Forty Fat Pigs: The 1215 Siege of Rochester Castle

[@dangreene3895]

I am a big History buff , and the History Guy never fails to amaze me with his stories , which are just little nuggets I have never heard before

[@CrazyBear65]

Too bad they didn't have history teachers like him in the 70s. I might have stayed in school.

[@marvinsamples8236]

@@CrazyBear65 .. .....

[@ScoutSniper3124]

@@CrazyBear65 Yeah, I'm SURE that's the reason you dropped out, not enough good History teachers.

[@samjefferies6750]

I’m a lifelong local to Rochester and am so glad you have given this topic more coverage :) the nearby museum has a lot of informative exhibits about the siege and other historic battles (1667 Medway Naval Raid)- it’s a great place to visit and if you liked this video you will love the many other local historic hotspots! (And yes we are still not a city even though we used to be👎🏼)

[@think_like_a_fish]

While visiting London this summer my Scottish brother-in-law recommended that we go down to Rochester. Of all the things we did, our day in Rochester was one of the best. Even in the middle of the summer tourist season the castle was nearly deserted, a welcome relief from the London crowds. It's an easy walk from the train station and you can get a Southwest service train from downtown London all the way to Rochester (it takes about 1.5-2 hours). It's a very different experience seeing this type of castle from castles like Buckingham or Arundel which are basically luxurious manor homes. I highly recommend visiting Rochester. The cathedral is also very nice.

[@NicholasNA]

Rochester Castle and Cathedral were regular school trips for Year 5 at my kid's primary school. Their class teacher made the students crawl on their knees down the aisle of the Cathedral so they had the full pilgrim experience. Various "interesting" discussions around the dinner table in the evening after the trip as the children mis-remembered the tale (or perhaps tail) of the pigs ...

[@JTA1961]

Thanks for sharing

[@AlanHowe-p7t]

I live opposite it and cathedral both absolutely stunning

[@michaeldaisson5575]

I can't tell you how great it is to watch and listen to you. I hope people are teaching this in classes today. Haven't found one on the pig war of 1859. Do you have one?

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

Sorry, I have not done the Pig War yet. I have been waiting for an opportunity to ho visit the Island first.

[@johnnyW1966]

I'm from Gillingham, one of the Medway towns, along with Chatham and Rochester. The part of Gillingham I live in is Grange. This was once land owned by William the Conquerer's half brother, Bishop Odo. Grange was a "limb" of Hastings , one of the Cinque Ports and as recently as the 1950s Grange observed Hastings licensing laws as opposed to Gillingham. What this meant was that when time was called in Gillingham pubs, drinkers could rush to The Hastings Arms in Grange (still serving ale now) and get an extra half an hour of drinking.

[@malcolmbacchus866]

One interesting fact about Rochester is that although it has a cathedral and was a city at the time of the seige - and for many years later - it is no longer a city. In a council reorganisation in 1988 the council decided not to appoint charter trustees needed to retain city status - it is unclear why they didn't but the fact is they didn't and Rochester ceased to be a city and became a mere town - although that didn't come to light until four years later! Rochester's citizens were somewhat less than impressed.

[@liamblack2574]

1998

[@liamblack2574]

Even less impressive that the monarch can simply make it a city again but refuses too

[@malcolmbacchus866]

@@liamblack2574 I wonder if he has been actually asked? I'd be impressed if he was asked and said "no".

[@alainarchambault2331]

Can you imagine the torture of starving for weeks when all of a sudden you're taunted by the smell of bacon? Must've driven them crazy.

[@spacewater7]

This is just the tactics employed by the Finnish during the Winter War. A gravy train 🚂 so to speak, offering hot meals for their troops...and any starving Red Russian troops willing to drop their arms.

[@martinnotrevealed7910]

I would have come out of the castle for a bacon sandwich. Especially if I'd been living off of dead horse meat for the previous month 😂

[@samsonsoturian6013]

Imagine a war ending like that: "Your king has died of dysentery."

[@wilfridwibblesworth2613]

A doctor in a white coat could emerge from behind the screen after this is announced and say "I'm sorry but it is the worst case of the shits I have ever seen in all my years studying shitology at Chorea college and then graduating with a masters in Diarrheaology at Harvard. Your king had an enormous dose of the shites and literally *shat himself to death,* I am sorry for all of his friends & family at this difficult time, it must come as a bit of a shock. He is literally just a husk of skin now that all the shit has gone!

