

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

Jul 23, 2023 • 34min
02.72 - The Trial of the Century
Charles I stands trial for his life, charged with treason against the people of England.Join the Mailing List and stay up to date HERECheck out the podcast websiteCheck out Pax Britannica Merch!Facebook | Twitter | Patreon | DonateFor this episode, I found the following publications particularly useful:
Philip Baker, 'The Regicide', in Michael J. Braddick. The Oxford Handbook of the English Revolution
Kenyon, J. and Ohlmeyer, J., The Civil Wars: A Military History of England, Scotland, and Ireland, 1638-1660.
Harris, T. Rebellion
Geoffrey Robertson, The Tyrannicide Brief: The Story of the Man who sent Charles I to the Scaffold.
Healey, J. The Blazing World.
MacInnes, A., The British Revolution, 1629-60.
Charles Spencer, Killers of the King.
Michael J. Braddick, 'War and Politics in England and Wales, 1642-1646', in Michael Braddick. The Oxford Handbook of the English Revolution
Michael J. Braddick, God's Fury, England's Fire
Peter Gaunt, The English Civil War: A Military History
Blair Worden, The English Civil Wars: 1640-1660
Ian Gentles, The English Revolution and the Wars in the Three Kingdoms, 1638-1652
Antonia Fraser, Cromwell: Our Chief of Men
Kishlansky, M, Monarchy Transformed
Alexia Grosjean, Steve Murdoch, Alexander Leslie and the Scottish generals of the Thirty Years' War, 1618-1648
Steve Murdoch (ed), Scotland and the Thirty Years' War
Stuart Reid, Crown, Covenant, and Cromwell: The Civil Wars in Scotland, 1639-1651.
Nick Lipscombe, The English Civil War: An Atlas and Concise History of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, 1639-51
This podcast is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Contact advertising@airwavemedia.com to inquire about advertising on this podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 17, 2023 • 30min
02.71 - The Providence of God
The New Model Army secures its control over London, and prepares to put the king on trial.Join the Mailing List and stay up to date HERECheck out the podcast websiteCheck out Pax Britannica Merch!Facebook | Twitter | Patreon | DonateFor this episode, I found the following publications particularly useful:
Philip Baker, 'The Regicide', in Michael J. Braddick. The Oxford Handbook of the English Revolution
Kenyon, J. and Ohlmeyer, J., The Civil Wars: A Military History of England, Scotland, and Ireland, 1638-1660.
Harris, T. Rebellion
Healey, J. The Blazing World.
MacInnes, A., The British Revolution, 1629-60.
Michael J. Braddick, 'War and Politics in England and Wales, 1642-1646', in Michael Braddick. The Oxford Handbook of the English Revolution
Michael J. Braddick, God's Fury, England's Fire
Peter Gaunt, The English Civil War: A Military History
Blair Worden, The English Civil Wars: 1640-1660
Ian Gentles, The English Revolution and the Wars in the Three Kingdoms, 1638-1652
Antonia Fraser, Cromwell: Our Chief of Men
Kishlansky, M, Monarchy Transformed
Alexia Grosjean, Steve Murdoch, Alexander Leslie and the Scottish generals of the Thirty Years' War, 1618-1648
Steve Murdoch (ed), Scotland and the Thirty Years' War
Stuart Reid, Crown, Covenant, and Cromwell: The Civil Wars in Scotland, 1639-1651.
Nick Lipscombe, The English Civil War: An Atlas and Concise History of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, 1639-51
This podcast is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Contact advertising@airwavemedia.com to inquire about advertising on this podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 10, 2023 • 34min
02.70 - The Man of Blood
With King Charles I faced with reality, and parliament desparate for peace, the Newport Treaty promises to be a compromise settlement. But the New Model Army, and especially Oliver Cromwell's son-in-law Henry Ireton, refuse to allow this 'man of blood' to get away with murder. The Long Parliament will soon be dead, killed by Pride's Purge, and the stage will be set for an unprecedented trial.Join the Mailing List and stay up to date HERECheck out the podcast websiteCheck out Pax Britannica Merch!Facebook | Twitter | Patreon | DonateFor this episode, I found the following publications particularly useful:
Philip Baker, 'The Regicide', in Michael J. Braddick. The Oxford Handbook of the English Revolution
Kenyon, J. and Ohlmeyer, J., The Civil Wars: A Military History of England, Scotland, and Ireland, 1638-1660.
