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Join us in the final part of this epic tale!

We are right up to 1066 in the last episode where Paul and Calum take you through the characters, history and context of The Battle of Hastings.

It has been a journey and we hope you enjoy this final episode. Paul and Calum go into the battle in great detail.

The Battle of Hastings[a] was fought on 14 October 1066 between the Norman-French army of William, the Duke of Normandy, and an English army under the Anglo-Saxon King Harold Godwinson, beginning the Norman conquest of England. It took place approximately 7 miles (11 kilometres) northwest of Hastings, close to the present-day town of Battle, East Sussex, and was a decisive Norman victory.

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Hello Listeners!

Join Paul and Calum in episode 7 of The Birth of The English Nation.

A great episode with paving the way to next weeks special on The Battle of Hastings in 1066.

Setting the scene and introducing the kings, stories and history leading up to what was one of the biggest battles in English History.

We hope you enjoy this one and click the link to watch the video :)

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Hello Listeners! 

Join Viking Son and Father on part 6 of the Birth of The English Nation. 

This week we cover the years 939 AD to 1016 AD. 

Seventy-seven years and seven kings! Of those seven, two were assassinated, and one king you never would have thought to be king of England. An Exciting episode, we hope you enjoy it! 

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Hello Listeners.

Join Paul and Calum on the next instalment of The Birth of The English Nation!

This show features:

Æthelstan or Athelstan (/ˈæθəlstæn/; Old English: Æþelstan[a] or Æðelstān;[b] Old Norse: Aðalsteinn meaning "noble stone"; c. 894 – 27 October 939) was King of the Anglo-Saxons from 924 to 927 and King of the English from 927 to 939 when he died.[c] He was the son of King Edward the Elder and his first wife, Ecgwynn. Modern historians regard him as the first King of England and one of the greatest Anglo-Saxon kings. He never married and had no children. He was succeeded by his half-brother, Edmund

Also Calum and Paul talk about the Battle of Brunanburh:

The Battle of Brunanburh was fought in 937 between Æthelstan, King of England, and an alliance of Olaf Guthfrithson, King of Dublin; Constantine II, King of Scotland, and Owain, King of Strathclyde. The battle is often cited as the point of origin for English nationalism: historians such as Michael Livingston argue that "the men who fought and died on that field forged a political map of the future that remains [in modernity], arguably making the Battle of Brunanburh one of the most significant battles in the long history not just of England, but of the whole of the British Isles."[1]

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Welcome to Part 4 of 8 of the Birth of the English Nation History Series from Paul and Calum of Aspen Waite.

This week Calum and Paul take an in-depth look at who Paul describes as possibly the 2nd most important woman in English History.

Æthelflæd, Lady of the Mercians (c. 870 – 12 June 918) ruled Mercia in the English Midlands from 911 until her death. She was the eldest daughter of Alfred the Great, king of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Wessex, and his wife Ealhswith.

Æthelflæd was born around 870 at the height of the Viking invasions of England. By 878, most of England was under Danish Viking rule – East Anglia and Northumbria having been conquered, and Mercia partitioned between the English and the Vikings – but in that year Alfred won a crucial victory at the Battle of Edington. Soon afterwards the English-controlled western half of Mercia came under the rule of Æthelred, Lord of the Mercians, who accepted Alfred's overlordship. Alfred adopted the title King of the English, claiming to rule all English people not living in areas under Viking control. In the mid-880s, Alfred sealed the strategic alliance between the surviving English kingdoms by marrying Æthelflæd to Æthelred.

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Hello listeners

Join the esteemed cuddly Viking and Son as we traverse the depths of History together. 450 AD to 1066 AD.

And this week we have a special on King Alfred the Great!

Great to hear Paul and Calum discussing one of the most famous characters in English History - one who played a key roll in establishing 'England'.

Some info:

Alfred the Great (Old English: Ælfrēd,[b] Ælfrǣd,[c] 'Elf-counsel' or 'Wise-elf'; between 847 and 849 – 26 October 899) was King of Wessex from 871 to c. 886 and King of the Anglo-Saxons from c. 886 to 899. He was the youngest son of King Æthelwulf of Wessex. His father died when he was young and three of Alfred's brothers, Æthelbald, Æthelberht and Æthelred, reigned in turn before him.

After ascending the throne, Alfred spent several years fighting Viking invasions. He won a decisive victory in the Battle of Edington in 878 and made an agreement with the Vikings, creating what was known as the Danelaw in the North of England. Alfred also oversaw the conversion of Viking leader Guthrum to Christianity. He defended his kingdom against the Viking attempt at conquest, becoming the dominant ruler in England.[1] Details of his life are described in a work by 9th-century Welsh scholar and bishop Asser.

Hello Listeners!

Join us in Part 2 of this Historical Series with Paul and Calum.

They take from around 450 AD right up to the Battle of Hastings 1066 with lots of info on geographical context, historical figures of note, what the peoples of the time were like, what they ate, and their settlements.

Today covers the first Norsemen invasions and we go up to the time of King Alfred fleeing to the Somerset Levels after the Vikings launched a surprise attack on his base in Chippenham on January 6th 876.

We start the episode and end with Blood Swan - Anglo Saxon Music and Instruments

This is a video series so watch it here:

The Birth of The English Nation Part 2

Greetings, esteemed listeners! Today, we're honoured to have a remarkable duo on our show, none other than the renowned Viking father and son, Calum and Paul Waite! They're here to delve into an extraordinary chapter of history, exploring the origins and the fascinating evolution of Britain.

Our historical journey begins in a time when Britain was a mosaic of tribal cultures, unbound by unity, and moves forward to the era of Roman dominance. We'll dive deep into the tempestuous times of Viking invasions and even touch upon the legend shrouded in the mists of time - the tale of King Arthur.

What might life have been like in ancient England? We’ll reflect on the Anglo-Saxon and Germanic tribal raids, and the hasty retreat of the underprepared Romano-British, who were forced into exile by the so-called 'merciless barbarians' of their era.

Exploring the cultural metamorphosis sparked by the invaders, we'll see how life was indelibly transformed. We'll compare and contrast the warrior ethos with the more subservient cultures of the time.

Our conversation also illuminates the legendary figure of King Arthur, a name synonymous with English history. We scrutinize the enigma of this potentially real man, rumoured to rest beneath the ancient landmark, Glastonbury Tor.

We'll travel through time, from the Angles to the East Saxons, the South Saxons to the Jutes, visiting regions like Cornwall, Wessex, Mercia, and Northumbria. Heading north, we'll discuss the Picts of Scotland, and in the west, the ancient Britons of Wales who, to some extent, managed to preserve their distinct identity.

Furthermore, we delve into the evolution of the English language, tracing its roots and development, and consider the influence of Pagan Gods on our cultural heritage. We'll even taste the past, contemplating the diet during Anglo-Saxon times, and delve into the various pastimes that made up their daily lives.

So, accompany us on this enlightening trip through history and deepen your understanding of British heritage!

And to cap off today's journey, we'll be featuring Weezer’s song "Hash Pipe". 

Stay tuned for the live stream link. We're looking forward to sharing this enriching journey with you all!