History Extra Podcast: "Uprising: the Civil Wars Untangled"

Date: November 24, 2025
Host: Emily Briffett
Guests: Dr. Jonathan Healey (historian, expert contributor), Rebecca Riddell (historian, series host & producer)

Episode Overview

This special episode of the History Extra podcast delves into the explosive and multifaceted story of the Civil Wars across the British Isles in the 17th century, as explored in the new podcast series Uprising: The Civil Wars. Host Emily Briffett speaks with historian and podcast series host Rebecca Riddell and expert contributor Dr. Jonathan Healey. Together, they discuss why this turbulent period still matters, untangle historical complexities, bust persistent myths, and illuminate the causes, key figures, and far-reaching consequences of civil strife in England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Why the Civil Wars Still Matter

• Complexity & Relevance:

  • Rebecca Riddell highlights the lasting perception that the Civil Wars are “too complicated to tackle,” but insists on the importance of confronting that complexity, especially by considering all constituent nations involved (03:44).
  • Dr. Jonathan Healey notes the decline of the Civil Wars in popular memory compared to the Tudors or WWII, despite their massive impact on shaping the British constitution and modern society (04:14).

• Terminology & Framing:

  • The commonly used term “English Civil War” is misleading—the conflicts encompassed all four nations (England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales) and were different in character and progression across regions (05:16).
  • Healey advocates for seeing these as “archipelagic” conflicts—the story of the entire British archipelago—rather than a purely English affair (06:22).

Notable Quotes

• “All moments of revolution and upheaval are complicated. But sometimes they have slogans that make them easy to remember… We don’t really have that for the Civil Wars.”
  —Rebecca Riddell [06:09]

• "It is really important to see this as… about how they relate to each other and how leadership in England doesn't necessarily translate to good rule in Scotland and Ireland."
  —Dr. Jonathan Healey [06:29]

Getting to Grips with the Chaos

• Religious & Political Jargon:

  • The era is packed with challenging terminology—Presbyterians, Independents, Quakers, Anglicans—adding layers of complexity to the historical landscape (07:48).
  • Riddell and Healey agree that guides like podcasts can help modern audiences navigate this bewildering context.

• On Memorable Slogans:

  • Both guests attempt tongue-in-cheek catchphrases that capture the turmoil:
    • Healey: "Dross and dung!" (from Cromwell) [08:28]
    • Riddell: "Battles, war and devastation." [08:33]

Notable Quote

• “There’s lots of mythology about the Civil War… Things like ‘sent to Coventry’, Humpty Dumpty… There’s lots of things which sort of do go back to the Civil War which are part of our culture.”
  —Dr. Jonathan Healey [09:11]

Five Defining Moments of the Era

Riddell and Healey alternate sharing the most crucial turning points (09:48–18:25):

1. Jenny Geddes Throws a Stool — The Bishops’ Wars Ignite (1637) [09:51]

   • A woman (possibly mythical) protests the imposition of the Book of Common Prayer in Edinburgh, sparking the Scottish Bishops' Wars and highlighting the era’s popular resistance.
   • “It captures this kind of popular dimension to the Civil War… really important elements of popular uprising to it.”
     —Dr. Jonathan Healey [11:14]

2. Charles I Enters Parliament to Arrest the Five Members (1642) [12:00]

   • Charles’s failed attempt to arrest MPs, followed by his encounter with a pamphlet on resisting tyrants, marks a symbolic breach between monarch and people and escalates the crisis.

3. The Irish Rebellion of 1641 [13:42]

   • Originating with the Irish gentry and devastating both Protestant and Catholic communities, this rebellion ramps up anti-Catholic sentiment and interconnects the struggles of all three kingdoms.

