04.08 - The Four Days' Battle
From Pax Britannica: A History of the British Empire by Samuel Hume
January 12, 2026 · 44 min · Season 4 · Episode 8
About this episode
The episode discusses the Four Days' Battle between the Royal Navy and the Dutch fleet, highlighting the strategic challenges faced by both sides.
The Royal Navy and the Dutch fleet square off. Michiel de Ruyter needs to clear the way for the merchant fleet to get home, or else the Dutch economy might collapse. George Monck, Duke of Albemarle, is outnumbered and outgunned, and Prince Rupert races to join him. Nicholas Rodgers, The Command of the Ocean: A Naval History of Britain, Volume 2, 1649–1815 Anna Keay, The Restless Republic, 2022. Rebecca Rideal, 1666: Plague, War, and Hellfire, 2016. Frank Fox, The Four Days' Battle: The Greatest Sea Fight of the Age of Sail, 2009. David Onnekink & Gijs Rommelse, The Dutch in the Early Modern World. Steve Murdoch, The terror of the Seas: Scottish Maritime Warfare, 1513-1713, 2010. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Topics covered
- naval history
- British Empire
- Dutch history
- military conflict
- economic impact
Keywords
- Royal Navy
- Dutch fleet
- Michiel de Ruyter
- George Monck
- Prince Rupert
- merchant fleet
- Dutch economy
- naval warfare
- sea fight
- outnumbered
Mentioned in this episode
Products: The Command of the Ocean: A Naval History of Britain, Volume 2, 1649–1815, The Restless Republic, 1666: Plague, War, and Hellfire, The Four Days' Battle: The Greatest Sea Fight of the Age of Sail, The Dutch in the Early Modern World, The terror of the Seas: Scottish Maritime Warfare, 1513-1713
Books & works: The Command of the Ocean, The Restless Republic, 1666: Plague, War, and Hellfire, The Four Days' Battle: The Greatest Sea Fight of the Age of Sail, The Dutch in the Early Modern World, The terror of the Seas: Scottish Maritime Warfare
Places: Albemarle
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- 4-12 - Love Thy Neighbour · February 23, 2026 · 35 min
- Bonus - The Company in India with Professor Philip Stern · February 16, 2026 · 56 min
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