Podcasts about aethelred

Legends of Godiva: Part 5Surviving a Viking camp is not easy.Based on a post by LingeringAfterthought in 5 parts. Listen to the Podcast at Explicit Novels.Godgifu found Cnut sitting by the stream, absentmindedly throwing rocks into it with a sour look on his face. She walked to his side and rested her hand on his shoulder, "I'm sorry;" she said quietly."Why the Pindsvin sorry?" Cnut said quietly, "Afraid of Cnut the beast? Think he cut off the Pindsvin face for arguing with Cnut? You think easy? Be king to three countries?""And some of Sweden;" Godgifu added. "No; I don't. Half the time I can't deal with Coventry, much less Mercia. No; I meant I was sorry for assuming the worst about you. I only knew about you from stories told by people angry and hurting about what they had lost in war. After all that, I didn't even want you to be a man, much less one who's; well, goofy and likeable," she said, sitting down next to him."Not likeable. The Emma; she not like Cnut," he said with tired resignation."Look, if you say another woman's name during sex, of course she's going to be mad;""No. The Pindsvin not understand. The Emma not mad. The Emma not like Cnut. The Leofric say 'everyone like Cnut,' but the Emma; no," he said, throwing a pebble into the water."Well, what have you given her to like?" Godgifu asked, pulling a blade of grass out of the ground and putting it between her thumbs and blowing, making a loud screeching squawk sound. "What I mean is, you were in Coventry just a couple hours, and you got Sir Hulgar to like you; and he doesn't like anybody," she said, bumping his elbow with her shoulder."We play dice;""So, you spent some time with him, doing something he likes to do? Okay; when do you spend time with Emma?""Cnut king of three countries; spending time difficult. Give her good fuck. She even make the squirrel sound with good fuck, but then turn away after. Not talk. Not make the spoons. Just take the candle and the feather and scratches the paper with the ink and cries. The Emma not happy, not like Cnut. Maybe she think Cnut beast, too.""So, now you're going to Torksey so Leofric can tell her that, despite you saying Aelfgifu's name during sex, you're not fucking her anymore? Your plan is to prove the Emma's wrong to be upset and that you're right?" Godgifu asked."Yes. Tell her Cnut is right, good husband;" he said, his voice trailing off until he sighed heavily. "This; not good plan.""Nope. Telling us we're emotional and wrong about feeling something is pretty much going to go very badly for you every single time. You know what's a good idea?" she asked. Cnut glanced over at her uneasily. "Bringing me along with you," she finished."The Leofric; he not like this idea. The Pindsvin is small; break easy," he said, throwing a larger stone into the water."Yes, and the Leofric also won't tell you when you have bad ideas. I will. Bring me along, keep me safe somewhere and I'll help you win over the Emma. No problem. Everything fine," Godgifu said, imitating him and earning a scowl from Cnut."Pindsvin; you know Cnut not think 'everything fine' when he say 'everything fine,'" he admitted."Yes, Sire. Leofric knows, too. He just won't tell you so. He's too nice. He'll just help you anyway and probably get himself killed. Then, you would have an even bigger problem than no Emma," Godgifu said."What problem then?""Me.""Ah," Cnut said. Then, he stood and slowly pulled his tunic up and over his head, revealing a tanned and toned torso, bulging with muscles, so ridiculously gorgeous and perfect that Godgifu started laughing aloud. Knowing exactly the affect he had on her, Cnut grinned, threw his tunic at her, shucked his pants, and waded into the water to wash himself."Leofric! Help! I need to come again!" Godgifu laughingly yelled through the trees, watching Cnut bathe."Dammit woman, I'm currying Harold!" Leofric yelled back. "What happened? You were just supposed to apologize, for God's sake!""I am Cnut!" the King announced in explanation, causing Godgifu to burst into giggles. "Leofric! The Pindsvin comes with us to Torksey! Help us to win the Emma!" he yelled."What?" Leofric said, quickly running into the clearing. "Sire, that's; that's not; I mean; perhaps we should consider; it might not be;""The Pindsvin come! I am Cnut!""Don't I get a say in any of this, Sire?""See, I told you," Godgifu said, gesturing to Leofric. "He's too nice. You need me." She stood and pulled Leofric's tunic over her head and threw it down at his feet."Well, why does he need you?" Leofric asked, exasperated."I am Pindsvin!" she yelled happily, running naked into the water.Cnut, Leofric and Godgifu scouted the camp at Torksey, a fertile swath of land close to the banks of the River Trent. Numerous shelters and lodges lined the rough paths of the Vikings' army's winter home. Smoke came up in several places, no doubt from fires stoked by metalworkers that were melting down items stolen from England's holy places.Much to their surprise, there was also a small, but steady, stream of people approaching the camp. Cnut explained that it was known that many English towns nearby did business with the winter camp, but he never heard tell of numbers that would explain what they saw today. Everyone funneled toward a single entry point, where they would relinquish their weapons, submit to inquiries, and hand over a sum of money or goods before being allowed into the camp.Godgifu whispered to the two men crouched over where she lay behind the bush, "All right, so the plan is, I get in line, go in there and tell them I am a maid you sent to Emma, and then I talk with her and try to get her out of there;""No. That is not the plan. You're staying safe here at the ca;" Leofric said, frowning down at her, only to be interrupted by the King.Cnut grunted in agreement. "Yes. Plan very good. And the Pindsvin not say about when Cnut spray seed on numsen;"Godgifu looked over her other shoulder to Cnut and rolled her eyes, "Why on Earth would you think I'd tell her about you coming on my ass? Honestly; you think that we'd just be chatting about court or hairstyles and I'd just blurt out 'Oh, by the way;""No. You won't be chatting with anyone about anything because you will be here;" Leofric said, tugging her braid to turn her head toward him. Godgifu tugged her braid out of his hand, turned back to the King and raised her eyebrows, waiting for the answer to her question.Cnut held up a hand, effectively covering Godgifu's entire face, "Cnut knows the women. They get together. They say all the things," he said darkly.Leofric growled in frustration, "Diva, stop ignoring me. That is a Viking camp. Do you have any idea what they do to people, much less to someone like you?"Godgifu clenched her jaw and shook her head, "Leofric, you know I should be the one to go. I speak the language and I'm not, well; you two. If you two go and they recognized Cnut in there, they might hold him hostage and there's not a lot of people in the Witengamot that would pay to get him out. You can't go because you look exactly like every guy that's been fighting them all this time and they'd probably kill you on sight. Nobody ever worries about me because I look like a little;""Pindsvin; hedgehog, yes," Cnut said absently, patting the top of her head while squinting at the line of men entering the camp."So; what do I tell her to get her to leave?" Godgifu asked, worriedly watching Leofric rise angrily and stalk back to their camp."Tell her Cnut is here," he said, shrugging as if saying the obvious.Godgifu snorted and rolled her eyes, "Well, why would that make her leave the camp? You go off to another country after saying the wrong name when you were having sex and all of a sudden she's supposed to jump for joy when she gets a summons from you? No. You need to soften her up a bit. Be nice. Remind her of the good times. Like, what did you say when you asked her to marry you?""Not ask. Treaty. Treaty say 'Marry Cnut and promise not kill the Emma's Aethelred children. Send them to France. Not-dead children love France. Chalk cliffs. Good cheese. Everything fine.""Oh, dear God, you've really been leaning hard on this good-looking thing, haven't you?" Godgifu grumbled under her breath."I am Cnut;" he said, shrugging."Yeah, you are Cnut; and the Cnut is handsome. But, you know what? If you want to stay married and be a good king, you've gotta work harder than that. You've had it easy because you're tall, gorgeous, rich and powerful. Problem is, you're no longer trying to get a woman to bed, now. You're trying to make your wife happy and that's a completely different thing. A woman might get stupid once or twice about a handsome man, but unless you build more than that, she'll only hate herself more and more every time she gives in to you. Orgasms only make you happy for so long. Not-dead children living in another country aren't a good basis for a marriage, either. It doesn't give you a lot to talk about. I wish Leofric didn't hate the idea of it so much. He would know what to say," Godgifu said, glancing back to the grove of trees where Leofric had disappeared.Cnut grunted, "The Leofric has good words. Good words; ugly face.""Shut up!" she said, slapping his shoulder, "He's not ugly! He's just bruised. Don't be a jerk!""Why the small women always smæk big men?" grumbled Cnut scowling and rubbing his shoulder. "What Leofric say to win grumpy Pindsvin?" he asked.Godgifu thought for a while and smiled, shaking her head, "Not a thing, actually. In a situation where most people would have said a whole bunch of wrong things, Leofric just stayed quiet and close and invited me choose whether to talk to him; and it made me want to. He red me perfectly. That's what you need to do. Emma needs you to notice her, to enjoy her; to see what makes her happy." Godgifu sighed, looking up the trees to where Leofric had disappeared in the distance. She hated to do this. She wished there was another way."So, what makes the Emma happy?" she asked, poking Cnut in the hip with her elbow to draw his attention away from the camp.Instead of looking down at her, he kept his eyes fixed on the rough looking camp and sighed. "Not Cnut," he answered simply."Well, fine. I'll talk with her and get her to you, but just think about what I said, because making this woman happy just became your biggest challenge," Godgifu said.Cnut grunted in agreement and handed her a small pack, strapping it on her back and across her front in a way that seemed odd, yet comfortable. Looking back to the camp, she squared her shoulders, trying to be braver than she felt. "Okay;" she said, coughing to cover for her throat tightening in fear, "I'll come back as soon as I can. Tell Leofric; tell him; you know;" she said, wiping away the tears that started falling down her cheeks.Steeling herself, Godgifu started off for the Viking camp, but found her progress hindered when her feet left the ground. "What are you doing?" she squawked, as Cnut lifted her over his shoulder by her waistband and returned to the grove where Leofric had gone."The Leofric ready?" Cnut said, casually hanging Godgifu's kicking and squirming body from a branch on the tree and securing the strap around it that he had wrapped around her body under the guise of securing her pack.Leofric turned from Harold to Cnut, his face a mask of confused relief. "She's; not going then?""Pindsvin easy to catch when think she get her way. You not know this? Why work so hard?" Cnut said, casually ducking as Godgifu's foot grazed his ear. "She watch from here. Know her Leofric safe."Leofric nodded, glad Cnut couldn't see the fury in Godgifu's eyes. Leaning in and hoping she didn't take a bite out of him, he murmured, "Watch us. If anything goes wrong or if we don't come back by morning, go back to Coventry and tell Sir Hulgar what has happened. Tell no one who supports the Witengamot, just Sir Hulgar," he said, brushing Godgifu's hair back behind her ear."How am I supposed to do that? Loosen these straps. Cut me free. He's tied me up here like I'm going to be spit roasted," she hissed."How is it that treason is always the answer to every problem you come across? After we're gone, use the knife you're trying to wriggle out of your sleeve. You'll be free in 20 minutes. Now, give me a kiss for luck;" he whispered. Godgifu's lips trembled, unshed tears filling her eyes. Finally, she nodded and lifted her face to his. Expecting trouble, Leofric pecked her lips quickly and just barely dodged a head-butt from his future wife.With a glare of annoyance, Leofric reached behind her and pulled the hidden knife out of her sleeve, throwing it to the ground out of reach. Then, purposefully, he ran his hands over every inch of her body, removing three more weapons before he finished with her. "You come back," she said, wriggling against her bindings. "You come back, Leofric, or so help me I'll; I'll do the most dangerous thing I can think of; and then I'll keep doing dangerous things until I can join you again," she vowed.Leofric only smiled, took her face in his hands and kissed her tenderly, coaxing her lips with his until he felt her soften and kiss him back. "What did I do to deserve you?" he asked, smiling and pressing his forehead to hers."The Leofric was punishment for the Pindsvin tax debt! Come!" Cnut shouted, starting down the hill toward the camp. Leofric sighed, kissed Godgifu one last time, and took off to join the King.Godgifu watched the two men stride downhill and join the line of people waiting to enter the camp, slipping a length of thick wire out of the cuff of her tunic, careful to avoid the serrated edge carved into one side and began sawing away at the leather straps binding her to the tree. Her eyes never moved from the two men casually joining the line of men waiting to join the camp, trying to read their body language, drawing any possible meaning from the slightest gesture.Just as the men reached the front of the line, Godgifu cut through her bindings and climbed onto the branch to which she had been bound. When it was their turn to enter, Cnut spoke briefly to the guards. Then, he nodded to Leofric, who reached into his pack for a pouch; probably the money they were charging for admittance to the camp. Leofric handed the pouch to Cnut who passed it over to the guards. They were in! It was working!Then, Leofric turned toward her, his face lit up by the golden setting sun, and smiled. Godgifu almost raised a hand to wave to him; and then he sneezed. Leofric had done nothing more exciting than sneeze, when suddenly, as Godgifu watched in horror, the guards started shouting and sacks were thrown over both Leofric and Cnut's heads as the men protested, their hands were bound behind them, and they were dragged away kicking and struggling."Watch us. If anything goes wrong or if we don't come back by morning, go back to Coventry and tell Sir Hulgar what has happened;" Leofric's parting words echoed in Godgifu's mind. She had no intention whatsoever of heeding them, but having his voice with her was a comfort as she crept through the darkness around the edges of the Viking camp.Godgifu was accustomed to sneaking around unseen. After years of sneaking out of the castle, past servants and Sir Hulgar's watchful eye to rid herself of the veils she had to wear and put on the comfortable dress that she wore as Lady Godiva, she could easily melt into shadows or walk through lit places and be mistaken as someone else. These skills served her well as she prowled the cold marshes surrounding the encampment, watching and learning.She had seen the men drag Leofric and Cnut toward an area where numerous boats had been pulled onto the land and prepared for wintering. Had they been killed? Why would they have been brought to such a place? It didn't look like anyone spent much time out here with the boats. Most of the camp's population preferred the warmer areas where the metalworkers' fires burned. After searching the boat area, the only thing she saw was a disgruntled man arguing with himself as he carved a knife handle out of a piece of bone.Frustrated, Godgifu took to watching the occupants of the camp instead. Most of the men were engaged in some form of metalworking. Some were sorting pillaged items according to their metal into piles, where they would be moved to different areas of the camp to be broken into pieces and melted into coins or ingots by the ever-burning fires. Slaves were everywhere. Mostly boys and young men, though there were some women, as well. The most menial tasks were reserved for the male slaves: feeding the fires, carrying non-precious items around. The female thralls were most often seen sewing or cooking food, when they weren't regularly being pulled into a shelter to service one of the Vikings.From what Godgifu could tell, when they weren't counting their plunder or forcing themselves on their slaves, the Vikings mostly argued with each other. It appeared the camp was made up of several disparate groups of Vikings from different areas in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. The languages were all somewhat similar, and because Godgifu spoke Danish, she was able to understand most of what they were saying. As for why they were arguing, it was surprising how petty it all was.Apparently two enormous blonde men, Hafdan and Gorm, were at odds because Hafdan used Gorm's favorite cup without permission and dented it when Hafdan came to blows with Toke over the proper lyrics to the song "Orm's Bloody Stump." After knocking Toke unconscious with the cup, Hafdan won the argument, but sadly the exceptional cup was irreparably damaged, in Gorm's view.Skarde told anyone that would listen that Leif's campsite was encroaching on his campsite. He ended his rants by pointing to a large rock marker he had placed at the border between the two shelters, promising that anyone who dared to touch it would be smelted along with the copper. Godgifu also saw Leif emerge and nudge the rock over a touch when Skarde had gone back inside his tent.Bjorn was despondent after burning half his beard away while playing a smelting prank on Balder. Apparently, the smelting prank involved a comical explosion of sorts, which killed Balder's favorite bed slave, as well as leaving half of Bjorn's beard charred away. Balder was insisting that Bjorn pay for the loss of his bed slave, and Bjorn was insisting that Balder should cut off half of his own beard first. Balder, for his part, did not appreciate Bjorn's logic.Most of all, the Torksey Vikings argued about something called "hnefatafl." Godgifu didn't understand the word, but it appeared it was a game involving many pieces on a board. It seemed to be like chess, but with one player starting with their pieces clustered in the middle of the board and the other player's pieces surrounding them.Godgifu learned that the Torksey camp was having a hnefatafl tournament, which explained the steady stream of people entering the camp after paying a fee. What she also gathered was that the tournament was not going well. Apparently, all the Viking groups that populated Torksey had different rules for playing hnefatafl, and because there was no recognized leadership among the different groups, the tournament that was likely intended as an enjoyable diversion for the colder weather had mounted quite the death toll amongst them. Indeed, it was rare that two Vikings of different bands would sit down at a hnefatafl board and it wouldn't end in blows or bloodshed.None of this explained why Leofric and Cnut were bagged and dragged away at the main entrance to the camp, but Godgifu hoped that an explanation and news of their welfare would come in time. Considering that the Vikings had no problems with maiming or striking each other dead for the slightest infractions, the fact that Leofric and Cnut were not killed immediately was actually encouraging. Godgifu had no doubt that if the Vikings wanted them dead, Leofric and Cnut would be dead.It was in a tent-like shelter on the outskirts of the camp that Godgifu found Queen Emma. Unlike the other shelters, it appeared somewhat cleaner and even more telling were the cracks of light between the walls of the tent by someone using candles inside. Gathering her courage, Godgifu waited until she would not be seen, and then crept up to the opening in the tent, where a soft voice could be heard muttering English in a vaguely French accent. "He roughly clasped her slender frame in his manly arms, shocking her untested virtue with the passionate, throbbing heat of his turgid;""Um; my Lady?" Godgifu whispered loudly.The voice fell silent, the occupant obviously pretending that no one was there. Godgifu would have found the situation amusing, if it weren't also so serious. "My Lady, I need to speak with you," she pressed.Silence."My Lad