Harris, T. Rebellion
Healey, J. The Blazing World.
MacInnes, A., The British Revolution, 1629-60.
Michael J. Braddick, 'War and Politics in England and Wales, 1642-1646', in Michael Braddick. The Oxford Handbook of the English Revolution
Michael J. Braddick, God's Fury, England's Fire
Peter Gaunt, The English Civil War: A Military History
Blair Worden, The English Civil Wars: 1640-1660
Ian Gentles, The English Revolution and the Wars in the Three Kingdoms, 1638-1652
Antonia Fraser, Cromwell: Our Chief of Men
Kishlansky, M, Monarchy Transformed
Alexia Grosjean, Steve Murdoch, Alexander Leslie and the Scottish generals of the Thirty Years' War, 1618-1648
Steve Murdoch (ed), Scotland and the Thirty Years' War
Stuart Reid, Crown, Covenant, and Cromwell: The Civil Wars in Scotland, 1639-1651.
Nick Lipscombe, The English Civil War: An Atlas and Concise History of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, 1639-51
This podcast is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Contact advertising@airwavemedia.com to inquire about advertising on this podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 29, 2023 • 34min
02.69 - The Clean Up
With the last hope of the Royalists destroyed, the New Model Army brings the hammer down on the last few holdouts.Join the Mailing List and stay up to date HERECheck out the podcast websiteCheck out Pax Britannica Merch!Facebook | Twitter | Patreon | DonateFor this episode, I found the following publications particularly useful:
Kenyon, J. and Ohlmeyer, J., The Civil Wars: A Military History of England, Scotland, and Ireland, 1638-1660.
Harris, T. Rebellion
Healey, J. The Blazing World.
MacInnes, A., The British Revolution, 1629-60.
Michael J. Braddick. The Oxford Handbook of the English Revolution
Michael J. Braddick, 'War and Politics in England and Wales, 1642-1646', in Michael Braddick. The Oxford Handbook of the English Revolution
Michael J. Braddick, God's Fury, England's Fire
Peter Gaunt, The English Civil War: A Military History
Blair Worden, The English Civil Wars: 1640-1660
Ian Gentles, The English Revolution and the Wars in the Three Kingdoms, 1638-1652
Antonia Fraser, Cromwell: Our Chief of Men
Kishlansky, M, Monarchy Transformed
Alexia Grosjean, Steve Murdoch, Alexander Leslie and the Scottish generals of the Thirty Years' War, 1618-1648
Steve Murdoch (ed), Scotland and the Thirty Years' War
Stuart Reid, Crown, Covenant, and Cromwell: The Civil Wars in Scotland, 1639-1651.
Nick Lipscombe, The English Civil War: An Atlas and Concise History of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, 1639-51
This podcast is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Contact advertising@airwavemedia.com to inquire about advertising on this podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 26, 2023 • 34min
02.68 - The War of the Engagement
After two months delay, the Duke of Hamilton finally leads his ragtag army across the border into England. Almost all his English allies have been defeated, and all King Charles' hopes rest with him. Oliver Cromwell and John Lambert are determined to crush those hopes.Join the Mailing List and stay up to date HERECheck out the podcast websiteCheck out Pax Britannica Merch!Facebook | Twitter | Patreon | DonateFor this episode, I found the following publications particularly useful:
Kenyon, J. and Ohlmeyer, J., The Civil Wars: A Military History of England, Scotland, and Ireland, 1638-1660.