[@scotcoon1186]

I still hate Oregon trail.

[@BlueBaron3339]

That was fairly common actually. Other notable royalty who died of it were Edward Woodstock - the famed Black Prince - and Henry V famed to most folks now due to the St. Crispen's Day speech written by Shakespere...you know, the Band of Brothers speech. But, yeah, seems a sad end indeed and proof of an ancient adage, don't drink the water 😂

[@kaybrown4010]

@@wilfridwibblesworth2613 🤣

[@joshuabessire9169]

"Will you: 1. pay a hapenny to use the toll bridge or 2. attempt to ford The Wash?" >2. "Your wagon has tipped over." >"You lost 1200 pounds of Crown Jewels." >"Susan had drowned." >"Sally was eaten by the Bishop of Bath and Wells."

[@armyfazer1410]

I've been there and remember reading the plaque in front of the castle! It's great to hear the backstory. I always use the story of the age of the battle when comparing the UK's history to what we call "old" in the States.

[@duanemiller5606]

The movie Ironclad is a great depiction of this siege and well worth the watch.

[@jeffreyhenion4818]

It's spectacularly inaccurate.

[@duanemiller5606]

@@jeffreyhenion4818 well of course it’s going to be inaccurate in certain ways, it’s a Hollywood movie not a documentary. One could’ve thought with modern technology and green screen computer enhancements that they could’ve made the keep more accurate and the surrounding lands more fitting to its actual location. Number two it’s fictional history not actual history a lot like Bernard Cornwell’s Saxon chronicle tales about Uhtred and the rise of England starting with King Alfred and going through to his grandson. The books of course were much better than the TV show that I couldn’t even keep watching because of the way it butchered the books.

[@rickharold7884]

Cool story, Castle sieges are always extremely interesting to hear about.

[@Firkin1973]

At the age of 10 in the mid '80's I attended a wedding reception at a pub called "The kings head". The upper floor overlooks Rochester Castle. I saw a woman sitting in one of the windows of the buildings in the outer wall of the Castle wearing a long white dress that was spilling out and down the wall of the building. I Didn't think anything of it at the time, being 10 I'd got far more important things to be thinking about. It Wasn't until many years later that i found out there's a ghost of a woman that's been seen in and around the castle wearing a white dress. Apparently the story goes that her husband went to battle and didn't return, in her grief she threw herself off the top of the castle. Make of that what you will, but i know what I saw.

[@daiomarisan]

Thanks!

[@joemackey1950]

3:53 I am always reminded when a clip for a film is shown when discussing historical events a forgotten cable channel in the '90s did a lot of historical programs. (No, not the History Channel). The presenter would be talking about this or that subject and a clip would be shown, either an old film or a recent one made for the show with a disclaimer reading "Not the actual event, but a re-enactment" and sometimes just "re-enactment" as if the viewer were too stupid to know film cameras were either invented yet as of the event or that someone was recording everything the person/event was about was around at all times. Sometimes I'll think "en-enactment" when I see the same today. I guess I am just easily amused. :)

[@1pcfred]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/hWPch415i7F-aac

[@patrickfreeman8257]

When I saw the title "40 Fat pigs" I thought this might be about Congress, but then I thought, "No, 40 won't even come close"

[@markcolyer1989]

King John choses 40 pigs to represent the 40 Barons that went against him ar Running Mead.

[@HM2SGT]

We always see this well-dressed gentleman with his bow tie and jacket, but it tickles me to think that he's sitting there in Camp shorts and fuzzy slippers

[@FODteam]

I would be. It's like a zoom meeting mullet. Business up top and party down below.

[@HM2SGT]

@@FODteam Zoom meeting mullet lol! Have you seen the meme with the photo of Hollywood Squares, or the Muppet cast in their opening grid comparing it to a zoom meeting? 😁

[@FODteam]

@@HM2SGT I haven't but I'm gonna look now.

[@HM2SGT]

@@FODteam wish I could post stuff like links and URLs or meme.

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

I do often wear jeans rather than putting on the matching suit pants.

