Is This Earthwork Actually Empress Matilda's Castle From The Anarchy? | Time Team | Chronicle

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  • Опубліковано 10 вер 2024
  • A peaceful waterside field beside the oldest bridge over the higher reaches of the River Thames in Oxfordshire poses the perfect setting for an assault. Time Team set out to uncover what looks like the remains of a large medieval castle buried under the grass. Could this be all that remains of a long-lost fortress built during one of the bloodiest episodes of English history?
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 125

  • @TheTenthDoctorandHisTardis
    @TheTenthDoctorandHisTardis Рік тому +77

    I’m about halfway through watching and the dig is very exciting. It’s sad though that Empress Matilda is not being referred to as such. She was the true heir to the King’s throne, the legitimate crowned Queen of Germany and legitimate Queen of the Romans. While history debates whether she was the Holy Roman Empress, the fact remains, she had more legitimacy to the title of Queen than King Stephen had to call himself King.
    While I know history is written by victors and Stephen had the backing of priests wanting men to be King, it’s really disappointing to see Empress Matilda slighted in the 21st century when we know so much more about her and could more objectively discuss her, acknowledge her achievements, and address her properly.

    • @katherinecooper6159
      @katherinecooper6159 8 місяців тому +4

      And then Tony calls her the "wannabe Queen". Doesn't say much about him and his knowledge of English history.

    • @robert-surcouf
      @robert-surcouf 8 місяців тому

      @TheTenthDoctorandHisTardis If Stephen had not legitimacy, what about Henry 1 who stole the throne to Robert corthose ?

    • @TheTenthDoctorandHisTardis
      @TheTenthDoctorandHisTardis 8 місяців тому +1

      @@robert-surcouf Empress Matilda had a much stronger claim to the throne. Stephan had a lesser claim band ascended merely because he was a male. Let’s not pretend that all monarchies haven’t risen and fallen based on dubious claims throughout the centuries though. In Robert Curthouse’s are, he never even ascended the throne. William the Conqueror gave England to William Rufus and upon his death, Henry mounted a more convincing case for ascension being a direct line from a sitting King and Queen, while Robert was born before his parents ascended. To me, that’s a narrow distinction, however, their brother, William Rufus would never have named Robert as his heir. Robert spent years trying to usurp William Rufus from his inheritance.
      Further, Empress Matilda was Henry I’s anointed heir, therefore she should have ascended. Period. Er Crown was usurped purely out of sexism.

    • @robert-surcouf
      @robert-surcouf 8 місяців тому

      @@TheTenthDoctorandHisTardis Henry 1 doesn't became king because he had a stronger case but because Robert hadn't return from the crusade and Henry onlu used the opportunity.
      If we talk about trying to usurp William, it's very likely that Henry had murdered William in New Forest (just like Robert's son Richard or William 1's second son Richard had died from "accident")
      For the porphyrogeniture, it was only used by the byzantine and the nupe and Henry 1 used it too because it was his only petty card but was never used before or after again in england or any western kingdom.
      William had already made peace with Robert in 1091 and the treaty of Caen named them each other's heir (the "never" happened" at least once) so even if the treaty was denounced in 1093, another peace and treaty could be made between the brothers.
      Even as Henry's anointed heir, Matilda was still a usurper's daughter and Stephen only used Henry 1 petty tactics with Matilda not there just like Robert 35 years before.
      Even if it's still probably bullshit, Stephen and his brother swore that Henry 1 had anointed Stephen on his last breath and take back the oath of the nobles for Matilda.
      Matilda was not victim of sexism but like Robert, was just at the bad place at the bad time.