Legends of Godiva: Part 4A mysterious stranger comes, the lovers are parted.Based on a post by LingeringAfterthought in 5 parts. Listen to the Podcast at Explicit Novels."Oh good, I was afraid Sir Hulgar might skip over the mutilations at Sandwich;" Godgifu whispered, pinching the bridge of her nose between her eyes."So; so sorry;" Leofric said, slowly turning a greenish color."But, God was watching!" Sir Hulgar raged, thrusting his gnarled and scarred finger in the air. "The Danish demon defiled the blessed throne of England but a few weeks, before his own horse threw him to his death, ending forever his accursed reign!" At this point, almost all the children cheered, for indeed Sir Hulgar told the tale with such verve and animation that most people would not have believed it possible from a man who spoke mostly through grunts and threatening glares."His kingdom, freed from the ravages of the invaders, the Witengamot restored King Aethelred to his throne; and there was much rejoicing," Sir Hulgar said, nodding at the divinely just outcome. Then, he frowned as he noticed a small hand raised over a head canted in deep thought."Don't do it; don't do it;" Godgifu quietly urged through clenched teeth."Yes?" Sir Hulgar barked to where Frederic sat with his question."He did it;" Godgifu sighed, her shoulders slumping."But; why did King Aethelred come back? The Witengamot agreed to make the Danish one king, so why wasn't his son the king, after that? Wasn't that the bargain?" Frederic asked, frowning at the discontinuity."The barbarian King's son was a mere youth at the time, and the Witengamot saw the chance to place God's chosen English king on the throne, once more. It came at a dear price, but one they were willing to pay," Sir Hulgar answered, his face grave."But what happened to the hostages, then? The kin that the Witengamot gave to the invader to back up their promise?" Frederic pressed."The Viking's son discarded the hostages on the beach at Sandwich, after carving off all of their noses, ears and hands," Sir Hulgar answered, gesturing to show the carving motions of the knife and making a wet ripping sound for effect, "returning the wretched victims to their families mutilated, if they even survived their terrible wounds at all. You still see some of them around; veils and gloves covering their hideous scars, forever a burden to the families that sacrificed them to free their land."At these words, the children all turned with wide eyes to where Godgifu sat, ominously gloved and veiled."Uh, I can attest that Her Ladyship has all the proper body parts, having seen;" Leofric began, before receiving a swift kick from his future spouse."Oh, for heaven's sake," Godgifu sighed, unbuttoning her long gloves and wiggling them off her hands and displaying her whole limbs for the children's benefit. Their concerns only partly relieved, the kids remained dubious and continued staring, trying to fathom the violent secrets her veil no doubt kept hidden."In for a pound?" Leofric asked Godgifu, quickly glancing to Sir Hulgar who stood at the ready and glared threateningly at the assembly in the hall.Leofric and Godiva had talked about this, about her someday shedding her veils and allowing herself to be seen as she was. Knowing he would love her and be by her side, no matter what happened, gave Godiva courage. She nodded, deciding that, if only for the sake of the children, she could do this."I;"Godgifu began, her mouth suddenly dry, then spoke to the assembly. "The veils, were for the comfort and tastes of my late husband, Lord Wilfred. God rest him," she said, carefully lifting her veils only enough to show the children that each ear was intact and whole. "They became a comfort to me after he died, but also a barrier between me and all of you. I believe every comfort has the potential to become a weakness that keeps us from being whole;" she said, steeling herself. "And so, I must ask your pardon, if my weaknesses have caused any of you injury; and ask your forgiveness, for hiding from you for so long," she said quietly, slowly raising the veil in front of her face.Godgifu's cheeks flushed and people gasped as her neck, her chin, and then her lips were revealed. She paused and swallowed, screwing up her courage to raise the veil a little more; just enough to show her nose, when her entire face was suddenly revealed when Leofric decided to be helpful and took the entire covering off her and threw it to the floor.Wide eyed and speechless, she whipped her face to him, shock clearly written upon her features. Leofric, suddenly realizing he had erred, lifted her veil from the floor and folded it clumsily before returning it to her in a haphazard bundle, but the damage had been done. Terrified, Godgifu nonetheless straightened her neck, squared her shoulders and looked out at the assembly.Face after face staring at her, seeing her; not shielded by a translucent cloth, but bare and unadorned. She loved them all; and she had lied to them. She had held herself above them out of need, claiming a false standard that she failed to uphold. She was a fraud. She deserved to be dragged through the streets and left to die. The people of Coventry deserved so much better than her.No one moved. No one spoke. Indeed, it seemed no one even breathed until Frederic rose from the group of children and came to stand before her. "It's nice to see your face, my Lady," he said, head still canted in thought, his eyes taking in every detail. "I don't think there has ever been a beauty like yours seen in Coventry;" he said, offering her a wildflower."Hear, hear!" cheered Reverend Palmer, clapping enthusiastically from the back of the room. Cheers and yells of agreement filled the hall, as applause gradually broke out amongst the assembly."Thank you, Frederic," she whispered, taking the flower from him with a shaking hand, she looked over the cheering assembly in bewilderment. How was this possible? Did they not recognize her? She hadn't been brazen in her appearances as the outlaw Godiva, but she had been known generally about the town.Blushing, she stood and nodded to the assembly in thanks, "I don't understand; don't they see?" she asked, glancing at Leofric who smiled down at her."Of course, they see you; they've always seen you," Leofric said, looking out at the assembly. "But, as is often the case, people will see what they want to see; and I think they've been waiting to see you for quite a while.""Do you; do you think they knew it was me? Godgifu and Godiva? All this time?"Leofric chuckled to himself, wondering how his future wife could be so completely self-delusional as to think her unique height and build would go completely unnoticed when perfectly duplicated by a mysterious outlaw. "I think Coventry is a small village; and that these people love you," he replied.The gathering winded down and people gradually went on about their business, taking one last look at their unmasked Lady before leaving. The boys, thrilled with their new storyteller, surrounded Sir Hulgar and pelted him with questions about Viking raids and other gory conquests, eventually pulling him from the hall to show them the proper shape and heft of a Viking battle axe.At length, only a solitary figure remained in the hall. It was a man, extremely tall and broad, and shrouded. He kept himself to the shadows, though the hall was not brightly lit. Uneasy, Leofric watched the man gradually approach the dias. Taking care not to give the appearance of doing so, Leofric maneuvered his own body to be between the stranger and the unveiled Godgifu, at all times."This 'Visiting Day,'" the man's accented voice called to them as he approached closer and closer to the dias, "Is good, I think, yes? You see the eyes, and the eyes; they see you," he said, thoughtfully.Leofric's senses sharpened, exactly as they had before going into battle, and he quickly searched the room for the others that must surely have come along with this shrouded stranger. This was not how such things were done; and the secrecy of it did not bode well.Sensing Leofric's tension, but not understanding the cause, Godgifu took his arm and petted it, peering awkwardly around his large body to the stranger. "Hello, sir," she greeted him, "Are you new to Coventry? Welcome.""I am new to many places, here, yes?" the man said, still approaching at a measured pace. "This story; to this, I am not new. This story I hear many times, but not told just so," the voice continued. "This story; it is told in whispers and not to children. But this story is not finished, yes? What happened to the son?" he asked, quietly.The hairs on her neck rose, and Godgifu looked more closely at the tall shrouded stranger and suddenly understood Leofric's tension, his hand carefully pressing her behind him, resisting her efforts to come forward. This was not how such things were done; but, regardless, she would not allow Leofric to be harmed for her offenses.With swift resolve, she darted backward until she was free of Leofric's restraining arm and quickly skirted out of reach around him and ran to the approaching figure. Kneeling in a low curtsy as she replied, "The son returned to England with a great force and took back the land he ruled by rights, and despite the violence needed to establish his rule, he showed great mercy in marrying Aethelred the Unready's widow Emma. In sparing her remaining children's lives, and in showing great patience as the people recovered from the wars and accepted him, Cnut the Great, as their ruler and King of the English, Danes and Norwegians; Your Highness," she whispered, bowing her head and closing her eyes.The hall was silent, but for the heavy beating of her heart. She wondered, briefly, if the king could hear it, as well. As she waited for her fate, other thoughts drifted unbidden through her mind. For one, Godgifu realized she never knew how drafty it was in the hall before, feeling the chill air creeping across the back of her vulnerable, unveiled neck for the first time. Would she be killed immediately? Her blood spilled across the floor, staining the stones until time washed them clean of all but the memory? Or would she be left alive but mutilated, the newly unmasked mistress of the town turned into a grotesque warning to others? Would Leofric stay with her, if she was hideous? Would he even be allowed to live?Then, she heard the rustle of a hood being pushed back. A hand took her chin and tilted her face upward to a face that was so strikingly handsome that, despite her terror, she found herself blushing. Stunning eyes examined her face and she let out a shaking breath, wondering if this was the last expression so many of her countrymen had seen before they died. Cnut the Great should have looked like a crueler man, ugly and savage, but he didn't. His face was mind-numbingly beautiful; and yet, strangely annoyed."And some of the Swedes;" he said, as if reminding her for the hundredth time. "Swedes! Stubborn! Smiling and stubborn! You tell them 'do this!' and always they say 'ja, ja' and then go do what they want! Why no one remember I win them, too? Very difficult people," he grumbled to himself, turning her face from side to side, an appraising look in his eye. Looking up to Leofric, he canted his head with a glint in his eye, "I did not know this was under the veils. If I had;" he trailed off, a hint of a smile on his face.Relaxing a little, Leofric took a knee himself, "You're better off as you are, Sire. With this one, you would be without the support of the Witengamot, have gnome-sized children, half as much money, and twice as much trouble," Leofric replied dryly. "Your choice of wife was faultless. Your choice of my wife, however;" he said, folding his arms in exasperation.Cnut returned his attention to Godgifu's recently unwrapped face. "You marry this one, yes?" he stated sternly, nodding toward Leofric, still holding her chin."Uh huh;" she said breathily, unable to think clearly beyond a few simple words. The blue of his eyes made her feel like she had fallen under the ice of a frozen mountain lake."Umm;" he said dubiously, "You be good? Let this one wear pants?" he asked, raising his eyebrows."Uh huh;" she agreed, her eyes drifting leisurely down over his large muscled frame, "Well, some of the time," she amended, swallowing and staring unthinkingly at his groin."Seriously?" Leofric complained, arms akimbo.Cnut pulled her chin upward until Godgifu was standing. He bent over until they were eye-to-eye. "And you will give me what is mine. What I use to protect you. What feeds the soldiers. What builds the ships. And for being bad and making me wait, you will submit to your; punishment," he said, his eyes glinting as Godgifu shivered involuntarily at his last drawn-out word.Swimming in a haze of terrified lust, Godgifu's mind formed the words "Yes, Your Highness," with enormous effort, but what came out of her mouth was more akin to an acquiescent moan."Good," Cnut said, releasing her chin, "Go wait in his bed. I send him soon," he ordered, straightening and turning his gaze to Leofric as Godgifu nodded and obediently wandered out of the hall.Bewildered, Leofric waited kneeling, as was only proper. One did not question the king about why he came to a town in his own kingdom, much less alone, to all appearances. The fact that Cnut came without pomp was one thing. Many men had little patience for the trimmings and splendor of royal life. But, coming without any apparent companions was another thing altogether. Sir Hulgar would have returned instantly if there had been a regiment of soldiers outside. No, the king was almost certainly alone; and cloaked to hide his identity. Something was wrong; and he needed it kept quiet.Cnut looked down at him, haltingly opened and closed his mouth several times, seeming to search for words, and eventually becoming frustrated and cursing in Danish. "Shall I search for an interpreter, Sire; or will yours be joining us?" Leofric asked."No; no interpreters. A little gold makes their tongues go bad; mine speaks with hands, now," Cnut said darkly. "Stand. We use your English. Aelfgifu of Northampton; you are kin to her, yes?" he asked.Leofric blinked in surprise, then frowned, "Well, only by marriage; I think my father's brother married her second cousin; or cousin once removed; how does that go?" Leofric fumbled, wondering how his distant kinship with a Northampton noblewoman could possibly matter to the king."You are kin," Cnut barked, as if that settled the matter. "Pack for travel and go fuck wife. After dark, we ride north.""Sire, I; I'm supposed to get married in three days. What will I tell Lady Godgifu? She'll be furious!""You not married yet?" Cnut asked, a look of piqued curiosity on his face and a small smile playing on his lips. "Tell her you go, but after you fuck. Say with handsome face. Marry after we return. This is not problem," he concluded, looking appraisingly around the hall."Can you tell me where we're going, at least, Sire? When we'll be back?""Yes. We ride north. Torskey. Tell no one. Go fuck not-wife. Everything fine," Cnut said, looking at the door through which Godgifu left.Leofric kept his face calm, despite his inner thoughts. Torskey was not the average out-of-the-way English town; it was an off-season Viking camp where the raiders' ships were pulled up on shore and the populace wintered in tents and rough huts together. Cnut was inviting him to ride along into a camp full of bored barbarians for reasons unknown. Well, Cnut was ordering him to go, more than inviting him; for no Englishman in his right mind would go there voluntarily. Everything was definitely not fine."Where are his troops? How many?" Godgifu asked, leaning out the window looking over the town trying to spy out the king's companions as Leofric entered the room."Why?" Leofric asked, going about the room collecting items to pack, "Did you want to fuck them, too?" he growled under his breath.Stunned, Godgifu turned to look at him, "What's that supposed to mean? What's going on?" she asked, from her precarious window perch.Scowling, Leofric pulled her bodily from the window by her waist and tossed her onto the bed. "He wants me to go with him. North," he snarled."But; we're getting married! Can't it wait? Why is he going north?""Oh, I have no clue! Maybe Cnut the Cuntwetter intends to subdue the English populace with his Nordic good looks! You certainly didn't put up much of a fight! I need weapons; where's the armory?" Leofric said, stalking out of the room."What are you talking about?" Godgifu yelled, running after him. "Are you seriously angry with me?""Uh huh;" Leofric cooed breathlessly, mocking her reaction to Cnut. Shocked at his demeanor, Godgifu retreated a few steps, the man before her seeming nothing like the one that had so easily won her heart.Then, anger replaced her shock and she stomped back into the forfeited space, "Well, fine! So, he's handsome! Like; really, really handsome! So what? Is it really so important to you to be the prettiest face in the room? Why the hell are you mad at me?" she asked, grabbing his arm.Leofric leaned in, blocking her against the wall with his body, "I guess I just didn't realize a pretty face was all it took to turn your head; I guess you really are all the same;" he sneered, tracing her neckline with his finger, dipping deeply into the crevice of her tits.Angry, Godgifu slapped his hand away, only to have it return with ruder ambition, "What are you talking about? Just because I thought he was handsome, doesn't mean that I;" she said, suddenly cut off by Leofric's lips crushing hers, his teeth scraping hers uncomfortably. She broke the kiss and struggled against him, trying to see his face to read it, but he grabbed a handful of her hair and bent her head back, kissing down her neck roughly, as if to prove a point.Godgifu ducked under his arm to escape, but Leofric pinned her to the wall of the stairway, reaching under her dress as she struggled and kicked against him. "Are you telling me that I won't find you dripping and ready after just a few sultry looks from a handsome face? Who cares if he cuts people's tongues out; why should that get in the way of a good time?" he growled, pushing her legs apart with his thigh and hiking up her skirt."Leofric! What's wrong with you? Stop it! Let go of me!""Oh no, little hypocrite, we're going to see how wet you are, first. I'll probably die before I get a chance at the prize, but maybe if I can get you to be honest with yourself, you won't have to work so hard to replace me. You can just hold a fucking beauty contest," he hissed, thrusting his fingers roughly inside her.Several things happened at a speed too great for Leofric to comprehend, but in the next instant he found himself on the floor wheezing for breath, cupping his genitals and feeling like his left eye might fall out. Godgifu stood over him panting and rubbing her elbow with tears of betrayal brimming in her large eyes.Angry, and still unable to see beyond being right, Leofric lifted up his hand and showed her his fingers, glistening and dripping with the honey of her arousal. Her face twisted, and she nodded her head, her lower lip trembling. "Yeah. I get excited; and when I'm excited, I want to fuck;" she choked, tears rolling down her cheeks, "but the only one I wanted to fuck was you; because I was yours. You made me feel safe," she said brokenly, before turning on her heel and disappearing in a flash of skirts.Leofric stared down the empty passage. She was gone. As the realization of what he had just done settled on him, Leofric felt ill. He had acted in such a way that made her use force to run from him. Back in the hall, he really hadn't even been angry about Godgifu's reaction to Cnut, finding it more humorous than anything else. He had never really doubted her loyalty or love for him, but in his fear and anger over his forced mission, he had jealously lashed out at her in the ugliest possible way. "I was yours; you made me feel safe" her voice coming back to him as pure torture, declaring his greatest accomplishments as things existing only in the past. Coughing, he used the wall to push himself up and wobble on toward the armory. Perhaps, she would allow him to beg her forgiveness before he left; if he could even find her.Near nightfall, after his search for Godgifu through the great house came up fruitless, Leofric returned to the hall to find King Cnut and Sir Hulgar engrossed in a game of dice. Alongside them, the betting pot consisting of some coins, a knife, a decorative pin, and what looked like a strangely large molar, awaited the winner. Sir Hulgar scowled over the dice as he shook them in his enormous hand, murmuring an incantation and closing his eyes as he released them. With a roar of triumph from Hulgar and an exaggerated howl of pain from Cnut, Sir Hulgar scraped the pot to himself, rubbed the tooth on his tunic, and wiggled it into his mouth.Standing with his winnings, Sir Hulgar clapped Cnut on the shoulder in hearty approval, despite horrifying the town with stories of his conquest not hours ago. Then Godgifu's knight protector noticed Leofric and grinned, taking in his black eye, swollen nose and ungainly walk with a degree of pride. "The fighting I could teach her, but not the speed; she was born with that. You never see it coming," he said, nodding, then turning back to Cnut, "It has been an honor to lighten your load, Your Highness," he said, bowing low and leaving the room."How is it that everybody likes you, Sire?" Leofric grudgingly wondered aloud, shaking his head as he watched Sir Hulgar leave."I am Cnut," he said simply, shrugging. Then, turning to Leofric with a look of annoyance, "I tell you 'fuck not-wife first, then tell her that you go,' you do not listen. Now, handsome face not handsome and everything more work. Stubborn! You are Swedish?""No, Sire. I made an ass of myself, left her unsatisfied, and with any luck, I'll be apologizing to her for the rest of my life. I am definitely English," Leofric sighed. "Will you please tell me why we are going to Torskey?"Cnut looked at Leofric for a long moment, then nodded as he led him out of the hall, and began walking toward the stables. "This story the Hulgar tells of my father Sweyn Forkbeard; it begins earlier. It started on the day of the St. Brice. You know this day?"

