History Rage

Paul Bavill

Think history is boring? That’s because you’ve only ever heard the fake version. On History Rage, professional historians come in swinging — smashing the myths, clichés, and half-truths that keep getting recycled in classrooms, documentaries, and TikToks. Vikings with horned helmets? Nope. Britain standing alone in 1940? Wrong. Medieval people never bathed? Rubbish. Why listen? Because the truth is way more exciting. You’ll leave every episode with jaw-dropping stories, killer facts to shut down pub bores, and the smug satisfaction of knowing what really happened. 🎧 Episodes drop every Monday. 📲 Follow now and get the history they don’t teach you — raw, raging, and real. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

RIVET COUNTER

Listen to all the episodes before anyone else

$2.99/mo or $34.99/yr after trial

  1. 1d ago

    314. The Fifth Crusade is the coolest Crusade with Thomas Smith

    Forget what you think you know about medieval holy wars. Move over, Richard the Lionheart—the most action-packed, technologically wild campaign happened in the land of the pyramids, and it’s time to stop ignoring it! In this live episode of History Rage, host Paul Bavill sits down with public historian, fellow of the Royal Historical Society, and author Thomas Smith to rescue the Fifth Crusade from historical obscurity. If you think the Crusades were just knights waiting around in a dusty Syrian desert, prepare to have your mind blown by a campaign dominated by amphibious warfare, terrifying medieval technology, and a truly jaw-dropping twist ending. What You’ll Discover in This Episode: The Strategic Shift: Why Western Europe realized that the true key to holding Jerusalem was actually conquering Egypt—the wealthy breadbasket of the Near East.D-Day in 1218: Discover the incredible engineering behind flat-bottomed landing craft, complete with bow ramps for cavalry charges, used 800 years before Normandy.Medieval Napalm & Hand Grenades: Get a breakdown of Greek fire, the terrifying incendiary weapons used on the Nile, and the highly unpleasant acidic liquids required to put them out.The Floating Siege Engine: Meet Oliver of Cologne, the genius German schoolmaster who built a rotating wooden fortress on stilt-ships to conquer the Nile's impenetrable Chain Tower.Snatching Defeat from the Jaws of Victory: How a combination of apocalyptic prophecy, a flooding River Nile, and a massive, poorly-timed wine-drinking session brought the entire campaign crashing down. Links & Resources Mentioned: Buy the Book: Grab your copy of Thomas Smith's ground-breaking new book, The Fifth Crusade: A History of the Epic Campaign to Conquer Egypt, from the History Rage Bookshop.Recommended Episodes:Episode 174: Steve Tibble rages about crime during the Crusades.Episode 300: Aleks Pluskowski rages that Crusades are not all in the Middle East. Connect with the Guest: Instagram: Follow Tom for more incredible medieval insights @medieval_tom Support & Follow History Rage: Join the Rage Train and make sure you never miss an episode where truth is liberated from the infidels! Support us on Patreon: Get exclusive access to live streams, ask questions directly to our guests, and join the community at patreon.com/HistoryRage.Apple Subscriptions: Listen completely ad-free for just £3 per month via your Apple Podcasts app.Spread the Word: If you love the show, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and tell a friend to hop aboard the rage train! Are you ready to look past the myths? Stay angry!  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  2. 2d ago • Subscribers Only