[@barrylarking8986]

At this date the 'English' were serfs - slaves in their 'own' country. The Barons and the hierarchy were Normans. I read somewhere that King John was the first Norman monarch to learn English. Love your channel Mr History Guy.

[@decimated550]

the actual number of pigs was 37 but for alliteration and marketing, three imaginary pigs were added to make the pleasing "Forty Fat"

[@higgme1ster]

So, not burning pigs but that did remind me of another use of farm animals in the Azores, Portugal A Spanish fleet of ten warships, commanded by Pedro Valdez, bombarded Angra on 5 July 1581, then began investigating the coast of the island in search of the best landing places. At dawn on 25 July, the first ships loaded with Spanish troops anchored in Salga Bay, about twelve kilometres east of Angra's harbour in the village of Vila de São Sebastião. By midmorning, the Spaniards were sweeping the coast with their artillery, and the fighting was fierce. About midday, when the outcome of the battle was still unsettled, an Augustinian monk named Friar Pedro, who was taking an active part in the struggle, thought of the stratagem of driving cattle against the Spaniards so as to scatter them. Over a thousand head of cattle were quickly gathered and, by means of shouts and musket shots, driven against the enemy positions. The disconcerted Spaniards fell back and were pursued to the shore, where almost all of them lost their lives in the fighting or drowned while trying to reach their boats. This unconventional victory, the Battle of Salga Bay, proved that King António could count on a good deal of local support.

[@davidevans4609]

I am a man of Kent (rather than a Kentish man), and I knew little of this. Very interesting, thank you.

[@korbell1089]

Lance: "No the process did not include attacking the castle with burning pigs. "That's what cows were for: "Here comes Bessie!" (if you know, you know😃) Medieval sieges were a slow war of attrition where you tried to starve out the defenders before your own army was destroyed by disease.

[@KR4FTW3RK]

"Mooooooooooh" *SPLAT*

[@goodun2974]

In Monty Python and the Holy Grail, the soldiers in the castle were hurling sheep over the wall at the invaders, with catapults. Kind of stupid to give away your food supply.....🤔

[@CrazyBear65]

Plastic cow ball...

[@davidbarrass]

St Andrews Castle in Scotland still has a siege mine and counter mine you can explore.

[@constipatedinsincity4424]

This sounds exciting 😀 🙌All Hail the History Guy !🤓

[@magellantv]

This was FASCINATING.

[@normoloid]

There's a movie about this siege called Ironclad, naturally it has lots of fiction, but the main parts of story is in it too, including cutting of hands and legs.. pretty brutal scene.

[@DidMyGrandfatherMakeThis]

Ps, it would be amazing to do a video on William Marshal, the inspiration for William the Templar in ironclad, heath ledger's character in knights Tale and a genuine chap who rose from humble beginnings to be there at almost every important event in Angevin history.

[@davidrenton]

esp as you can see his Tomb in London at Temple

[@Bhartrampf]

Yes, I would love to hear about William the Templar also

[@DidMyGrandfatherMakeThis]

@@Bhartrampf well technically he only became a Templar (in real life) on his death bed. Fulfilling a vow that he made to the Templar order when he went on crusade because, apparently and unusually for the time, his marriage was rather solid and he did not want to have to divorce to become a Templar. Depending on the source, some say his wife divorced him to allow him to fulfill his vow but Marshal is pretty much a case of fact being far more interesting than anything you could possibly make up. A seventy year old knight riding full tilt into the battle of Lincoln? Unhorsing Richard Coure de Lion and then a couple of years later standing before him as his king and being very laconic. Damn he was one heck of a character

[@beerdrinker6452]

Simple comment: You rock. I try desperately not to be jealous, but in my heart I know I could never do the research you do. Thank you!

[@StuSaville]

William II "Will our fortifications keep besiegers out?" Gundolf "They shall not pass!"

[@nagjrcjasonbower]

Thanks for the new video!!!

[@BasicDrumming]

Great video.

[@peterfeltham5612]

THG always informative and interesting.