4. New Model Army’s Revolt Against Parliament & The Putney Debates (1647) [15:42]

   • Parliament’s disputes with its own victorious army lead to occupation of London and radical debates (e.g., on universal male suffrage and proto-democracy) among soldiers and Levellers.
   • “It allowed the army to start thinking about what the future constitution would be like… debating how many people should have the vote.”
     —Dr. Jonathan Healey [16:42]

5. Execution of Charles I (1649) [17:39]

   • An unprecedented regicide, done without the consent of Scotland or Ireland, shocks all of Europe and shatters the longstanding idea of the monarch as the keystone of order.
   • “People were awestruck… It was something that was so beyond belief that that could actually happen to a monarch.”
     —Rebecca Riddell [17:52]
   • “If you take that out, then what else is up for grabs? ...men and women should have equal rights… which is, for the 17th century, remarkable.”
     —Dr. Jonathan Healey [19:10]

Cast of Characters

• Key Figures:

  • John Pym: Parliamentarian leader, crucial but died early [20:31]
  • Brilliana Harley:: and other women as spies and defenders
  • Catherine Chidley: Radical religious pamphleteer and early Leveller
  • Sir Lewis Dive: Colorful royalist who escaped the Tower of London by crawling down a toilet(!)

• Mythbusting on Oliver Cromwell:

  • Healey argues Cromwell is overemphasized—he was not dominant for much of the war, and the period is full of fascinating, lesser-known characters from all walks of life (24:04).

Resources for Exploring Individuals

• Civil Wars Petitions Project and 1641 Irish Rebellion Depositions offer access to the voices of ordinary people (23:13).

Major Myths & Misconceptions (26:44)

• Civil wars were not just English: Wales, Scotland, and Ireland were deeply involved, as were continental issues.
• The period was not just a dark age of ignorance or fanaticism—17th-century people were often highly intelligent, rational, and politically creative (27:51).

Notable Quote

• “We need to get away from this idea that people in the past were somehow not as intelligent as we are, because I don't think that's true.”
  —Dr. Jonathan Healey [28:55]

Tips for Understanding the Period (29:04)

• Profound Uncertainty and Religion:

  • The world was deeply insecure—famine, disease, economic disaster always close at hand. Religion was central to life and politics.
  • (Recommended: Keith Thomas’s Religion and the Decline of Magic)

• Multiple Realities:

  • People experienced existential crises and everyday irritations simultaneously; the wars had no single cause, but arose from a web of long-term tensions and short-term triggers.

The “What if?” — Was It All Charles I’s Fault? (31:55)

• Would a different monarch have prevented war? Maybe not—Healey and Riddell discuss deep-rooted structural issues (national divides, religious cleavages, etc.) that made conflict likely even without Charles’s peculiar personality.
  • “He was an effective party leader. He wasn't an effective king because a king has to be unifying…” —Dr. Jonathan Healey [33:33]

Final Thoughts & Parting Message (34:41)

• Don’t be put off by complexity; Uprising is an accessible starting-point for anyone, and listeners are encouraged to follow up with deeper reading and exploration.
• “Just jump in and enjoy it and get lost in this really, really weird world. The universe building is exceptional!”
  —Dr. Jonathan Healey [35:22]

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Introducing the subject & why it matters: 03:04–04:57
• Civil Wars vs. Wars of the Three Kingdoms—terminology: 04:57–07:48
• Slogans, culture, and mythology: 07:48–09:26
• Defining five moments: 09:48–19:35
• Key figures and unsung characters: 20:16–24:04
• Mythbusting: 26:44–28:55
• Getting to grips with the period (religion, uncertainty): 29:04–31:55
• Counterfactuals and the role of Charles I: 31:55–34:11
• Final advice & takeaways: 34:41–36:19

Memorable Quotes

• "It’s about the whole archipelago and about how they relate to each other." —Dr. Jonathan Healey [06:29]
• “It was something so beyond belief that that could actually happen to a monarch.” —Rebecca Riddell [17:53]
• “The universe building is exceptional… you’ve just got to kind of step through the door and enjoy.” —Dr. Jonathan Healey [35:22]

Tone & Language

The conversation balances friendly informality with enthusiastic scholarship. Both historians aim to demystify the Civil Wars, welcoming listeners into a vibrant, complex world full of nuance, drama, and—often—dark humor.

Conclusion

This episode serves as a lively overview and invitation to further exploration of the British Civil Wars. The hosts encourage curiosity and engagement, reassure listeners that complexity is not a barrier, and promise a series rich with dramatic events and extraordinary characters. Listeners come away with a new appreciation of how the 17th century’s upheaval shaped Britain—and why these stories are still worth untangling today.

For a deeper dive, listen to the full Uprising: The Civil Wars series, and explore the resources mentioned for primary sources and further stories.