The Kings and Queens podcast

In 1013, the  audacious Sweyn Forkbeard (1013-14) reappeared at Sandwich,  with  a  powerful  fleet  He  was  accompanied  by his three usual attendants,  Fire,  slaughter,  and  pillage;  and all  England  trembled  before  him,  like  the  rustling  of  a  bed of  reeds  shaken  by  the  western wind.

Characters

Sweyn Forkbeard - King of Denmark (986-1014), King of Norway (1000-1014), King of England (1014)

Harald Bluetooth - King of Denmark (958-986), King of Norway (970-985), father of Sweyn

Gunhild - mother of Swein

Cnut - son of Sweyn Forkbeard

Gunhild - first wife of Sweyn

Sigrid the Haughty - second wife of Sweyn, wife of Erik the Victorious

Palnatoke - founder of the Jomsvikings

Jari Sigvaldi - chieftain of the Jomsvikings

Erik Hakonarson - Norwegian jarl

Olaf Tryggvason - King of Norway (995-1000)

Erik the Victorious - King of Sweden (970-95)

Olof Skotkonung - King of Sweden (955-1022)

Otto I - Holy Roman Emperor (962-73)

Otto II - Holy Roman Emperor (973-83)

Aethelred - King of England (978-1013, 1014-16)

Edward the Martyr - King of England (975-78), half-brother of Aethelred

Emma of Normandy - second wife of Aethelred, wife of Cnut

Ulfcytel - nobleman and military leader

St. Edmund - King of East-Anglia (855-69)

Adam of Bremen - chronicler

Credits

Music: Daudir by Alexander Nakarada (https://www.creatorchords.com)Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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Æthelred's (978-1013, 1014-16) story would be one of turbulence, political intrigue, and the relentless march of fate. The boy who would become king would soon be marked by the legacy of doubt and misfortune, a monarch whose reign would be defined by both his early promise and his later failures. According to William and Malmesbury, he was an accomplice to murder, a coward who fled from danger, a wastrel who died a miserable death.

Characters

Aethelred - King of England (978-1013, 1014-16)

Edward the Martyr - King of England (975-78), half-brother of Aethelred

Edgar - King of England (959-75), father of Aethelred and Edward

Aelfthryth - third wife of Edgar, mother of Aethelred

Aelfgifu - first wife of Aethelred

Emma of Normandy - second wife of Aethelred

Edmund Ironside - son of Aethelred

Aethelflaed - first wife of Edgar, mother of Edward

Dunstan - Archbishop of Canterbury (959-88)

Sigeric - Archbishop of Canterbury (990-94)

Aelfheah - Archbishop of Canterbury (1006-12)

Wulfstan - Archbishop of York

Aethelwold - Bishop of Winchester

Oswald - Bishop of Worcester, Archbishop of York

Aethelwine - Ealderman of East-Anglia

Aelfhere - Ealdorman of MerciaByrhtnoth - military commander

Wulfgeat - favourite of Aethelred

Eadric - nicknamed ‘the grabber’, favourite of Aethelred

Wulfnoth - favourite of AethelredBeorhtic - favourite of Aethelred

Olaf Tryggvason - King of Norway (995-1000)

Sweyn Forkbeard - King of Denmark (986-1014), King of Norway (1000-1014), King of England (1014)

Cnut - son of Sweyn Forkbeard

Richard I - nicknamed ‘the fearless’, duke of Normandy (942-96)

Richard II - nicknamed ‘the good’, duke of Normandy (996-1026)

William of Malmesbury - chronicler

John of Worcester -chronicler

Credits

Music: Prepare for War by Alexander Nakarada (https://www.creatorchords.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Freesounds.org

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From the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle describing Edward the Martyr (975-78). 'Men murdered him, but God exalted him. In life he was an earthly king; after death he is now a heavenly saint. His earthly kinsmen would not avenge him, but his heavenly Father has greatly avenged him. The earthly killers would have destroyed his memory. Those who would not bow to his living body now humbly on their knees bow to his dead bones. How we may understand that the wisdom of men, their plans and counsel, are nothing against God’s purpose.'