[@youngterry1117]

Thank you for that, im from medway... Maybe you could look into the history of Chatham dockyard, its history that deserves to be remembered 👍

[@youngterry1117]

I know you've done a video about the Dutch raid of Medway, that was great too but there is much more naval history here. Will Adams , Nelson and the prison hulks at Gillingham reach are very interesting yo me

[@MB-TheRealAustralia]

I only recently re-watched the film "Ironclad" which is about this siege.

[@kiwibob223]

Very cool

[@MarshOakDojoTimPruitt]

thanks

[@grapeshot]

Historical stories like this shows you how nationalism at least in the modern sense didn't exist back then. Since some nobles in England were more than willing to back the candidacy of a French King. Forever the legacy of 1066.

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

At the time the crowns were actually closely interconnected and the rivalry with France was not what it would later become. John's brother Richard I spent possibly less than six months of his reign in England.

[@terryboyer1342]

Great story except for the lack of pirates.

[@hlmoore8042]

Arrrgggg. How's that?

[@terryboyer1342]

@@hlmoore8042 👍

[@promiscuous5761]

Thank you.

[@erichammond9308]

Wonderful channel! I would love to see an episode on the 5,000 man banzai charge on Saipan during WWII?

[@sw8741]

"How do you know he is the king?" "He doesn't have shit all over him!"

[@douglassauvageau7262]

It is a continuing puzzle of human history that power accrues to those who reap where they have not sown. Brute-force and destructive ingenuity continue to predominate.

[@constipatedinsincity4424]

Back in the Saddle Again Naturally

[@BA-gn3qb]

Anytime I hear Rochester, I think of Eddie Anderson on The Jack Benny Show and in many movies.

[@-jeff-]

You could say the walls came down over a "miner" mishap.

[@jamesrogers47]

You might, but I wouldn't. "He who would pun would pick a pocket. " Samuel Johnson

[@kenbest7660]

Interesting. You might say that the attackers went "whole hog" in their efforts to breach the castle. Instead of a siege you might call it "sueyge".

[@Hrodn]

Groan.

[@neilshearer7513]

But it certainly was not a boaring story.

[@ajg617]

I have a copy of the Magna Carta on the wall of my office. Profound document. Meanwhile, I'll have to watch Errol Flynn or Robert Taylor again tonight to get some balance:)

[@paulhugo1623]

My home town (Rochester)…. We are taught as to why there is one tower built differently to the others. Sadly, we are taught little of the background of the siege that caused it.

[@grantsmythe8625]

At "mile-marker" 1:04 I think I may be going to remember this from some movie in some faraway land. What a BBQ that could have been.

[@BillB23]

At 8:40 there are images of Templars. Were they involved?

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

No, the Templars were not involved. That is just a generic picture of knights.

[@brendanquinlan5936]

Really excellent account. 👏

[@chriscaughey1103]

I watch THG on KZbin because I aim a low income senior living on only Social Security. Joining History Hit TV is too much for me...but I still watching this and part History Hit shows here too.

[@null090909]

Today I learned that one important battle of the civil war occurred off Cherbourg, France (Kearsarge vs Alabama). History that deserves an episode.

[@stevek8829]

The Alabama and the Laird rams story is quite famous. The US actually sued GB for damages after the war.

[@goodun2974]

"We've seen the last, of good king Richard/ raise up your glass, to good king John...." Steely Dan

[@dp-sr1fd]

The breed of pig was an animal that had a very thick layer of fat, about four inches thick, and a thick coat of hair. There were many breeds that have since disappeared from that period. Commercialism has seen to that.

[@J.A.Smith2397]

Gonna be an interesting story if it's coming from you history Guy! Well see!?

[@constipatedinsincity4424]

12:15 am or 12:15 pm?

[@rickyj5547]

Charles dickens use to live in gads Hill.

[@gardnep]

Did you say that the walls were made of a mixture including limestone? Heated limestone creates slaked lime that breaks down with heat ie slaking off. So it is possible the heat of fires caused part of the walls to decompose and collapse.

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

The facing was a type of limestone.

[@SHAd0Eheart]

Curious that at 5:51 the image of Gundolf (sp?) appears to have actual whiskers photoshopped onto his face. I mean yeah it’s funny but not quite as funny as the brazier he appears to be wearing on his head “weird science” style.

