Rex Factor
339 episodes - English - Latest episode: 4 months ago - ★★★★★ - 859 ratingsRex Factor is a fun podcast reviewing all the kings & queens of England & Scotland.
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Episodes
Linda Porter: Mistresses of Charles II
March 22, 2024 06:00 - 1 hourWe speak to the historian Dr Linda Porter about some of the most notable mistresses of Charles II (Lucy Walter, Barbara Villiers, Frances Stuart, Nell Gwynn, Hortense Mancini), discussing why we know so much about them, what they tell us about Charles and how this affected his wife and queen, Catherine of Braganza. Sign up for bonus content (including ad-free episodes and hundreds of Patreon-exclusive bonus episodes) at https://www.patreon.com/rexfactor For all our links and more information,...
S3.61 Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen
March 08, 2024 06:00 - 1 hourAdelaide is probably one of the least famous of Britain's consorts, wife of William IV. A very different character to her predecessor, Queen Caroline, Adelaide was quiet and kind but faced the challenge of an eccentric and uncouth husband in William and a febrile political atmosphere with agitation for reform. Will slow and steady win the race? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
S3.60 Caroline of Brunswick
February 23, 2024 06:00 - 1 hourIf Ali still had his scandal bell, this episode might break it! It's Caroline of Brunswick this week, consort to George IV despite his spending their entire marriage trying to prevent that eventuality. A poorly matched couple, Caroline lived life according to her own rules, creating scandal in England and then in European exile before returning for a grand battle as George tried to deny her her position as Queen. It certainly made an impression, but will it deserve the Rex Factor? Learn more ...
S3.59 Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
February 09, 2024 06:00 - 1 hourThis week we review Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the wife and consort of King George III. We look at how she came to be queen at all, what was her role as consort and how her life was turned up side down by the Regency Crisis of 1788-89 when George III suffered a total collapse in his mental health. We will see whether her reaction to this, alongside her output as consort over a significant period of time, will be enough for the coveted Rex Factor. Learn more about your ad choices...
S3.58 Caroline of Ansbach
January 26, 2024 06:00 - 1 hourIt's the first Hanoverian consort proper this week with Caroline of Ansbach, queen consort to George II. She's not so famous now, but Caroline was a highly influential consort, loved and respected by her husband and enjoying great influence through an alliance with Robert Walpole (the country's first Prime Minister). However, she also had to manage the usual Hanoverian family conflicts, with each generation hating each other, as well as her own husband's foibles and mistresses. So will Caroli...
S3.57 Sophia Dorothea of Celle
January 12, 2024 06:00 - 1 hourSophia Dorothea of Celle was the wife of King George I but she was not, technically, a consort. We'll explain why this was the case, taking in dynastic politics, an unhappy marriage, a passionate romance, high drama and a new heroic character mostly invented by Ali. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Royals at War: We Have Ways Fest 2022 (Live)
December 29, 2023 06:00 - 1 hourA little bonus to finish 2023, we've dipped into the archives and pulled out this recording of a live show we did at the We Have Ways of Making You Talk Festival in July 2022. We Have Ways of Making You Talk is a Second World War podcast, so we were talking about the royals during the war, specifically focusing on the former king (Edward VIII) and the actual king (George VI), looking at their different experiences of the war and some of their relationship during it. The episode was not record...
Messages and Previews 6
December 15, 2023 12:18 - 1 hourBefore we get started on the Hanoverian consorts, we read through various listener correspondence as well as sharing previews of our bonus content, including our new special episode on Edgar the Ætheling. You can sign up to join the Privy Council and gain access to all our bonus content here: https://www.patreon.com/rexfactor And you can purchase the Edgar the Ætheling special episode (as well as all our other specials) here: https://payhip.com/RexFactorPodcast Learn more about your ad choic...
Male Consorts (Dr Ellie Woodacre)
December 01, 2023 06:00 - 1 hourWe speak to Dr Ellie Woodacre again, this time about male consorts. Our last mini series had two male consorts (Philip II and Prince George of Denmark) as well as covering the time period of Elizabeth I (with no consort) and William and Mary. We speak to Ellie about where England's experience fits in with other European countries - did England come to queens regnant late? What kind of roles, powers and titles did male consorts have in other countries? You can follow Ellie on X/Twitter (@mona...
