Season 6 | BONUS: How did they know the time in the Middle Ages?

Summary

Podcast Summary: "This is History: A Dynasty to Die For"
Episode: Season 6 | BONUS: How Did They Know the Time in the Middle Ages?
Release Date: December 31, 2024
Host: Dan Jones, Historian

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Introduction

In this special bonus episode of Season 6 of "This is History: A Dynasty to Die For", historian Dan Jones takes a brief hiatus from the main narrative to engage directly with his audience through a lively Q&A session. Recorded during the Christmas break, this episode delves into intriguing questions from listeners, offering deeper insights into the complexities of medieval life, the Plantagenet dynasty, and the creative liberties taken in historical fiction.

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New Year's Q&A: Celebrations and Resolutions

Before diving into the audience questions, Dan and his co-host share their New Year's traditions and resolutions, setting a personable tone for the episode.

• Dan's New Year's Plans:
  "I typically like to let off fireworks at any socially acceptable opportunity. And there's a particular type of firework I like to let off. It's a 200 shot barrage called Satanic Desecration. Oh, my God. It's quite expensive..." [(00:55)]
  Dan humorously describes his preference for a dramatic fireworks display, despite his early bedtime plans.

• Co-host's New Year's Eve:
  "New Year's Eve is going to a cabin in the woods with a few friends and feels like the setup for a horror movie." [(01:58)]
  The co-host contrasts Dan's explosive celebration with a more subdued, albeit spooky, gathering in the wilderness.

• Resolutions:
  Dan adopts the classic resolution to ""just carry on" [(02:11)], reflecting a calm and steady approach to the upcoming year.

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Listener Questions

1. Understanding Medieval Dating Systems

Question from Nathan, Tennessee:
"I often hear specific dates mentioned in historical contexts, like October 13, 1270. How were people in the Middle Ages aware of the current date? What dating systems did they use?" [(02:22)]

Dan's Comprehensive Answer:
Dan delves into the intricate and varied dating systems of the Middle Ages, highlighting the absence of a standardized calendar system. He explains multiple concurrent systems:

• Religious-Based Dating:

  • Christmas Year: The year started around Christmas.
  • Annunciation (Lady Day): Marked on March 25th.
  • Easter: Dates fluctuated based on lunar cycles.

• Regnal Year:
  System based on the reign of monarchs, e.g., "the third year of Edward III’s reign" [(04:44)].

• Exchequer Year (Michaelmas):
  Began on September 29th, the feast of St. Michael [(04:44)].

• Pontifical Year:
  Based on the Papal succession.

• Notarial System:
  Divided months into two halves, with unique dating conventions for each half [(05:50)].

Dan emphasizes the complexity and regional variations, noting, "It's very complicated to us. I'm not saying it wasn't complicated to them..." [(06:37)]. He contrasts these medieval systems with today's standardized global timekeeping, making the point that modern date reckoning is a remarkable simplification.

2. Monarch Naming Conventions

Question from Chris, USA:
"I've noticed some monarch names don't carry forward beyond certain numbers, like no second John. Is there an unwritten rule on what names can be used?" [(08:55)]

Dan's Insightful Response:
Dan clarifies that there are no formal rules governing monarch naming but highlights traditional conventions and the influence of historical reputations:

• Conventions Over Rules:
  "I don't think there's a written rule, certainly... There are sort of conventions." [(09:17)]

• Influence of Past Monarchs:
  Negative reputations can lead to the temporary fall out of favor for certain names. For instance, King John’s poor reputation contributed to the scarcity of subsequent monarchs named John [(10:05)].

• Almost-Royal Names:
  He mentions names that could have been used but weren't, such as Alfonso or Thomas, providing hypothetical scenarios where different kings might have ascended the throne [(11:12)].

Dan also touches upon fictional scenarios, like "Anne Boleyn axe murderer," showcasing his playful approach to historical what-ifs [(21:05)].

