The Wanderer Anglo Saxon History, mythology, Folklore and religion

English in the Byzantine Armed Forces: The Varangian Guard and Anglo-Saxon Ethnic Consciousness

One of the most interesting episodes in Byzantine military history and in medieval English history is the Anglo-Saxon participation and service in the Varangian Guards regiment from the late 11th to the early 13th century. Byzantine army became increasingly dependent upon mercenary forces.

into service of the Byzantine Emperor were Anglo-Saxons, who eventually made up the main component of the traditional foreign mercenary force that guarded the person of the Emperor.

In the days of King Alfred the Great, when the moon was full and its pale light bathed the land in an eerie glow, a terror stalked the kingdom of Wessex. The people whispered tales of bloodthirsty creatures, half-human and half-beast, that roamed the countryside under the curse of the werewolf. As the legend grew, fear gripped the hearts of villagers, and they dreaded the coming of the full moon.

n the annals of history, the swords of the Anglo-Saxons stand as both artifacts of exquisite craftsmanship and vessels of profound symbolism. These blades, hailing from a time when metallurgy was an art form and weaponry held cultural significance, offer a gateway into the values, warfare techniques, and societal norms of the early Germanic tribes that inhabited England from the 5th to the 11th century. This exploration delves deep into the world of Anglo-Saxon swords, unearthing their typologies, construction techniques, and the roles they played in shaping the destiny of a people.

Medieval Mallorca1346Jaume Ferrer, Mallorcan navigator set sail on 10th August to sail along the coast of Africa to Senegal and, perhaps, even to Niger. His journey is depicted in the Catalan Atlas.
1348 Palma was devastated by one of the most virulent of all strains of the Black Death that erupted during the Middle Ages and there were more than 5,000 deaths in the town.1375The Catalan Atlas, one of the masterpieces of the Mallorcan School of Cartography1391The widening gap between the rich and the poor and the introduction of higher taxes brought dissatisfaction and the Jews who controlled a large share of the financial dealings in the town were blamed. On 2nd August, the Call - a road between Santa Eulària, the Temple and the Santa Clara Convent was attacked and set on fire. More than 300 Jews died.1403The Riera, the torrent that ran through the centre of Palma, along the site of the present day La Rambla and the Born was a constant threat to the city and periodic floods caused serious damage. In this, the worst flood on record, more than 5,000 people died and 1500 houses were destroyed after two days of torrential rain.1429 Clement VIII the last antipope, appointed Bishop of Mallorca. Persecution of the Jews.1450A revolt spread throughout the Island, the poor beyond the city blaming the rich townsfolk for their woes. There was an armed revolt and the city was surrounded; food and water supplies were cut. It was on the point of surrendering when Alfons V of Aragon despatched troops to deal with the rebellion. Reprisals were harsh and reverberated throughout the Island.1493There was a further outbreak of plague, which was known as Borg's plague or Pesta d'en Boga, as it was attributed to a sailor named Boga.

The Anglo-Saxons believed in supernatural creatures such as Elves and Dwarves and giants ("Etins") who often brought harm to men. It is likely that they believed in Wyrd (German "werden"), usually translated as "fate," although the modern term fate does little justice to the true meaning of Wyrd.

Being a Germanic people, the Anglo-Saxons worshiped the same gods as the Norse and other Germanic peoples. The names are slightly different due to the differences in language among the Germanic peoples. For example, Thunor of the Anglo-Saxons was the same god as Thor of the Norse and Donar of the Germans. Likewise,Woden of the Anglo-Saxons is the same as Odin among the Norse and Wotan of the Germans.

Eadric Streona, (“The Acquisitor”) Eadric also spelled Edric, (died 1017), ealdorman of the Mercians, who, though a man of ignoble birth, was advanced to the revived office of ealdorman by the English king Ethelred II whose daughter Eadgyth Eadric married.

Little is known of Eadric’s origins. His appointment to the office of ealdorman in 1007 was probably an attempt by Ethelred to unite south-central England under one command. He is generally considered an arch traitor in the struggle between the English and the Danes for Soverignty over England. Although there are several records of his minor betrayals and instances of bad Counsel, Eadric committed his most Conspicuous act of treachery in 1015, when he sided with Canute against Edmund Ironside as Ethelred, Edmund’s father, lay dying. When at length peace was made, Canute restored to Eadric the earldom of Mercia; but at Christmas 1017, fearing further treachery, Canute had him slain.

Hel and her kingdom

In Germanic mythology, Hel is a figure associated with the realm of the dead, also known as Helheim. Hel is the daughter of the trickster god Loki and the giantess Angrboda. She is described as having a half-living, half-dead appearance, with one side of her body appearing normal and the other side being decaying or skeletal.

