PODCAST

Rex Factor

Rex Factor is a fun podcast reviewing all the kings & queens of England & Scotland.

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All Episodes

62:46

S3.28 Margaret of France

Rex Factor ·

2021/07/09

Margaret of France was the second wife of Edward I and tends to be overshadowed by the first, Eleanor of Castile, in popular memory. It was certainly a tough act to follow for the young French princess, marrying an old and grumpy Edward, but she proved rather adept than one might have expected. However, with England at odds with France and Scotland and Edward's reign approaching its end, would Margaret be able to do enough to make a difference and win the Rex Factor? Hosted on Acast. See

64:26

S3.27 Eleanor of Castile

Rex Factor ·

2021/06/28

Eleanor of Castile was the beloved first consort of Edward I, most famous for the Eleanor Crosses he constructed in her memory. We uncover the real Eleanor behind the crosses, from the splendour of Castile and the Crusades to a surprisingly enterprising role in England. She may have won Edward's heart, but will that be enough for the Rex Factor? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

64:29

S3.26 Eleanor of Provence

Rex Factor ·

2021/06/11

Eleanor of Provence became Queen of England at a young age, marrying King Henry III, but she became a highly influential consort thanks to her Savoyard uncles and her own influence. However, she and Henry would have to face the challenge of Simon de Montfort and the Second Barons War, with Eleanor playing a crucial role both in the build-up and the execution of the war. Will she triumph against the barons? And more importantly, will she do enough to win the Rex Factor? Hosted on Acast. See

56:20

News, Messages and Previews (June 2021)

Rex Factor ·

2021/06/01

Apologies for the absence, but we are finally back! Normal service with the consorts will resume shortly but we've got some news: the podcast is moving to Acast (you don't have to do anything, though there will be ads) and the patron program is moving to Patreon - go to www.patreon.com/rexfactor to sign up! Also, we read out lots of your messages and play some clips from bonus content. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

113:25

The Angevin Queens

Rex Factor ·

2021/02/19

In this interview special we talk to Dr Gabby Storey about the Angevin queens - the Empress Matilda, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Berengaria of Navarre and Isabella of Angouleme. We reflect on their relationships with their husbands, their sons and each other as well as what they tell us about queenship. Gabby is on Twitter as herself as @GabbyStorey and you can follow her queenship account @TeamQueensHist for daily features and links to all things queens. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more

64:29

S3.25 Isabella of Angoulême

Rex Factor ·

2021/01/16

Isabella of Angoulême had the misfortune to be married to King John and is not one of England's more famous queens, and yet she had a remarkable life, with controversial marriages, shifting alliances, rebellions and plenty of scandal. Plenty of personality, but not always in a good way - will she be able to win us over for the Rex Factor? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

64:29

S3.24 Berengaria of Navarre

Rex Factor ·

2021/01/01

Berengaria of Navarre is not one of the more famous consorts, overshadowed by her predecessor, Eleanor of Aquitaine, and indeed her husband, Richard the Lionheart. However, Berengaria has her own story that is worth telling: accompanying Richard on the Third Crusade; fighting the English crown for her dower rights and then ruling a French city. A story worth telling, but will it be enough to earn Berengaria the Rex Factor? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about

113:36

PC48: Eleanor of Aquitaine

Rex Factor ·

2020/11/27

Despite having done two main podcast episodes on Eleanor, we still had lots more stuff to talk about for the Privy Chamber that was either just skirted over or not even mentioned at all previously. There's so much to talk about that we didn't have time for all our usual features, so that will all come in the next Privy Chamber episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

69:23

S3.23 Eleanor of Aquitaine (Review)

Rex Factor ·

2020/11/21

After a separate full-length biography episode, we now review Eleanor of Aquitaine. And there's lots to talk about in every factor: the Crusades; the Great Revolt; threats to both of her sons as Queen Mother. A long and dramatic life that has plenty to talk about, both good and bad, but when it's all done, where will she stand? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

67:52

S3.22 Eleanor of Aquitaine (Biography)

Rex Factor ·

2020/11/13

Eleanor of Aquitaine is one of the most famous names in English history and her life is so long and eventful that we're splitting her episode in two. In this episode, we cover her biography, charting her extraordinary life from her upbringing in Aquitaine to her various queenships, encompassing Crusades, rebellions, imprisonments and high stakes diplomacy. Next time we'll review her factor by factor and decide whether she has the Rex Factor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more