3. The Myth of Spiral Staircases in Castles

Question from Liz:
"You mentioned that the directional nature of spiral staircases in castles doesn't grant a fighting advantage. However, I've found information about Castle Caius having left-handed staircases. What are your thoughts on this?" [(13:14)]

Dan's Analytical Take:
Dan examines the practicality of left-handed versus right-handed staircases in medieval combat, ultimately debunking the myth:

• Fighting on Staircases:
  "If you're fighting on the staircases, your castle has fallen." [(13:52)]
  He asserts that vertical advantage in combat is negligible if attackers have already breached the castle.

• Handedness in Sword Fighting:
  Comparing to modern sports, Dan discusses how being left-handed offers tactical advantages in tennis but concludes that in sword fighting, handedness doesn't significantly impact effectiveness [(15:00)].

• Conclusion on Spiral Staircases:
  Dan maintains that the direction of staircase spirals doesn't provide a meaningful combat advantage, suggesting the myth lacks substantial historical evidence [(15:44)].

4. Historical Accuracy in "Essex Dogs" Trilogy

Question from Chris:
"I'm reading your 'Essex Dogs' trilogy and curious about the historical accuracy of your characters. For example, is the young Black Prince as bratty as depicted?" [(17:04)]

Dan's Thoughtful Explanation:
Dan discusses his approach to blending historical facts with creative fiction:

• Character Development:
  He admits to infusing his characters with personalities that aren’t extensively documented, allowing for creative freedom. For instance, the bratty nature of the Black Prince is a fictional embellishment to add depth and storytelling flair [(17:27)].

• Historical Flexibility:
  "The Black Prince... started morphing more and more into this really weird little brat," he explains, emphasizing that the lack of detailed historical records permits such characterizations [(18:00)].

• Balancing Fact and Fiction:
  While maintaining historical authenticity where possible, Dan uses creative licenses to enrich the narrative, ensuring that his characters remain engaging and relatable without straying from known facts [(19:51)].

5. Top Plantagenet Sites to Visit in France

Question from Nathan:
"What are your top five must-see Plantagenet-related sites in France?" [(21:33)]

Dan's Enthusiastic Recommendations:
Dan offers a curated list of historical sites associated with the Plantagenet dynasty, blending personal enthusiasm with historical significance:

1. Château Gaillard:
   "Ruins on the Seine halfway between Paris and Rouen. Richard the Lionheart's big castle." [(22:05)]
   Noted for its formidable architecture and association with Richard the Lionheart.

2. Rouen Cathedral:
   "Richard the Lionheart's heart is buried here." [(22:07)]
   A site of both architectural beauty and historical lore.

3. Chinon Castle:
   "HQ of Henry II is also quite well presented on the river Vienne." [(22:07)]
   Central to the administration of Henry II’s reign.

4. Fontevrault Abbey:
   "See the tomb effigies of Henry II, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Richard, and Isabella of Angouleme." [(22:05)]
   A significant burial site for Plantagenet royalty.

5. Angers Castle:
   "Eleanor of Aquitaine was briefly imprisoned here. It houses incredible apocalypse tapestries." [(22:07)]
   Offers rich historical context and stunning artistic displays.

Bonus Recommendation:

• Normandy Beaches, St. Baloûg, Cottingham Peninsula:
  "Reflect on what it was like when Edward III's flotilla came across in 1346." [(22:07)]
  A site of both medieval and World War II historical significance.

Dan humorously adds, "Can fall into the sand and bloody your nose and cosplay Edward III if you so well," suggesting visitors embrace the historical ambiance [(22:08)].

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Conclusion

This bonus episode of "This is History: A Dynasty to Die For" offers a delightful blend of scholarly insights and engaging anecdotes, enriched by listener interactions. Dan Jones adeptly navigates complex historical topics, making medieval history accessible and entertaining. From unraveling the convoluted dating systems of the Middle Ages to exploring the personal touches in historical fiction, Dan provides a comprehensive and enjoyable exploration for both history enthusiasts and casual listeners alike.

For more engaging historical content, listeners are encouraged to subscribe to ThisIsHistory Plus and explore additional episodes available on Apple Podcasts or the official website.

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Notable Quotes:

• "It's very complicated to us. I'm not saying it wasn't complicated to them." [(06:37)]
• "If you're fighting on the staircases, your castle has fallen." [(13:52)]
• "I wanted to write a sort of horror type novel called Anne Boleyn axe murderer..." [(20:27)]
• "Your data is yours. Keep it that way." [ProtonMail Advertisement, skipped per instructions]

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This episode underscores the enduring fascination with the Plantagenet dynasty and the intricate tapestry of medieval life, all while showcasing Dan Jones's ability to make history both informative and entertaining.

Transcript

[A]

NPR's Throughline podcast sort of feels like stepping into a time machine. Each episode, our Peabody Award winning show travels beyond the headlines. To answer the question, how did we get here? Listen to one of Apple's favorite podcasts of 2024 by searching for Throughline on Apple Podcasts or on your favorite podcast app.

[B]

Hello, everyone and Happy New Year. While we're off for the Christmas break, here's a special Q and A from over on thisishory plus where I've been answering subscriber questions about all things medieval. Enjoy.

[A]

Hi, Dan. Happy New Year.

[B]

Happy New Year.

[A]

What are your New Year's Eve plans?

[B]

I typically like to let off fireworks at any socially acceptable opportunity. And there's a particular type of firework I like to let off. It's a 200 shot barrage called Satanic Desecration. Oh, my God. It's quite expensive, but I gotta deal with my local firework supplier, so I intend to let off a Satanic desecration. The trouble is I go to bed really early, so I'll probably let off some fireworks at about 9 o'clock and then go to bed. How's your new year gonna work out?

[A]

Well, before I tell you about my new year, I wanna know about this Satanic desecration. Why do you like it so much? Is it.

[B]

Sorry, I just said the name is Satanic Desecration. Why the hell do you think I like it so much? Called Satanic Desecration? No, it's a very violent barrage of fireworks and you only have to light one fuse. It's much lower risk with Satanic desecration. You like one fusion retreat and then.

[A]

It'S just bang, bang, bang, bang, bang.

[B]

Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang. 200 times. Yeah.

[A]

Amazing at 9:00.

[B]

Yeah. What are you gonna do?

[A]

Bane of the dogs of the neighbourhood. My stand, New Year's Eve is going to a cabin in the woods with a few friends and feels like the.

[B]

Setup for a horror movie. Yeah, fair enough.

[A]

Any New Year's resolutions?

[B]

Just carry on.

[A]

Just keep calm and carry on.

[B]

Keep going.

[A]

That sounds like a good one. Well, let's get into some questions from the listeners. First up, we have a great one from Nathan in Tennessee.

[B]

Hey, Nathan.

[A]

Hello, Nathan. Thanks for writing in. So he says, hi, Dan. I love the show.

[B]

Thank you.

[A]

I've heard every episode. And he's been a bonus subscriber from the beginning.

[B]

Fantastic. Thank you, Nathan. Thank you for. Is there more?

[A]

There's a question, but that's the end of the compliments.

[B]

Thank you for those compliments.

[A]

So he says you often reference very specific dates, like it was October 13, 1270, whatever. And I'm curious how you're so sure. Was everyone aware of the current date? Were their calendars just the clergy and nobles and were they aware every day? Or did someone from time to time say, it's June 1st again? I think about it every time you say it.

[B]

Well, Nathan, in some ways you're going to wish you'd just stuck to compliments because this is. This is a can of worms. It's the original can of worms. Dating systems in the modern world are so simple. I think we've talked about this in the dim and distant past. Yes. We have sort of different means of reckoning the year, quote unquote in the modern world. For example, the academic year in the UK at any rate runs like roughly September through June, July. Whereas the financial year runs roughly April to April. Not roughly exactly April to April, when the main year runs January. That's child's play compared to the Middle Ages, and it is a miracle that anybody knew what day it was. I'm going to quickly take you through most of the systems for dating, but I don't think I've got them all.

[A]

Okay, hang in there, Nathan.

[B]

Right, here are the concurrent dating systems that are all basically at play in the Middle Ages. The year is dated from Christmas.

[A]

Uh huh.

[B]

It can also be dated from the Annunciation, which is Lady Day. 25th of March. Lady Day, Lady Day. Fun fact. Actually the UK tax year at the moment runs 6th of April to 6th of April. Yeah, that is technically Lady Day. 25th March. It's just that the Exchequer never reckoned the date adjustment from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar that happened in the 18th century.

[A]

This is already confusing.

[B]

Good. It's supposed to be. The year is dated from Easter. In the Middle Ages, the year is also sometimes given as the regnal year. So it's like three. Edward III would be probably 1330 or it might spill into what we'd call 1331.

[A]

Oh, like the third year of his reign kind of thing.

[B]

Yeah. Dated from his access. There's an Exchequer year which is dated from Michaelmas. That's 29th of September, Michaelmas. There's the feast of St. Michael. There's a Pontifical year which is dated from Popes. Thank you. And people also recognize that January 1st was New Year's Day. So that's just getting the year. So you can use any of those systems to describe what year it is. Then there's the Small matter of what day it is. You might say in the sort of Roman style. Well, it's the 27th of January. You could do that. But oftentimes the date will be given in relation to a given saints day. Sometimes, like Michaelmas, that saint's day is on a fixed day of the year, 29th of September. Not necessarily, because some holy days, like Easter is the most obvious one is the Sunday that falls after the first full moon following the 21st of March. Or is it the 22nd, I forget. So that can vary. And then you've got another system which is called the notarial system. This isn't used that many, but notaries use this. So each month under this system is divided into two portions of either 15 or 16 days and the date is given according to the position in that block of 15 days. But in the first half of the month you work forwards in the block and in the second half of the month you work backwards. So what if I were to say to you, Georgia, that today is the fourth of the first half of January? I would mean it's January 4th, but if I were to say it's the fourth of the second half of January, I would actually mean it's the 28th of January.

[A]

What on earth were they thinking? Why make it so complicated?

[B]

It's very complicated to us. I'm not saying it wasn't complicated to them. Oh, and I haven't even told you about hours of the day. But I just don't think we could. I've already made my point.

[A]

I kind of want to know about hours.

[B]

Okay, well, there's the Roman system of hours, which is sunrise to sunset and sunset to sunrise. So two equal portions of the day, except they're not equal because the day varies in length with the seasons. So the length of one hour depends on a twelfth of the portion of daylight or a twelfth of the portion of day. Oh, they squish over winter squishes so it elongates and contracts. Then you have the canonical hours, which are before, like clock time. So there are seven canonical offices at which time monks will be singing prayers. So they go matins, prime, ter, sex, nones, vespers, compline, but they also vary in length with the seasons. Those listeners who like naval history will have to reckon when they do some research that nautical hours aren't reckoned from midnight to midnight, they're reckoned from midday to midday. There are lots of systems going on now. It is complicated. You're not using all the systems at the same time. You're using the one that, like, suits you best, given what your profession is or what your, you know, what your needs are. It seems, I think, weirder to us than it would have seemed to other generations in the past, given that we live in a quote unquote globalized world and with, like, financial markets and with international dialing, where you kind of need like a regularized system of timekeeping so that if you're in LA and I call you, we can work out exactly what a given moment is. And we've really rationalized timekeeping and datekeeping in the 21st century. Not the same in the Middle Ages. Nathan, next time just stick with the compliments, man, but thank you for listening to the show. I hope I haven't, like, stopped you after a beautiful run.