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.CharactersSweyn 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 SweynGunhild - mother of Swein Cnut - son of Sweyn ForkbeardGunhild - first wife of SweynSigrid the Haughty - second wife of Sweyn, wife of Erik the VictoriousPalnatoke - founder of the JomsvikingsJari Sigvaldi - chieftain of the JomsvikingsErik Hakonarson - Norwegian jarlOlaf 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 AethelredEmma of Normandy - second wife of Aethelred, wife of CnutUlfcytel - nobleman and military leaderSt. Edmund - King of East-Anglia (855-69)Adam of Bremen - chroniclerCreditsMusic: Daudir by Alexander Nakarada (https://www.creatorchords.com)Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Freesound.org 127006__bulbastre__wooden-boat-row-water194982__soundmary__wild-horses-running 241824__haldigital97__waves-1367479__timsc__small-waves-on-shingle-beach733333__haulaway__bag-of-coins-drop

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.CharactersAethelred - King of England (978-1013, 1014-16)Edward the Martyr - King of England (975-78), half-brother of AethelredEdgar - King of England (959-75), father of Aethelred and EdwardAelfthryth - third wife of Edgar, mother of AethelredAelfgifu - first wife of AethelredEmma of Normandy - second wife of AethelredEdmund Ironside - son of AethelredAethelflaed - first wife of Edgar, mother of EdwardDunstan - Archbishop of Canterbury (959-88)Sigeric - Archbishop of Canterbury (990-94)Aelfheah - Archbishop of Canterbury (1006-12)Wulfstan - Archbishop of YorkAethelwold - Bishop of WinchesterOswald - Bishop of Worcester, Archbishop of YorkAethelwine - Ealderman of East-AngliaAelfhere - Ealdorman of MerciaByrhtnoth - military commanderWulfgeat - favourite of AethelredEadric - nicknamed ‘the grabber', favourite of AethelredWulfnoth - favourite of AethelredBeorhtic - favourite of AethelredOlaf 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 ForkbeardRichard I - nicknamed ‘the fearless', duke of Normandy (942-96)Richard II - nicknamed ‘the good', duke of Normandy (996-1026)William of Malmesbury - chroniclerJohn of Worcester -chroniclerCreditsMusic: Prepare for War by Alexander Nakarada (https://www.creatorchords.com)Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Freesounds.org194982__soundmary__wild-horses-running 458113__brunoboselli__countryside733333__haulaway__bag-of-coins-drop231537__vkproduktion__forest-birds-loop-02449652__magnesus__walking-through-forest241824__haldigital97__waves-1

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

I discuss the rather unsuccessful reign(s) of the king who had an unfortunate epithet added to his name with the New Statesman's Harry Lambert.

Greg Jenner is joined by Professor Elizabeth Tyler and comedian Jen Brister in early medieval England to learn all about Queen Emma of Normandy. Emma was wife to two English kings – Aethelred and Cnut – and mother to two more, Harthacnut and Edward the Confessor. She was a key player in the complex politics of 11th-century England, and symbolised the overlapping English, Norman and Scandinavian identities at play in England even before the Norman conquest of 1066. This episode traces Emma's life from her childhood in Normandy, through her marriages to the English Aethelred and Danish Cnut, and into her final years as mother to the king. Along the way, it explores Emma's political savvy, and the messy family relationships that shaped early medieval English history.This is a radio edit of the original podcast episode. For the full-length version, please look further back in the feed.Research by: Josh Rice Written by: Josh Rice, Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow, Emma Nagouse and Greg Jenner Produced by: Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow and Greg Jenner Audio Producer: Steve Hankey Senior Producer: Emma Nagouse

Professor Alice Roberts, best known as the presenter of Digging for Britain, picks the wife of two English kings and the mother of two English kings. Queen Emma was born in Normandy and came to England as a diplomatic peaceweaver when she married Aethelred in 1002. Somehow she survived the invasion of the Danes under Swein Forkbeard and married his son, King Canute after Aethelred's death. Together with help from Professor Janina Ramirez - author of Femina - and Patricia Bracewell who has written a trilogy of historical novels based on Emma's life, Alice pieces together an extraordinary life, the richest woman in England, aunt of William the Conqueror, mother of Edward the Confessor.Alice Roberts is Professor of Public Engagement in Science at Birmingham University and the author of Crypt: Life, Death and Disease in the Middle Ages and Beyond Programme also includes recorded audio of Professor Pauline Stafford, author of Gendering the Middle AgesThe producer in Bristol is Miles Warde

In this episode, Greg Jenner is joined by Professor Elizabeth Tyler and comedian Jen Brister in early medieval England to learn all about Queen Emma of Normandy. Emma was wife to two English kings – Aethelred and Cnut – and mother to two more, Harthacnut and Edward the Confessor. She was a key player in the complex politics of eleventh-century England, and symbolised the overlapping English, Norman and Scandinavian identities at play in England even before the Norman conquest of 1066. This episode traces Emma's life from her childhood in Normandy, through her marriages to the English Aethelred and Danish Cnut, and into her final years as mother to the king. Along the way, it explores Emma's political savvy, and the messy family relationships that shaped early medieval English history. Research by: Josh Rice Written by: Josh Rice, Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow, Emma Nagouse and Greg Jenner Produced by: Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow and Greg Jenner Audio Producer: Steve Hankey Senior Producer: Emma Nagouse

In a saga reminiscent of Game of Thrones and Battle for the Island Kingdom: The Struggle for England's Destiny 1000-1066 (Osprey, 2023) reveals the life-and-death struggle for power which changed the course of history. The six decades leading up to 1066 were defined by bloody wars and intrigues, in which three peoples vied for supremacy over the island kingdom. In this epic retelling, Don Hollway (The Last Viking) recounts the clashes of Vikings, Anglo-Saxons and Normans, their warlords and their conniving queens. It begins with the Viking Cnut the Great, forging three nations into his North Sea Empire while his Saxon wife Aelfgifu rules in his stead and schemes for England's throne. Her archenemy is Emma of Normandy, widow of Saxon king Aethelred, claiming Cnut's realm in exchange for her hand in marriage. Their sons become rivals, pawns in their mothers' wars until they can secure their own destinies. And always in the shadows is Godwin of Wessex, playing all sides to become the power behind the throne until his son Harold emerges as king of all of England. But Harold's brother Tostig turns traitor, abandons the Anglo-Saxons and joins the army of the last great Viking, Harald Hardrada, where together they meet their fate at the battle of Stamford Bridge. And all this time watching from across the water is William, the Bastard, fighting to secure his own Norman dukedom, but with an eye on the English crown. AJ Woodhams hosts the "War Books" podcast. You can subscribe on Apple here and on Spotify here. War Books is on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

In a saga reminiscent of Game of Thrones and Battle for the Island Kingdom: The Struggle for England's Destiny 1000-1066 (Osprey, 2023) reveals the life-and-death struggle for power which changed the course of history. The six decades leading up to 1066 were defined by bloody wars and intrigues, in which three peoples vied for supremacy over the island kingdom. In this epic retelling, Don Hollway (The Last Viking) recounts the clashes of Vikings, Anglo-Saxons and Normans, their warlords and their conniving queens. It begins with the Viking Cnut the Great, forging three nations into his North Sea Empire while his Saxon wife Aelfgifu rules in his stead and schemes for England's throne. Her archenemy is Emma of Normandy, widow of Saxon king Aethelred, claiming Cnut's realm in exchange for her hand in marriage. Their sons become rivals, pawns in their mothers' wars until they can secure their own destinies. And always in the shadows is Godwin of Wessex, playing all sides to become the power behind the throne until his son Harold emerges as king of all of England. But Harold's brother Tostig turns traitor, abandons the Anglo-Saxons and joins the army of the last great Viking, Harald Hardrada, where together they meet their fate at the battle of Stamford Bridge. And all this time watching from across the water is William, the Bastard, fighting to secure his own Norman dukedom, but with an eye on the English crown. AJ Woodhams hosts the "War Books" podcast. You can subscribe on Apple here and on Spotify here. War Books is on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history

In a saga reminiscent of Game of Thrones and Battle for the Island Kingdom: The Struggle for England's Destiny 1000-1066 (Osprey, 2023) reveals the life-and-death struggle for power which changed the course of history. The six decades leading up to 1066 were defined by bloody wars and intrigues, in which three peoples vied for supremacy over the island kingdom. In this epic retelling, Don Hollway (The Last Viking) recounts the clashes of Vikings, Anglo-Saxons and Normans, their warlords and their conniving queens. It begins with the Viking Cnut the Great, forging three nations into his North Sea Empire while his Saxon wife Aelfgifu rules in his stead and schemes for England's throne. Her archenemy is Emma of Normandy, widow of Saxon king Aethelred, claiming Cnut's realm in exchange for her hand in marriage. Their sons become rivals, pawns in their mothers' wars until they can secure their own destinies. And always in the shadows is Godwin of Wessex, playing all sides to become the power behind the throne until his son Harold emerges as king of all of England. But Harold's brother Tostig turns traitor, abandons the Anglo-Saxons and joins the army of the last great Viking, Harald Hardrada, where together they meet their fate at the battle of Stamford Bridge. And all this time watching from across the water is William, the Bastard, fighting to secure his own Norman dukedom, but with an eye on the English crown. AJ Woodhams hosts the "War Books" podcast. You can subscribe on Apple here and on Spotify here. War Books is on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/military-history

In a saga reminiscent of Game of Thrones and Battle for the Island Kingdom: The Struggle for England's Destiny 1000-1066 (Osprey, 2023) reveals the life-and-death struggle for power which changed the course of history. The six decades leading up to 1066 were defined by bloody wars and intrigues, in which three peoples vied for supremacy over the island kingdom. In this epic retelling, Don Hollway (The Last Viking) recounts the clashes of Vikings, Anglo-Saxons and Normans, their warlords and their conniving queens. It begins with the Viking Cnut the Great, forging three nations into his North Sea Empire while his Saxon wife Aelfgifu rules in his stead and schemes for England's throne. Her archenemy is Emma of Normandy, widow of Saxon king Aethelred, claiming Cnut's realm in exchange for her hand in marriage. Their sons become rivals, pawns in their mothers' wars until they can secure their own destinies. And always in the shadows is Godwin of Wessex, playing all sides to become the power behind the throne until his son Harold emerges as king of all of England. But Harold's brother Tostig turns traitor, abandons the Anglo-Saxons and joins the army of the last great Viking, Harald Hardrada, where together they meet their fate at the battle of Stamford Bridge. And all this time watching from across the water is William, the Bastard, fighting to secure his own Norman dukedom, but with an eye on the English crown. AJ Woodhams hosts the "War Books" podcast. You can subscribe on Apple here and on Spotify here. War Books is on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/european-studies

In a saga reminiscent of Game of Thrones and Battle for the Island Kingdom: The Struggle for England's Destiny 1000-1066 (Osprey, 2023) reveals the life-and-death struggle for power which changed the course of history. The six decades leading up to 1066 were defined by bloody wars and intrigues, in which three peoples vied for supremacy over the island kingdom. In this epic retelling, Don Hollway (The Last Viking) recounts the clashes of Vikings, Anglo-Saxons and Normans, their warlords and their conniving queens. It begins with the Viking Cnut the Great, forging three nations into his North Sea Empire while his Saxon wife Aelfgifu rules in his stead and schemes for England's throne. Her archenemy is Emma of Normandy, widow of Saxon king Aethelred, claiming Cnut's realm in exchange for her hand in marriage. Their sons become rivals, pawns in their mothers' wars until they can secure their own destinies. And always in the shadows is Godwin of Wessex, playing all sides to become the power behind the throne until his son Harold emerges as king of all of England. But Harold's brother Tostig turns traitor, abandons the Anglo-Saxons and joins the army of the last great Viking, Harald Hardrada, where together they meet their fate at the battle of Stamford Bridge. And all this time watching from across the water is William, the Bastard, fighting to secure his own Norman dukedom, but with an eye on the English crown. AJ Woodhams hosts the "War Books" podcast. You can subscribe on Apple here and on Spotify here. War Books is on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/french-studies

