Welcome to the British History Podcast. My name is Jamie and this is episode 439,

juggling responsibilities. This show is ad free. 39 Juggling Responsibilities.

This show is ad-free due to member support and as a way of thanking members for keeping the show independent,

I offer members only content including extra episodes and you can get instant access to all the

members extras by signing up for membership at the British History Podcast

dot com for about the price of a latte per month and thank you very much to Jonathan

Noah and Andy for signing up already.

There was no getting around it.

William had been humiliated.

The Duke of Normandy in King of England had spent years mocking his son. He'd even recruited the upper

crust of Norman society into using the cruel nickname Short Pants to describe Robert.

And when his son had rebelled, William doubled down on the disrespect and started calling him Robin, a comet that was intended to be a clear reference to both Robert's size and his belly.

It was cruel, but it also was a pretty sick burn.

William had worked hard to diminish Robert in the eyes of France, and he'd been pretty successful at it.

But here's the problem.

If Robert was a short round laughing stock.

Then what did that make the guy who just got beaten by him

on the battlefield?

Making matters worse, what Robert had just done

was honestly impressive. This wasn't some fluke or lucky break.

William and Robert have met on the field in direct combat and Robert had won.

And that suggests one of two things.

...