    • @TheTenthDoctorandHisTardis
      @TheTenthDoctorandHisTardis 8 місяців тому

      @@robert-surcouf we have very different viewpoints on this topic and I’m fine with that. Let’s be honest though, it’s silly to claim Empress Matilda wasn’t a victim of sexism when every historian notes that sworn oaths to her as the annointed heir of Henry I were ignored because she was a woman.
      Robert was NEVER named as a King for England and spent most of his life trying to usurp his father and brothers. William Rufus had no heir and as I noted previously, Henry used an obscure claim and had consolidated support and power enough to be crowned. England had no primogeniture or any other formal passing of the Crown policy set up at the time. Porphyrogeniture was used in France where Henry I spent a great deal of time so he based his claim on that. He succeeded. From my view, Robert was not granted England by his father, William the Conqueror, therefore his claim was based on his desire, not the decree of The Conquerer’s will. William Rufus WAS granted England by their father and was the annointed King. Robert continued to try and usurp his brother until his death and again, wasn’t named as the successor. Henry I was. Then Robert tried to usurp him and finally, after a lifetime of trying to claim a throne and making war with his entire family, he lost everything and died imprisoned.
      I understand you’re looking at this from a primogeniture regard and can respect your position. However, at that point in England’s history, it wasn’t established.
      Thanks for a stimulating debate!

  • @ViridisGames
    @ViridisGames Рік тому +58

    This one was so exciting. Multiple eras of history clashing together at one spot makes for such a great episode and really speaks to the strategic value of the location.

    • @dicostigan1449
      @dicostigan1449 Рік тому

      Strategic? I think it's got more to do with reincarnation and souls wishing to make amends for past failures, e.g. cowardice, disloyalty etc, etc. The current war in Ukraine is a re-play of WWII battles.

  • @MaryAmesMitchell
    @MaryAmesMitchell Рік тому +11

    This is so much fun to watch. Over the last few months, my family has uncovered our ancestry to Empress Matilda through a fellow named Edmond Hawes who immigrated to Cape Cod Massachusetts in 1635. We are centuries later in California tracing our ancestors back to your dig there in England.

  • @wabisabi6875
    @wabisabi6875 Рік тому +25

    Time Team: greatest show ever. I say the whole team deserves an MBE!

  • @mcburcke
    @mcburcke Рік тому +22

    Absolutely brilliant video! This group is a British national treasure.

    • @noeraldinkabam
      @noeraldinkabam 11 місяців тому +2

      Yep, Mick has been gone for 10 years already but I love that he’s immortal now, here and on countless other channels that keep posting these.

  • @bigguy8315
    @bigguy8315 Рік тому +14

    Great job, watching from Florida, keep them all coming it’s great learning British History as well as American History. Also Archaeology is a passion of mine. We can all learn true history from what’s under our feet. We should all have an emergency trawl in our tool belt just in case I’m retired, but will have one just in case. We need to stop burying our History, and learn the true story from the ground up.

  • @TheSonicdruid72
    @TheSonicdruid72 Рік тому +46

    Far out I didn’t realise how much I missed this show! My kids and I would watch it religiously when they were younger. It brings back memories big time. Phil was always our favourite. I’m going to try look up the other episodes. Thank you from making this available! We never really got the “Special’s” like the “Big Dig” etc. here in Australia? Atleast on the channels that were available. I’d love to see some of those. I had many seasons recorded on Video. Anyway thanks again. Cheers from Australia

    • @caittails
      @caittails Рік тому +5

      They have two official Time Team channels - one that posts full old episodes (Classics), and one with brand new episodes!

    • @TheSonicdruid72
      @TheSonicdruid72 Рік тому +2

      @@caittails thank you! I’m in heaven now. Haha

  • @hensonlaura
    @hensonlaura Рік тому +22

    In the US, one hesitates to dig because of buried utility infrastructure. In GB, its Roman, medieval or Civil War ruins, all on top of each other! Amazing.

    • @Official_King_Penguin
      @Official_King_Penguin 2 місяці тому

      Well the utility infrastructure is definitely one of the reasons in GB too! This show has proved that many times.

  • @AuntieCreed
    @AuntieCreed Рік тому +14

    I just love this show! It's always so fun and interesting to watch the process

  • @pageribe2399
    @pageribe2399 Рік тому +6

    I love Time Team! If there were more shows like this kids might get interested in education again.

  • @sherryrector2275
    @sherryrector2275 Рік тому +11

    This was one of the best series and I’m excited so much was found and a new bit of history brought forth.

  • @margaretkerr7920
    @margaretkerr7920 Рік тому +5

    Great episode! God bless geophys! I love this team! Always have - better and better with age!❤️👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

  • @dawnu132
    @dawnu132 Рік тому +56

    Matilda, daughter of Henry 1, grand daughter of William 1.

    • @joshschneider9766
      @joshschneider9766 Рік тому +10

      The apple of the ole bastards eye hehehe. A play on William the first once being known as William the bastard back in France prior to the invasion

    • @PeteV80
      @PeteV80 Рік тому +2

      We know

    • @Tracksafe
      @Tracksafe Рік тому +2

      Adopted by Miss Honey.

    • @caittails
      @caittails Рік тому +2

      Yes, we all watched the video.

    • @dawnarobertson9577
      @dawnarobertson9577 Рік тому +3

      Yes-she called herself Empress Maud, from her first marriage. As opposed to Stephen Blois’s wife, Mathilda of Boulogne vs. William the Conquerers’ wife, Mathilda of Flanders, or Henry I’s wife, Mathilda of Scotland, mother of Empress Maud.

  • @DeclanKerr
    @DeclanKerr 11 місяців тому +2

    Phil's bike shed quip - priceless 😂

  • @debrah7548
    @debrah7548 Рік тому +6

    The stamping animations are very humourous!

  • @katsnow9256
    @katsnow9256 Рік тому +1

    So glad this show was brought back! Such a great time!

  • @SilkeSaint
    @SilkeSaint 10 місяців тому +1

    The way my ears prick up when I’m distracted yet hear Phil’s trowel scrape on stone. 😂🤭

  • @bettygreenhansen
    @bettygreenhansen Рік тому +5

    Mathilda was the true heir. Stephen was the usurper.

  • @patty4091
    @patty4091 Рік тому +4

    One busy little plot of land! Love your animated bits showing us what may have happened, those legs! 😂

    • @steve-0493
      @steve-0493 Рік тому

      I agree haha..funny when they show the little mock ups! With the horsey legs (with clip clop sound!) And the little ppl legs!!hahaha funny

  • @apace903
    @apace903 9 місяців тому +2

    I my have missed it, but I didn't hear Tony tell us Matilda was named successor by the King . I think that's very important.

  • @saintjacques8137
    @saintjacques8137 Рік тому +16

    Beautiful documentary. Not sure it's the right niche but if anyone's very interested in the anarchy, Angevin England and English & French castles of the time, Schwerpunkt covered in impressive detail these topics.

  • @kayethiel9912
    @kayethiel9912 Рік тому +4

    Love the history ❤

  • @koningbolo4700
    @koningbolo4700 11 місяців тому +1

    44:58 Sick and weird, maybe but very lovely as well...

  • @peggybrem2848
    @peggybrem2848 Рік тому +1

    Fantastic! Thank you!

  • @noeraldinkabam
    @noeraldinkabam 11 місяців тому +1

    The inspiration for HotD’s Rhaenyra.

  • @TheRealLadyJenn
    @TheRealLadyJenn 6 місяців тому

    I first heard of Matilda in a book called The Fatal Crown. A romance novel to be sure but it definitely sparked my interest in her.

  • @davidnelsen5922
    @davidnelsen5922 7 місяців тому

    Love Tony!

  • @gina928
    @gina928 11 місяців тому +2

    When they find shards pf pots and artifacts that are not of the era that they are searching for, could the artifacts have been passed down? If you have a lovely broach that great grandma wore and left to your family, wouldn't it make sense to keep it until you lost it or it broke?

  • @claudiayamada8377
    @claudiayamada8377 Рік тому +22

    Matilda is my bloodline great grandmother so this is very interesting.

    • @davidtownsend6092
      @davidtownsend6092 Рік тому +5

      Hers goes back to alfred the great. Her mother was of the house of wessex. It interrwines alfred with the current king.

    • @DrNatemiester
      @DrNatemiester Рік тому +3

      Which Matilda?

    • @effieborchert985
      @effieborchert985 Рік тому +1

      Not likely

    • @GoBlueGirl78
      @GoBlueGirl78 Рік тому +3

      As well as everyone else who has any European ancestry. LOL

    • @hensonlaura
      @hensonlaura Рік тому +3

      ​@@GoBlueGirl78 Too right! I worked on my genealogy for a long time & what I discovered was, we're ALL descended from murderers & kings, and largely from the same ones - because the population used to be a lot smaller. The ancestor I was most thrilled by was longtime lady in waiting & close confidant to Queen Elizabeth I, my personal hero. I called my daughter at one AM to tell her!

  • @Miveth07
    @Miveth07 Рік тому +6

    Love these but question.... Does Mick only own 1 sweater? lol

    • @meaghanwillmott3163
      @meaghanwillmott3163 Рік тому +2

      Micks sweaters have always made me smile too😊 Fun to see the colors fade and see them get a bit worse for wear in the later episodes...great show!!

    • @alleeum
      @alleeum Рік тому +2

      His wife knit the different striped sweaters for him. ❤

    • @margaretlouise6200
      @margaretlouise6200 Рік тому

      It's a Brit thing. Don't ask.

    • @hensonlaura
      @hensonlaura Рік тому +2

      ​@@margaretlouise6200 you aren't special dear, old men wear their homemade sweaters till they fall apart.

    • @shelaghmoore-h4f
      @shelaghmoore-h4f День тому

      A fan knitted a jumper for him and he wore it. It went down so well, that the producers locked onto it and said "Wear those jumpers" the lady knitted several and they are Not all the same, if you bother to look They became his trademark.

  • @jonathaneffemey944
    @jonathaneffemey944 Рік тому

    Thanks so much for posting

  • @grandmasmagic3858
    @grandmasmagic3858 Рік тому +5

    so what happened to these digs AFTER Time Team has blown through..?? do the trenches remain open to see what else they can find or do they re-bury the trenches on the fourth day..??

    • @TechGorilla1987
      @TechGorilla1987 Рік тому +2

      I believe that most are reclaimed directly after. I also surmise that each 3 day dig runs about a week of filming. I could be wrong.

    • @markuschampos5750
      @markuschampos5750 Рік тому

      No, they are only filming for 3 days. All of them has ordinary jobs to go to so they film friday- sunday.

  • @rocksandoil2241
    @rocksandoil2241 Рік тому +6

    Are there ever any 3 day periods it does not rain in England?

    • @fabrisseterbrugghe8567
      @fabrisseterbrugghe8567 Рік тому +1

      No. I lived in Britain for years.

    • @user-ns2qp9uu1d
      @user-ns2qp9uu1d Рік тому +1

      Remember the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II? The weather was beautiful in London and Windsor!

    • @fabrisseterbrugghe8567
      @fabrisseterbrugghe8567 Рік тому +2

      @@user-ns2qp9uu1d But was it rain-free for 3 days straight?

    • @jessiebrader2926
      @jessiebrader2926 Рік тому

      I think so, I remember one, maybe 1968 or 69 in August, street parties in celebration, steak and kidney pies for everyone, even the fog blew away....those were the days!

  • @lindadeal3344
    @lindadeal3344 Рік тому

    Love English history!

  • @K1110.
    @K1110. Рік тому +1

    Waltzing Matilda. 👸💃

  • @stischer47
    @stischer47 10 місяців тому +1

    It sounds logical that if a site is important a series of edifices (Roman, Saxon, Norman, etc.) would be built there.

  • @townview5322
    @townview5322 Рік тому +1

    I'm intrigued by the way Victor's artwork is made to look 3D. A special camera lens? computer graphics?

  • @carausiuscaesar5672
    @carausiuscaesar5672 Рік тому +2

    Wow Matilda was one hot tamale!No wonder she got so many men to fight for her!👑

  • @josefinematildehansenvonki2384
    @josefinematildehansenvonki2384 10 місяців тому

    Wonder if someone one day continues this work🙏

  • @susanhuntley9262
    @susanhuntley9262 Рік тому

    I'd rather just watch time team, thanks😊

  • @NothingToNoOneInParticular
    @NothingToNoOneInParticular Рік тому +1

    "Wanna be Queen Matilda" she was the HEIR of Henry I....Stephan was NOT.

  • @steveschultz300
    @steveschultz300 Рік тому +5

    Does anyone know what year this was filmed?

  • @Ypsiroselee
    @Ypsiroselee 10 місяців тому

    At least no one also found a Bronze Age henge there as well. Imagine the an-archaeology!

  • @justme.9711
    @justme.9711 11 місяців тому +1

    Margot Robbie's lawyers might find that thumbnail interesting.

  • @heatherbusam9139
    @heatherbusam9139 Рік тому

    Wooot!!!!

  • @amityboy14mo
    @amityboy14mo Рік тому

    Omg this is new!!!??

  • @michaelkamradt4700
    @michaelkamradt4700 Рік тому +3

    Who were the 'Roundheads" and did they battle the square heads?

    • @judithsmith9582
      @judithsmith9582 Рік тому +6

      "The Roundheads were a group of people who supported Parliament & Oliver Cromwell during the English Civil War. They were also called 'Parliamentarians'. They fought against Charles I and the Cavaliers otherwise known as 'Royalists'. The Parliamentary army put their soldiers in red coats. The British army continued using red in later centuries.
      Some Puritans, but by no means all, wore their hair closely cropped round the head or flat and there was an obvious contrast between them and the men of fashion, who wore long ringlets. "Roundheads" appears to have been first used as a term of derision toward the end of 1641, when the debates in Parliament in the Clergy Act 1640 were causing riots at Westminster. According to John Rushworth the word was first used on 27 December 1641 by a disbanded officer named David Hide, who during a riot is reported to have drawn his sword and said he would "cut the throat of those round-headed dogs that bawled against bishops". A few decades later “Whigs” was the word for men of similar opinions."

    • @hensonlaura
      @hensonlaura Рік тому +1

      They battled the Royalist Longhairs!

  • @townview5322
    @townview5322 Рік тому

    And what is the yellow crop in the distance?

  • @bettyir4302
    @bettyir4302 11 місяців тому

    Who wouldn't want a castle keep in their backyard?

  • @alexisdespland4939
    @alexisdespland4939 10 місяців тому

    why was the norman keep tor dow.

  • @gaslitworldf.melissab2897
    @gaslitworldf.melissab2897 Рік тому +1

    A good portion of British royal family history is _exactly that_, family squabbles, that sadly often turned deadly. I'll never forget the two boys who disappeared at Windsor Castle, likely murdered b/c they were heirs to a kingdom. Court life, no matter then country involves intrigue, betrayal, murder and of course, civil war - when the pressure spills over.

    • @RPcropland
      @RPcropland 9 місяців тому +2

      I think it’s similar to cartel families in Mexico and mafias in Italy. Basically that time period was a bunch of landowners who could afford to keep an “army”(the numbers are in the hundreds not thousand so kinda like a gang really). The castles suggest a certain domineering reclusiveness(they weren’t appreciate). The competition was similar to gangsters trying to take each-other out too. The Knights in the early period earn titles like red or black which meant they quelled “peasant rebellions,” so when people didn’t want to be extorted the knights who were willing to murdered the crap out of people in brutal ways to instill fear were renown among the family/dynasty as such. Eventually power was consolidated and legitimized and that process specifically involves forgetting this reality and trying to regain these people as heroes. So contrary to GoT and dark age/medieval history the nobles were ruthlesss cartels and by definition almost entirely not nice from the ground up. Really this form of leadership actually a lot less oppressive by standards prior to the Middle Ages since you kinda have to give up direct authority to entice people to your side meaning less slavery and a lot more charity. And the fact that piety was a form of catering to the masses as well as a method of motivating soldiers to be willing to die, since if you don’t believe in heaven you’d likely be selfish and pretty useless as a warrior.

  • @Rustsamurai1
    @Rustsamurai1 Рік тому

    Why the helmets?

  • @robertmccoy9323
    @robertmccoy9323 Рік тому

    One of Time Team's Top Ten?

  • @pedenmk
    @pedenmk Рік тому

    Great program gents.All I see Tony do us talk. I think it's time you blokes put a shovel in his hands. Many thanks. You guys rock.......

  • @philipking8497
    @philipking8497 Рік тому +1

    So Alf Farringdon was a traitor to the English cause. Isnt it ammazing how many we are finding. Make you wonder about these sorts in our time.

  • @steve-0493
    @steve-0493 Рік тому +1

    Geo phys...lol sounds like a soft drink...geo-fizz 🥤!!😁✌️

  • @NolaGal2601
    @NolaGal2601 Рік тому

    Is it just me or does the fort outline look like a shirt? Lol

  • @goodwillcriminals117
    @goodwillcriminals117 8 місяців тому

    Tony, you and I were both born in the same city in the UK.

  • @canteventhough
    @canteventhough 9 місяців тому

    ... omg it's Balderick.

  • @kylelee9474
    @kylelee9474 Рік тому

  • @speakupriseup4549
    @speakupriseup4549 Рік тому +1

    The Sex Pistols proto-fan

  • @user-tn2wl6el7o
    @user-tn2wl6el7o 5 місяців тому

    Amenamenamen❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤😂😂😂😂😂😂😢😢😢😢😢🎉🎉❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤😮😮

  • @ryanchicago6028
    @ryanchicago6028 Рік тому

    It feels a little bit more like Agnostic really seeing the invaders fight so much for the mainland. So, Ag-archy? Non-archy? an-Archy? But, if it wasn't, the kids would've still won today. And, that's what really matters.

  • @lindsaydrewe8219
    @lindsaydrewe8219 10 місяців тому

    If it was a good defensible position in 1 civil war it would still be a good one 500 years later, surely?

  • @DWalsh-bg1cu
    @DWalsh-bg1cu Рік тому

    Are stuck lookin' at these old codgers?

  • @DWalsh-bg1cu
    @DWalsh-bg1cu Рік тому

    Where are all the -- CUTE -- undergrad co-eds, eh?

  • @pppl6664
    @pppl6664 Рік тому +3

    RIP to Pee Wee Herman, the host of this documentary.

    • @direfranchement
      @direfranchement Рік тому +11

      Disrespectful.

    • @earlymorningtwilight9119
      @earlymorningtwilight9119 Рік тому +5

      seriously? very rude

    • @maverick2161
      @maverick2161 Рік тому +2

      @@direfranchement AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH YOU SAID THE SECRET WORD

    • @pppl6664
      @pppl6664 Рік тому

      @@direfranchementhe looks like pee wee.

    • @direfranchement
      @direfranchement Рік тому +3

      @@pppl6664 Yet you know it is not. Be respectful. A man has died who was well loved by many.

  • @jimanders6750
    @jimanders6750 Рік тому

    dont like baldrics explanation

  • @DrongoBongo
    @DrongoBongo Рік тому

    "Continuity" has always been very good in Time Team, without a doubt the best show on You Tube .... BUT ..
    When Tony steps out of the boat he is seen rowing, at around 30 seconds in, instead of appearing to have just arrived at this landing, if you watch carefully you can see as Tony steps out of the boat, it is already tided to a stake in the river bank!
    Wadda Ya Mean,, *Pull Ya Head In*