Emma Southon: A History of the Roman Empire in 21 Women
November 17, 2023 06:00 - 1 hourWe speak to Dr Emma Southon for the second time on the podcast, this time discussing her new book A History of the Roman Empire in 21 Women (or A Rome of One's Own in the US), a fascinating look at women from Roman history that (mostly) people don't tend to have heard of, but who give us a fascinating alternative look at the history of Ancient Rome and the varying experience of women in that history. For more on Emma, check out her website https://www.emmasouthon.com and her podcast History i...
Leah Redmond Chang (Young Queens)
November 03, 2023 06:00 - 1 hourWe speak to the author and historian Lead Redmond about her book 'Three Renaissance Women and the Price of Power', which looks at the lives of Catherine de' Medici (Queen Consort and Mother of France), Elisabeth de Valois (Queen Consort of Spain) and Mary Queen of Scots (Queen Regnant of Scotland and Consort of France). For a time, they all lived under one roof, but even when their paths diverged, they continue to be closely connected and were key figures in the web of European diplomacy in t...
Right to Reply: Stuart Consorts
October 20, 2023 05:00 - 1 hourHaving finished our mini-series on the Stuart consorts (plus a couple of others), we go through some of your messages, responding to corrections, points of debate and whatever else comes up. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
S3.56 Prince George of Denmark
October 06, 2023 05:00 - 1 hourIt's the last of the Stuart consorts this time with the consort of Queen Anne, Prince George of Denmark. Often maligned by contemporaries, George nevertheless had a significant role as the first male consort not to be king. Derided by many but loved by Anne, George was a player in the tumultuous events of the late seventeenth century and a bit of a trailblazer for unambitious chaps, but is that enough for the Rex Factor? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
S3.55 Mary of Modena
September 22, 2023 12:26 - 1 hourMary of Modena is not one of the more famous names for English consorts but subject to one of the most notorious incidents as mother to the so-called 'bedpan baby'. We look at the truth of this as well as Mary's life, second wife to the man who would become James II, at the eye of the storm for the Glorious Revolution of 1688 and then the life of the Jacobite Matriarch in French exile. Will the real Mary warrant her notoriety and does she have enough about her to claim the Rex Factor? Learn m...
S3.54 Catherine of Braganza
September 08, 2023 10:04 - 1 hourCatherine of Braganza has often been overshadowed by Charles II's numerous mistresses, but she has an interesting story in her own right. She faced a difficult start in England, finding her own space in a court where the mistresses were publicly honoured, as well as being a Catholic queen for a decidedly not Catholic country. She would need to find a way to adapt to the more relaxed Restoration court, assert her own place in Charles's reign and leave a lasting legacy behind. Will she succeed?...
S3.53 Elizabeth Cromwell
August 25, 2023 05:00 - 1 hourElizabeth Cromwell was the wife to one of the most (in)famous figures in British history, but Oliver Cromwell's wife is something of a forgotten figure. Though the evidence for her life is limited, we track her from Essex and East Anglia to the dizzy heights of Lady Protector, seeing the Civil War and Protectorate from a different perspective. Elizabeth had to transition from managing a large but modest Puritan household to the pseudo-queen of the country, but would she be able to make the tr...
S3.52 Henrietta Maria
August 11, 2023 05:00 - 1 hourHenrietta Maria of France was the highly controversial queen of Charles I. An avowed Catholic in an increasingly Puritanical country, her efforts to promote her religion were one of the factors that led to the Civil War. A forceful character, Henrietta played her part in the war (despite being a target for Parliamentarians), but would she be able to survive? And can such an unpopular queen be in the running for the Rex Factor? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
S3.51 Anne of Denmark
July 28, 2023 06:51 - 1 hourWe start the Stuarts proper with Anne of Denmark, consort to James I, though originally to James VI of Scotland. Anne had quite a difficult time getting to Scotland, then found herself caught up in various controversies when she did get there, clashing with the church, nobles and James himself. When she became Queen of England, there were controversies over her religion and more person disputes, but also significant cultural patronage. But how will it all balance out? Will Anne enjoy renown f...
Susan Doran: Elizabeth I's Suitors
July 14, 2023 05:00 - 1 hourElizabeth I famously never married, but there were various suitors for her hand who came close to becoming Elizabeth's consort. We spoke to Professor Susan Doran about Elizabeth I and the marriage question, with a particular question on her relationship with Robert Dudley, the Hapsburgs and the French candidates and consider why she never married, if she ever wanted to and how close she came. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit ...