Characters

Edward the Martyr - King of England (975-78)

Aethelred - brother of Edward and claimant

Edgar - King of England (959-75), father of Edward and Aethelred

Aethelflaed - first wife of Edgar, mother of Edward

Wulfthryth - possible second wife of Edgar

Aelfthryth - third wife of Edgar, mother of Aethelred

Dunstan - Archbishop of Canterbury

Aethelwold - Bishop of Winchester

Oswald - Bishop of Worcester, Archbishop of York

Aethelwine - Alderman of East-Anglia

Aelfhere - Ealdorman of Mercia

Brihthelm - former Archbishop of Canterbury

Kenneth II - King of Scotland

Geoffrey Gaimar - chronicler

Lantfred - chronicler and Winchester monk

Byrthferth - chronicler

Osbern of Canterbury - chronicler

Music: Medieval Suspense by Alexander Nakarada (www.creatorchords.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

In Excelsis Deo

According to the Anglo-Saxon chronicle, ‘in Edgar's (959-75) days all things gladly grew good, and God granted that he dwelt in peace while he lived, and he did, as was necessary, work eagerly towards it. He was mighty in arms, exulting in sceptres and diadems, and regally protected the laws of the kingdom with militant authority.’

Characters

Edgar - King of England (959-975), King of the Mercians and Northumbrians (957-59)

Aethelflaed - first wife of Edgar

Wulfthryth - possible second wife of Edgar

Aelfthryth - third wife of Edgar

Eadwig - King of England (955-59), brother of Edgar

Edmund I - King of England (939-46), father of Edgar

Eadred - King of England (946-55), uncle of Edgar

Eadgifu - grandmother of Edgar

Dunstan - Archbishop of Canterbury

Aethelwold - Bishop of Winchester

Oswald - Bishop of Worcester, Archbishop of York

Aethelstan half-king - Alderman of East-Anglia

Aelfsige - former Archbishop of Canterbury

Brihthelm - former Archbishop of Canterbury

Kenneth II - King of Scotland

Geoffrey Gaimar - chronicler

Lantfred - chronicler and Winchester monk

Credits 

Music: Cold Journey by Alexander Nakarada (www.creatorchords.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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Perhaps no image of an Anglo-Saxon king has been shaped as unyieldingly by his enemies as Eadwig's (955-59). Ruthless purging of the old guard of his father and uncle and the appointments of favourites resulted in his character assassination in the hagiographies of the men he’d dismissed. He was labelled an incorrigible rascal and lecher. The accounts paint a picture of a naïve, capricious, salacious misguided boy, who side-lined experienced advisors when they resisted his childish impulses.

Characters 

Eadwig - King of England (955-59) 

Aelfgifu - wife of Eadwig

Edmund I - King of England (939-46), father of Eadwig

Aelfgifu of Shaftesbury - mother of Eadwig

Eadgifu - grandmother of Eadwig

Edgar - younger brother of Eadwig, King of the Mercians and Northumbrians

Aethelgifu - mother of Aelfgifu, Eadwig’s wife

Aelric - Eadwig’s foster parent

Dunstan - Abbot of Glastonbury

Oda - Archbishop of Canterbury

Aethelwold - Abbot of Abingdon

Aethelstan half-king - Alderman of East-Anglia

B - chronicler 

William of Malmesbury - chronicler

Credits

Music: Nomadic Dawn by Alexander Nakarada (www.creatorchords.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 Licence

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Medieval_Town_SFX_Bundle 

Within a year of being crowned, Eadred (946-55) was faced with possibly the most feared, most ruthless and most famous Viking to set foot on English shores. The battle to save Northumbria from Viking control was also fought in conjunction with a battle against a truly debilitating illness. Like his brothers before him, in securing the legacy of his forebears, he could not fail.