In a saga reminiscent of Game of Thrones and Battle for the Island Kingdom: The Struggle for England's Destiny 1000-1066 (Osprey, 2023) reveals the life-and-death struggle for power which changed the course of history. The six decades leading up to 1066 were defined by bloody wars and intrigues, in which three peoples vied for supremacy over the island kingdom. In this epic retelling, Don Hollway (The Last Viking) recounts the clashes of Vikings, Anglo-Saxons and Normans, their warlords and their conniving queens. It begins with the Viking Cnut the Great, forging three nations into his North Sea Empire while his Saxon wife Aelfgifu rules in his stead and schemes for England's throne. Her archenemy is Emma of Normandy, widow of Saxon king Aethelred, claiming Cnut's realm in exchange for her hand in marriage. Their sons become rivals, pawns in their mothers' wars until they can secure their own destinies. And always in the shadows is Godwin of Wessex, playing all sides to become the power behind the throne until his son Harold emerges as king of all of England. But Harold's brother Tostig turns traitor, abandons the Anglo-Saxons and joins the army of the last great Viking, Harald Hardrada, where together they meet their fate at the battle of Stamford Bridge. And all this time watching from across the water is William, the Bastard, fighting to secure his own Norman dukedom, but with an eye on the English crown. AJ Woodhams hosts the "War Books" podcast. You can subscribe on Apple here and on Spotify here. War Books is on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a saga reminiscent of Game of Thrones and Battle for the Island Kingdom: The Struggle for England's Destiny 1000-1066 (Osprey, 2023) reveals the life-and-death struggle for power which changed the course of history. The six decades leading up to 1066 were defined by bloody wars and intrigues, in which three peoples vied for supremacy over the island kingdom. In this epic retelling, Don Hollway (The Last Viking) recounts the clashes of Vikings, Anglo-Saxons and Normans, their warlords and their conniving queens. It begins with the Viking Cnut the Great, forging three nations into his North Sea Empire while his Saxon wife Aelfgifu rules in his stead and schemes for England's throne. Her archenemy is Emma of Normandy, widow of Saxon king Aethelred, claiming Cnut's realm in exchange for her hand in marriage. Their sons become rivals, pawns in their mothers' wars until they can secure their own destinies. And always in the shadows is Godwin of Wessex, playing all sides to become the power behind the throne until his son Harold emerges as king of all of England. But Harold's brother Tostig turns traitor, abandons the Anglo-Saxons and joins the army of the last great Viking, Harald Hardrada, where together they meet their fate at the battle of Stamford Bridge. And all this time watching from across the water is William, the Bastard, fighting to secure his own Norman dukedom, but with an eye on the English crown. AJ Woodhams hosts the "War Books" podcast. You can subscribe on Apple here and on Spotify here. War Books is on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/british-studies

In third chair this week we are joined by resident runic scholar and based metalhead Runes. The song we discuss is Canute the Great (King of Danish Pride) by Rebellion from their 2005 album Sagas of Iceland - The History of the Vikings, Vol. 1. Sail along with us as we raid, pillage, and plunder the historical details of Cnut's life contained in this ballad. How can one man unify the fractured kingdoms of southern England and unite them with the kingdoms of Norway and Denmark into the North Sea Empire? through sheer force of will - will to power. Fans of Aethelred the Unready can go ahead and sit this one out. It's the Nord's time on top. Who exactly was Cnut? Listen to find out! ᚲᚾᚢᛏᚱ ᛁᚾᚾ ᚱᛁᚲᛁ Link to the song: https://youtu.be/SfQ4o0svDLs Follow Runes on Twitter: @ReadingTheRunes Check out his Redbubble for some awesome Viking-themed apparel and designs: https://www.redbubble.com/people/sagasintherunes/shop Follow Scott and Sean on Twitter: Scott - @dotGiff Sean - @HashtagHeyBro If you've got a song you'd like us to discuss on the podcast, feel free to DM us on Twitter or send an email to HistoryInMusicPodcast@gmail.com

Synopsis Part two of the run up to the arrival of Queen Matilda and that other guy…what was his name…William the Conqueror. Yeah. Him. Includes Danelaw, Danegeld, surprising connections to Hamlet, an explanation of whether Aethelred the Unready was really unready, and of course a discussion of Eric the Viking! Annotations 1/ We have obviously linked … Continue reading "Episode: 54: More England, More Normans"

This week Beau and Carl chat about the closing years of Anglo-Saxon Britain, focusing mainly on the reign of Aethelred The Unready. This long and increasingly disastrous reign sees the Viking invasions reach a new height, and the plight of the remaining Anglo-Saxon reach a new low. Including battles and massacres, Aethelred's life, though shameful, certainly wasn't boring. https://www.lotuseaters.com/preview-epochs-63-or-aethelred-the-unready-17-07-22

This is it. It all comes down to this moment.  Ever since Alfred the Great had come surging out of the swamps he had been hiding in to defeat the Vikings at Edington, he and his children and grandchildren had been inexorably pushing the Vikings out of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. Aethelred was soon to conquer Northumbria which had been held by the Danes for a hundred years, and England was born. But no sooner had the new nation come screaming into the world than a massive Norse-Irish-Scottish alliance came screaming into Aethelred's new kingdom. It threatened to undo everything that had been achieved.  At Brunanburh in 937 AD the future of England would be decided.   Subscribe to us here on your favourite podcast channel, follow us @bitesizebattles on Instagram and Facebook, and visit www.bitesizebattles.com. Thanks for listening.

In episode 11, the final covering the Danish Viking King Sweyn Forkbeard, we follow along as he relentlessly wages his war of attrition against Aethelred 'the Unready' of England. A 10 year marathon, steadily draining their economic and military power, sapping their morale and will to put up a viable resistance. Culminating in a full scale invasion in July 1013, that by the end of that year, would have him ascend to the throne as the first Viking King of England. We then review Forkbeard's legacy, who ushered in one of the most monumental achievements of the Viking Age during its twilight years. If you would like to support my work directly, you can kindly do so here: www.patreon.com/warlordsofhistory Check out the Pax Britannica podcast: https://paxbritannica.info

Part 1, the RomansBefore there were Kings of England, there was Roman occupation. In fact, you might think of the first monarch of England as being the Roman Emperor. Britain was officially discovered when Julius Caesar made to expeditions in 55 and 54 BC. He did not successfully invade England; that job was left to his successor Plautius in 43 AD. From that time, Britain was part of the Roman Empire.Part 2, King ArthurIt’s at the Battle of Badon Hill where reports of a famous warrior or leader (or perhaps king?) emerges. He united and rallied the people around him and defeated the Saxons. He is named Ambrosius Aurelianus by contemporary historians Gildas and Bede and called “Arthur” by Nennius—the first historian to mention Arthur by name. King Arthur is among the most famous literary characters of all time. And Arthur's legend shapes the British Monarchy for years to come.Part 3, HeptarchyBy the seventh century, the boundaries of the Heptarchy were established, separating the land into seven tribal kingdoms: Northumbria, Wessex, Mercia, East-Anglia, Essex, Kent, and Sussex. One of the best-known and most powerful kings of this era is Alfred the Great, a strong military leader and wise ruler, who became King of Wessex in 871. He defeated the Danes at Rochester, imposed rule on South Wales, and took London from the Danes. He’s also credited with starting a permanent army and navy. Alfred eventually ruled most of the area. Part 4, Becoming EnglandKing Aethelstan became King of Wessex in 899 and succeeded to the kingdom of the Northumbrians when Sihtric died in 927. In 937, he and his brother Edmund defeated a combined force of the Kings of Dublin, Scots, Strathclyde, and others. During this period, he was recognized as the first person to rule over all the land that would eventually become known as England. He claimed the title “King of all Britain.” Part 5, Emma of NormandyEmma of Normandy was sent to England in 1002 to marry Aethelred the Unready. Viking attacks and invasions meant Emma and her children went into exile before Cnut, King of Denmark, conquered England in 1016. Emma displayed political skills as she maintained a good relationship with Cnut and his new regime. She married Cnut in 1017. For the majority of her life, Emma had wielded political power in ways that were unheard of for women. Part 6, The Confessor and The ConquerorThere’s a legend that Edward had promised God he would make a pilgrimage to St. Peter’s in Rome if he were ever able to return safely to his kingdom. But once he took the throne, Edward felt he could not safely leave his people. He built a large stone church in honor of St. Peter. The church became known as “West” minster to distinguish it from the “east” minster, which was St. Paul’s Cathedral. William Duke of Normandy claimed to be rightful King after Edward's death. He defeated King Harold at the Battle of Hastings and ended Anglo-Saxon rule. William I is often recognized as the first King of England, and “English history” often starts with the Battle of Hastings. But the monarchy had its beginning long before 1066.