S3.50 Philip II of Spain
June 30, 2023 05:00 - 1 hourIt's our first chap of the consort series in the form of Philip II of Spain. A powerful king in his own right, and notorious in England as the man who launched the Spanish Armada against Elizabeth I, it's often forgotten that he was actually King of England through his marriage to Mary I. We learn about Philip's upbringing, how he came to marry Mary, what sort of powers he did or didn't have as King (consort) of England, and the impact he had on English history before the Armada. Hosted on Ac...
The Six Wives of Henry VIII (Live at Ludlow)
June 23, 2023 05:00 - 1 hourAs a lovely finale to our mini-series on the Six Wives of Henry VIII, we share our live podcast recorded at the Ludlow Assembly Rooms on Saturday 17 June 2023 in which we review all six of Henry VIII's wives in one go, compare them factor by factor and then get the audience to vote for who they think was the greatest of them all. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Messages and Previews 5: June 2023
June 09, 2023 05:00 - 55 minutesBefore we get started on the Stuart consorts, we read through various listener correspondence as well as sharing previews of our bonus content, including our new special episode (also out today) on Catherine De' Medici. You can sign up to join the Privy Council and gain access to all our bonus content here: https://www.patreon.com/rexfactor And you can purchase the Catherine De' Medici special episode (as well as all our other specials) here: https://payhip.com/RexFactorPodcast If you want t...
The Seven Kings of Rome (Partial Historians)
May 26, 2023 09:51 - 1 hourThis week, we chat with Dr Fiona Radford and Dr Peta Greenfield (AKA Dr Rad and Dr G, the Partial Historians) about their new book Rex: The Seven Kings of Rome. Much to Ali's surprise, before the Emperors and before the Republic, ancient Rome was ruled by kings. From Romulus and the founding of Rome to Tarquinius Superbus and the fall of the kings, we learn about the kings and the early history of Rome, then decide how well the kings would fare under the Rex Factor criteria. Find out more abo...
Live Show in Ludlow News
May 17, 2023 05:46 - 8 minutesJust a quick message to say that we are going to be doing a live show at the Ludlow Fringe on Saturday 17 June at 19:00 (BST), where we will be looking at all of the Six Wives of Henry VIII and asking the audience to vote for who they think was the best. We'd love to see some Rex fans in the audience, so if you're able to make it then you can book tickets at the address below: https://ludlowassemblyrooms.co.uk/event/rex-factor-which-was-henry-viiis-best-wife/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/p...
Suzannah Lipscomb
May 12, 2023 05:00 - 1 hourFollowing our mini-series on the Six Wives of Henry VIII, we chat to Professor Suzannah Lipscomb about all things Henry VIII - what was he about? How did he change and why? Plus we get Suzannah's thoughts on the Six Wives, about whom she is currently researching a new book. You can follow Suzannah on Twitter @sixteenthCgirl and listen to her podcast Not Just the Tudors. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adc...
The History of the Coronation
May 01, 2023 16:42 - 2 hoursIn a feature-length special episode, we chart the history of the coronation of the English monarchy from Alfred the Great to Elizabeth II. We learn about how and why the coronation ceremony started, why it is the way that it is, how it's changed over the last thousand years, and all the funny things that have gone wrong. From a random big stone to oily headlice and reversing horses, there's plenty of fun to be had at the coronation! Plus we learn how Dunstan has ruined Ali's bank holiday. Thi...
Dean Irwin: The Anglo-Jews in Medieval England
April 14, 2023 16:46 - 1 hourWe chat to Dr Dean Irwin, long-time listener to the podcast and co-curator of the episode 'History According to Ali', about the history of the Jews in medieval England. We discuss the origins of a Jewish community in England along with their legal status and close relationship to the crown. We look in particular detail at the thirteenth century, considering the attitudes of Henry III and Simon de Montfort as well as some exception individuals like Licoricia of Winchester. Finally, we look at ...
Right to Reply: Six Wives of Henry VIII
March 31, 2023 05:00 - 1 hourHaving finished our mini-series on the Six Wives of Henry VIII, we go through some of your messages and answer questions about the podcasts, the queens, Henry, and whatever else comes up. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
S3.49 Katherine Parr
March 17, 2023 10:38 - 1 hourWe come to the end of the Six Wives of Henry VIII odyssey with Katherine Parr. Often neglected but a fascinating character: previous marriages, the Pilgrimage of Grace, and the navigating the treacherous, divided court of Henry VIII's final years. Katherine was closely involved with Henry's children and a key player in the religious divide that was raging in the final years of Henry's reign, but would she be able to emerge unscathed? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information...