Harris, T. Rebellion
Healey, J. The Blazing World.
MacInnes, A., The British Revolution, 1629-60.
Michael J. Braddick. The Oxford Handbook of the English Revolution
Michael J. Braddick, 'War and Politics in England and Wales, 1642-1646', in Michael Braddick. The Oxford Handbook of the English Revolution
Michael J. Braddick, God's Fury, England's Fire
Peter Gaunt, The English Civil War: A Military History
Blair Worden, The English Civil Wars: 1640-1660
Ian Gentles, The English Revolution and the Wars in the Three Kingdoms, 1638-1652
Antonia Fraser, Cromwell: Our Chief of Men
Kishlansky, M, Monarchy Transformed
Alexia Grosjean, Steve Murdoch, Alexander Leslie and the Scottish generals of the Thirty Years' War, 1618-1648
Steve Murdoch (ed), Scotland and the Thirty Years' War
Stuart Reid, Crown, Covenant, and Cromwell: The Civil Wars in Scotland, 1639-1651.
Nick Lipscombe, The English Civil War: An Atlas and Concise History of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, 1639-51
This podcast is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Contact advertising@airwavemedia.com to inquire about advertising on this podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 22, 2023 • 46min
Bonus - The Blazing World with Dr Jonathan Healey
I speak with Jonathan Healey, author of the new book 'The Blazing World: A New History of Revolutionary England'This podcast is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Contact advertising@airwavemedia.com to inquire about advertising on this podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 19, 2023 • 25min
02.67 - English Civil War 2 - Britannic Boogaloo
English rebellion ties up Cromwell and Fairfax, the Scots prepare to invade, and in Ireland the Confederacy tears itself apart.Join the Mailing List and stay up to date HERECheck out the podcast websiteCheck out Pax Britannica Merch!Facebook | Twitter | Patreon | DonateFor this episode, I found the following publications particularly useful:
Kenyon, J. and Ohlmeyer, J., The Civil Wars: A Military History of England, Scotland, and Ireland, 1638-1660.
Harris, T. Rebellion
Healey, J. The Blazing World.
MacInnes, A., The British Revolution, 1629-60.
Michael J. Braddick. The Oxford Handbook of the English Revolution
Michael J. Braddick, 'War and Politics in England and Wales, 1642-1646', in Michael Braddick. The Oxford Handbook of the English Revolution
Michael J. Braddick, God's Fury, England's Fire
Peter Gaunt, The English Civil War: A Military History
Blair Worden, The English Civil Wars: 1640-1660
Ian Gentles, The English Revolution and the Wars in the Three Kingdoms, 1638-1652
Antonia Fraser, Cromwell: Our Chief of Men
Kishlansky, M, Monarchy Transformed
Alexia Grosjean, Steve Murdoch, Alexander Leslie and the Scottish generals of the Thirty Years' War, 1618-1648
Steve Murdoch (ed), Scotland and the Thirty Years' War
Stuart Reid, Crown, Covenant, and Cromwell: The Civil Wars in Scotland, 1639-1651.
Nick Lipscombe, The English Civil War: An Atlas and Concise History of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, 1639-51
This podcast is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Contact advertising@airwavemedia.com to inquire about advertising on this podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 16, 2023 • 32min
02.66 - The Second English Civil War, Part 1
Fairfax and Cromwell face down English rebellion, as the Scots and Irish prepare for war.Join the Mailing List and stay up to date HERECheck out the podcast websiteCheck out Pax Britannica Merch!Facebook | Twitter | Patreon | DonateFor this episode, I found the following publications particularly useful:
Kenyon, J. and Ohlmeyer, J., The Civil Wars: A Military History of England, Scotland, and Ireland, 1638-1660.
Harris, T. Rebellion
Healey, J. The Blazing World.
MacInnes, A., The British Revolution, 1629-60.