On today's show, we will see Emma make the transition from the sister of the duke to the queen of an island kingdom. Emma will marry Aethelred and we will watch the events of the 1000's and 1010s unfold at breakneck speed...through her eyes, in a way. Buckle up, as we experience Emma's view of things and how her early life will shape the woman she transforms into in innumerable ways. I hope you enjoy the show. Thank you all for downloading, listening, and sharing the show. Seeing the numbers continue to increase gives me the motivation to continue our deep dive into the second half of the Middle Ages, so as long as you keep listening and sharing the show I will keep producing episodes! THANK YOU so much for your support! And speaking of support, please support us and show some love on Twitter (@WheelPodcast) and on Facebook (search: Fortune's Wheel Podcast), as well as sending me an email at fortuneswheelpodcast@gmail.com! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fortuneswheelpodcast/support

Thank you so much for coming back. I understand it's been quite a while - seven weeks, I believe! - and believe me when I say that it's been painful not doing this. But, the transition into a virtual learning space for my students has been established and things are finally at a point where I feel like I just might be getting ahead of things, so...HERE WE ARE! And, if this is the first time you're joining us, THANK YOU. On today's episode, we take a little stroll backward to the year 1002. I know, I know...yes, we are far beyond the year 1002 in our story, but there's someone we need to catch up with: Emma of Normandy. Times are, well, CRAZY in 1002 and little teenage Emma is thrown right in the middle of the chaos that is Aethelred's England and it will be Emma who SOMEHOW outlasts everyone else we've met so far. She's an exceptional character among many exceptional characters throughout the story of the Middle Ages and I'm excited to tell her story! I hope you enjoy the show. Please keep sharing this podcast with those you know and on your social media accounts. Don't forget to tag us, too, if you share us on Twitter (@WheelPodcast), or drop us a quick line about the latest episode on Facebook (Fortune's Wheel Podcast). I update these pages frequently and I would love to hear from you! Also, you can email the show at fortuneswheelpodcast@gmail.com. Again, thank you for all of your support. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fortuneswheelpodcast/support

What does Aethelred do after he's given a second chance at kingship and his enemy abruptly leaves to regroup? Well, he does the most Aethelredian thing he can, of course - he Aethelredly listens, in my opinion, to Eadric Streona! And with a new lease on ruling England, he Aethelreds it up as only an Aethelred can! (I'm learning that the name Aethelred is like the "f-word"...there's almost an unlimited number of usages depending on the context. It'll catch on after a thousand years, don't worry.) On today's episode, we approach the end of this first bend in our overall story of the late middle ages with the deaths of Anglo-Saxon England's last remaining vestiges of local greatness, and the flickers of what's to come. As in all stories, when one arc closes there's another that always opens. As always, thank you for listening, subscribing, and sharing the podcast! Please continue to do so! You can follow us on Facebook (Fortune's Wheel Podcast page), Twitter (@WheelPodcast), and Instagram (@fortuneswheelpodcast). Also, you can email the show at fortuneswheelpodcast@gmail.com. I can't wait to hear from you! I hope you enjoy the show! Keywords: aethelred; aethelred-the-unready; edmund-ironside; cnut; canute; cnut-the-great; canute-the-great; denmark; england; wessex; northumbria; uhtred-the-bold; ealdorman; eadric-streona; thorkell; thorkell-the-tall; norman-conquest; danish-conquest-of-england; danish-conquest; offa; offa's-sword; aethelstan; aethelstan-aethling; aethling; saxon; anglo-saxon; anglo-saxon-england; fortune's-wheel-podcast; history-podcast; history; middle-ages; medieval; north-sea-empire; norway; emma-of-normandy; emma --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fortuneswheelpodcast/support

Join us for the first of three bonus episodes looking at the life of Edward the Confessor!In this first episode we focus on Edward's father, Aethelred the Unready, and see what lessons young Edward was being tought about how to rule a kingdom.Poor little guy never stood a chance.Guest Host: Matt Hare See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We shift our attentions away from Anglo-Saxon England's death spasms and sail westward on the longboats of Norwegian and Icelandic explorers in the late 900s and early 1000s. We will see how they settled Iceland and Greenland, and beat Christopher Columbus to the New World by more than 500 years! Today, we're catching up on some of the contemporaries of historical giants like Sweyn Forkbeard, Aethelred the Unready, Emma of Normandy, and Olaf Tryggvason, and meet some familiar names from our primary schooling history lessons - names such as Erik the Red and Leif Eriksson! I can't wait to tell you about it! As always, thank you for your continued support! Please help grow the show by liking and sharing it on your favorite social media platforms, as well as following Fortune's Wheel Podcast on Facebook (search: Fortune's Wheel Podcast), Twitter (@WheelPodcast), and Instagram (@fortunes_wheel_podcast). You can also email the show with any questions, suggestions for the show, and book recommendations, at fortuneswheelpodcast@gmail.com. I'm looking forward to your feedback! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fortuneswheelpodcast/support

Buckle up, folks! This episode will span about two decades, but everything that happens between 991 and 1012, despite what it may seem like at first, is merely the beginning of the chess game being played in the Saxons' waning years as undisputed rulers of England. From King Aethelred II struggling to maintain power to Sweyn Forkbeard's relentless onslaught, this period in European history sets up everything that is about to go down. We discuss military engagements and Aethelred's growing family, as well as civic reform and international ties. And we'd be remiss if we didn't introduce, arguably, the single most influential woman of the time: Emma of Normandy. I hope you enjoy the show. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fortuneswheelpodcast/support

Never skip #TheLastKingdom intro/recaps: we love them so much, we created our own to talk season 4 (Series 4 for our friends across the pond). Uthred heads back to Bebbanburg with Finan, Sihtric & Osferth, while King Edward has trouble with his mother Aelswith and his wife Aelflaed's father Aethelhelm. While his sister Aethelflaed is ready to dump her husband Aethelred is excited for Eardwulf's sister Eadith. We've got fightin' Fathers: Beocca & Pyrlig! Oh yeah, Danes like Brida, Cnut and Haesten are out there ready for trouble. Based on the book series from Bernard Cornwell. Twitter/Instagram @DoublePHQ Facebook: http://facebook.com/doublephq #DestinyIsAll

SYFY Wire Fangrrls writers Alyssa Fikse (@lyssiefikse) and Jessica Toomer (@jessica_toomer) mourn the loss of Aethelred, who served Mercia with grace and dignity for three seasons ... Just kidding. This guy was an arsehole and now, we dance on his grave!

SYFY Wire Fangrrls writers Alyssa Fikse (@lyssiefikse) and Jessica Toomer (@jessica_toomer) are worried about Uhtred in the third episode of this season. He may claim to be “a Dane for life,” but his men didn’t sign up for this and Leofric continues to haunt him. After working so hard to build Wessex, can Uhtred justify being instrumental in tearing it down? Elsewhere in Mercia, Aethelflaed is alerted to the fact that Aethelred wants her dead. Husband of the year over here! She flees with her closest people and sends word to Uhtred begging for help. Beocca brings Uhtred the letter and reminds him of the good times in Wessex. If he goes to help Aethelflaed, Ragnar tells him that it’s over and to never come back. Will Uhtred FINALLY make a choice over which side he’s on? It’s only been two and a half seasons of angst.

SYFY Wire Fangrrls writers Alyssa Fikse (@lyssiefikse) and Jessica Toomer (@jessica_toomer_) return for season three of The Last Kingdom, ready for a more mature Uhtred. Of course, the world won’t let our favorite Danish Saxon live a life in peace for too long, and a new villain is here to bring hell to Wessex: Skade. She’s got various magic tricks and curses at her disposal, and she’s got her sights set on Uhtred. It’s a mess. Elsewhere in the realm, Alfred’s health is deteriorating at a rapid rate, Aethelflaed is miserable in her marriage to the wretched Aethelred, Edward is decidedly not ready to be king, and there is possibly the most tragic death yet. It’s A LOT. Welcome back to The Last Kingdom, where everything can and will end in chaos.

SYFY Wire Fangrrls writers Alyssa Fikse (@lyssiefikse) and Jessica Toomer (@jessica_toomer_) take on episode six of season two of The Last Kingdom, where we see the worst marriage since the Red Wedding. Aethelred is immediately the Worst Husband Ever while also working to further the divide between Alfred and Uhtred. Erik and Siegfried continue to cause problems for the Saxons, and honestly, we kind of respect their game. Alfred soon learns that cutting Uhtred out of battle plans can only lead to disaster. You would think he would have realized that by now, but Alfred never, ever learns. On the plus side, Uhtred and Gisela continue to prove that there is such a thing as loving and supportive couples in Wessex. Who knew?!

GOD DAMN IT EADRIC, why do you ruin everything? (Aethelred did good for a bit) Links: Patreon Twitter Game Jam I'm not recording this at home, so can't easily link the discord. check another episode

AEthelred, for the first time in quite a while,... For a full transcript, go to thebritishhistorypodcast.com

The Court of AEthelred had turned over three... For a full transcript, go to thebritishhistorypodcast.com

Aethelred gets raided by Vikings a lot... Patreon Twitter Discord

Nach dem Schlachtengetümmel der letzten Woche geht’s es wieder ruhiger zu. Krasses zu besprechen gibt es dennoch! Diese Fragen untersuchen wir unteranderem: – Läuft Ivar mit seinem Angriff auf Wessex in eine Falle? – Ist Judiths Mord gerechtfertigt? Viel Spaß beim zuhören und mitdiskutieren! Eure Hosts Nono und Key ———— SPENDIER’ UNS DOCH EINEN KAFFEE PayPal: www.paypal.me/4001reviews Danke ;) HANDLUNGSSTRÄNGE: 2:56 Island (Floki) 9:49 Kattegat (Ivar und Hvitserk) 23:03 Wessex (Alfred, Aethelred, Ubbe, Björn) 1:01:04 York (Harald und Magnus) 1:34:46 Fazit MEHR VON UNS ZU VIKINGS:  Wöchentliche Episodenkritik: https://4001reviews.de/serien/kritik-vikings-staffel-5/ Zusammenfassung Staffel 1-5: https://4001reviews.de/serien/zusammenfassung-vikings-staffel-1-5/ UNSEREN PODCAST FINDEST DU AUCH HIER: SoundCloud: @4001reviews iTunes: apple.co/2rvDRhD YouTube: bit.ly/2IkXsvh MUSIC composed by Pawl.D Beats: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQTzTYM6-58Ef0Igkg3DJFw

