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
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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Jul 15, 2025 • 29min
03.43 - Between Darkness and Light
Check out the University of Aberdeen Online Courses: http://on.abdn.ac.uk/online-history-courses
The Second Protectorate Parliament meets, and the Major-Generals purge a third of the MPs before it even begins. Royalists and Levellers conspire to assassinate Lord Protector Cromwell. Thoughts turn towards a new royal dynasty.
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.
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Jun 23, 2025 • 34min
03.42 - The Rule of the Major Generals
After rebellion and disappointment, Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell fears he has lost God's favour. The only way to restore it is do his work on earth - the moral reformation of England and Wales.
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