    Civilisation Does Not Start With Romans and Greeks with Patrick Wyman

    Think history is a neat, upward march of progress? Think again. We love to tell ourselves a cozy story about human history: we started as innocent hunter-gatherers in perfect harmony with nature, invented farming, and smoothly leveled up all the way to modern civilization. But Patrick Wyman—historian, author, and creator of the smash-hit Tides of History podcast—is here to tell us that standard textbook narrative is absolute bollocks. In this explosive episode of History Rage, Patrick unleashes on the myth of the "golden age" of human innocence and exposes the messy, chaotic reality of our deep past. The truth? Human prehistory isn’t a straight line—it’s 10,000 years of spectacular booms, violent crashes, and desperate trade-offs. From prehistoric European societies tearing themselves apart in mysterious waves of conflict to sophisticated urban centers that completely rejected the need for kings or rulers, our ancestors weren't floating through an age of innocence. They were just like us: making shit up as they went along, altering their environments, and desperately trying to stay in the game. Plus, Patrick stays fired up to deliver a much-needed, historically accurate beatdown to the internet's favorite conspiracy theory: no, aliens did not build the pyramids. Ready to abandon the march of progress and see our ancestors for who they truly were? Hit play now to get angry, get smart, and look at human history with a whole new perspective. About Our Guest: Patrick Wyman Patrick Wyman is a historian, author, and the brilliant mind behind the massive history podcasts The Fall of Rome and Tides of History. • Buy the Book: Support the podcast and pick up Patrick's incredible new book, The Lost Worlds, directly from the History Rage Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9780063256484 • Listen to the Podcast: Search for Tides of History on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your audio. • Follow Patrick on Threads & Instagram: https://www.threads.net/@wyman_patrick or https://www.instagram.com/wyman_patrick • Follow Patrick on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/patrick_wyman Recommended Additional Episodes If you loved diving into the mysteries of the ancient world, make sure to queue up these recommended episodes of History Rage next: • Episode 17: Caroline Nicolay rages that there was plenty of rich civilization thriving long before the Romans ever turned up. • Episode 132: Professor Jim Leary talks about the deep prehistory of human movement and migration. Support & Follow History Rage History Rage relies entirely on the support of our legendary listeners to keep the rage train rolling. • Support us on Patreon: Get early, ad-free episodes, access to monthly livestreams, and the coveted History Rage mug for just £5 a month: https://www.patreon.com/historyrage • Follow us on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/HistoryRage • Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/HistoryRage • Share the Rage: If you loved this episode, the absolute best thing you can do is leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and tell a friend to get them on board!

  3. 2d ago

    313. Thomas Arundel was NOT a Pantomime Villain with Chris Given-Wilson

    Was England’s greatest medieval villain actually a misunderstood power broker? Thomas Arundel has long been cast as one of the great villains of English history — a persecutor, a political schemer, even the man blamed for burning heretics. But is that reputation deserved, or is it a product of centuries of misunderstanding? In this episode of History Rage, host Paul Bavill is joined by renowned medieval historian Chris Given-Wilson to challenge one of the most persistent myths of the Plantagenet era. Together, they unpack the life, career, and controversies of the Archbishop of Canterbury who stood at the centre of one of England’s most dramatic regime changes. Arundel’s rise was meteoric — from a wealthy noble family to Bishop of Ely at just 20, and eventually Archbishop of Canterbury. But his true influence came during the turbulent transition from Richard II to Henry IV, where he played a decisive role in legitimising the overthrow of a king. Far from a shadowy manipulator, Arundel emerges as a crucial architect of political authority in a deeply unstable England. The episode dives into the chaos of late 14th-century politics: rebellion, deposition, and the uneasy foundations of Lancastrian rule. Arundel wasn’t simply along for the ride — he helped provide the religious and legal justification that made Henry IV’s kingship possible. But it’s Arundel’s association with the suppression of the Lollards that cemented his dark reputation. Were these early reformers brutally persecuted by a tyrannical churchman? Or was Arundel responding to what he genuinely believed was a dangerous and destabilising religious movement? Chris Given-Wilson explores the reality behind the accusations — including the controversial introduction of heretic burning in England. The truth is more complex than the legend: Arundel did not create these laws, but he operated within a system determined to preserve religious unity at a time of crisis. By the end of this episode, the image of Arundel as a pantomime villain begins to crumble. Instead, we see a deeply embedded medieval figure — a man shaped by the politics, religion, and fears of his time. If you think you know the story of medieval power and persecution, think again. 👤 Guest Information Chris Given-Wilson Emeritus Professor of Medieval History, University of St Andrews Book: Archbishop, Chancellor, Kingmaker: Thomas Arundel and the Politics of Late Medieval EnglandAcademic profile: Available via the University of St Andrews website 📚 Buy the Book Support independent bookshops and grab your copy here: 👉 https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9780300286403 🎧 More from History Rage Love challenging historical myths? There’s plenty more where this came from. Episode 184 with Helen Castor on Medieval Royal PoliticsEpisode 220 with Michael Livingston on the Battle of Agincourt 📢 Follow & Contact History Rage 🌐 Website: https://www.historyrage.com📧 Email: historyragepod@gmail.com🐦 Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/historyrage📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyrage📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/historyrage📧 Newsletter: https://historyrage.substack.com/ 💥 Support the Podcast Want more rage in your life? 🎟️ Join Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/historyrageMonthly livestream accessEntry into the book drawSubmit questions to future guestsExclusive History Rage merch🍏 Apple Subscriptions: Listen ad-free for £3/monthOr simply share the podcast and bring someone else aboard the Rage Train 🚂 History isn’t just about what happened — it’s about who gets remembered, and why. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  4. 6d ago