Helheim, or "Hel's realm," is one of the nine realms in Germanic mythology and is often depicted as an underworld or afterlife realm. It is a cold and desolate place where those who die of old age or illness are said to go. It is ruled over by Hel, who governs the realm and determines the fate of the deceased.

According to Germanic mythology, those who died honorably in battle were taken to Valhalla, a majestic hall in Asgard ruled by Woden. Meanwhile, those who died dishonorably or in a less glorious manner were sent to Helheim. It is important to note that Helheim is distinct from the Christian concept of Hell, as it is not a place of punishment for sinners but rather a neutral realm for the deceased.

I realise tat Loki isnt part of the Anglo Saxon Pantheon, but I felt is is only right to remember him when we can. The Fenris wolf is also a good subject to talk about, as ihe is one of the most destructive beings in the cosmos, and can bring about chaos.

The world tree, Yggdrasil is also an important part of Germanic mythology and goes through more than just Germanic Myths, It has also been compared to the the apple tree in the garden of Eden.

I hope you enjoy this episode.

Anglo-Saxon Heathenry, also known as Anglo-Saxon paganism or Anglo-Saxon polytheism, is a modern reconstructionist pagan religion that seeks to revive and reconstruct the pre-Christian spiritual beliefs and practices of the Anglo-Saxon people.

This form of Heathenry is based on the historical records of the Anglo-Saxons, including the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, Beowulf, and other literary and archaeological sources. Its adherents seek to recreate the religious practices and beliefs of the Anglo-Saxons, including veneration of Germanic gods and goddesses such as Woden (Odin), Thunor (Thor), and Frige (Frigg), as well as ancestral veneration and other pagan customs and rituals.

Anglo-Saxon Heathenry places a strong emphasis on community, ancestry, and the interconnectedness of all things. Many practitioners also embrace environmentalism and seek to live in harmony with the natural world.

Like other forms of Heathenry, Anglo-Saxon Heathenry is a decentralized religion with no central authority or dogma. Its practitioners may differ in their beliefs and practices, and there is no one "correct" way to practice this faith.

Wyrd is a concept from Old English and Norse mythology that refers to the idea of fate or destiny. It is often depicted as a complex and interconnected web of events and actions that shape an individual's life and determine their ultimate fate.

In Germanic mythology, the Norns were the goddesses of fate who were responsible for weaving the threads of wyrd. They would spin and weave the threads of fate, and the length and strength of each thread would determine a person's life and destiny.

The concept of wyrd is also closely related to the idea of the "threefold law" in many pagan traditions, which suggests that whatever energy a person puts out into the world will come back to them threefold.

Today, the term wyrd is sometimes used in modern pagan and spiritual communities as a way to refer to the interconnectedness of all things and the idea that every action has consequences that ripple out through the web of existence.

Anglo-Saxon Heathenry and the future

Anglo-Saxon Heathenry, also known as Anglo-Saxon paganism, is a modern revivalist movement that seeks to reconstruct the religious and cultural practices of the pre-Christian Anglo-Saxon people. It is based on historical research and archaeological evidence, as well as personal experiences and spiritual insights.

As a modern religious movement, Anglo-Saxon Heathenry faces many challenges in the present and future. One of the main challenges is the lack of historical documentation and the difficulty of reconstructing an authentic practice based on limited information. Another challenge is the need to navigate cultural appropriation and respect the cultural heritage of the Anglo-Saxon people.

However, many Anglo-Saxon Heathens believe that their religion and culture have a valuable contribution to make to the modern world, particularly in terms of environmentalism and sustainability, community building, and personal spiritual growth. They seek to develop a practice that is grounded in the past but relevant to the present and future.

In terms of the future, the success of Anglo-Saxon Heathenry will depend on its ability to adapt to changing cultural and social contexts, engage with wider society in a positive and constructive way, and maintain a sense of continuity and authenticity within the tradition. It will also depend on the willingness of individuals and communities to continue exploring and evolving their spiritual practice while respecting the cultural heritage and values of the Anglo-Saxon people.

Weregild

Weregild, also spelt as wergild or wergeld, was a concept in early Germanic law and culture where a monetary value was placed on an individual's life or physical injury. The term "weregild" comes from the Old English "wer" meaning "man" or "person" and "gild" meaning "payment" or "tribute".

Under this system, if someone caused harm or injury to another person, they were required to pay a certain amount of compensation, or weregild, to the victim or their family. The amount of the weregild varied depending on the severity of the injury or the social status of the victim.

The concept of weregild was an important part of early Germanic law and was used to maintain social order and prevent feuds between families or clans. It was also seen as a way to provide justice for victims of crimes, as the payment of the weregild was intended to make up for the harm caused and restore the victim's honour.

Weregild was gradually phased out in the Middle Ages as feudalism became more established and the power of monarchs and nobles grew. However, the idea of compensation for harm caused remains an important part of many legal systems today.