[@johntabler349]

True that we know more about the legend of the era than the actual events but it's also true that we learned about the legend from classical English Literature. I think it's because the romanticized version strikes more of a chord when great conflicts were settled by the single combat of noble knights, as opposed to wars being ended by a nasty case of dysentery

[@eldritchia]

one funny thing about Ironclad...they depict John useing live pigs!

[@rickyj5547]

It's a Charles dickens town.

[@lindakay9552]

I absolutely believe my approximately 14th - 16th great grandfather was one of these people. I just can't figure out which side. My DNA analysis combined with extensive family histories and legal documents have proven I'm descended from Henry IV. My maiden name is Edgerton (originally Egerton.) So there's the whole debate over whether or not we're from one of the noble Egertons. But I'm an 11th generation "American," so tracing my line earlier than 1623 Connecticut is nearly impossible. Coincidentially, my eldest known American ancestor was named Richard, and he named his first son John.

[@markcolyer1989]

I reenact King John at Rochester Castle sorry can't put up a picture by well done

[@DidMyGrandfatherMakeThis]

If you take out the Hollywood bits, the film ironclad isn't too bad a retelling. Well, save for the Vikings and the Templars, hell they just got the seige being at Rochester correct but it isn't a bad watch.

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

LOL yes, they at least got the location correct

[@DidMyGrandfatherMakeThis]

@@TheHistoryGuyChannel and they got the pigs bit right, other than that, yeah.... Out of interest, what are your favourite historical films that don't make you want to, as my partner would say, shout at the TV? Lol

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

@@DidMyGrandfatherMakeThis lol they herd live pigs into a burning mine. That isn’t how it worked at all. I can enjoy a movie without it being entirely accurate, I appreciate storytelling. But I am often disappointed, as the actual story is often better than the parts they change. I do enjoy a number of history based movies that I find are close enough not to cause a history buff to cringe: Glory, Gettysburg, Apollo 13, the Band of Brothers series, Full Metal Jacket, Zulu Dawn, the King’s Speech, Greyhound, Das Boot, Kursk, Deepwater Horizon.

[@DidMyGrandfatherMakeThis]

@@TheHistoryGuyChannel I totally agree. Glory is a fantastic movie, band of brothers is just incredible and I can't wait to finally get round to watching the fighting eight? I think that's what they are calling the USAAF one. I haven't seen Greyhound but I really want to as the book is brilliant and I've always had a soft spot for the destroyer captains in the second world war after reading Captain Hill's autobiography 'Destroyer Captain', being in command of an escort destroyer on PQ17 and then being on Operation Pedestal and telling his second in command he would rather mutiny his destroyer than leave the convoy or the Ohio, in his own words, "I'd sail the damned Leadbury by myself rather than let another merchantman sink" is the kind of heroism that seems like some comic book writers could only dream of and yet, it's fact, it's history that deserves to be remembered, if you will allow me the comment sir :)

[@goodun2974]

@@TheHistoryGuyChannel , the director of Das Boot just died. That was a terrific movie (originally a German miniseries).

[@martykitson3442]

Interesting I thought I knew a bit about historical weapons but first I ever heard of mangolins (sp ? ) now I gotta study some 😃

[@michaellindstrom8402]

Mangonel

[@dsc4178]

Quite interesting.

[@aaronsaunders6974]

just now heard of Rochester castle. had no clue king john was involved with it.

[@Svartalf14]

Dear History Fuy (and any experts around) at 8:34 the doco states that the rebels had crossbowmen with them. Was that common? I hear that at the time, crossbows were reviled to the point that the pope threatened to excommunicate any who used them, and that the use of one in killing King Richard (beyond it giving the range to hit the king when he thought he was safe) was a factor in the horrible punishment meted out on his slayer. Also, I thought England was bow country, the legends of Robin Hood emphasizing that the training of yeomen in the longbow was already a major feature of English military at the time.

[@1bryanestes]

I don't have Magellan subscription... I've got far better...your channel my man. Great work👍

[@olly2027]

Why was there a Spanish commercial on your channel?

[@spacewater7]

Hey @The History Guy, how about an episode about the Finnish gravy trains (mess trains) of the Winter War? Offering hot meals for Finnish troops during the war...and any USSR troops willing to lay down their weapons and surrender.

[@nedmeyer698]

I tried to apply for Magellan TV, however Kyrgyzstan is not listed as a country on their site.

