming King of Norway all before he invaded England in 1066. In this episode, we cover the whole of his remarkable life, with the review to come in the next episode. (Unfortunately the camera pointed at Ali stopped working for part of the recording, so apologies for his lack of motion at times!) We are doing a live show in Ludlow on Friday 21 August 2026 at 19:00 - come and see us compare the contenders for the throne in 1066 at the Ludlow Assembly Rooms: ⁠https://ludlowassemblyrooms.co.uk/show/rex-factor/⁠ Sign up for lots of bonus content, including an ad-free version of the main podcast and over 450 additional bonus podcasts:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.patreon.com/rexfactor⁠⁠⁠ "(00:00:00) Introduction" "(00:03:55) Byzantium" "(00:18:15) Norway" "(00:33:16) England" "(00:57:33) C Corner" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices