Ten Minute English and British History #09 - The Normans and the Anarchy

This episode covers the aftermath of William the Conqueror's death and what his sons got up to. The relationship between England and Normandy takes centre stage as well as how this fits into France's issues at the time. Events come to a head after the death of Henry I and the anarchy which follows, pitting Empress Matilda against Stephen for the throne. All of this, of course, leads to the rise of the House of Plantagenet.

Recommended reading:

The Blackwell Companion to Britain in the Later Middle Ages - Very good but themed thematically, so don't expect a good overview of events but fantastic depth.

Medieval Britain: A Very Shory Introduction - This is one of the best books for an overview of the politics of the period. It is very light on certain periods and misses out some continental context, though. Very cheap, though.

Ten Minute English and British History is a series of short, ten minute animated narrative documentaries that are designed as revision refreshers or simple introductions to a topic. Please note that these are not meant to be comprehensive and there's a lot of stuff I couldn't fit into the episodes that I would have liked to. Thank you for watching, though, it's always appreciated.

Disclaimer:

[seneca]

"No more anarchic than other civil wars"

Well, that's a relief.

[Grymbaldknight]

The hand-held signs in these videos are surpassed only by the dry wit in the narration. This is one of the best history channels on YouTube.

[Phalanx]

I get a chuckle out of how you depict people dying. They just fall over suddenly with a Thud.

[Ruddpocalypse]

2:52 “Do as I say”
“You’re not my mum”

Hilarious

[Yora]

6:53 "drowned in the English Channel, after his ship sank." Together with 140 other noblemen and 160 further passengers and crew. It would have been more, though some people wisely though about taking the next boat to England when they saw how everyone on board was already completely drunk because the young prince was throwing a party with free wine for everyone.
The ship was the last to leave port very late and apparently crashed into a rock when the prince dared the captain to overtake the rest of the fleet.

Don't drink and sail.

[pavelthefabulous]

"Normans and the Anarchy" sounds like a good band name.

[alwinpriven]

Killed in a hunting accident? That reminds of something...

[isthisthekrustykrab]

2:07 Small note to make here just in case you care - Alnwick isn't pronounced as it's spelled, it's pronounced more like Annick.

[bummerdrummer]

"Killed in a hunting accident"

[Tyrkia]

the death animations are so funny lmao

[Guitcad]

I love how you manage to make them look distinctly like the person they're supposed to be. William the Conqueror and Richard the Lionhearted are both medieval kings, often portrayed in chain mail, but your William looks like William and your Richard looks like Richard and there's no mistaking them or any of the other characters! Excellent work.

[Outlaw]

Interesting thing about William the Conqueror’s sons. Robert, William, and Henry had a brother named Richard. That brother died in that very same forest by the same means a “hunting accident”. Richard was also the second son.

[stuckupcurlyguy]

When you realise that the first few hundred years of English history is a bunch of French nobles fighting over who gets to exploit the conquered English peasantry ...

[Valkanna.Nublet]

It's amazing how many convenient "suddenly they died" moments there are during this period.

[louisevillela]

I'm reading The Pillars of the Earth, so this video definitely helped me understand the political background of the story. Thanks 🙂

[yumouwei]

French: Louis, Louis, Louis
English: William, William, William

[ttamdude]

You're like a history superhero. Keep up the great work!

[icecold]

I am sadened you didn't start this video by saying "the problems began in 1087 when William the Conqueror decided to change his title to William... the dead".

[chimsuaumo]

An arrow related accident which was in no way, shape or form looked suspicious. I love the humour in this videos.

[doristheslug]

I love the way Canterbury cathedral slowly grows in the background just like it did in real life.
'Preciate it <3