Rex Factor

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"
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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"
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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"
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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"
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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"
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