Michael J. Braddick. The Oxford Handbook of the English Revolution
Michael J. Braddick, 'War and Politics in England and Wales, 1642-1646', in Michael Braddick. The Oxford Handbook of the English Revolution
Michael J. Braddick, God's Fury, England's Fire
Peter Gaunt, The English Civil War: A Military History
Blair Worden, The English Civil Wars: 1640-1660
Ian Gentles, The English Revolution and the Wars in the Three Kingdoms, 1638-1652
Antonia Fraser, Cromwell: Our Chief of Men
Kishlansky, M, Monarchy Transformed
Alexia Grosjean, Steve Murdoch, Alexander Leslie and the Scottish generals of the Thirty Years' War, 1618-1648
Steve Murdoch (ed), Scotland and the Thirty Years' War
Stuart Reid, Crown, Covenant, and Cromwell: The Civil Wars in Scotland, 1639-1651.
Nick Lipscombe, The English Civil War: An Atlas and Concise History of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, 1639-51
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 13, 2023 • 28min
02.65 - A Coalition of Chaos
With King Charles as their rallying point, the many factions and groups who despise the New Model Army prepare to fight. The only problems are distance, timing, shared objectives, motivations, or any sense of unity of purpose. But at least they all want to see the king back on the throne... mostly.Join the Mailing List and stay up to date HERECheck out the podcast websiteCheck out Pax Britannica Merch!Facebook | Twitter | Patreon | DonateFor this episode, I found the following publications particularly useful:
Kenyon, J. and Ohlmeyer, J., The Civil Wars: A Military History of England, Scotland, and Ireland, 1638-1660.
Harris, T. Rebellion
Healey, J. The Blazing World.
MacInnes, A., The British Revolution, 1629-60.
Michael J. Braddick. The Oxford Handbook of the English Revolution
Michael J. Braddick, 'War and Politics in England and Wales, 1642-1646', in Michael Braddick. The Oxford Handbook of the English Revolution
Michael J. Braddick, God's Fury, England's Fire
Peter Gaunt, The English Civil War: A Military History
Blair Worden, The English Civil Wars: 1640-1660
Ian Gentles, The English Revolution and the Wars in the Three Kingdoms, 1638-1652
Antonia Fraser, Cromwell: Our Chief of Men
Kishlansky, M, Monarchy Transformed
Stewart, L. & Nugent, J., Union and Revolution: Scotland and Beyond, 1625-1745.
Alexia Grosjean, Steve Murdoch, Alexander Leslie and the Scottish generals of the Thirty Years' War, 1618-1648
Steve Murdoch (ed), Scotland and the Thirty Years' War
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Jun 2, 2023 • 35min
02.64 - A Deal with the Devil
The Scots watched as 1647 showed post-war England come to the brink of revolution, and with it all sorts of crazy ideas like 'religious toleration'. Despite the stubborness of their king, they would have to compromise.Join the Mailing List and stay up to date HERECheck out the podcast websiteCheck out Pax Britannica Merch!Facebook | Twitter | Patreon | DonateFor this episode, I found the following publications particularly useful:
Kenyon, J. and Ohlmeyer, J., The Civil Wars: A Military History of England, Scotland, and Ireland, 1638-1660.
Harris, T. Rebellion
Healey, J. The Blazing World.
Michael J. Braddick. The Oxford Handbook of the English Revolution
Michael J. Braddick, 'War and Politics in England and Wales, 1642-1646', in Michael Braddick. The Oxford Handbook of the English Revolution
Michael J. Braddick, God's Fury, England's Fire
Peter Gaunt, The English Civil War: A Military History
Blair Worden, The English Civil Wars: 1640-1660
Ian Gentles, The English Revolution and the Wars in the Three Kingdoms, 1638-1652
Antonia Fraser, Cromwell: Our Chief of Men
Kishlansky, M, Monarchy Transformed
Alexia Grosjean, Steve Murdoch, Alexander Leslie and the Scottish generals of the Thirty Years' War, 1618-1648
Steve Murdoch (ed), Scotland and the Thirty Years' War
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices