History Rage

James I wasn’t weak, stupid, or slobbering — history got lazy

James I has gone down in history as a disappointment, a fool, a drunken slob — a king wedged awkwardly between Elizabeth I and Charles I and remembered largely for what others did to him. But what if almost everything you think you know about James I is wrong?

Historian and author Gareth Russell returns for a record-breaking fifth appearance to dismantle the enduring caricature of James I of England and VI of Scotland. From supposed physical deformities and “slobbering” table manners to accusations of cowardice, weakness, and religious extremism, Gareth takes aim at centuries of lazy myth-making and historical snobbery.

Drawing directly on contemporary sources, Gareth explains why the image of James as a grotesque failure tells us far more about xenophobia, propaganda, and bad history than it does about the man himself.

This episode explores:
Why James I became the “unpopular in-between king” of British history
How English and Scottish prejudice shaped his posthumous reputation
The truth behind claims of physical deformity and drunken incompetence
James’s surprisingly effective rule in Scotland — and why people wept when he left
His deep commitment to peace and how he kept Britain out of the Thirty Years’ War
The complex reality of his religious views, Catholic toleration, and hatred of Puritan extremism
His dangerous but evolving obsession with witchcraft and the long shadow of Daemonologie
How and why James authorised the King James Bible — and how involved he really was
Why his failure to unite England and Scotland politically haunted his reign

This is not an exercise in rehabilitation or hero-worship. As Gareth makes clear, James I was deeply flawed — but he was also intelligent, scholarly, peace-driven, and far more effective than history likes to admit.

If you’ve ever repeated the myths, laughed at the caricature, or dismissed James I outright — this episode is your invitation to rage at bad history and demand better.

Live Appearance Announcement
📍 Gareth Russell is speaking at the Katharine of Aragon Festival
🗓 31 January & 1 February
🎟 In-person tickets and digital passes available here:
https://peterborough-cathedral.org.uk/about/history/katharine-of-aragon/kofa_26/
Gareth’s festival talk explores the powerful and emotionally complex relationship between James I and his mother, Mary Queen of Scots, whose remains were once held at Peterborough Cathedral.

About the Guest: Gareth Russell
Gareth Russell is a historian, broadcaster, and bestselling author specialising in early modern Britain and Europe.

Books:
Queen James: The Life and Loves of James I https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9780008660857
The Palace: 500 Years of History at Hampton Court https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9780008437015
Podcast:
Single Malt History with Gareth Russell: https://open.spotify.com/show/1WESbOrpImFKKF55tfYYYj
Follow Gareth Russell:
Website: https://www.garethrussell.co.uk
X / Twitter: @garethrussell1

About History Rage
History Rage is the podcast where professional historians come armed with evidence — and fury — to tear down historical myths, misinformation, and lazy storytelling.
Hosted by Paul Bavill, History Rage challenges everything you think you know about the past and demands better standards from popular history.

Follow History Rage:
All Social Media: @HistoryRage
Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major platforms

Support the podcast:
History Rage is proudly independent. You can support the show, access bonus content, and help keep historians raging by backing the podcast on Patreon. www.patreon.com/historyrage

If you care about truth, nuance, and calling nonsense what it is — this one’s for you.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Templars weren’t the greatest, the longest-lasting, or even the most useful of the medieval military orders.

⚔️ Forget the Bloody Templars. It's Time for the Knights Hospitaller.
In this fiery episode of History Rage, host Paul Bavill is joined by historian Rory MacClellan (author of Warrior Monks: Politics and Power in Mediaeval Britain) to tear down the Templar myth and put the spotlight where it belongs—on the far more fascinating Knights Hospitaller.

🔥 The Hospitallers: Beyond the Crusades Rory rages against the obsession with Templars in films, books, and conspiracy theories. He argues the Hospitallers were more interesting and important, with a much longer history, existing as an active military force for almost 600 years. Unlike their rivals, the Hospitallers had a dual purpose: they founded hospitals to care for pilgrims and the sick, a function they maintained throughout their history, from Jerusalem to Rhodes to Malta. After losing the Holy Land in 1291, they successfully reinvented themselves as a naval power, while the Templars failed to adapt and were wiped out.

🏰 Politics, Intrigue, and Beheadings Far from being mere crusaders, the Hospitallers were significant landowners and powerbrokers across Europe, a role that drew them into local politics. Rory shares gripping stories of their deep entanglement in royal courts, civil conflicts, and even assassination plots. Key examples include:
Prior Robert Hales: A royal admiral and treasurer, Hales was seen as responsible for a new poll tax and became a specific target during the Peasants' Revolt of 1381. He was dragged from the Tower of London by a mob and beheaded at Tower Hill. In a shocking betrayal, three of his own servants were among the mob that burned his priory and were present at his execution.
Prior John Langstrother: He got involved in the Wars of the Roses, initially siding with Henry VI and later joining Edward IV. After switching his allegiance to the Earl of Warwick and the Lancastrian cause, Langstrother was captured after the Battle of Tewkesbury in 1471 and beheaded on a scaffold outside the abbey.

💡 Legacy That Outlived the Hype So why did the Hospitallers survive when the Templars burned? They acquired their own independent base on Rhodes, which was far away from rulers like the King of France who went after the Templars. They also had a reputation for charity and ran a big network of hospitals, a function the Templars did not have. The Hospitallers' legacy as both warriors and caregivers kept them relevant for 600 years. Today, their legacy is still alive—long after the Templars vanished into myth.

📚 Guest Info Find more from Rory MacClellan in Warrior Monks: Politics and Power in Mediaeval Britain. Support independent bookshops and authors through this link : https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9781803996776
Follow Rory on X: @RFMacLellan

❤️ Support History Rage Enjoying the rage? Back us on Patreon or Apple for early episodes, bonus content, and the coveted History Rage mug.
👉 www.patreon.com/historyrage

🔗 Follow History Rage Twitter: @historyrage
Facebook: History Rage
Instagram: @historyrage

Stay angry. Stay curious. And never stop questioning the myths.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

She wasn’t a pawn — Lady Jane Dudley was shaped by power, politics and purpose

For centuries she has been remembered as Lady Jane Grey: the tragic, passive “Nine Days’ Queen.” - But what if that story is wrong?

In this episode of History Rage, host Paul Bavill is joined by historian and author Dr Joanne Paul to rage against one of Tudor history’s most persistent myths — the erasure of Lady Jane Dudley and the deliberate sidelining of the Dudley dynasty from her story.
This conversation dismantles the idea of Jane as a helpless victim of ruthless men and instead reveals a highly educated, politically aware young woman who understood exactly what the Tudor succession crisis meant — and what it might cost her. Drawing on contemporary evidence, Dr Paul explores Jane’s agency, intelligence and religious conviction, and explains why the Dudleys became convenient scapegoats once Mary I reclaimed the throne.

As the discussion widens, the episode exposes the brutal realities of Tudor power: shifting loyalties, manufactured villainy, and the dangerous fiction of “legitimate” succession. From Edward VI’s handwritten Device for the Succession to the execution of John Dudley and the astonishing rehabilitation of Robert Dudley under Elizabeth I, this is a deep dive into how dynasties rise, fall — and rise again.

Crucially, this episode also restores women to the centre of the narrative. From Jane Dudley herself to Jane, Duchess of Northumberland, the Dudley women emerge as formidable political operators whose influence shaped events long after the axe fell.

If you think you know the story of Lady Jane Grey, this episode will change your mind.

Key themes explored
Why “Lady Jane Grey” is a historical misnomer
Jane Dudley’s education, intellect and political awareness
The Dudley family’s central role in the Tudor succession crisis
Edward VI’s intentions — and misconceptions — about succession
Scapegoating, propaganda and Tudor myth-making
The power and resilience of Dudley women
Robert Dudley’s improbable rise at Elizabeth I’s court
What the Dudleys reveal about loyalty, ambition and survival in Tudor England

Festival Info:
The Katherine of Aragon Festival Talks are on January 31st and February 1st 2026 at Peterborough Cathedral:
Tickets are available at: https://peterborough-cathedral.org.uk/about/history/katharine-of-aragon/kofa_26/

About the guest
Dr Joanne Paul is a historian, writer and public historian specialising in Tudor politics, power and reputation. She is the author of The House of Dudley, a groundbreaking study of one of Tudor England’s most misunderstood dynasties, and has consulted on major television productions including My Lady Jane.

Follow & contact Dr Joanne Paul
Social Media: @drjoannepaul
Book: The House of Dudley: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9781405937191

About History Rage
History Rage is the podcast where historians stop being polite and start getting angry — debunking myths, challenging lazy narratives and reclaiming complexity from centuries of oversimplification.
Follow History Rage
Website: https://historyrage.com
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/historyrage
Social media: @HistoryRage (all major platforms)

Support the podcast
Join Patreon for live episode recordings, exclusive content and the coveted History Rage mug
Listen ad-free via Apple Podcasts or Patreon
Leave a review — it helps more people find the show
Share the rage with a friend and grow the movement

If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like:
Episode 252: Dr Joanne Paul on the myth of Thomas More’s martyrdom: https://pod.fo/e/34939e
Episode 171: Joanna Strong rages against the “Bloody Mary” label: https://pod.fo/e/299de6

Until next time — stay angry.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why the Jack the Ripper legend is completely useless.

Get ready to hear the truth behind the headlines with social historian Hallie Rubenhold. Her groundbreaking book, The Five, challenges everything you thought you knew about the case by focusing on the victims, not the killer.

Hallie explains why the endless speculation about Jack the Ripper's identity is "useless" and built on "pure mythology". As a trained museum curator, she argues that applying modern DNA testing is impossible due to tainted evidence and a lack of provenance for objects. The real "restorative justice," she argues, comes from understanding the lives of the women themselves.