[A]

Well, that was a lot. Let's move from timings and dates to names.

[B]

Oh, God.

[A]

This comes from Chris, also from the US they say. As a listener of the podcast and reader your works, I've noticed some monarch names don't carry forward the Richards stop at third. There's been no second John. I was wondering, is there a rule, unwritten or otherwise, on what names can be used? Are there others beyond John and Richard, where we're not likely to see another one because they ended so badly?

[B]

Yeah, great question. I don't think there's a written rule, certainly. It's not like, you know, you hear of. Sometimes you hear of this. I don't know if it's real or not. These countries where some. You're not allowed to call yourself silly things. People say, oh, New Zealand, you can't call yourself. I don't know. I don't know if that's really true, if that's just something I saw on the Internet once. There's not a rule like that, so far as I can tell, in England, but there are sort of conventions. The most obvious One is from 1066 onwards, the sort of. With one notable except or two notable exceptions, really. The days of the Ethel stands and the Edwards die out for a bit. And you have French names come in. William, Richard, John, Henry, rather than the sort of old Saxon names, of course. And we've discussed this in the main episodes before, when Edward I is christened Edward I, it's like, wow, what a funky kind of throwback name that is to Saxon times that Henry III's come up with. So. So names kind of move in and out with regard to the question of do any kings sort of like kill a name forever? You often hear about John say, well, Bad King John was so bad, there were no more Johns. Not quite. I mean, Edward III had a brother called John. So Edward III dies, some childhood illness, you're gonna get a John ii. I think Richard III really does like shit on the name Richard. You know, it's a long time before there are any male princes that I can think of who are named Richard. And although there's, you know what, Richard, Duke of Gloucester today was at one point, fifth in line to the throne, I think the late queen's cousin. There's ages when there are no Richards. So maybe Richard III does, like kill off Richard for a bit.

[A]

It's that bad.

[B]

I think it's also just as a sort of a little coda to that. It's interesting that there are some names which we almost had as like royal names.

[A]

Alfonso.

[B]

Alfonso I would have been King of England had he survived and succeeded his father, Edward I. You might well have had a King Thomas I if Henry, the future Henry V had died at the Battle of Shrewsbury in 1403.

[A]

A King Thomas.

[B]

No, King Thomas's.

[A]

There should be a Thomas.

[B]

Well, you write in not to this podcast, but to the royal family. Yep. So there are some names we almost got but didn't.

[A]

Nice. Do you want to know a fact that unites our previous two questions about names and dates? In France, you have to name your dog after a letter of the Alphabet that corresponds to the year. So all dogs from one year begin with like B.

[B]

Don't believe you.

[A]

It's true.

[B]

It's true.

[A]

It's true.

[B]

Who's controlling what you call your dog?

[A]

The government. How le government?

[B]

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[A]

We have Another question. Well, this is a sort of a response to something from earlier in the season. This is from Liz, who has actually has a personal connection to a spiral staircase. So you said in one of the episodes that it's actually a myth that the clockwise or anti clockwise nature of the stairs means that you can fight down them. And Liz has dug out some information about a specific castle, Castle Caer, where they've actually they're left handed and they've got a staircase going the other way. So they were very basically devastated to hear you bust this myth and wanted to know what you thought about that.

[B]

Liz, what are you doing to me? I said it before, I'll say it again. If you're fighting on the staircases, your castle has fallen. And also this only works if you're upstairs and you're fighting down the stairs. If for some reason the bad guys have got in the upstairs. Your whole staircase like scheme, whether it's built to fight left handed or right handed, is shitted up to buggery. Frankly. I was thinking about fighting sword fighting left handed and whether that conferred an advantage because I think that the curs who Liz mentioned are supposedly predominantly left handed, although she says I'm not and neither is any of my family. But I was wondering if, given that the assumption of these staircases is most swordsmen are right handed, whether there would be an advantage or disadvantage to sword fighting left handed. My thought there was tennis, right? Do you know the story of Rafa Nadal, recently retired great legend of men's tennis?