S3.48 Katherine Howard
February 24, 2023 06:00 - 1 hourKatherine Howard was the fifth of the Six Wives of Henry VIII. Young and pretty, she quickly caught Henry's eye while he was extricating himself from his marriage to Anne of Cleves, but Henry's infatuation turned to devastation when revelations about Katherine's past and present dalliances were revealed. Often dismissed as a foolish irrelevance, we consider alternative views of Katherine and whether she has that certain something. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
S3.47 Anne of Cleves
February 10, 2023 06:00 - 1 hourThe fourth of the six wives of Henry VIII, Anne of Cleves is often recalled as the 'Flanders Mare' but we dig deeper into the true story of where things went wrong between Anne and Henry, why this nickname is unfair and what Anne does after Henry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
S3.46 Jane Seymour
January 27, 2023 06:00 - 1 hourWe move on to the third of Henry VIII's six wives - one of the least famous and yet Henry's favourite, so where does Jane really deserve to rank in the annals of history? She experience life under Katherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn, whom she ultimately supplanted as queen, and depending on how you view her either brought some much-needed stability or was just a bit dull! So, an overlooked classic or deservedly in the shadow of her more celebrated predecessors? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/...
S3.45 The Fall of Anne Boleyn
January 13, 2023 10:09 - 1 hourAlthough we've reviewed Anne Boleyn, we felt that we needed one final episode to look in more detail about the fall of Anne Boleyn, and to answer the question of why it happens (and why she dies). Was she actually guilty of the crimes she was accused of? Was she brought down by Cromwell? Did Henry tire of her? Was it all just a big misunderstanding? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
S3.44 Anne Boleyn: Review
December 23, 2022 05:00 - 1 hourAfter an in-depth biography episode last time, this week we review Anne Boleyn. There's a lot to discuss: her impressive rise to power and the personal battles she had to fight to get there; the wealth of scandal laid at her door (some deserved, some not) and a major role in English history with the Reformation. And will one of Englands most famous and notorious queens be worthy of her prominent place in history and deserving of Rex Factor? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more info...
S3.43 Anne Boleyn: Biography
December 09, 2022 10:00 - 1 hourOur Odyssey through the Six Wives of Henry VIII now turns to Anne Boleyn, the most controversial of Henry's consorts. Anne has been cast as the definitive 'other woman', turning Henry's head away from Katherine of Aragon and helping to bring about the Reformation, in which Henry broke a near millennia association with Rome to declare himself Supreme Governor of the Church of England. In the first of three episodes, today we cover Anne's biography, seeing how her international schooling made h...
S3.42 Katherine of Aragon: Review
November 11, 2022 05:00 - 1 hourAfter a separate biography episode, this time we review Katherine of Aragon by the factors: a regency defeating the Scots; resisting Henry in the divorce; was she being truthful about her first marriage? Lots to talk about, but the key question, as always, is will she get the Rex Factor? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
S3.41: Katherine of Aragon: Biography
October 28, 2022 04:00 - 1 hourWe kick-off the Six Wives of Henry VIII with Katherine of Aragon, whose story is so dramatic that we had to split it into two. In this episode, we look at her biography, charting her life from her upbringing in Spain, to her time in England, with years of uncertainty, a near-golden age with Henry VIII before the lack of a male heir saw Katherine resisting Henry's attempts to annul their marriage, resulting in increasingly extreme behaviour from Henry but continued courage from Katherine. Next...
Intelligent Speech Conference 2022: Rexy Panel
October 21, 2022 04:00 - 56 minutesIn June 2022, we were a keynote speaker at the online Intelligent Speech Conference, and also took part in a Rexy Panel, discussing podcasting with the Rex Factor format alongside Rob and Jamie from Totalus Rankium and Bry from Pontifacts. For today's episode, we're bringing you the Rexy Panel discussion, where the three podcasts have an informal chat about podcasting. You can find out more about the Intelligent Speech conference at their website (https://www.intelligentspeechconference.com) ...
Messages and Previews - September 2022
October 07, 2022 04:00 - 55 minutesAs Graham gets started on the research for the Six Wives of Henry VIII, we have a one-off episode going through lots of listener correspondence and sharing some previews of our bonus content. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Nicola Tallis (Margaret Beaufort)
September 23, 2022 04:00 - 1 hourWe speak to the historian Dr Nicola Tallis about Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry VII who lived a dramatic life, enduring the trials and tribulations of the Wars of the Roses to ultimately see her son, against all odds, become king, founding the Tudor dynasty. You can follow Nicola on Twitter where she is @NicolaTallis or find out more information about her on her website https://nicolatallis.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices...
