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:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

"(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: ⁠

"(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.

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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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"

"(00:04:54) 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"

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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"

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One of the least famous nearly monarchs but perhaps the most pivotal, Edward the Exile was the son of Edmund Ironside and a nephew to Edward the Confessor and his survival might have meant the Norman Conquest would never have happened. We learn about Edward's remarkable exile, taking in Scandinavia, Russia and Hungary and the tantalising possibility of his becoming king in England only for fate to intervene...

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"

"(00:01:54) Biography"

"(00:39:49) Battleyness"

"(00:44:17) Scandal"

"(00:46:08) Subjectivity"

"(00:50:16) Longevity"

"(00:52:54) Dynasty"

"(00:54:59) Rex Factor"

"(00:57:03) C Corner"

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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 political power player in the running for the throne, was she a holy nun with no ambitions towards secular riches, or maybe a bit of both?

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

You can now watch the podcast via the link below:

LINK

"(00:00:00) Introduction"

"(00:02:16) Biography"

"(00:40:29) Battleyness"

"(00:46:33) Scandal"

"(00:53:21) Subjectivity"

"(00:59:21) Longevity"

"(00:59:41) Dynasty"

"(01:00:12) Rex Factor"

"(01:04:01) C Corner"

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It's a double-header this week with the brothers Ælfweard and Edwin - not a nearly ruling duo but both seem to have met mysteriously early ends amidst a rivalry with their older half-brother Æthelstan. We learn about divisions between Wessex and Mercia, disputes over legitimacy and the mysterious fate of each brother.

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

You can now watch the podcast via the link below:

https://youtu.be/o0_8IgytX8w

"(00:00:00) Introduction"

"(00:03:09) Biography"

"(00:34:56) Battleyness"

"(00:38:06) Scandal"

"(00:40:20) Subjectivity"

"(00:43:25) Longevity"

"(00:45:54) Dynasty"

"(00:46:42) Rex Factor"

"(00:49:46) C Corner"

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices