

Pax Britannica: A History of the British Empire
Samuel Hume
Pax Britannica is a narrative history podcast covering the empire upon which the sun never set. Shortlisted for the 2023 Independent Podcast Awards, Pax Britannica follows the events which created an empire that dominated the globe. Hosted by Dr Samuel Hume, a historian of British Imperial history, Pax Britannica aims to explain the rise and eventual fall of the largest empire in history. After all, how peaceful was the 'British Peace'?
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 13, 2025 • 50min
The Stuarts, the Scottish Restoration, and Devil-Land with Professor Clare Jackson
The Mirror of Great Britain: A Life of James VI&I
Devil-Land: England under Siege, 1588-1688
Charles II: The Star King Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 6, 2025 • 35min
04.03 - The First Scramble for Africa
New trade policies annoy the Dutch, and new English companies attempt to force their way into West African markets. New Amsterdam becomes New York. The Second Anglo-Dutch War begins.
Jonathan Healey, The Blazing World, 2023.
Anna Keay, The Restless Republic, 2022.
Rebecca Rideal, 1666: Plague, War, and Hellfire, 2016.
Charles Wilson, England’s Apprenticeship: 1603-1763, 1975.
David Veevers, The Origins of the British Empire in Asia, 1600-1750, 2020.
John Childs, General Percy Kirke and the Later Stuart Army, 2014.
Philip Stern, The Company-State: Corporate Sovereignty and the Early Modern Foundations of the British Empire in India, 2011.
Edwin Burrows, Mike Wallace, Gotham: A History of New York City to 1898, 1999.
Julie Svalastog, Mastering the Worst of Trades: England’s Early Africa Companies and their Traders, 1618–1672, 2021.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 29, 2025 • 26min
04.02 - The Seven Islands of Bombay
Charles II marries Catherine of Braganza, and the Portuguese Princess brings her new husband the city of Tangiers and the islands of Bombay. One of these will become a stronghold of the British Empire. The other will not.
Alice Hunt, Republic, 2024.
Michael Braddick (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of the English Revolution, 2015.
Jonathan Healey, The Blazing World, 2023.
Anna Keay, The Restless Republic, 2022.
Rebecca Rideal, 1666: Plague, War, and Hellfire, 2016.
Charles Wilson, England’s Apprenticeship: 1603-1763, 1975.
David Veevers, The Origins of the British Empire in Asia, 1600-1750, 2020.
John Childs, General Percy Kirke and the Later Stuart Army, 2014.
Philip Stern, The Company-State: Corporate Sovereignty and the Early Modern Foundations of the British Empire in India, 2011.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 8, 2025 • 38min
04.01 - The Return of the King
Charles II Stuart returns to London, and the Restoration tries to turn the clock back in England, Scotland, and Ireland. But a generation of civil war and revolution is not something that can be easily reversed.
Alice Hunt, Republic, 2024.
Martyn Bennet, Oliver Cromwell, 2006.
Michael Braddick (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of the English Revolution, 2015.
Jonathan Healey, The Blazing World, 2023.
Paul Lay, Providence Lost: The Rise and Fall of the English Republic, 2020.
Anna Keay, The Restless Republic, 2022.
Ian Gentles, The New Model Army: Agent of Revolution, 2022.
Rebecca Rideal, 1666: Plague, War, and Hellfire, 2016.
Micheál Ó Siochrú, God's Executioner: Oliver Cromwell and the conquest of Ireland, 2008.
Charles Wilson, England’s Apprenticeship: 1603-1763, 1975.
Charles Spencer, Killers of the King
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 8, 2025 • 2min
Introducing Pax Britannica Season 4 - The Restoration
Find Pax Britannica everywhere you find your podcasts, or go to Pod.Link/Pax to find out more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 1, 2025 • 36min
03.48 - With Thunderous Applause
George Monck arrives in London and restores the Long Parliament. Charles Stuart moves to Breda. The Republic votes itself out of existence.