Characters

Eadred - King of England (946-55)

Edmund I - King of England (939-46), elder brother of Eadred

Eadgifu - third wife of Edward, mother of Eadred

Edward the Elder - King of the Anglo-Saxons (899-924), father of Eadred

Aethelstan - King of the Anglo-Saxons (924-37), King of England (927-939), half-brother of Eadred

Eadburh - sister of Eadred

Eadwig - son of Edmund and Eadred’s successor

Alfred - King of the West-Saxons (871-886), King of the Anglo-Saxons (886-899), grandfather of Edmund

Dunstan - Abbot of Glastonbury

Aethelwold - Abbot of Abingdon

Aethelstan Half-king - Alderman of East-Anglia

Oda - Archbishop of Canterbury

Hywel Dda - King of Deheubarth

Oswulf I - Earl of Bamburgh, commander of Northumbria

Wulstan - Archbishop of York

Olaf Sihtricson - King of Northumbria (941-44, 949-52)

Eric Bloodaxe - King of Northumbria (947-48, 952-54)

Credits

Viking Calls - Marcus Dellicompagni (www.poundsound.uk)

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Much like those who came before and those who would follow, Edmund I’s (939-46) reign was largely dominated by the Viking threat. Though his early years were tense and characterised by Viking resurgence, he recovered the land won by his father and half-brother and ultimately succeeded in keeping the Viking threat at bay and thus continued the dream of his forebears, the dream of a united, peaceful England.

Characters

Edmund I - King of England (939-46)

Eadgifu - third wife of Edward, mother of Edmund and Eadred

Aelfgith - first wife of Edmund, mother of Eadwig and Edgar

Aethelflaed of Damerham - second of wife of Edmund

Edward the Elder - King of the Anglo-Saxons (899-924), father of Edmund

Aethelstan - King of the Anglo-Saxons (924-37), King of England (927-939), half-brother of Edmund 

Eadred - brother of Edmund 

Eadburh - sister of Edmund

Eadwig - son of Edmund 

Edgar - son of Edmund

Alfred - King of the West-Saxons (871-886), King of the Anglo-Saxons (886-899), grandfather of Edmund

Aelfweard - half-brother of Edmund and Aethelstan and claimant

Edwin - half-brother of Edmund and Aethelstan and claimant

Dunstan - Abbot of Glastonbury

Aethelstan Half-king - Alderman of East-Anglia

Charles the Simple - King of West Francia (898-922), father of Louis

Louis IV - King of West Francia (936-54), nephew of Edmund

Alain - Duke of Brittany

Wulstan - Archbishop of York

Oda - Archbishop of Canterbury

Olaf Guthfrithson - King of Dublin (934-39), King of Northumbria (939-41)

Olaf Sihtricson - King of Dublin (945-47), King of Northumbria (941-44)

Hywel Dda - King of Deheubarth

Idwal foel - King of Gwynedd

Constantine II - King of Alba (900-43)

Malcolm I - King of Alba (943-54)

Owain - King of Strathclyde

Dyfnwal/Dunmail - King of Strathclyde/Cumbria, son of Owain

Hugh the Great - Duke of the Franks

Otto I - King of East Francia

Leofa - outlaw and killer of Edmund

Credits 

Freesound.org:

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Music: The Wizard by Alexander Nakarada (www.creatorchords.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Aethelstan (924-939), renowned through the whole world whose fame flourishes and whose honour endures everywhere, whom God set as king over the English people. Raised on the high throne, and leader of these earthly armies, so that the king himself, mighty in war, could conquer other fierce kings and crush their proud necks.

Characters

Aethelstan - King of the Anglo-Saxons (924-927), King of the English (927-939)

Edward the Elder - King of the Anglo-Saxons (899-924), father of Aethelstan

Ecgwynn - first wife of Edward, mother of Aethelstan

Aelfflaed - second wife of Edward, mother of Aelfweard, Edwin and Eadgifu

Eadgifu - third wife of Edward, mother of Edmund and Eadred

Aethelflaed - Lady of Mercia (911-918), aunt of Aethelstan

Alfred - King of the West-Saxons (871-886), King of the Anglo-Saxons (886-899), grandfather of Aethelstan

Aelfweard - half-brother of Aethelstan and claimant

Edwin - half-brother of Aethelstan and claimant

Constantine II - King of Alba

Owain - King of Strathclyde

Sihtric - Viking King of Dublin (917-20)

Guthfrith - Viking King of Dublin (920-34)

Olaf Guthfrithson - Viking King of Dublin (934-39)

Henry I - King of GermanyHarald Finehair - King of Norway

Hywel Dda - king of Deheubarth

Idwal foel - king of Gwynedd

Morgan ap Owain - king of Gwent

Tewdwr ap Elisse - king of Brycheiniog 

William of Malmesbury - 13th century chronicler

Credits

Music: Chivalry Fair by Alexander Nakarada (www.creatorchords.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Though Edward the Elder's reign (899-924) is overshadowed by his father and his son. His achievements during his 25 years reign were unquestionable. He continued his father’s work with determination and courage. Historian Frank Stenton characterised his reign as one of the best sustained and most decisive campaigns in the whole of the Dark Ages.

Characters

Edward the Elder - King of the Anglo-Saxons (899-924)

Aethelflaed - Lady of Mercia (911-918), elder sister of Edward

Alfred - King of the West-Saxons (871-886), King of the Anglo-Saxons (886-899), father Edward and Aethelflaed

Ealhswith - mother of Edward and Aethelflaed

Aethelwold - cousin of Edward and claimant to the throne

Aethelhelm - cousin of Edward and former claimant to the throne

Ecgwynn - first wife of Edward, mother of Aethelstan and Edith

Aelfflaed - second wife of Edward, mother of Aelfweard, Edwin and Eadgifu

Eadgifu - third wife of Edward, mother of Edmund and Eadred

Aethelstan - aetheling and son of Edward

Aethelred - Lord of Mercia (881-911), husband of Aethelflaed

Plegmund - Archbishop of Canterbury

William of Malmesbury - chronicler

Guthrum - Danish warlord and King of East-Anglia (878-890)

Eohric - Danish Viking king of East Anglia (890-902)

Western-Viking hybrid music - Alexander Nakarada

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Soundmary - wild horses running

Warfare and battlefields - medieval battlefield - weapons- horses- and soldiers

Warfare and battlefields - medieval battlefield - weapons and horses - close perspective

Factus est repente

Alfred the Great (871-99) was the embodiment of the ideal, but practical, Christian ruler. He was the ‘truth teller’, described as a brave, resourceful, pious man. 

Despite his legacy being warped by Victorian and contemporary accounts, his achievements remain visible and profound. They allowed his son and grandsons to build on his political and military initiatives to unite England under the rule of one king.

Characters

Alfred - King of Wessex (871-86), King of the Anglo-Saxons (886-99)

Ealhswith - wife of Alfred

Aethelred - King of Wessex (865-71), brother of Alfred

Aethelbert - King of Wessex (860-65), brother of Alfred

Aethelbald - King of Wessex (858-60), brother of Alfred

Aethelwulf - King of Wessex (839-58), father of Alfred

Ecgberht - King of Wessex (802-39), grandfather of Alfred

Edward - son and heir of AlfredAethelswith - Alfred’s sister, wife of Burghred

Aelle - King of NorthumbriaEdmund - King of East-Anglia

Burghred - King of MerciaCeolwulf - King of Mercia

Lord Aethelred - Lord of the Mercians under Alfred

Aefelflaed - Lady of the Mercians, wife of Lord Aethelred

Viking leaders

Guthrum 

Ivar the Boneless

Ragnar Lothbrook 

Haesten

Ubbe

Credits

Leaving for Valhalla - Alexander Nakarada

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