[A]

No.

[B]

Rafa Nadal, a right handed child, was taught by his uncle Tony Nadal, his coach, to play left handed because you have somewhat of an advantage as a left handed tennis player, supposedly because the angle of your forehand drags a right handed player way out wide on their backhand. Now, the same is true that a right handed serve drags a left handed player way out on their back. But the idea is that right handed players have much less experience of playing left handed players. So some people think it's better to be a lefty in tennis. Yes. And I had a little look into this in the realm of sword fighting. And the consensus among people who know about it was makes no difference.

[A]

Oh, really?

[B]

No one mentioned anything to do with the spiral staircase?

[A]

No. Well, maybe there should be a mythbusters episode. We should get some sword fighters on some staircases.

[B]

Yeah, I think this is really gonna be the only way we can figure this out is we have to hire a castle. You and I will train for months if not years in the art of medieval sword play.

[A]

Wait, are you left handed?

[B]

No.

[A]

Neither am I. I'm.

[B]

In fact, I'm very right handed.

[A]

Very right.

[B]

You know, there are degrees of handedness.

[A]

I did not know this.

[B]

There are degrees of handedness and you can be extremely left handed, extremely right handed, or somewhere in the middle. And I'm so right handed that when I was a student, I used to get money by going to have my brain scanned in a brain scanner while doing like cognitive tests because I was like freakishly right handed. And what that means is in certain sports, cricket, golf, baseball, I would play left handed because I'm so right handed dominant that that has to basically be my top hand or I can't actually play. What? Just. Just laying some facts on.

[A]

You're a medical marvel.

[B]

If I was gonna fight, if I. So weirdly, maybe I would be a lefty in. If we were fighting with very big swords that required two hands to hold them.

[A]

This is blowing my mind. You're so right handed that you have to be left handed. Let's talk about your book, Essex Dogs.

[B]

Oh, my God. Thank you.

[A]

From another Chris. They say I'm currently working my way through your Essex Dogs trilogy. And I'm really interested in understanding how much historical evidence there is for the different personalities you've given to your characters. Were they based on real historical accounts? For instance, was the young Black Prince really as bratty as he comes across in the book? And did the Earl of Northampton really have such a colorful way of speaking? So what do you think?

[B]

Yes, well, I'm asked this quite a lot because the Black Prince as personified in my Essex Dogs trilogy. Well, a brat is, to put it mildly, I sort of gave him the seeds of that personality in order to pay off the line at the Battle of Crecy, which we talked about in the main season of this Is History that's going on at the moment where his father says, oh, my son's in trouble. Let him win his spurs. And I thought was like, why would a father say such a thing about his son? Well, it could be that he's a 16 year old, like total brat and the father is completely exasperated and has had enough of him. And once I'd. Here's the thing about writing fiction. You only drip like the tiniest bit of sort of personality formula into a character. And the experience of writing fiction is that when it's working, the characters just take on this life of their own and you, the writer, are just sort of like eavesdropping and Writing down what they say. And so the Black Prince, like, started morphing more and more and more into this really weird little brat. But for me, that kind of firstly doesn't really contradict any known evidence because there's so little of it about his personality as a child. So you can sort of like, have fun with that. As regards William Debun, Earl of Northampton, who in my Essex Dogs novels gets most of the best lines and is a sort of swaggering, foul mouthed individual. Well, there's very little recorded or known of William de Boone, Earl of Northampton in terms of his personality and speech.

[A]

Oh, this is De Boon.

[B]

This is De Boon, right. And when I sort of dropped him into the story, I already had Thomas Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, who was a sort of very sort of dashing, you know, white teeth, kind of bouffant hair, da dum da dum kind of lord. I thought, I can't have another one of those. And I had in my head a video I'd seen like 20, 25 years ago of an English football soccer manager called Neil Warnock berating his team. And he's a sort of manager who's like, foul mouthed, always having a go at people, but, like, would also like, die for them, really loves them. And it was just that I thought, well, let's put that personality drop into William Debun, Earl of Northampton. And so he became. That's who he became. It is fiction.