Remembering Elizabeth II
September 13, 2022 15:51 - 59 minutesFollowing the sad death of Queen Elizabeth II, we wanted to record our thoughts on her life and reign and some of the feelings that her death has evoked. We do a recap of her life and reign as originally covered in our 2013 episodes, plus an update for the near-decade of her reign since then, as well as some impressive statistics and looking ahead to the week leading up to the Queen's funeral. This episode was recorded on Monday 12 September. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more i...
Nathen Amin (House of Beaufort)
August 26, 2022 04:00 - 1 hourWe speak to historian Nathen Amin about the House of Beaufort, the initially illegitimate line of John of Gaunt who enjoyed great power and influence under the Lancastrian kings and were major players in the Wars of the Roses. We learn about some of the key figures, why the Wars of the Roses may have started earlier than you think, and how they ultimately found one of their own on the throne with Henry VII. To hear more from Nathen, you can follow him on Twitter where he is @NathenAmin Hoste...
Matt Lewis
August 12, 2022 04:00 - 1 hourWe start a new round of interview podcasts, kicking off with Matt Lewis, Chair of the Richard III Society. Matt spoke to us, appropriately enough, about Richard III, suggesting alternative ways of interpreting Richard's character and motivation, what he was up to in 1483 and the fate of the Princes in the Tower. You can follow Matt on Twitter where he is @MattLewisAuthor or check out his website for more information http://mattlewisauthor.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more i...
Right to Reply: Yorkist Consorts
July 29, 2022 04:00 - 1 hourIn our second Right to Reply episode, we look back at the Yorkist consorts Elizabeth Woodville, Anne Neville and Elizabeth of York, comparing their scores and lives before then going through listener correspondence on the queens. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
S3.40 Elizabeth of York
July 15, 2022 04:00 - 1 hourThe last of our Yorkist consorts (though technically first of the Tudors), Elizabeth of York was the daughter of Elizabeth Woodville and Edward IV, experiencing all the drama and tribulations of the Wars and the Roses and Richard III before helping to kickstart the Tudor dynasty by marrying Henry VII. Elizabeth would have a key role in reconciling Yorkists to Henry VII's rule and proved a popular figure, but would that be enough for the Rex Factor? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for m...
S3.39 Anne Neville
July 01, 2022 04:00 - 1 hourOne of the more obscure English queens, despite being married to one of the most famous kings in Richard III, Anne Neville certainly had a dramatic life: daughter of Warwick the Kingmaker, married into the Lancastrian and Yorkist royal families, facing triumph and disaster throughout her life. We see whether we can shine more of a light on Anne and whether she has that certain something, we call... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. ...
S3.38 Elizabeth Woodville
June 17, 2022 04:00 - 1 hourWe move onto the Yorkist consorts with Elizabeth Woodville, Queen Consort to Edward IV. Originally a Lancastrian, she was an unlikely and controversial consort, who had to endure great hardship and loss through the Wars of the Roses, facing off against Margaret of Anjou, Warwick the Kingmaker and Richard III. Find out whether she can survive the Wars of the Roses and whether she is worthy of the Rex Factor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad ...
Messages and Previews - April 2022
April 29, 2022 04:00 - 1 hourAs Graham gets started on the research for the Yorkist queens, we have a one-off episode going through lots of listener correspondence and sharing some previews of our bonus content. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Tom Holland
April 08, 2022 04:00 - 1 hourWe speak to the historian and broadcaster Tom Holland about his podcast The Rest Is History and their Twitter World Cup of Monarchs poll, discussing who were the greatest kings and queens of England and comparing our respective results. In particular, we spoke to Tom about Athelstan and Æthelflæd Lady of the Mercians (both of whom Tom has written about) and why they are so important in English history. We also find out where Tom stands on the great question of Edgar the Peaceable, plus manage...
Bloody Mary Live (Olivia Miller)
April 01, 2022 04:00 - 1 hourIn this episode, we (though mainly Graham due to Ali's connection issues!) speak to Olivia Miller, an actor and playwright who has written and stars in a show called "Bloody Mary: Live!" where she plays a modern, 'queenager' version of Queen Mary I of England. We talk to Olivia about the show, her characterisation of Mary and what has inspired that, plus she has a go at rating Mary by our factors. You can follow Olivia for the latest news on 'Bloody Mary: Live!' on her website and on social m...