Discover the shocking reality of the five women's lives, which were far more complex than the common "prostitute" label suggests. Hallie reveals that only two of the women, Elizabeth Stride and Mary Jane Kelly, were known to engage in sex work.

You'll learn:
Polly Nichols was the daughter of a blacksmith who left her husband and children after they secured a home in one of London's first social housing buildings.
Annie Chapman came from a surprisingly middle-class background, with a father who served in the Queen's lifeguard. Her life was tragically impacted by her struggle with alcoholism.
Elizabeth Stride was born in Sweden and was known to be a "con artist".
Catherine Eddowes came from a large family and had a difficult, nomadic existence, traveling the country selling ballads with her partner.
Mary Jane Kelly, the youngest victim, may have had a different name and was said to be a skilled artist—an accomplishment reserved for the middle class at the time.

Hallie argues that the Victorian press and police unfairly labelled these women based on moral judgment, and that this same bias influenced investigations much like it did with the Yorkshire Ripper case decades later. The true value of history, she says, is not to romanticize the past but to "shock" us with the "ugly shit" of truth.
Join us and rage against the myths that have long obscured the truth.

Guest Information
Learn more about Hallie’s work and get your copy of The Five here: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9781784162344
Follow Hallie Rubenhold on social media: @hallierubenhold.

Support History Rage on Patreon
If you're enjoying this episode, please consider supporting the show. Your support helps us to continue to produce well-researched episodes and bring you unique and compelling conversations with experts who are as passionate and angry about history as we are!

As a thank you, you'll receive access to a range of exclusive benefits, including:
Exclusive Content: Access to bonus episodes and behind-the-scenes content.
Early Access: Be the first to listen to new episodes before anyone else.
The Iconic History Rage Mug: Show your support with some exclusive merchandise.

Join the History Rage community here: patreon.com/historyrage.

Stay connected with History Rage
Twitter: @HistoryRage
Facebook: History Rage
Instagram: @historyrage

From all of us at History Rage, stay curious, stay passionate, and above all—stay angry!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stop pitting Tudor queens against each other and confront the real villain.

Two of the most famous women in Tudor history are still framed as enemies—but what if that story is fundamentally wrong?

In this History Rage festival special for the Katherine of Aragon Festival, castle historian and Assistant Curator of Hever Castle, Kate McCaffrey, dismantles the deeply entrenched myth that Katherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn were bitter rivals defined by loyalty versus seduction. Instead, this conversation reveals two strikingly similar women shaped by education, intelligence, faith, and survival in a brutally patriarchal court.

Kate draws on her original research into Anne Boleyn’s Books of Hours—including a remarkable discovery that both Anne and Katherine owned copies of the same edition—to expose moments of shared piety, cultural sophistication, and even reluctant solidarity. These sources challenge simplistic labels such as “Catholic martyr” and “Protestant temptress” and reveal how both queens were politically astute, internationally educated, and fiercely protective mothers to England’s first two queens regnant.

The episode explores how Henry VIII’s needs, insecurities, and ambition have long been obscured by narratives that pit women against each other. From Katherine’s prolonged legal resistance to Anne’s calm dignity in the face of a foregone conclusion, this is a reassessment of queenship, downfall, and legacy that puts responsibility firmly back where it belongs.

If you’re interested in Tudor history, women’s power, religious reform, or how historical myths are created and sustained, this episode offers a compelling, evidence-based rethink of one of the most enduring rivalries in popular history.

Festival Info:
The Katherine of Aragon Festival Talks are on January 31st and February 1st 2026 at Peterborough Cathedral:
Tickets are available at: https://peterborough-cathedral.org.uk/about/history/katharine-of-aragon/kofa_26/

Guest: Kate McCaffrey
Kate McCaffrey is Castle Historian and Assistant Curator at Hever Castle, co-creator of Owen & Kate History, and a PhD researcher specialising in Tudor material culture, religion, and queenship.
Follow & contact Kate
Instagram: @kateemccaffreyhistorian
Instagram: @owenandkatehistory
Patreon: Owen & Kate History – monthly videos, articles, and behind-the-scenes curator research
https://www.patreon.com/cw/OwenandKateHistory

More from History Rage
History Rage is the podcast where historians challenge myths, confront bad history, and rage against lazy narratives.
Follow & listen
Instagram / X / Facebook: @HistoryRage
Website : www.historyrage.com
Support the podcast
£3 per month – ad-free listening via Apple Podcasts or Patreon
£5 per month – bonus content, exclusives, and the coveted History Rage mug
Support here: patreon.com/historyrage

Recommended listening
Episode 182 – Anne Boleyn did not withhold sex to become Queen (Nicola Clark) - https://pod.fo/e/2aa892
Episode 155 – In defence of Thomas Boleyn (Lauren Mackay) - https://pod.fo/e/2714d3

History isn’t a catfight.
It’s complicated, political, and far more interesting than the myths we inherit.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.