[A]

You base it off the sources and then, yeah.

[B]

Cause otherwise, why bother writing fiction? You may as well, you know, stick to nonfiction. I'm having some fun. I never think I've ever pretended to be doing anything else. I think it's totally weird and I'm not gonna name any names. When you come across these, like, historical fiction writers who are. Some of them are dead, who are like, my work is just so infused with the history. It's all so authentic. This is so annoying and pedantic and also, I believe, fundamentally misunderstands the point of doing historical fiction saying that. Would you. I'm not naming any names saying that.

[A]

Would you ever go Quentin Tarantino in Inglourious Basterds and actually change one of the historical events in your fiction books?

[B]

Quentin Tarantino's like, I'm just gonna go like Hog Wild and do something weird. Cause I can, because I'm Tarantino. But also, this is just an approach to historical fiction for ages. No one steal this idea because I'm gonna do it. I wanted to write a sort of horror type novel called Anne Boleyn axe murderer, in which Anne Boleyn is like Anne Boleyn at the court of Henry viii. And that sort of like, in many ways it's super legit, but she's also like a demented axe murderer and in the end, like hacks Henry VIII to bits with her axe.

[A]

Yes, Right.

[B]

You like it?

[A]

I'm great. I'm interested. You like it.

[B]

You're not sitting there going, it didn't really happen. The sources don't support that. That's not your voice. That's.

[A]

Yeah. Wait a minute.

[B]

That's not how you talk.

[A]

Thank you very much. I think that'd be a good book. It'd be a better movie. Well, get Netflix on the phone.

[B]

Not yet. I haven't written it. I need to write it. And then. Yeah.

[A]

I don't want to give you more writing to do.

[B]

Nobody steal that idea. And in the meantime, you heard it here first. Yes.

[A]

Finally, we've got a nice question. This has come in from another Nathan, so it's all Nathan's and Chris's emailing us this week. If you have a different name, please do send in a question so we can add some variety to it. But this is a lovely question. It's about travel. Nathan wants to know what your top 5 must see Plantagenet visits are in France.

[B]

Well, this is a good question. I mean, there's a lot of competition. I'm going to give you six rather than five, so five plus a bonus. You've got to see Shadow Gaillard on.

[A]

The, you know, Richard the Lionheart's big castle.

[B]

Richard the Lionheart's big castle. Ruins of on the Seine halfway between Paris and Rouen. I think you should see Rouen Cathedral. Richard the Lionheart's heart is buried in Rouen Cathedral. I think Chinon Castle, sort of HQ of Henry II is also quite well presented on the river Vienne. Well presented for tourists. Gotta go to Fontevrault. See the tomb effigies of Henry ii, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Richard and Isabella of Angouleme, Angers Castle. Eleanor of Aquitaine was briefly imprisoned. That's worth going to. It's mostly worth going to because it has these incredible apocalypse tapestries on display. And the basement makes it sound in a beautiful gallery at the bottom of the castle. And then the bonus would be, I think you should go out to the Normandy beaches, St. Balloug, Cottertown peninsula. Obviously you have the D Day history, the Second World War history, but I think, you know, you can also stand on the beaches and reflect on what it was like when Edward III's flotilla came across in 3046.

[A]

Fall over into the sand and you.

[B]

Can fall into the sand and bloody your nose and cosplay Edward III if you so well. I hope you enjoyed that. If you want to hear more or have your own questions answered on the show, please do become a subscriber over on ThisIsHistory Plus. Just go to ThisIsHistoryPod.com or head to Apple Podcasts and click Try Free to start your free trial today. I'll be back next week for the story of Edward III's tremendous attempt to catch Calais with one of the longest sieges in Plantagenet history. See you then.