114:20

10th Anniversary: Part 2

Rex Factor ·

2020/09/25

In the second and final episode celebrating our tenth anniversary we read through all of your lovely messages with good wishes, how you found the podcast, exotic places you've listened and favourite memories from the podcast. We also go through all the results of our English Monarchs Twitter Poll to crown England's Greatest Monarch for 2020. We've also been using our time productively so further episodes will be following in the coming weeks with a special episode on Sulla, a Privy Chamber episode

98:55

10th Anniversary: Part 1

Rex Factor ·

2020/08/23

Rex Factor is ten years old! To celebrate, we are releasing two podcasts. In this first part, we reminisce about ten years of Rex Factor, looking at each season and some of the major things we've worked on. We also reveal the details of a Twitter tournament we will be running in the following month where we pit all the English monarchs against each other and see whether this will have the same outcome as our original play-offs. PLUS we would like to hear from you - please let us know your favourite

92:07

Æthelred the Ready

Rex Factor ·

2020/07/25

It's nearly 10 years since we reviewed Æthelred the Unready and gave him a score of 0 for Battleyness - not surprising for the king who suffered decades of Viking raids and was kicked off the throne (nearly twice) but have we been too harsh? We speak to Brandon Bender who has written a book about Æthelred's military campaign which suggests he was a far more proactive and capable leader than his reputation suggests. Will we be convinced or will Æthelred remain at the bottom of the pile for

81:18

Rexflix: The King

Rex Factor ·

2020/06/26

We're starting a new, intermittent film review podcast for Privy Councillors where we watch and review films relating to kings and queens. In each episode, we'll go through the film plot (largely for Ali's benefit), then review it for historical accuracy and entertainment. Our first film is The King, starring Timothée Chalamet as King Henry V in a sort-of-adaptation of William Shakespeare. As this is the first one and we've not been able to do our normal podcasting recently, we're making this

64:18

S3.21 Matilda of Boulogne

Rex Factor ·

2020/05/15

The last of the Normans and the last of the Matilda's, Matilda of Boulogne was Queen Consort to King Stephen through the Anarchy. Stephen's reign was not particularly successful but it would have been far worse had he not had the support of his wife, who played a strong and vital leadership role in his cause. Overshadowed by her namesake and rival, the Empress Matilda, could this be the time for Matilda of Boulogne to shine? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more

63:46

S3.20 Adeliza of Louvain

Rex Factor ·

2020/04/24

Adeliza was the second consort of Henry I of England with the primary task being to produce a new heir for Henry after the death of his only (legitimate) son in the White Ship Disaster. After two very powerful Norman consorts, Adeliza had a lot to live up to as the years without an heir mount up, Henry would look to his daughter, Matilda, instead and Adeliza would be dragged into the drama of the Anarchy. Cometh the hour, cometh the woman? Or would Adeliza be lost amidst the chaos? Hosted on Acast

64:29

S3.19 Matilda of Scotland

Rex Factor ·

2020/04/11

Matilda of Scotland (confusingly originally called Edith) was the daughter of the King of Scots and inheritor of the Anglo-Saxon royal line, which made her an alluring prospect of consort for the Norman king Henry I. Matilda was a highly confident and capable queen who proved very popular with her subjects as well as providing ample opportunity for Rex Facts. But will this be enough to get the Rex Factor? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices

76:56

Podcasting From Home

Rex Factor ·

2020/03/27

A global lockdown is not enough to stop Rex Factor! For the first time, we do a full episode via Skype, meaning Ali is in charge of his own recording equipment! After a slightly chaotic first ten minutes, we have an extended Correspondents Corner with lots of messages from listeners and then previews of some of our bonus content with a clip from our most recent Privy Chamber episode (on Matilda of Flanders) and our most recent special episode (Chateau Gaillard). Normal service will resume next time

64:29

S3.18 Matilda of Flanders

Rex Factor ·

2020/03/13

We leave the Saxons behind and enter the Norman era. Matilda of Flanders was the first of the Norman consorts, bringing some prestigious French royal genes to the illegitimate William the Conqueror. Matilda was a trusted partner of William in Normandy and enjoyed great status as Queen of England after 1066. Revered for her piety, Matilda also had an independent streak and would clash with William when their eldest son, Robert, rebelled. Who will come out on top? And will Matilda start the new era

64:08

S3.17 Ealdgyth of Mercia

Rex Factor ·

2020/02/07

Ealdgyth of Mercia is not a famous name, but her episode is full of Rex Factors. As consort to Harold Godwinson, she was the last Anglo-Saxon consort and her story has plenty to fascinate: Lady Godiva, Gruffydd ap Llywelyn and a Welsh/Mercian alliance, and of course the dramatic events of 1066. So will the Saxons go out on a high or is Ealdgyth another queen who will remain lost to history? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

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