Aethelred's name is a combination of the Old English word aethel, meaning 'noble, excellent', and raed, meaning 'advice, counsel'. Simon Keynes probes the life of this Anglo-Saxon monarch who ruled over one of the most turbulent times of English history. Producer: Sarah Taylor

In dieser Podcast-Folge haben wir endlich wieder was zu feiern und hoffen auf eine starke Zukunft unserer geliebten Mittelalterserie ‘Vikings'. Im Fokus stehen unter anderem diese Fragen: - Auf welcher Seite steht jetzt eigentlich Aethelred? - Wohin ist Lagertha verschwunden? Wir wünschen euch viel Spaß beim zuhören und mitdiskutieren! Eure Hosts Nono und Key ++++++ Du liebst Filme und Serien? Dann werde Teil unserer Community! ABBONIERE UNS AUF YOUTUBE: http://bit.ly/1UBvng0 4001Reviews-WEBSITE: https://4001Reviews.de WERDE FAN AUF FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/4001Reviews/ FOLGE UNS AUF INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/4001Reviews/ UNSERE KURZ-KRITIKEN AUF LETTERBOXD: https://letterboxd.com/4001Reviews/ ++++++ Spende uns ne Cola: https://www.paypal.me/4001reviews/3,50 Spende uns nen Moscow Mule: https://www.paypal.me/4001reviews/8,0 ++++++ #FlixUndFertig #Podcast

In dieser Podcast-Folge haben wir endlich wieder was zu feiern und hoffen auf eine starke Zukunft unserer geliebten Mittelalterserie ‘Vikings’. Im Fokus stehen unter anderem diese Fragen: - Auf welcher Seite steht jetzt eigentlich Aethelred? - Wohin ist Lagertha verschwunden? Wir wünschen euch viel Spaß beim zuhören und mitdiskutieren! Eure Hosts Nono und Key ———— SPENDIER’ UNS DOCH EINEN KAFFEE PayPal: www.paypal.me/4001reviews Danke ;) HANDLUNGSSTRÄNGE: 5:35 Island ;) 7:31 Kattegatt 27:18 Winchester-Strang vor der Schlacht 1:01:57 Schlacht 1:23:39 Winchester-Strang nach der Schlacht 1:34:46 Fazit MEHR VON UNS ZU VIKINGS:  Wöchentliche Episodenkritik: https://4001reviews.de/serien/kritik-vikings-staffel-5/ Zusammenfassung Staffel 1-5: https://4001reviews.de/serien/zusammenfassung-vikings-staffel-1-5/ LINKS ZUR PODCAST-FOLGE  Harald-Darsteller Peter Franzén ist ein Tier: https://youtu.be/4ijr_k1Mj8Q Serientipp ‘The Last Kingdom’: https://4001reviews.de/serien/review-the-last-kingdom-staffel-1/ UNSEREN PODCAST FINDEST DU AUCH HIER: SoundCloud: @4001reviews iTunes: apple.co/2rvDRhD YouTube: bit.ly/2IkXsvh MUSIC composed by Pawl.D Beats: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQTzTYM6-58Ef0Igkg3DJFw

Nachdem uns die Episode der letzten Woche zutiefst enttäuscht hat, konnte es ja nur besser werden: Und tatsächlich bereitet die 13 Folge der fünften Staffel ein paar spannende Konflikte vor, die uns ein paar handfeste und potenziell spannende Theorien ablocken. Folgende Leitfragen stehen diese Woche auf dem Programm:    * Steht Ivars Untergang kurz bevor? * Wer ist Ivars Opfer? * Im Faktencheck schauen wir uns Aethelred an   Viel Spaß wünschen deine Hosts
Keyvan und Nono ———— SPENDIER’ UNS DOCH EINEN KAFFEE PayPal: www.paypal.me/4001reviews Danke ;) HANDLUNGSSTRÄNGE: 4:30 Floki 10:20 Ivar 32:35 Harald ??:00 Winchester (Alfred, Björn, Heghmund, …) 1:09:43 Fazit MEHR VON UNS ZU VIKINGS:  Wöchentliche Episodenkritik: https://4001reviews.de/serien/kritik-vikings-staffel-5/ Zusammenfassung Staffel 1-5: https://4001reviews.de/serien/zusammenfassung-vikings-staffel-1-5/ LINKS ZUR PODCAST-FOLGE  Serientipp ‘The Last Kingdom’: https://4001reviews.de/serien/review-the-last-kingdom-staffel-1/ UNSEREN PODCAST FINDEST DU AUCH HIER: SoundCloud: @4001reviews iTunes: apple.co/2rvDRhD YouTube: bit.ly/2IkXsvh MUSIC composed by Pawl.D Beats: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQTzTYM6-58Ef0Igkg3DJFw

Aethelred is gone - are you sad? I'm not sad. Here comes Edmund to hopefully save the day for the house of Wessex.

Is it just me or has the quality of our Wessex kings dropped off? This guy will certainly prove that it's not just me.

A year after Edward took the throne – in year... For a full transcript, go to thebritishhistorypodcast.com

It was an audacious move. To take possession of... For a full transcript, go to thebritishhistorypodcast.com

Imagine that you’re in your 20s. You are a member... For a full transcript, go to thebritishhistorypodcast.com

Twice Queen of England and mother of two kings, but have you heard of Emma of Normandy? Doyenne of Whitehall and Westminster journalists, Sue Cameron names William the Conqueror's aunt as her great life. Matthew Parris explores the time 1,000 years ago when England was emerging as a new nation in the decades before the Norman invasion, when the country's Anglo Saxon rulers were beset with Viking invasions. Emma, herself of French Viking descent, was pitched into a maelstrom of war and politics, when she crossed the channel as a teenage bride in 1002. Joined by medieval historian Vanessa King of Goldsmiths, University of London, Sue Cameron and Matthew conjure the fortunes of a woman who emerged as a key powerbroker and kingmaker. Emma bestrode early English court politics for half a century during her life, and for years afterwards. Married first to Aethelred, the Saxon king, she was promptly summoned to marry his successor after his death in 1016, the Danish king of England, Canute, who's alleged to have ordered the waves to cease. Sue Cameron imagines what it must have been like for Emma in the midst of these turbulent times, trying to protect the sons she had with both kings, while advancing their position at court. Producer: Mark Smalley.

This episode has been difficult to write. In... For a full transcript, go to thebritishhistorypodcast.com

It’s 865 and we just had yet another King of... For a full transcript, go to thebritishhistorypodcast.com

After Wulfhere, Aethelred and Aethelbald laid the foundations, a prince from the Hwicce, Offa, took Mercia to its greatest achievements. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Chris and Tom F are joined by Alex Wiltshire of Sensible Object to discuss GDC, Mass Effect, Danganronpa, a little XCOM, a little Star War, and more. Apologies for the audio issues about seven minutes in: Chris had to cross the room to fix Alex’s microphone stand while everybody else pretended that this wasn’t happening. [...]

The decline of the Anglo-Saxon Golden Age occurred in the late 900s as the English kingdom passed from King Edgar to his son, Aethelred the Unready.  it was a period surrounded by many deals, contracts, bargains and treaties.  We examine the etymology of words related to deals and contracts. We also examine how literate Anglo-Saxons tried to balance the use of English and Latin. TRANSCRIPT: EPISODE 59

The decline of the Anglo-Saxon Golden Age occurred in the late 900s as the English kingdom passed from King Edgar to his son, Aethelred the Unready.  it was a period surrounded by many deals, contracts, bargains and treaties.  We examine … Continue reading →

This week on Rex Factor we put right what once went wrong and step back 1,000 years in history to review England's first Viking ruler, Sweyn Forkbeard. Sweyn was the father of the legendary Cnut and the first Viking to be acknowledged as full king of England when he forced Aethelred the Unready from the throne in 1013, adding to his crown in Denmark and overlordship of Norway and Sweden. So why did he get missed out the first time round? Will his patience be rewarded with the Rex Factor? For one episode only, slip back into the Vikings and prepare for big battles, cool names and the best Rex Fact to date!

In 1012, Aethelred looked down and out. But Svein died, and Edmund Ironside appeared on the scene. Suddenly, Aethelred was a real king and all action, and Cnut was forced to flee. But he came back, and 1016 saw one of the great confrontations of English History, and a great... See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Danish threat is notched up a few levels, and Aethelred the Unready and the English state is brought to it knees. The Vikings are too fast, skillful and mobile, and are much better led. Podcast: Download 15 Aethelred, Svein Forkbeard and years of misery Click and Play: 15 Aethelred,...

Aethelred's mother gets her son onto the throne at last. But it's not long before the disadvantages of kingship become clear, as the Danes begin to return with increasing force. Aethelred turned 18 in 983, and by 984 has sent his mother away and reigns with his own men. But... See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

After Wulfhere, Aethelred and Aethelbald laid the foundations, a prince from the Hwicce, Offa, took Mercia to its greatest achievements. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In 1016, fifty years before Hastings, England is under threat of conquest from the young Viking leader, Cnut. Aethelred the Unready had proved unable to defend his kingdom, but his son Edmund proves a far more powerful and courageous warrior. Has the damage already been done, or will Edmund reprise the glories of his ancestors and victory for England and, for himself, the Rex Factor?

The last of the boy kings and one of the most infamous of the Saxons, poor Aethelred has a rather torrid time. As if coming to the throne after his brother was murdered was not enough, he is faced with the most powerful Viking force in a century and struggles to keep the Scandinavian hordes at bay. Listen in to find out why this reign sets us on the path to 1066, why we really shouldn't call him "unready" and how he makes a mockery of our scoring system. Do you think we did a good job with Aethelred? Email rexfactorpodcast@hotmail.com or follow us on twitter @rexfactorpod and tell us what you think!