[@paulhorn2665]

Ich hätte nie gedacht das ich in einem Video von THG mal die Porta der Saalburg sehe, von unserem deutschen Kaiser rekonstruiert 😀

[@mikehartman5326]

Can you do a video on the evidence of trade between Africa and South America well before Columbus?

[@erict.watson2460]

Just to prove what a weird language English is, and for information, Warwickshire is pronounced W-or-ick-shire. Nice coverage of the siege.

[@Despiser25]

Because KZbin doesn't ram enough ads up our collective butts you need to add to the insanity...

[@Familylawgroup]

Question about “The Great War” in your ad…did people call it World War I during the war or WHEN did people begin calling that war “World War I?” I have the same question about WWII.

[@dp-sr1fd]

Of course they didn't call it WW1. How could they know there would be another 20 years later. It was simply known as The World War.

[@edwardrhoades6957]

World War I and World War II were both coined by Time magazine in 1939. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_war#:~:text=The%20term%20%22World%20War%20I,to%20describe%20the%20upcoming%20war.

[@goodun2974]

At the time or shortly thereafter World War I was called the war to end all wars. They were being overly optimistic don't you think?

[@HM2SGT]

My grandfather served in The Great War. My grandmother always referred to it as such, so I think it was a generational thing. Of course you have to keep in perspective that until 1937 it was *_THE_* World War… There hasn’t been one like it before, and nobody could conceive of it happening again.

[@jimpage6533]

An old wives tail was that King John's miners drove the hogs into the tunnel while still alive then blocked the tunnel with timbers and then set the whole thing on fire with the live hogs trapped and burned alive !

[@rickyj5547]

There's a Charles dickens festival.

[@elcarnero4763]

history guy, can you make a video about the african connection to Mexico's war for independence? this war happened in the year 1810-1821, it's been deleted from the history books, it's not being taught in high school or in college Etc.

[@gordtron]

people may not take those mangonels seriously but any group well practiced enough with a few could cause some major problems in this upcoming war.

[@jeffbangkok]

Good night

[@charlesvigneron565]

15 June 1215, not the 10th. It wasn't signed either, but sealed.

[@maverick4177]

King John was known as “Soft Sword”

[@markcolyer1989]

Can't put a picture of me at my Castle

[@rawcado]

Hi

[@Brimoeris1]

Hello there

[@merlinwizard1000]

57th, 19 August 2022

[@michaelwarren2391]

So, no boring, but plenty of boars.

[@PaulRoberts61877]

oh.. this is K. Follet's tale. Yes? No? plz

[@RemusKingOfRome]

The first Progressive to annoy everyone .. :D

[@MightyMezzo]

Years ago I saw a production of Shakespeare’s history play “King John,” staged as a comedy. Said play fails to mention the Magna Carta OR Robin Hood, the two things we know King John for today. Siege ended due to starvation, huh? Didn’t occur to anyone to try eating the parts of the pigs not used to undermine the props?

[@plasmaburndeath]

IMO it is slight Irony that the 1% now build so many underground castles-bunkers, to try to survive the disasters too many of them are actively causing. My Reasoning is simple, so many of them are relying on peasants, including private pilots to fly them and their 1% family and select friends to such a bunker, failing to realize those pilots will abandon them and go be with their own family. Also once the 1% are in their bunkers, easy to just bury them in concrete and good riddance to them.

[@Aramis419]

I always keep an eye on that shelf behind your right shoulder to see what bric-a-brack you've got there. Wow. I just used the term "bric-a-brack". I'm betraying my age! I'm 35! I'm not old!

[@goodun2974]

I think it's actually "brac", no k at the end. I should look up where the expression comes from...

[@Aramis419]

@@goodun2974 Yep! That's the dictionary spelling! Thank you for correcting me! Yet, I argue - English is an evolving language with no standardization!

[@zaldbathar4866]

10:10 Oh no, there were act's of debauchery taking place a mere few buildings away from the shrine of "Saint Pull-Anus" I'm so surprised....

[@JACKSpringbeats]

🏰 🐖 🐖 🐖 🐖 🐖 🐖 🐖

[@nevittwoods1730]

Robin was 200 yrs later🤔