    312. History, Hijacking, and the Poppy Thong: A Rant on War Commemoration with Peter Caddick Adams, and Alex Churchill | IWM History Festival Live 2

    Stop commercializing historical grief and ignoring the true scale of global warfare. Recorded live at the Imperial War Museum Festival, host Paul Bavill sits down with two of History Rage’s favourite returning guests—Dr. Peter Caddick Adams and Alex Churchill—for an unfiltered, hilarious, and deeply insightful look at how we commemorate global conflicts. From the tacky monetization of grief to the complete erasure of French contributions on the Western Front, this live crowd episode pulls no punches. Why has our memory of the First World War become so lazy? The team breaks down the "Airfix School of Military History," explores the forgotten British conflicts post-1945, and takes aim at the deeply problematic world of Axis reenactment cosplay. Finally, they tackle the terrifying future of AI-generated history slop and explain why preserving your personal family archives on physical paper is the ultimate act of historical preservation. Recommended Episodes to Unleash More Rage If you loved this live panel, dive back into the archives with these essential episodes: Episode 75: Dr. Peter Caddick Adams rages on Bernard Montgomery and explains why "Monty" might not be all he’s cracked up to be.Episode 210: Alex Churchill rages against the narrow British lens of the First World War, proving it truly was a global conflict. Featured Book Support the authors who keep history honest. Grab your copy of Alex Churchill's brilliant book, which balances the scales of global wartime contributions: Buy the Book: Ring of Fire: A Global History of the Great War by Alex Churchill. Order directly from the History Rage Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9781035903429 Support and Follow History Rage Help us keep the rage alive! Subscribe, review, and join our community of history lovers who prefer hard truths over comfortable myths. Subscribe to the Newsletter: Get monthly updates on upcoming shows, guests, and future live appearances at https://historyrage.substack.com or visit our main hub at https://www.historyrage.com.Follow Us on Socials: Search for @HistoryRage across all major podcast directories and social media platforms to download, subscribe, and never miss a rant. Stay Angry. Stay Informed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  5. Jul 6 • Subscribers Only

    The Fifth Crusade is the coolest Crusade with Thomas Smith

    Forget what you think you know about medieval holy wars. Move over, Richard the Lionheart—the most action-packed, technologically wild campaign happened in the land of the pyramids, and it’s time to stop ignoring it! In this live episode of History Rage, host Paul Bavill sits down with public historian, fellow of the Royal Historical Society, and author Thomas Smith to rescue the Fifth Crusade from historical obscurity. If you think the Crusades were just knights waiting around in a dusty Syrian desert, prepare to have your mind blown by a campaign dominated by amphibious warfare, terrifying medieval technology, and a truly jaw-dropping twist ending. What You’ll Discover in This Episode: • The Strategic Shift: Why Western Europe realized that the true key to holding Jerusalem was actually conquering Egypt—the wealthy breadbasket of the Near East. • D-Day in 1218: Discover the incredible engineering behind flat-bottomed landing craft, complete with bow ramps for cavalry charges, used 800 years before Normandy. • Medieval Napalm & Hand Grenades: Get a breakdown of Greek fire, the terrifying incendiary weapons used on the Nile, and the highly unpleasant acidic liquids required to put them out. • The Floating Siege Engine: Meet Oliver of Cologne, the genius German schoolmaster who built a rotating wooden fortress on stilt-ships to conquer the Nile's impenetrable Chain Tower. • Snatching Defeat from the Jaws of Victory: How a combination of apocalyptic prophecy, a flooding River Nile, and a massive, poorly-timed wine-drinking session brought the entire campaign crashing down. Links & Resources Mentioned: • Buy the Book: Grab your copy of Thomas Smith's ground-breaking new book, The Fifth Crusade: A History of the Epic Campaign to Conquer Egypt, from the History Rage Bookshop. • Recommended Episodes: o Episode 174: Steve Tibble rages about crime during the Crusades. o Episode 300: Aleks Pluskowski rages that Crusades are not all in the Middle East. Connect with the Guest: • Instagram: Follow Tom for more incredible medieval insights @medieval_tom Support & Follow History Rage: Join the Rage Train and make sure you never miss an episode where truth is liberated from the infidels! • Support us on Patreon: Get exclusive access to live streams, ask questions directly to our guests, and join the community at patreon.com/HistoryRage. • Apple Subscriptions: Listen completely ad-free for just £3 per month via your Apple Podcasts app. • Spread the Word: If you love the show, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and tell a friend to hop aboard the rage train! Are you ready to look past the myths? Stay angry!

  6. Jul 5 • Subscribers Only

    Toxic Conspiracy Culture Completely Ruined the JFK Narrative with Martin Fitzgerald

    Have you ever noticed that the JFK assassination is the only event in history where absolutely everyone feels entitled to an aggressive opinion? 🤬 The rich, human narrative of Dealey Plaza has been completely hijacked by toxic internet debates and dogmatic conspiracy culture. But what if everything we've been arguing over misses the point entirely? 🕵️‍♂️ In this episode, author Martin Fitzgerald joins the pod to rescue history from the shouting matches. We move past the tired political theories to explore the incredible, bizarre, and deeply moving stories of the ordinary, reluctant witnesses who just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. From the absolute chaos of an unpreserved crime scene to government agencies lying out of sheer institutional self-preservation, we unpack how official blunders birthed modern conspiracy culture. We also dive into the fragile nature of memory under trauma—including a witness who swore the six-second shooting lasted five minutes! Plus, Martin finally reveals the idiosyncratic, hilariously human truth behind the infamous "Umbrella Man". Are you ready to drop the dogmatism and enjoy the fascinating mystery of the unknown? Click your favourite player below to stream the episode right now! 🎧 Links & Resources Get the Book: Grab your copy of Martin Fitzgerald's fantastic book, The Umbrella Man and Other Stories, directly from the History Rage Bookshop to support the show: 👉 https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9781837360253 Connect with the Guest: • Follow Martin Fitzgerald on Social Media: @4hundredblows Recommended Companion Episodes: • Episode 54: Stephen Wisdom rages on the moon landing theories. • Episode 265: Hallie Rubenhold rages on why identifying Jack the Ripper is completely pointless. Support & Follow History Rage If you love tearing down historical myths and want to keep the rage alive, here is how you can support our independent podcast: • Become a Patron: Join the Rage Train on Patreon for £5/month to get early, ad-free episodes, access to monthly live streams, and the coveted History Rage mug! 👉 https://www.patreon.com/historyrage • Follow Us: Stay updated with our latest historical rants on social media. • Spread the Word: Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and tell a friend to get aboard the Rage Train!

  7. Jul 5

    311. Victorian England is a hotbed of revolt with Ian Breckon

    Victorian England wasn’t calm and orderly—it was a powder keg with Ian Breckon Victorian England is often remembered as a world of polite manners, strict morality, and orderly progress. But beneath the surface lay unrest, desperation, and rebellion. In this explosive episode of History Rage, host Paul Bavill is joined by historian and novelist Ian Breckon to dismantle the myth of a peaceful Victorian society. Drawing on his research for the book Mad Tom’s Rising, Ian reveals the extraordinary story of Sir William Courtenay—better known as “Mad Tom”—a charismatic imposter who led a rural uprising in Kent in 1838. What followed was violent confrontation, mass mobilisation of labourers, and what has sometimes been described as the last battle fought on English soil. Far from the tranquil image of Victorian England, this episode explores a period rife with poverty, political anxiety, religious fervour, and social upheaval. Ian explains how economic hardship, the legacy of the Poor Laws, and widespread discontent created the conditions for revolt. When “Mad Tom” emerged preaching radical ideas and promising justice for the oppressed, desperate people were ready to follow. Paul and Ian discuss how this forgotten rebellion challenges popular assumptions about the Victorian era. Was England really stable and orderly—or was it simmering with revolutionary potential? And why has this dramatic episode been pushed to the margins of mainstream history? Expect a gripping conversation about imposters, messianic leaders, class anger, and the uneasy reality of life for ordinary people in the early industrial age. About the Guest Ian Breckon is a historical novelist and researcher whose work explores overlooked and dramatic episodes from the past. His book Mad Tom’s Rising tells the extraordinary story of the Courtenay uprising and the social tensions that made it possible. 📚 Buy the book: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9781837732289 Listen to More from History Rage If you enjoy historians tearing down popular myths, subscribe to History Rage wherever you get your podcasts. Follow and support the show: 🌐 Website: https://www.historyrage.com 🐦 Twitter/X: @historyrage 📸 Instagram: @historyrage Support the Podcast Love the show? Help keep the rage alive: ⭐ Subscribe on Apple Podcasts 🎧 Follow on your favourite podcast platform 💥 Join the Patreon community for bonus content and live events: https://www.patreon.com/historyrage Your support helps bring more historians, more myths to dismantle, and more historical rage every week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  8. Jul 3 • Subscribers Only

    History, Hijacking, and the Poppy Thong: A Rant on War Commemoration with Peter Caddick Adams, and Alex Churchill | IWM History Festival Live 2

    Stop commercializing historical grief and ignoring the true scale of global warfare. Recorded live at the Imperial War Museum Festival, host Paul Bavill sits down with two of History Rage’s favourite returning guests—Dr. Peter Caddick Adams and Alex Churchill—for an unfiltered, hilarious, and deeply insightful look at how we commemorate global conflicts. From the tacky monetization of grief to the complete erasure of French contributions on the Western Front, this live crowd episode pulls no punches. Why has our memory of the First World War become so lazy? The team breaks down the "Airfix School of Military History," explores the forgotten British conflicts post-1945, and takes aim at the deeply problematic world of Axis reenactment cosplay. Finally, they tackle the terrifying future of AI-generated history slop and explain why preserving your personal family archives on physical paper is the ultimate act of historical preservation. Recommended Episodes to Unleash More Rage If you loved this live panel, dive back into the archives with these essential episodes: • Episode 75: Dr. Peter Caddick Adams rages on Bernard Montgomery and explains why "Monty" might not be all he’s cracked up to be. • Episode 210: Alex Churchill rages against the narrow British lens of the First World War, proving it truly was a global conflict. Featured Book Support the authors who keep history honest. Grab your copy of Alex Churchill's brilliant book, which balances the scales of global wartime contributions: • Buy the Book: Ring of Fire: A Global History of the Great War by Alex Churchill. Order directly from the History Rage Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9781035903429 Support and Follow History Rage Help us keep the rage alive! Subscribe, review, and join our community of history lovers who prefer hard truths over comfortable myths. • Subscribe to the Newsletter: Get monthly updates on upcoming shows, guests, and future live appearances at https://historyrage.substack.com or visit our main hub at https://www.historyrage.com. • Follow Us on Socials: Search for @HistoryRage across all major podcast directories and social media platforms to download, subscribe, and never miss a rant. Stay Angry. Stay Informed.

See All (410)

Trailers

4.9
out of 5
33 Ratings

About

Think history is boring? That’s because you’ve only ever heard the fake version. On History Rage, professional historians come in swinging — smashing the myths, clichés, and half-truths that keep getting recycled in classrooms, documentaries, and TikToks. Vikings with horned helmets? Nope. Britain standing alone in 1940? Wrong. Medieval people never bathed? Rubbish. Why listen? Because the truth is way more exciting. You’ll leave every episode with jaw-dropping stories, killer facts to shut down pub bores, and the smug satisfaction of knowing what really happened. 🎧 Episodes drop every Monday. 📲 Follow now and get the history they don’t teach you — raw, raging, and real. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Paul Bavill
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    410
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2022-2025 Paul Bavill
  • Show Website
    History Rage
  • Provider
    PAUL BAVILL

You Might Also Like