Ali is put to the test on William Clito - how much can he remember from the last podcast?
Rex Factor
@rexfactor.bsky.social
A history podcast reviewing kings and queens in history.
From our review of William Clito (son of Robert Curthose, cousin to William Adelin, the Empress Matilda and King Stephen) we decide whether he is bit-part or main character material...
From our latest podcast, we discuss the death of William Adelin in the White Ship Disaster.
Ali is put to the test with five questions on William Adelin - would you do better?
From our latest episode reviewing William Adelin, we try to unpick Edward the Confessor's deathbed tree prophecy (and what it's got to do with the son of Henry I!)
In our review of Robert Curthose, we find that perhaps he wasn't quite cut-out for being a brutal, ruthless competitor for the throne...
Ali is put to the test - how much can he remember about Robert Curthose?
From our latest podcast reviewing Robert Curthose, the eldest son of William the Conqueror (but twice failing to become king) we consider the range of similar, very specific nicknames poor Robert was lumbered with!
From our latest episode, Right to Reply: Anglo-Saxon Nearly Monarchs, Ali has a rant about The Last Kingdom...
From the very end of our chat with Dr Eleanor Parker about the aftermath of 1066, we got intrigued by what she had on her wall!
Podcast Alert: In our latest episode, we have a fascinating chat with historian Professor Tom Licence about 1066 - who should have succeeded Edward the Confessor? What really happened with Harold Godwinson's journey south from the Battle of Stamford Bridge? pod.fo/e/4deac4
Rex Factor: Tom Licence on 1066
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...
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From our latest episode reviewing Edgar the Ætheling, we consider whether Edgar was the true heir to the throne in 1066.
From our latest podcast reviewing Harald Hardrada, a typically dramatic episode in which even a giant chain across the Bosphorus strait can't stop the Norwegian warrior.
Our latest episode looks at the Viking ruler Harald Hardrada, one of the most remarkable and famous Viking warriors though Ali thinks he could do with a rebrand...
From our review of Edward the Exile, we ponder on how Edward could have averted the Norman Conquest in 1066.
Our latest podcast reviews Edward the Exile, the man whose reign could have prevented 1066. Unfortunately, the bishop sent to collect him was a bit easily distracted...
Podcast Alert: Our latest podcast sees us review Edith of Wilton, daughter of Edgar the Peaceable who MAY have been offered the throne but just loved being a nun too much. pod.fo/e/41c659
Rex Factor: S4.04 Edith of Wilton
Our first female nearly monarch of the series, Edith of Wilton, was the daughter of Edgar the Peaceable and a potential rival to her half-brother, Æthelred the Unready. The question is, was she a ...
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This week we review the brothers Ælfweard and Edwin, sons of Edward the Elder who both came unstuck in the reign of older brother Æthelstan? But were they murdered? Were they designated heirs? Find out in our latest podcast: pod.fo/e/410d8a
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Series 4 begins! We kick off the Nearly Monarchs with Æthelwold, nephew to Alfred the Great, a rival to his cousin Edward the Elder, and a challenge for Ali when it comes to names...
In our latest podcast we had a great chat with Emily Murdoch Perkins about her book Regina: The Queens Who Could Have Been - the women who would have ruled England if daughters instead of sons had been prioritised in the succession. pod.fo/e/3fafa3
Rex Factor: Emily Murdoch Perkins - The Queens Who Could Have Been
As an introduction to our series on the nearly monarchs, we speak to Emily Perkins about her book Regina: The Queens Who Could Have Been, which looks at the queens who could have ruled if first-bor...
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We are back! Series 4 is now underway, kicking off with an introductory episode explaining the concept of this series, our approach to scoring and what we think of counterfactual history (the 'what ifs'). Listen in the usual places or you can now watch the podcast: youtu.be/gVA8FeFf2qE
Season 4 Introduction
YouTube video by Rex Factor History
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This is what Ali looks like after recording five podcasts in a day! We’ve now started Series 4, but Ali might need some sleep before the next recording!
We are back in podcast land! Not yet starting series 4 but as a prelude we review King Offa of Mercia, the eighth-century monarch who built a famous Dyke, corresponded with Charlemagne and was almost the first King of England pod.fo/e/398d43
Rex Factor: Offa of Mercia
This week, after an introduction to the podcast, we review Offa, the eighth century king of an early English kingdom called Mercia. We learn about why he was not the first king of England, links to...
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New series, new notebook (though only one of them will be featured in the series). I’m in full research mode for Series 4 reviewing all the nearly monarchs of England & the UK. Planning a new “first” episode on Offa this month then recording first episodes of series 4 in March!
New Episode Alert: We had a fantastic discussion with @davidwoodman45.bsky.social on his book The First King of England, looking at the importance of Athelstan in the formation of England as a nation. pod.fo/e/360983
Rex Factor: David Woodman - Athelstan: First King of England
We chat to the historian David Woodman about his book The First King of England: Athelstan and the Birth of a Kingdom. He tells us about why Athelstan (not Alfred) should be considered England's fi...
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Podcast Alert: This week we speak to the brilliant Gareth Russell about his new biography about James I - Queen James, discussing James's reign and the men he loved pod.fo/e/314262
Rex Factor: Queen James (Gareth Russell)
We welcome Gareth Russell back onto the podcast, this time to talk about his latest book Queen James: The Life and Loves of Britain's First King, looking at the life and reign of King James VI (of ...
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It’s the last few hours of voting in the consort play-offs - will Emma of Normandy, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Isabella of France or Katherine of Aragon be crowned the series champion? Cast your vote here: forms.gle/UYmjZHeMMweG...
Rex Factor Play-Offs: Grand Final
This is it! Rank the four final consorts in order of preference to decide who wins the third series of Rex Factor. This is entirely down to the public vote and will determine the final rankings for al...
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We're getting towards the end of the play-offs now. Today is the last day of voting for the Round One Losers: forms.gle/4M55pN3xze3U...
Rex Factor Play-Offs: Round 1 Losers
For the first time, we are giving a full ranking to all the Rex Factor winners from the series. So, in this episode you are asked to rank the consorts who were eliminated in the first round. As per pr...
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Bayeux Tapestry to return to UK on loan after 900 years Bayeux Tapestry to return to UK on loan after 900 years www.bbc.com/news/article...
Bayeux Tapestry to return to British Museum on loan after 900 years
Bayeux Tapestry will be shown at the British Museum, which will lend treasures to Normandy museums.
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Podcast Alert: The last vote we're releasing in the consort play-offs - the Semi-Final losers, ranking the eight losing semi-finalists to give them all a final series finishing position pod.fo/e/2f596f
Rex Factor: S3.86 Play-Offs: Semi-Final Losers
For the first time, we are giving all the Rex Factor-winning consorts a final ranking for the series. In this episode, we are asking you to rank all of the consorts eliminated in the semi-finals of...
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