Alice Hunt, Republic, 2024.
Martyn Bennet, Oliver Cromwell, 2006.
Michael Braddick (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of the English Revolution, 2015.
Barry Coward, The Cromwellian Protectorate, 2002.
Jonathan Healey, The Blazing World, 2023.
Paul Lay, Providence Lost: The Rise and Fall of the English Republic, 2020.
Anna Keay, The Restless Republic, 2022.
Ian Gentles, The New Model Army: Agent of Revolution, 2022.
Carla Gardina Pestana, The English Conquest of Jamaica: Oliver Cromwell’s Bid for Empire, 2017.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 25, 2025 • 40min
03.47 - Paradise Lost
The Army brings back the Rump Parliament, but they quickly regret that decision. In Scotland, George Monck prepares to march.
Alice Hunt, Republic, 2024.
Martyn Bennet, Oliver Cromwell, 2006.
Michael Braddick (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of the English Revolution, 2015.
Barry Coward, The Cromwellian Protectorate, 2002.
Jonathan Healey, The Blazing World, 2023.
Paul Lay, Providence Lost: The Rise and Fall of the English Republic, 2020.
Anna Keay, The Restless Republic, 2022.
Ian Gentles, The New Model Army: Agent of Revolution, 2022.
Carla Gardina Pestana, The English Conquest of Jamaica: Oliver Cromwell’s Bid for Empire, 2017.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 18, 2025 • 28min
03.46 - The Fall of the House of Cromwell
With the death of Oliver Cromwell, his eldest son Richard becomes Lord Protector. Can he balance the competing demands of the army and the republicans?
Alice Hunt, Republic, 2024.
Martyn Bennet, Oliver Cromwell, 2006.
Michael Braddick (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of the English Revolution, 2015.
Barry Coward, The Cromwellian Protectorate, 2002.
Jonathan Healey, The Blazing World, 2023.
Paul Lay, Providence Lost: The Rise and Fall of the English Republic, 2020.
Anna Keay, The Restless Republic, 2022.
Ian Gentles, The New Model Army: Agent of Revolution, 2022.
Carla Gardina Pestana, The English Conquest of Jamaica: Oliver Cromwell’s Bid for Empire, 2017.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 11, 2025 • 34min
03.45 - Jericho
"I will not seek to set up that which Providence hath destroyed, and laid in the dust, and I would not build Jericho again."
Oliver Cromwell refuses to become a king, and a new constitution takes effect. But Cromwell is not long for this world, and the question of succession had still not been settled.
Alice Hunt, Republic, 2024.
Martyn Bennet, Oliver Cromwell, 2006.
Michael Braddick (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of the English Revolution, 2015.
Barry Coward, The Cromwellian Protectorate, 2002.
Jonathan Healey, The Blazing World, 2023.
Paul Lay, Providence Lost: The Rise and Fall of the English Republic, 2020.
Anna Keay, The Restless Republic, 2022.
Ian Gentles, The New Model Army: Agent of Revolution, 2022.
Carla Gardina Pestana, The English Conquest of Jamaica: Oliver Cromwell’s Bid for Empire, 2017.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 5, 2025 • 32min
03.44 - King Oliver the First?
Check out the University of Aberdeen Online Courses: http://on.abdn.ac.uk/online-history-courses
Oliver Cromwell is offered a crown... but will he take it?
Alice Hunt, Republic, 2024.
Martyn Bennet, Oliver Cromwell, 2006.
Michael Braddick (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of the English Revolution, 2015.
Barry Coward, The Cromwellian Protectorate, 2002.
Jonathan Healey, The Blazing World, 2023.
Paul Lay, Providence Lost: The Rise and Fall of the English Republic, 2020.
Anna Keay, The Restless Republic, 2022.
Ian Gentles, The New Model Army: Agent of Revolution, 2022.
Carla Gardina Pestana, The English Conquest of Jamaica: Oliver Cromwell’s Bid for Empire, 2017.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices