Podcasts about anglo saxons

October marks the month of Edwardtide – a series of celebrations commemorating St Edward the Confessor, the King that ruled England in the 11th century for over two decades. Nowadays, he is remembered for three reasons: as one of the last Anglo-Saxon monarchs, for commissioning Westminster Abbey and for being the only English King canonised by a Pope. But does the historical record justify the cult of St Edward? Professor Tom Licence from the University of East Anglia joins Damian Thompson to discuss.Produced by Patrick Gibbons.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts. Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of Tony's favourite things going on at Sutton Hoo currently is the reconstruction of the world-famous Sutton Hoo burial ship which was discovered in Mound 1 in 1939 by the archaeologist Basil Brown. The ship is believed to be the grave of King Rædwald, the 7th Century Anglo-Saxon ruler of East Anglia.The Sutton Hoo Ships Company is a project based in Woodbridge, Suffolk, which is using an army of committed volunteers and some dedicated staff to reconstruct the ship, using the original archaeological evidence, traditional tools, and authentic materials to bring the ninety-foot ship back to life. Today leading Sutton Hoo archaeologist Professor Martin Carver, gives us a guided tour of the project. Hosted by Sir Tony Robinson | Instagram @sirtonyrobinson Producer: Melissa FitzGerald | X @melissafitzg With Professor Martin Carver | www.martincarver.com British archaeologist renowned for his work on early medieval Europe. After serving 15 years in the Royal Tank Regiment, he transitioned to archaeology, founding the Birmingham University Field Archaeology Unit. He was Professor of Archaeology at the University of York (1986–2008) and led major excavations at Sutton Hoo in the 1980s.Martin is a director of The Sutton Hoo Ship's Company, which aims to build a full-size and seaworthy replica of the Anglo-Saxon ship found in Mound 1 at Sutton Hoo | www.saxonship.orgVisit Sutton Hoo National Trust: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/suffolk/sutton-hoo Watch Time Team, Sutton Hoo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=risyQhRjwnw Follow us: Instagram @cunningcastpod | X @cunningcastpod | YouTube @cunningcast ------- If you enjoy this podcast, please do share it and leave us a rating or review. Thank you, Love Tony x Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hoàng gia Anh hiện được cho là một trong những hoàng gia giàu có nhất châu Âu và sẽ còn có sức sống lâu dài vì sau khi vua Charles lên nối ngôi Nữ hoàng Elizabeth II vào năm 2022, thì có con ngài là Thái tử William còn trẻ. Và William hiện có ba con, hai hoàng tử bé và một công chúa. Như thế, việc nối ngôi cho triều đại của dòng họ Mountbatten-Windsor được đảm bảo. Nhưng thực sự chúng ta có biết nhiều về Hoàng gia Anh ? Thông tín viên Nguyễn Giang, người đã sống ở Anh nhiều năm và theo dõi chủ đề này, cho RFI biết về lịch sử Hoàng Gia Anh, những gì họ sở hữu, điều đặc biệt trong cách chi tiêu và nguyên tắc kế vị : RFI : Ngược về quá khứ lịch sử, Hoàng gia Anh có gốc gác từ đâu ?  TTV Nguyễn Giang : Vâng, xin giải thích dài dòng là chế độ phong kiến tập quyền của Anh đến từ đâu. Đến từ Pháp vào nửa sau thế kỷ 11 và tồn tại đến bây giờ, Hoàng gia, như một định chế chính trị và văn hóa, tồn tại ở Anh liên tục từ thế kỷ 11, không đứt quãng, còn gia tộc nào nắm quyền thì mỗi thời một khác. Chúng ta biết trong lịch sử có các triều đại làm vua chúa ở Anh như Plantagenet (gốc Anjou, Pháp), có nhà Tudor (tức Theodore, xứ Wales), có nhà Stuart (Scotland), và dòng Hanover từ Đức mà người đại diện cuối cùng là Nữ hoàng Victoria. Gia tộc nắm ngai vàng hiện nay có họ gốc Đức là Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, đến năm 1917 thời vua George V thì đổi sang họ Windsor, lấy tên lâu đài Hoàng gia ở gần Luân Đôn. Còn về dòng máu của các thành viên Hoàng gia Anh cũng như châu Âu thì họ thường có hôn nhân pha trộn rất phức tạp. Cụ thể vua Charles hiện nay có ông bà là người Anh, người Đan Mạch, Đức, Hy Lạp và cả Scotland nữa. Còn nói về thể chế và các quy tắc họ tuân theo để bảo tồn một nhà nước có vua thì tất cả bắt đầu từ năm 1066. Năm đó, công tước Guillaume hay William từ xứ Normandy ở vùng bờ biển miền tây bắc nước Pháp đem quân sang đánh vua Harold, người gốc Đan Mạch, ở trận Hastings bên bờ biển và tiến quân về Luân Đôn, giành được ngai vàng Anh.  Từ đó, Anh chính thức có chế độ phong kiến tập quyền theo mô hình Pháp và các đời vua Anh (Kings of England), trên thực tế trong 300 năm tiếp theo vẫn dùng tiếng Pháp ở triều đình, tiếng Anh Trung đại (Middle English) chỉ dùng trong dân. Hoàng gia Anh thực chất là sinh hoạt theo kiểu Pháp và giới quý tộc Anglo-Saxon cũ, thường rất đơn giản, chỉ có ba cấp vua, các thân vương và tộc trưởng (chieftain, gọi là earl- sau đổi thành count-bá tước), cũng cải tổ theo hệ thống kiểu Pháp, đủ 5 tước vị : công - hầu - bá - tử - nam tước theo truyền thống hiệp sỹ (chivalry) của châu Âu. RFI : Trong thời hiện đại, khác với các nước châu Âu đã chuyển sang nền cộng hòa, Anh vẫn còn vua chúa và quý tộc. Vậy thực sự họ làm gì và có vai trò gì trong xã hội ?  TTV Nguyễn Giang : Nhiều nghi lễ ngày nay dòng họ Windsor vẫn giữ nguyên như thế từ thế kỷ 11 và Hoàng gia đứng đầu 600 dòng họ quý tộc gốc, hình thành sau cuộc xâm lăng của William, người chinh phục và được phong tước trong mấy thế kỷ sau đó. Đây là các tước quý tộc thực thụ của giới chúa đất vẫn còn quyền lợi (landed gentry), và được quyền trao lại cho con cháu họ (hereditary titles). Họ khác hẳn với những người bình thường, được tặng các tước sir, lord (baronnes), hiệp sĩ, quý ông quý bà trong danh sách của Hoàng gia công bố mỗi dịp năm mới (New Year's Honours List). Danh sách này có hàng trăm người thuộc giới doanh nhân, văn nghệ sĩ, nhà hoạt động xã hội và sĩ quan quân đội. Sau nhiều năm phong tặng, con số người có các tước “quý tộc ban thưởng” này hiện ở Anh có trên 30 nghìn, mới đây gồm cả cựu cầu thủ bóng đá David Beckham. Thế nhưng các tước này có giá trị như huân huy chương, bằng khen, và không có quyền thế tập, truyền lại cho con cháu.  RFI : Hiện nay Đế quốc Anh không còn nữa thì vai trò chính trị của Hoàng gia là gì?  TTV Nguyễn Giang : Anh quốc là nền dân chủ có lâu đời trên thế giới nhưng theo thể chế quân chủ lập hiến (constitutional monarchy), và vẫn duy trì Vương triều: dòng họ Windsor. Nhà vua đóng vai trò Nguyên thủ Quốc gia (Head of State) để đại diện cho nước Anh trên thế giới, và phê chuẩn các đạo luật, bổ nhiệm thủ tướng. Ngài cũng là Tổng tư lệnh quân đội và theo truyền thống của Quân đội Anh, các sĩ quan cao nhất của các quân binh chủng đều được nhà vua phong tước quý tộc tượng trưng, còn bản thân vua Charles khi còn là Thái tử được mẹ của ngài, Nữ hoàng Elizabeth II lúc sinh thời, phong tước Nguyên soái (Field Marshall) vào năm 2012. Không quân và Hải quân Anh đều có chữ “Hoàng gia” (Royal) và trên lý thuyết là thuộc về nhà vua.  Thế nhưng, vua Charles III còn có vai trò nữa là “người dẫn dắt quốc gia” (Head of Nation) về mặt văn hóa, là người nắm quyền chủ thể (the Sovereign) duy trì tính truyền thống Anh, và lễ nghi, đem lại sự ổn định và tính kế thừa, đoàn kết quốc dân. Các hoạt động vì cộng đồng, từ thiện nếu làm tốt là được nhận huân huy chương từ Hoàng gia, chứ không phải từ quan chức chính phủ.  RFI : Hoàng gia Anh, cụ thể là vua Charles III và các thành viên Hoàng gia có sở hữu tài sản khắp cả nước hay không và họ quản lý tài sản ra sao?  TTV Nguyễn Giang : Ở đây cần phân biệt hai loại tài sản. Loại thứ nhất tư dinh, điền sản và tiền bạc của riêng Nhà vua và Hoàng gia, thuộc về cá nhân họ. Loại thứ hai là tài sản của vương triều (Crown Estate) và ai làm vua nước Anh thì được sử dụng suốt đời nhưng không phải là tài sản cá nhân nên không thể bán đi bỏ túi.  Xin nói cụ thể, tính đến tháng 5/2025 thì tài sản riêng của Nhà vua Charles III (personal fortune, not including the crown estate) là £640 triệu bảng Anh (trên 850 triệu USD), đưa ông trở thành triệu phú lớn nhưng chưa phải tỷ phú. Đó là trị giá hai khu dinh thự ở Balmoral (Scotland) và Sandringham (Norfolk) kèm đất đai xung quanh, cộng các khoản nhà vua đầu tư vào các quỹ khác nhau, lợi tức từ kinh doanh mà vua giao cho các công ty phụ trách.  Còn tài sản Hoàng triều, gồm các cung điện lớn nhất nước Anh và cũng là trụ sở và nơi ở của vua như Điện Buckingham ở thủ đô và Lâu đài Windsor ở phía Tây Nam Luân Đôn, cùng nhiều điền trang thái ấp như Duchy of Cornwall...ước tính có giá trị 16 tỷ bảng Anh, thực chất là thuộc về Vương quốc Anh, và ai làm vua thì quản trị chứ không phải của riêng của dòng họ Windsor hiện nay. Lâu đài Windsor chẳng hạn có từ thời vua William người Pháp (1066), nay là trụ sở ngoài Luân Đôn của Vua Charles nhưng cũng là dinh thự quốc gia, nơi đón các khách quốc tế, ví dụ như Tổng thống Emmanuel Macron của Pháp mới đây. Ngoài ra, Crown Estate sở hữu và quản trị các “công quốc” (duchies), tức là các khu trang trại sản xuất nông nghiệp, đem lại lợi tức lớn. Tiền đó được chuyển vào một ngân hàng do chính phủ Anh quản lý (Consolidate Fund) và chừng 25% đem ra chi lại cho Hoàng gia để đi lại, bảo dưỡng, trùng tu các cung điện...  Thế nhưng, các tài sản này như đã nói, thuộc về Vương triều, và vua Anh không thể đem cho thuê, bán cho bất cứ ai ở Anh hay ở nước ngoài. Các hoàng tử, công chúa cũng không được hưởng gì từ những tài sản này. Ví dụ còn nhỏ thì họ được ở cùng cha mẹ, tức là vua và hoàng hậu (thời trước là nữ hoàng và phu quân) trong các cung điện đó nhưng họ không có quyền thừa kế. Chỉ vị trưởng nam, hoặc trưởng nữ (như trường hợp công chúa cả Elizabeth kế vị vua cha George V), thì được hưởng tiếp tục quyền lợi ở trong các cung điện, dinh thự này. Những người khác, vẫn là hoàng tử, công chúa thì có thể phải rời đi.  RFI : Về chi tiêu của Hoàng gia thì nhà nước Anh, hay người đóng thuế Anh phải bỏ ra bao nhiêu một năm?  TTV Nguyễn Giang : Số tiền Nhà nước Anh, chi cho hoạt động của nhà vua và Hoàng gia hàng năm là khoảng 86-87 triệu bảng (tương đương 115 triệu USD). Như tôi nói ở trên, tổng tài sản của Hoàng triều (Crown Estate) trị giá 16 tỷ bảng, đem lại lợi tức hàng năm và nhà nước Anh thu tiền đó lại rồi lấy ra 25% chi lại cho Hoàng gia, gọi là Sovereign Grant.  Trong khoản tiền này thì chừng 50-51 triệu bảng chủ yếu để bảo vệ, duy trì, sửa sang các dinh thự, cộng với chi phí đi lại, ví dụ vua Charles đi thăm nước nào đó, ở cương vị Nguyên thủ Quốc gia thì đó là chi phí máy bay, khách sạn... Ví dụ từ năm ngoái tới nay, Hoàng gia có thuê 55 chuyến bay riêng với gần 600.000 bảng Anh, và các chuyến bay theo lịch trình mất 126.000 bảng Anh. Tổng chi phí đi lại của hoàng gia là 4,7 triệu bảng Anh, tăng 500.000 bảng so với năm trước. Trong năm qua, khoản chi lớn nhất là 400.000 bảng cho chuyến đi của Nhà vua và Hoàng hậu tới Úc và Samoa. Nếu chia ra thì để duy trì các hoạt động của Hoàng gia, mỗi người dân Anh hàng năm đóng góp chừng 77 xu Anh.    RFI : Theo anh tìm hiểu thì nguyên tắc truyền ngôi và thừa kế tài sản, các cung điện, dinh thự lớn của Hoàng gia Anh ra sao?  TTV Nguyễn Giang : Phải nói rằng Hoàng gia Anh đứng trên cao nhất nhưng không đứng ngoài các nguyên tắc của quý tộc Anh : hạn chế quyền thừa kế, chỉ cho trưởng nam, hoặc trưởng nữ nếu vua không có con trai. Đây là nguyên tắc ‘primogeniture', nói rằng trừ một số biệt lệ với quý tộc Scotland cho con gái có quyền thừa kế, chỉ con trai trưởng được thừa kế gia sản đi kèm tước vị. Nếu nhà quý tộc có hai con trai trở lên, các con trai thứ sẽ không nhận được gì.  Với Hoàng gia Anh, khi Nữ hoàng Elizabeth còn sống thì Thái tử Charles là người duy nhất thừa kế ngai vàng cùng các điền sản, tiền bạc từ mẹ. Các hoàng tử thứ Andrew và Edward, cùng công chúa Anne bị loại ra ngoài khoản thừa kế. Nay thì vua Charles sẽ để lại hết cho Thái tử William, còn hoàng tử Harry thì ngoài các khoản tiền hay dinh thự tư nhân mẹ để lại, không được thừa kế cả quyền sống trong các lâu đài của Hoàng gia. Nay đã sang Mỹ sinh sống, vị Hoàng tử này đã trọ ở khách sạn trong lần gần nhất về Luân Đôn tham gia một vụ kiện chống lại báo chí Anh. Tất nhiên ta phải hiểu là Hoàng tử Harry như một công dân bình thường thì vẫn có quyền nhận thừa kế từ cha mẹ (Công nương Diana khi tử nạn năm 1997 ở Paris có để lại tài sản cho hai con trai, William và Harry), nhưng đó là tài sản cá nhân, còn các điền trang thái ấp thuộc Hoàng triều (Crown Estate) thì chỉ được trao cho trưởng nam, hoặc trưởng nữ nếu nhà vua không có con trai.  Nguyên tắc này còn phân biệt đối xử với phụ nữ. Với các công chúa Anh thì con của họ đều không còn tước quý tộc. Ví dụ hai con của Công chúa Anne, em gái Vua Charles, là Zara và Peter Philipps, thì mang họ cha, một sĩ quan quân đội không phải quý tộc. Xin mở ngoặc là điều này khiến Hoàng gia Anh khác hẳn với các dòng đế hệ của triều Nguyễn ở Việt Nam mà từ thời vua Minh Mạng đã để lại các tên riêng, đánh dấu địa vị quý phái của họ, gồm cả công tằng tôn nữ cho cháu chắt của vua chúa đến mấy đời sau. Bên này chỉ đến đời thứ hai, con của công chúa trưởng đã mất hết tước vị.  Chúng ta hiểu là thời xưa, nguyên tắc ưu tiên trưởng nam trong luật thừa kế của vua chúa có ý nghĩa lớn cho sự ổn định của triều đại. Họ hạn chế nạn phân phong đất đai, dẫn tới cạnh tranh kiểu sứ quân. Ngày nay, quy chế truyền ngôi chỉ cho trưởng nam đúng là bất công với anh em trong một nhà, nhưng lại giúp bảo toàn được uy quyền của Vương triều, không để xảy ra việc xé lẻ đất đai, cung điện và tài sản.  RFI : Cuối cùng, Hoàng gia làm gì để tồn tại và phù hợp với tình hình?  TTV Nguyễn Giang : Việc đầu tiên tôi thấy là tính minh bạch của tiền bạc Hoàng gia. Họ công bố hết mọi chi tiêu trên các trang mạng của Quốc hội, của Hoàng triều, ai cũng đọc được. Điều này nhằm mục tiêu chứng minh cho công chúng rằng Hoàng gia không phải là một bộ máy phong kiến « ăn trên ngồi trốc ». Họ đóng góp vào công quỹ và nhận được trợ cấp từ chính phủ để lo việc nước. Có thế họ mới tồn tại được trong một thể chế dân chủ. Vua cũng có trách nhiệm giải trình.  Thứ nhì, từ thời Nữ hoàng Elizabeth II thì số người thuộc Hoàng gia (Royal Family) đã bị giảm đi rất nhiều, để tránh tiếng là Hoàng gia đông quá. Ngày xưa, người trong Hoàng tộc, gồm hàng trăm người, và ai cũng giàu có, cao quý cả. Nhưng nay danh sách “thành viên Hoàng gia đang làm việc cho Quốc vương” (working royals) chỉ còn 11 đại diện cho vua để dự các lễ nhà nước, lo hoạt động đối ngoại, tiếp tân, từ thiện … Những người này được nhận tiền trợ cấp của vua khi làm việc chứ không ăn lương năm.  Còn về tài sản riêng, có những động tác cho thấy Hoàng gia cắt giảm chi tiêu. Ví dụ, năm nay vua Charles vừa ra lệnh dừng sử dụng đoàn tàu hỏa riêng từ năm 2027 để tiết kiệm. Đây là đoàn tàu Royal Train do Nữ hoàng Victoria đặt hàng hai toa riêng cho Hoàng gia vào năm 1869. Khi đó, xe lửa là phương tiện giao thông công cộng duy nhất nối các vùng của Anh, với tuyến đầu tiên xây xong năm 1825. Cho tới gần đây, Royal Train được sử dụng rộng rãi trong các sự kiện trong thời kỳ kỷ niệm vàng và kim cương của Nữ hoàng Elizabeth II ở nửa sau  thế kỷ 20 – và lần tân trang mới nhất cho các toa tàu diễn ra vào giữa thập niên 1980.  Thế nhưng càng về gần đây, Hoàng gia dùng xe hơi, máy bay, trực thăng để di chuyển, nên trong năm 2024-2025 đoàn tàu chỉ được sử dụng trong hai dịp nên họ quyết định từ năm 2027 sẽ dừng dịch vụ này, đem các toa tàu đi trưng bày.  Cuối cùng, như đã nói ở trên, nguyên tắc trưởng nam thế tập tước vị và điền sản, còn con trai thứ, con gái, dù là hoàng tử, công chúa đều bị loại hoàn toàn khỏi các chức vụ và đặc quyền đặc lợi, khiến cho công chúng cảm thấy là chỉ có một người được làm thái tử, làm vua, và đó là làm việc cho đất nước.  Tài sản của Hoàng triều là của nước Anh chứ không phải của riêng của vua, nữ hoàng, để rồi có bao nhiêu cung điện - di sản của quốc gia - lại đem chia nhau. Như đã nói ở trên, Hoàng tử Harry là không còn sống ở Anh, không làm việc đại diện cho Hoàng gia nữa thì không chỉ mất luôn tiền trợ cấp mà còn bị tước hết các chức vụ trong quân đội. Đây là thông điệp mạnh mẽ của vua Charles để chứng minh Hoàng gia đặt lên mức cao nhất công tác phụng sự quốc dân, chứ không bao giờ thiên vị con mình. 

Actor, writer, historian, and national treasure Sir Tony Robinson joins Matthew Harffy and Justin Hill on Rock, Paper, Swords! to talk about his first adult novel, House of Wolf — the opening volume in a bold new Anglo-Saxon trilogy.From his fascination with King Alfred the Great to how a tragic loss reshaped his creative life, Sir Tony discusses storytelling, optimism, and finding new purpose in his late seventies.

Today Tony is digging up the secrets of Sutton Hoo, England's iconic Anglo-Saxon royal burial site, with Professor Martin Carver, who led the 1980s excavations, and Laura Howarth, Archaeology and Engagement Manager at Sutton Hoo, National Trust. The 1939 dig by Basil Brown for landowner Edith Pretty, revealed the shape of a ship beneath a mound. It turned out to be a 7th-century royal ship burial filled with magnificent treasures: 'a poem written in objects', possibly belonging to King Rædwald. These included the now famous helmet and many other treasures originating from across Europe, Byzantium, and even as far as Sri Lanka.In the 1980s, Martin led further excavations, revealing a horse and warrior burial and even an execution cemetery, showing Sutton Hoo as an evolving political and spiritual landscape. Today excavations, in collaboration with Time Team, continue to reveal Sutton Hoo's secrets. As Laura says, “we'll never know everything about Sutton Hoo, but each generation can look at it with fresh eyes.”Hosted by Sir Tony Robinson | Instagram @sirtonyrobinson Producer: Melissa FitzGerald | X @melissafitzg With Professor Martin Carver | www.martincarver.com British archaeologist renowned for his work on early medieval Europe. After serving 15 years in the Royal Tank Regiment, Martin transitioned to archaeology, founding the Birmingham University Field Archaeology Unit. He was Professor of Archaeology at the University of York (1986–2008) and led major excavations at Sutton Hoo and Portmahomack. Martin also edited the journal Antiquity (2002–2012) and is a Fellow of the British Academy. Martin is a director of The Sutton Hoo Ship's Company, which aims to build a full-size and seaworthy replica of the Anglo-Saxon ship found in Mound 1 at Sutton Hoo | www.saxonship.orgLaura Howarth | www.nationaltrust.org.uk Archaeology and Engagement Manager at National Trust, Sutton Hoo in Suffolk, England. Laura combines archaeological expertise with public engagement, curating exhibitions, organising events, and managing educational activities to bring the site's rich history to life. Visit Sutton Hoo National Trust: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/suffolk/sutton-hoo Watch Time Team, Sutton Hoo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=risyQhRjwnw Follow us: Instagram @cunningcastpod | X @cunningcastpod | YouTube @cunningcast------- If you enjoy this podcast please do share it and leave us a rating or review. Thank you, Love Tony x Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join fairyologist Meri Dixon on the Fairy Whispering Podcast as she explores the fascinating world of fairies. From childhood encounters to historical beliefs from Anglo-Saxon times to today, Meri discusses how fairies reflect human fears, desires, and our connection to nature. She highlights the Fairy Investigation Society and the Fairy Census, showing that belief in fairies remains alive and meaningful. Meri invites listeners to reconsider their perceptions of these mystical beings and their role in our collective imagination. Whether you're a fairy enthusiast or new to the topic, this episode offers a fresh perspective on the enduring allure of fairies.You can tune in and find your own fairy connection. As Meri says, 'Life is wondrous. It's miraculous. So why can't there be fairies?'Show notes: www.thefairywhispering.comContact the podcast with your story: clairefairywhisperer@gmail.com✍️ Episode ReferencesFairy Investigation Societyhttps://www.fairyist.com/fairy-investigation-society/Fairy Censushttps://www.fairycensus.comRichard Firth Greenhttps://www.amazon.co.uk/Elf-Queens-Holy-Friars-2016-08-31/dp/B01N8UAEE9Diane Purkishttps://www.amazon.co.uk/Troublesome-Things-History-Fairies-Stories/dp/014028172X

Vinland, the mysterious place that may be somewhere in North America, and that players of Assassin's Creed Valhalla can explore in The Last Chapter, as a grand finale to the epic story. And story is the key word, because our evidence for Vikings in America comes from Norse sagas. What exactly do they tell us about Vinland and the Vikings in America? And how much can we trust these sources for historical fact?To help Matt Lewis separate saga fact from fiction, he's joined by Dr Brittany Schorn, a Director of Studies in Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic at the University of Cambridge.Echoes of History is a Ubisoft podcast, brought to you by History Hit. Watch these interviews and exclusive videos on our YouTube channel.Hosted by: Matt LewisEdited by: Robin McConnellProduced by: Robin McConnell, Matt LewisSenior Producer: Anne-Marie LuffProduction Manager: Beth DonaldsonExecutive Producers: Etienne Bouvier, Julien Fabre, Steve Lanham, Jen BennettMusic:Blood Red Sails by Sarah SchachnerTo The Next World by Sarah SchachnerIf you liked this podcast please subscribe, share, rate & review. Take part in our listener survey here.Tell us your favourite Assassin's Creed game or podcast episode at echoes-of-history@historyhit.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two of the most controversial philosophers working today, Nick Land and Aleksandr Dugin, join me for a discussion on liberalism and modernity. Both thinkers discuss the nature of liberalism and an ethnic manifestation of the Anglo-Saxon spirit, the nature of time, and what lies beyond postmodernism. Donate to the Whitleyville Church Construction Fund: https://www.whitleyvillechurch.com/donate Follow on: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-auron-macintyre-show/id1657770114 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3S6z4LBs8Fi7COupy7YYuM?si=4d9662cb34d148af Substack: https://auronmacintyre.substack.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuronMacintyre Gab: https://gab.com/AuronMacIntyre YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/c/AuronMacIntyre Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-390155 Odysee: https://odysee.com/@AuronMacIntyre:f Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/auronmacintyre/ Today's sponsors: Visit : https://www.christiancollegeguide.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We trace the evolution of European literature as it emerged from the medieval period. This episode covers the heroic sagas of the Anglo-Saxons and Norse, Dante's divine journey in the Inferno, the universal stage of Shakespeare, and the rise of the novel and individual consciousness during the Enlightenment. To unlock full access to all our episodes, consider becoming a premium subscriber on Apple Podcasts or Patreon. And don't forget to visit englishpluspodcast.com for even more content, including articles, in-depth studies, and our brand-new audio series and courses now available in our Patreon Shop!

The functional path of oneness is not an abstract unity but a lived encounter of utter dependence. Western thought, enslaved by the grammar of the Anglo-Saxons, treats the human as an individual: a self-contained atom, an object unto itself. It imagines freedom as isolation, and isolation as freedom. But this supposed independence becomes sterility: the atomized person, cut off from the Shepherd's breath, is lost in a sea of thorns, choked by its own irrelevance.True independence lies not in the language of atoms but in the biology of divine anatomies, in the irreducibility of God's living functions. The Semitic root does not define a solitary “one” but a functional, dependent, and connected one. Every creature is undoubtedly one, yet cannot sustain itself any more than a cell can live apart from the body.As the body cannot live without its head, the tree without the earth withers.The triliteral root—three consonants binding the Tree of Life to the Master who gives it breath—embodies this living unity. Each consonant functions only in relation to the others; none can speak alone. Like branches drawing life through hidden roots, utility flows from dependence on him, not autonomy.In this linguistic body, the Semitic scrolls convey the unity of divine oneness: connection without possession, coherence without control. To be yaḥid is to be fragile, dependent, and open without self-reference: the earthen vessel through which the breath of ha-ʾEḥad flows.Western language, by contrast, breeds an unconscious polytheism of the self. When every person becomes an independent atom, the world fills with gods. Each will asserts its own dominion; each word competes for sovereignty. Polytheism, at its base, is war: the multiplication of possessive wills in endless collision. The Lukan crowd becomes a pantheon of thorns, a battlefield of competing gods. The soil of faith is twisted into a field of confrontation, where the multitude gathers against the Lord and his Christ to suffocate the one who brings the life-giving breath of his instruction.Yet within that suffocating crowd stands the yaḥid, Jairus, whose “only daughter”—his yeḥidah—lies dying. His lineage collapses; his name withers. Yet in this desolation, he does not press or grasp; he kneels before the “one.” There, in the stillness of dependence, the breath returns, and the Shepherd that the cares of this life cannot choke breathes life into the earthen vessel that has ceased to strive.μονογενής (monogenes) / י־ח־ד (yod-ḥet-dalet) / و-ح-د (wāw-ḥāʾ-dāl)One and only; single of its kind; only-born; only, only one, solitary, unique.“She was his only one [יְחִידָה (yeḥidah)]; he had no other son or daughter.” (Judges 11:34 )Here יָחִיד (yaḥid) expresses the fragility of the earthen vessel. In verse 34, the human line rests upon a single, irreplaceable life. Jephthah's entire legacy depends on his yeḥidah; when she is offered, the limits of family and human continuity are laid bare. The father's grief, bound to his only daughter, exposes the futility of lineage and the inevitability of dependence on God. The yaḥid becomes the mirror through which the insufficiency of man encounters the sufficiency of God.“Deliver my life from the sword, my only one [יְחִידָתִי (yeḥidati)] from the power of the dog.” (Psalm 22:21) LXX 21David cries from the edge of annihilation. His yeḥidati (“my only one”) refers to his only life (nefeš). He stands surrounded by predators, stripped of every defense, holding nothing but the breath that God alone can sustain. In that setting, ha-yaḥid encounters ha-ʾEḥad; the singular human breath encounters the One God who gives it breath. The weakness of the individual, the threatened “only life”, is the functional context of י־ח־ד (yod-ḥet-dalet) where triliteral replaces human vulnerability with God's sufficiency.“Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am alone [יָחִיד (yaḥid)] and afflicted.” (Psalm 25:16 ) LXX 24Here, yaḥid is not emotional loneliness but martial isolation: the condition of a soldier or supplicant with no human ally, no support, no constituency. The psalmist is cut off from every network of defense; he stands as the yaḥid before ha-ʾEḥad. His solitude is not inward melancholy but strategic exposure. He is a man encircled and undone, left with no strength but God's. In that position, the oneness of God supplants the weakness of the individual, and dependence itself becomes the ground of divine action.“Rescue my life from their ravages, my only one [יְחִידָתִי (yeḥidati)] from the lions.” (Psalm 35:17) LXX 34The psalmist again names his life (nefeš) his yeḥidah: his one, irreplaceable self surrounded by devouring forces. This cry is not heroic but helpless; the yaḥid has no shield, no strength, no tribe. He stands as the fragile earthen vessel awaiting rescue from the ʾEḥad who alone grants and restores the breath of life.“They have taken their rabbis and monks as lords besides God and the Messiah, son of Mary; yet they were commanded to worship One God [إِلَـٰهًۭا وَاحِدًۭا (ʾilāhan wāḥidan)]. There is no god but he. Glory be to him above what they associate with him.” (Qurʾan, Surat al-Tawba سورة التوبة “The Repentance” 9:31)The yaḥid stands before al-Wāḥid as a fragile vessel, emptied of pretense, whose worth lies not in possession or inheritance but in exposure. To be yaḥid is to stand alone—not because one has chosen solitude, but because every other support has failed. It is the state of Jairus in Luke 8:42, David in Psalm 22:21, and Jephthah in Judges 11:34—each reduced to dependence, each holding a single, irreplaceable life before the one who gives it.Yet the religious mind, ancient and modern alike, mistakes the vessel for the seed. It clings to fleeting human breath instead of to the one who gives breath. This is what Qurʾan 9:31 exposes in its indictment of clericalism: those who mistake the earthen vessel, which passes away, for the words of God, which do not.This is also the folly of the crowds in Luke 8. They gather not to hear the divine instruction but to choke it—to smother the seed because it threatens their economy of possession. They are the ʿedah, the swarm around death. They handle Jesus like a toy, fascinated with what can be held, pressed, traded, and measured; they prefer the earthen vessel to the living seed. They worship the perishable container rather than the imperishable Word, the finite dust rather than הָאֶחָד (ha-ʾEḥad), the one from whom all life flows.But the yaḥid—the one left with nothing—sees through the mirage. Standing before al-Wāḥid, Jairus discovers that what endures is not clay but command. The earthen vessel passes away; but the Word of God abides forever.συμπνίγω (sympnigo)To press in so tightly that one can barely breathe; to crowd around or press hard against; to suffocate.“The one sown among the thorns, this is the one who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke [συμπνίγει (sympnigei)] the word, and it becomes unfruitful.” (Matthew 13:22)

Dr. Shockley healthy living: https://CoreHealthAdvantage.com/awk ——— Wavwatch, the World's first Sound Frequency Therapy watch: https://WAVwatch.com/awk ———— AT sea with LT. 2026. Caribbean: https://www.inspirationtravel.com/event/lt-caribbean-cruise-2026 ————————— *Our AWK Website: https://www.andweknow.com/ ➜ AWK Shirts and gifts: https://shop.andweknow.com/ ------- ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt comparing Christianity to a virus and claimed it was the root of antisemitism. “The Jews killed Christ” is fueling centuries of hatred. https://x.com/truthtroll_X/status/1972698836230619480 Ex-investment banker Catherine Austin Fitts: Digital ID—once linked to AI and programmable money—enables authorities to monitor, manipulate, and ultimately control every aspect of human behaviour. https://x.com/wideawake_media/status/1972920996236575116 “Over one million white children r by Pakistani Muslim men in the last few decades, but just wait until the Anglo-Saxon is no longer tolerant!” https://x.com/RealDonKeith/status/1972608308831047891 Comey never thought this would come out https://x.com/GeorgePapa19/status/1972563251390263300 ——  *DONATIONS SITE: https://bit.ly/2Lgdrh5 *Mail your gift to: And We Know 30650 Rancho California Rd STE D406-123 (or D406-126) Temecula, CA 92591 ➜ AWK Shirts and gifts: https://shop.andweknow.com/ ➜ Audio Bible https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/kjv/1John.3.16 Connect with us in the following ways: + DISCORD Fellows: https://discord.gg/kMt8R2FC4z

KIMCHI ONE - heal your body from the inside out. Visit: https://mybrightcore.com/andweknow and get 25% off with code: AWK Or call (888) 317-9941) for up to 50% off!INTVW: https://tinyurl.com/n3rrh9bk ——— New Spring Wellness Center: https://nad.newspringwellnesscenter.com/andweknow 573-577-3400 Video: https://shorturl.at/zpHUK  ———— AT sea with LT. 2026. Caribbean: https://www.inspirationtravel.com/event/lt-caribbean-cruise-2026 ————————— *Our AWK Website: https://www.andweknow.com/ ➜ AWK Shirts and gifts: https://shop.andweknow.com/ ------- ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt comparing Christianity to a virus and claimed it was the root of antisemitism. “The Jews killed Christ” is fueling centuries of hatred. https://x.com/truthtroll_X/status/1972698836230619480 Ex-investment banker Catherine Austin Fitts: Digital ID—once linked to AI and programmable money—enables authorities to monitor, manipulate, and ultimately control every aspect of human behaviour. https://x.com/wideawake_media/status/1972920996236575116 “Over one million white children r by Pakistani Muslim men in the last few decades, but just wait until the Anglo-Saxon is no longer tolerant!” https://x.com/RealDonKeith/status/1972608308831047891 Comey never thought this would come out https://x.com/GeorgePapa19/status/1972563251390263300 ——  *DONATIONS SITE: https://bit.ly/2Lgdrh5 *Mail your gift to: And We Know 30650 Rancho California Rd STE D406-123 (or D406-126) Temecula, CA 92591 ➜ AWK Shirts and gifts: https://shop.andweknow.com/ ➜ Audio Bible https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/kjv/1John.3.16 Connect with us in the following ways: + DISCORD Fellows: https://discord.gg/kMt8R2FC4z

What Are “Anglo-Saxon Tales”?“Anglo-Saxon” refers to the people who settled in what is now England from roughly the 5th to the 11th centuries (the Angles, the Saxons, the Jutes, etc.)Their tales are the stories, poems, myths, legends, riddles, and heroic narratives produced by or for those people mostly in Old English.Oral tradition was very important. Storytellers (often called scops) would recite or sing tales to an audience, sometimes accompanied by music (like lyres).Only a minority of people could read and write. When tales were written, it was usually by monks in monasteries. That means many stories survive today only because someone decided to write them down much later.

Preview: The origins of the UK involve many cultural incomers, including the earlier Anglo-Saxons and Romans. The Viking "great heathen army" (c. 865), referred to in Old Englishas micel here, should be understood as smaller, mobile war bands with various leaders. This structure allowed the Norseinvaders to utilize waterways, split their forces, and maintain the element of surprise, complicating defensive predictions. Retry

In this episode of Crazy Wisdom, host Stewart Alsop talks with Michel Bauwens, founder of the P2P Foundation, about the rise of peer-to-peer dynamics, the historical cycles shaping our present, and the struggles and possibilities of building resilient communities in times of crisis. The conversation moves through the evolution of the internet from Napster to Web3, the cultural shifts since 1968, Bauwens' personal experiences with communes and his 2018 cancellation, and the emerging vision of cosmolocalism and regenerative villages as alternatives to state and market decline. For more on Michel's work, you can explore his Substack at 4thgenerationcivilization.substack.com and the extensive P2P Foundation Wiki at wiki.p2pfoundation.net.Check out this GPT we trained on the conversationTimestamps00:00 Michel Bauwens explains peer-to-peer as both computer design and social relationship, introducing trans-local association and the idea of an anthropological revolution.05:00 Discussion of Web1, Web3, encryption, anti-surveillance, cozy web, and dark forest theory, contrasting early internet openness with today's fragmentation.10:00 Bauwens shares his 2018 cancellation, deplatforming, and loss of funding after a dispute around Jordan Peterson, reflecting on identity politics and peer-to-peer pluralism.15:00 The cultural shifts since 1968, the rise of identity movements, macro-historical cycles, and the fourth turning idea of civilizational change are unpacked.20:00 Memories of 1968 activism, communes, free love, hypergamy, and the collapse of utopian experiments, showing the need for governance and rules in cooperation.25:00 From communes to neo-Reichian practices, EST seminars, and lessons of human nature, Bauwens contrasts failed free love with lasting models like kibbutzim and Bruderhof.30:00 Communes that endure rely on transcendence, religious or ideological foundations, and Bauwens points to monasteries as models for resilience in times of decline.35:00 Cycles of civilization, overuse of nature, class divisions, and the threat of social unrest frame a wider reflection on populism, Eurasian vs Western models, and culture wars.40:00 Populism in Anglo vs continental Europe, social balance, Christian democracy, and the contrast with market libertarianism in Trump and Milei.45:00 Bauwens proposes cosmolocalism, regenerative villages, and bioregional alliances supported by Web3 communities like Crypto Commons Alliance and Ethereum Localism.50:00 Historical lessons from the Roman era, monasteries, feudal alliances, and the importance of reciprocity, pragmatic alliances, and preparing for systemic collapse.55:00 Localism, post-political collaboration, Ghent urban commons, Web3 experiments like Zuzalu, and Bauwens' resources: fortcivilizationsubstack.com and wiki.p2pfoundation.net.Key InsightsMichel Bauwens frames peer-to-peer not just as a technical design but as a profound social relationship, what he calls an “anthropological revolution.” Like the invention of writing or printing, the internet created trans-local association, allowing people across the globe to coordinate outside of centralized control.The conversation highlights the cycles of history, drawing from macro-historians and the “fourth turning” model. Bauwens explains how social movements rise, institutionalize, and collapse, with today's cultural polarization echoing earlier waves such as the upheavals of 1968. He sees our era as the end of a long cycle that began after World War II.Bauwens shares his personal cancellation in 2018, when posting a video about Jordan Peterson triggered accusations and led to deplatforming, debanking, and professional exclusion. He describes this as deeply traumatic, forcing him to rethink his political identity and shift his focus to reciprocity and trust in smaller, resilient networks.The episode revisits communes and free love experiments of the 1970s, where Bauwens lived for years. He concludes that without governance, rules, and shared transcendence, these communities collapse into chaos. He contrasts them with enduring models like the Bruderhof, kibbutzim, and monasteries, which rely on structure, ideology, or religion to survive.A major theme is populism and cultural polarization, with Bauwens distinguishing between Anglo-Saxon populism rooted in market libertarianism and continental populism shaped by Christian democratic traditions. The former quickly loses support by privileging elites, while the latter often maintains social balance through family and worker policies.Bauwens outlines his vision of cosmolocalism and regenerative villages, where “what's heavy is local, what's light is global.” He argues that bioregionalism combined with Web3 technologies offers a practical way to rebuild resilient communities, coordinate globally, and address ecological and social breakdown.Finally, the episode underscores the importance of pragmatic alliances across political divides. Bauwens stresses that survival and flourishing in times of systemic collapse depend less on ideology and more on reciprocity, concrete projects, and building trust networks that can outlast declining state and market systems.

From the kitchens of medieval Europe to the orchards of Anglo-Saxon England, the apple became far more than just a fruit. It was medicine, it was myth, it was ritual. In part two of our apple series, John and Patrick explore how crab apples were pressed into sharp, sour verjuice to season everything from pigs' feet to plague remedies, how Anglo-Saxon charms and midwinter wassailing blended Christianity with ancient fertility rites, and how monks carried apple cuttings—and their spiritual symbolism—across the continent. From the orchard-cemeteries of St. Gall to the fruit catalogues of Charlemagne, apples became embedded in the medieval imagination. And just as they took root in law codes, legends, and royal gardens, they also crept into the realm of story—appearing in myths of archers, kings, and poisoned fruit. Join John and Patrick as they uncover how the humble apple became a cornerstone of medieval life, belief, and lore…----------In Sponsorship with J&K Fresh.The customs broker who is your fruit and veggies' personal bodyguard. Learn more here!-----------Join the History of Fresh Produce Club for ad-free listening, bonus episodes, book discounts and access to an exclusive chatroom community.Support us!Share this episode with your friendsGive a 5-star ratingWrite a review -----------Subscribe to our biweekly newsletter here for extra stories related to recent episodes, book recommendations, a sneak peek of upcoming episodes and more.-----------Instagram, TikTok, Threads:@historyoffreshproduceEmail: historyoffreshproduce@gmail.com

In this week's episode of the Jewellers Academy Podcast, Jessica Rose talks with jeweller and community member Iain Sainsbury to explore his journey through the Advanced Stone Setting Masterclasses program, an advanced training series designed for jewellers ready to refine their fine jewellery and stone-setting skills.   Iain shares how he discovered jewellery-making after career burnout, and why the Masterclasses became the perfect next step in his learning. From tackling the challenges of piercing and decorative collets with Anelia Kuprina, to pushing his stone-setting skills further with Scott McIntyre, and making tiara wedding rings with April Dace, Iain reflects on the breakthroughs, struggles, and valuable lessons he's learnt along the way.   This conversation highlights not just the technical skills taught in the program, but also the importance of community, accountability, and feedback in the learning journey. Iain talks about his philosophy of 'slow making,' the benefits of creating prototypes, and how he has been able to transfer his new skills into his own sand-casting practice.   Whether you're curious about the Masterclasses, looking for inspiration to challenge yourself, or eager to hear from a fellow jeweller's perspective, this episode offers insights, encouragement, and practical takeaways.   Enrolment is now open for the Jewellers Masterclasses. Choose to enrol on one or save by buying the bundle.   Learn more and enrol https://www.jewellersacademy.com/masterclass   About Iain Iain Sainsbury creates his fine jewellery pieces from his studio in South Cambridgeshire where he specialises in one-of-a-kind pieces and bespoke commissions. He enjoys examining classic jewellery styles of the past, from Art Deco to Anglo-Saxon, and reimagining them. lain's favourite techniques include sandcasting and using gemstones and KeumBoo to highlight features and add colour. https://iainsainsbury.com/ @iains_jewellery     Watch Iain's episode of the Handmade Jewellers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLX9GHr9Rx4

Matt Lewis shifts the Gone Medieval spotlight from well-known Viking raiders and celebrated Anglo-Saxon kings to consider Æthelstan, an often overlooked yet crucial figure in British history. Æthelstan was the first monarch to unite the region that resembles modern England and to call himself King of the English. Matt is joined by David Woodman - author of The First King of England: Athelstan and the Birth of a Kingdom - for an in-depth exploration of Æthelstan's significance and legacy.MoreMurder in Anglo-Saxon EnglandThe Witan: England's First Parliament?Gone Medieval is presented by Matt Lewis. It was edited by Amy Haddow, the producers are Joseph Knight and Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.All music used is courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.Gone Medieval is a History Hit podcast.Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. You can take part in our listener survey here: https://uk.surveymonkey.com/r/6FFT7MK Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Broadcast from Île de Ré, we dive into France's mounting fiscal mess and political paralysis. With Macron a lame-duck, bond markets charging Paris more than Athens, and a nationwide strike looming, we ask: could Europe's cornerstone become its weakest link? We unpack France's towering state-and-semi-state debts, why Japan can print and Paris can't, the ECB's “will they/won't they” backstop if Le Pen takes power, and how a sovereignist turn could trigger a rewrite of France's constitution, goodbye Fifth Republic, hello Sixth. Along the way: Anglo-Saxon doom-mongering, De Gaulle's Jupiterian legacy, contagion math, and why life in “paradise” can still feel like purgatory. Big stakes, bigger history, and a very French cliff-hanger. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The First King of England: Æthelstan and the Birth of a Kingdom (Princeton University Press, 2025) by Professor David Woodman is a foundational biography of Æthelstan (d. 939), the early medieval king whose territorial conquests and shrewd statesmanship united the peoples, languages, and cultures that would come to be known as the “kingdom of the English.” In this panoramic work, Dr. Woodman blends masterful storytelling with the latest scholarship to paint a multifaceted portrait of this immensely important but neglected figure, a man celebrated in his day as much for his benevolence, piety, and love of learning as he was for his ambitious reign.Set against the backdrop of warring powers in early medieval Europe, The First King of England sheds new light on Æthelstan's early life, his spectacular military victories and the innovative way he governed his kingdom, his fostering of the church, the deft political alliances he forged with Europe's royal houses, and his death and enduring legacy. It begins with the reigns of Alfred the Great and Edward the Elder, Æthelstan's grandfather and father, describing how they consolidated and expanded the “kingdom of the Anglo-Saxons.” But it was Æthelstan who would declare himself the first king of all England when, in 927, he conquered the viking kingdom at York, required the submission of a Scottish king, and secured an annual tribute from the Welsh kings.Beautifully illustrated and breathtaking in scope, The First King of England is the most comprehensive, up-to-date biography of Æthelstan available, bringing a magisterial richness of detail to the life of a consequential British monarch whose strategic and political sophistication was unprecedented for his time. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

The First King of England: Æthelstan and the Birth of a Kingdom (Princeton University Press, 2025) by Professor David Woodman is a foundational biography of Æthelstan (d. 939), the early medieval king whose territorial conquests and shrewd statesmanship united the peoples, languages, and cultures that would come to be known as the “kingdom of the English.” In this panoramic work, Dr. Woodman blends masterful storytelling with the latest scholarship to paint a multifaceted portrait of this immensely important but neglected figure, a man celebrated in his day as much for his benevolence, piety, and love of learning as he was for his ambitious reign.Set against the backdrop of warring powers in early medieval Europe, The First King of England sheds new light on Æthelstan's early life, his spectacular military victories and the innovative way he governed his kingdom, his fostering of the church, the deft political alliances he forged with Europe's royal houses, and his death and enduring legacy. It begins with the reigns of Alfred the Great and Edward the Elder, Æthelstan's grandfather and father, describing how they consolidated and expanded the “kingdom of the Anglo-Saxons.” But it was Æthelstan who would declare himself the first king of all England when, in 927, he conquered the viking kingdom at York, required the submission of a Scottish king, and secured an annual tribute from the Welsh kings.Beautifully illustrated and breathtaking in scope, The First King of England is the most comprehensive, up-to-date biography of Æthelstan available, bringing a magisterial richness of detail to the life of a consequential British monarch whose strategic and political sophistication was unprecedented for his time. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history

The First King of England: Æthelstan and the Birth of a Kingdom (Princeton University Press, 2025) by Professor David Woodman is a foundational biography of Æthelstan (d. 939), the early medieval king whose territorial conquests and shrewd statesmanship united the peoples, languages, and cultures that would come to be known as the “kingdom of the English.” In this panoramic work, Dr. Woodman blends masterful storytelling with the latest scholarship to paint a multifaceted portrait of this immensely important but neglected figure, a man celebrated in his day as much for his benevolence, piety, and love of learning as he was for his ambitious reign.Set against the backdrop of warring powers in early medieval Europe, The First King of England sheds new light on Æthelstan's early life, his spectacular military victories and the innovative way he governed his kingdom, his fostering of the church, the deft political alliances he forged with Europe's royal houses, and his death and enduring legacy. It begins with the reigns of Alfred the Great and Edward the Elder, Æthelstan's grandfather and father, describing how they consolidated and expanded the “kingdom of the Anglo-Saxons.” But it was Æthelstan who would declare himself the first king of all England when, in 927, he conquered the viking kingdom at York, required the submission of a Scottish king, and secured an annual tribute from the Welsh kings.Beautifully illustrated and breathtaking in scope, The First King of England is the most comprehensive, up-to-date biography of Æthelstan available, bringing a magisterial richness of detail to the life of a consequential British monarch whose strategic and political sophistication was unprecedented for his time. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts.

The First King of England: Æthelstan and the Birth of a Kingdom (Princeton University Press, 2025) by Professor David Woodman is a foundational biography of Æthelstan (d. 939), the early medieval king whose territorial conquests and shrewd statesmanship united the peoples, languages, and cultures that would come to be known as the “kingdom of the English.” In this panoramic work, Dr. Woodman blends masterful storytelling with the latest scholarship to paint a multifaceted portrait of this immensely important but neglected figure, a man celebrated in his day as much for his benevolence, piety, and love of learning as he was for his ambitious reign.Set against the backdrop of warring powers in early medieval Europe, The First King of England sheds new light on Æthelstan's early life, his spectacular military victories and the innovative way he governed his kingdom, his fostering of the church, the deft political alliances he forged with Europe's royal houses, and his death and enduring legacy. It begins with the reigns of Alfred the Great and Edward the Elder, Æthelstan's grandfather and father, describing how they consolidated and expanded the “kingdom of the Anglo-Saxons.” But it was Æthelstan who would declare himself the first king of all England when, in 927, he conquered the viking kingdom at York, required the submission of a Scottish king, and secured an annual tribute from the Welsh kings.Beautifully illustrated and breathtaking in scope, The First King of England is the most comprehensive, up-to-date biography of Æthelstan available, bringing a magisterial richness of detail to the life of a consequential British monarch whose strategic and political sophistication was unprecedented for his time. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/european-studies

The First King of England: Æthelstan and the Birth of a Kingdom (Princeton University Press, 2025) by Professor David Woodman is a foundational biography of Æthelstan (d. 939), the early medieval king whose territorial conquests and shrewd statesmanship united the peoples, languages, and cultures that would come to be known as the “kingdom of the English.” In this panoramic work, Dr. Woodman blends masterful storytelling with the latest scholarship to paint a multifaceted portrait of this immensely important but neglected figure, a man celebrated in his day as much for his benevolence, piety, and love of learning as he was for his ambitious reign.Set against the backdrop of warring powers in early medieval Europe, The First King of England sheds new light on Æthelstan's early life, his spectacular military victories and the innovative way he governed his kingdom, his fostering of the church, the deft political alliances he forged with Europe's royal houses, and his death and enduring legacy. It begins with the reigns of Alfred the Great and Edward the Elder, Æthelstan's grandfather and father, describing how they consolidated and expanded the “kingdom of the Anglo-Saxons.” But it was Æthelstan who would declare himself the first king of all England when, in 927, he conquered the viking kingdom at York, required the submission of a Scottish king, and secured an annual tribute from the Welsh kings.Beautifully illustrated and breathtaking in scope, The First King of England is the most comprehensive, up-to-date biography of Æthelstan available, bringing a magisterial richness of detail to the life of a consequential British monarch whose strategic and political sophistication was unprecedented for his time. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The First King of England: Æthelstan and the Birth of a Kingdom (Princeton University Press, 2025) by Professor David Woodman is a foundational biography of Æthelstan (d. 939), the early medieval king whose territorial conquests and shrewd statesmanship united the peoples, languages, and cultures that would come to be known as the “kingdom of the English.” In this panoramic work, Dr. Woodman blends masterful storytelling with the latest scholarship to paint a multifaceted portrait of this immensely important but neglected figure, a man celebrated in his day as much for his benevolence, piety, and love of learning as he was for his ambitious reign.Set against the backdrop of warring powers in early medieval Europe, The First King of England sheds new light on Æthelstan's early life, his spectacular military victories and the innovative way he governed his kingdom, his fostering of the church, the deft political alliances he forged with Europe's royal houses, and his death and enduring legacy. It begins with the reigns of Alfred the Great and Edward the Elder, Æthelstan's grandfather and father, describing how they consolidated and expanded the “kingdom of the Anglo-Saxons.” But it was Æthelstan who would declare himself the first king of all England when, in 927, he conquered the viking kingdom at York, required the submission of a Scottish king, and secured an annual tribute from the Welsh kings.Beautifully illustrated and breathtaking in scope, The First King of England is the most comprehensive, up-to-date biography of Æthelstan available, bringing a magisterial richness of detail to the life of a consequential British monarch whose strategic and political sophistication was unprecedented for his time. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/british-studies

Hobbits are curious creatures. Simple taste, a love of “good tilled earth” and yet surprisingly courageous. And according to Dr. Christopher Snyder, they might hold the key to living the good life.This week, I had a delightful conversation with Dr. Snyder, medieval historian, Tolkien scholar, and author of Hobbit Virtues: Rediscovering Virtue Ethics Through J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.Chris's work as an academic intersects history, philosophy, and storytelling and even has taken him to the hallowed halls of Oxford University - Tolkien's alma mater.A few highlights from our conversation:Why Hobbit Virtues?Chris began writing this book in the aftermath of the 2016 election, during a time of cultural division. His thesis: virtue ethics can cut through polarization.By focusing on virtues like courage, humility, sacrifice, and friendship, we can find common ground. Chris argues Tolkien's writings are full of timeless virtues embodied in hobbits, elves, and men.Fellowship as a VirtueFriendship is something of a hot topic right now at Geeky Stoics. Chris didn't shy away from the controversy, arguing:* Tolkien modeled his Fellowship of the Ring partly on the Arthurian Round Table and partly on his own experiences at Oxford, where “fellowship” literally meant scholars eating, drinking, and learning together.* Unlike utilitarian philosophy (the greatest good for the greatest number), Tolkien's heroes make personal, sometimes costly, choices rooted in courage. Aragorn choosing to save Merry and Pippin instead of chasing Frodo isn't “efficient,” but it's the right thing to do.* Chris ties this back to our modern loneliness crisis. Where Aristotle emphasized the polis (the city), Tolkien and Lewis remind us that the quality of our friendships and fellowships challenge us to be our best selves.Heroism: The Anglo-Pagan and Christian EthicAnother fascinating insight: Tolkien blended ancient pagan heroic traditions with Christian ethics.* The “barbarian ethos” of the Vikings and Anglo-Saxons valued courage even when hope was lost.* Christianity introduced something radical: hope not reserved for emperors or warriors, but for the meek, the humble, and the forgotten.* Tolkien fused these in his hobbits: ordinary folk who, precisely because of their humility, are capable of great virtue.As Chris put it, when Aragorn bows before the hobbits at his coronation, that's Peter Jackson's interpretation of Tolkien's ideal of kingship - ensuring Frodo and company “bow to no one.”So What?At Geeky Stoics, we've often said that pop culture stories are modern myths, our entry point for Western philosophy. Chris reminds us that this wasn't accidental. Tolkien (like Lewis, like Lucas) used storytelling as a vessel for telling a greater truth.We remember Qui-Gon's line, “Your focus determines your reality” more than reading a philosophy textbook; we remember Sam carrying Frodo, or Obi-Wan telling Anakin, “You were my brother.”Stories shape our moral imagination.I'll end this where Chris began our conversation:“The elucidation of truth, and the encouragement of good morals in this real world, by the ancient device of exemplifying them in unfamiliar embodiments, that may tend to ‘bring them home.”-J.R.R. TolkienMTFBWY, -Riley This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.geekystoics.com/subscribe

Edward the Confessor, England's penultimate Anglo-Saxon king, has long been remembered as a saintly, pious monarch – but was he really the weak ruler whose indecision paved the way for the Norman Conquest that some historical sources would have us think? And if not, how should we understand him? Emily Briffett spoke to historian Tom Licence to explore the life of this medieval monarch – from his early years in exile and his ambitions for the crown to the subsequent political challenges he faced that ultimately shaped the fate of England. The HistoryExtra podcast is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This episode I wanted to look back at where we have been from the perspective of the high-water mark of Anglo-Saxon history that was the reign of Edgar. In this retrospective analysis, I want to consider some aspects of ‘history from below' that were not focused on as much in earlier episodes, specifically the economic base of society, slavery, and the position of women in Anglo-Saxon society. Credits – Music: 'Wælheall' by Hrōðmund Wōdening https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQfdqIyqJ4g&list=LL&index=5&ab_channel=Hr%C5%8D%C3%B0mundW%C5%8Ddening Social Media - Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/anglosaxonengland Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Anglo-Saxon-England-Podcast-110529958048053 Twitter: https://twitter.com/EnglandAnglo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anglosaxonenglandpodcast/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzyGUvYZCstptNQeWTwfQuA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

1) Is capital punishment a tool to fight sin and crime?2) If we have the death penalty for murder, why do we not also execute adulterers, homosexuals, and Sabbath violators as taught in the Old Testament?3) Can you explain the use of "day" and "night" in Revelation 4:8, 7:15, 12:10, and 21:25?4) Why did God choose so many morally bankrupt people as mediums for His message?5) Why do you believe that the Anglo Saxon nations are not the ten lost tribes of Israel?6) Does not the great pyramid of Giza fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah 19:19?

“This is a sea that will take your life,” says Matthew Hollis in this week's episode of The World in Time. “This is the cruel sea. This is the hard sea. And it takes extraordinary skill and good luck to survive it. But we come quickly to realize in this poem that actually there is a different kind of allegorical turmoil within as well. It's one of the things that makes this poem so compelling, it seems to me, because it does have ideas about moral choices, and it does have ideas about belonging that seem as important today as they were then. One of the great things that strikes me with the great parts of the Anglo-Saxon opus is how modern it feels—or rather, to put it a different way, how timeless the cares and concerns and worries of human beings can be. Some of the fears about loneliness, some of the fears about pain, some of the worries about doubt, about making a good life or the life of right choosing, are issues that trouble us in exactly the same way, or challenge us in exactly the same way, as they did this sailor.” This week on the podcast, Donovan Hohn speaks with poet Matthew Hollis about his new translation of The Seafarer, about the world from which this mysterious tenth-century Anglo-Saxon poem emerged, about the history of the poem's improbable survival, and about its rediscovery by the Romantics and the Modernists. Into the conversation the episode weaves audio samples from different translations and different recordings, including one made by Lewis Lapham, another by Ezra Pound, and a third by Matthew Hollis himself.

The Underworld is the place where you broke bread with Baba Yaga, made peace with limit, were fed small scraps of meat by crows when you needed it the most. It's the deep dip in a myth, the katabasis, the descent, the mischievous, startling bewilderment of irrational energies. Logic has little traction at such a moment. Successful returnees of the Underworld are Blake, Anna Swir, Patti Smith, Elie Wiesel. Sometimes we make these journeys alone, sometimes as a culture.My petition is that we accept the challenge of uncertainty. As a matter of personal style. It's the right thing to do. It's what the Anglo-Saxons called “living in the bone-house.” We get older, we find life is riven with weirdness. We should be weird too. To know, tell, and create stories is a wondrous skill that keeps faith with the traditional and beauteous techniques our ancestors used when faced with the sudden mists and tripwires of living. —Martin Shaw

The beautiful and historic North East England offers visitors dramatic scenery, centuries of history, and friendly locals in a region filled with special places to explore.• North East England includes the stunning Northumberland coast, Newcastle, Durham, Hadrian's Wall and Holy Island• Alex Iles of Iles Tours brings the region's past to life through storytelling and archaeology• Archaeological findings reveal that Hadrian's Wall wasn't just a barrier but facilitated trade and cultural exchange• The ancient Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Northumbria covered a vast territory from Liverpool to the Scottish borders• Northumberland has more castles than any other English county due to 300 years of border warfare• The North East was once a major coal-producing region, generating 19% of Britain's coal in Victorian times• Alex offers various tour options including Roman history, Anglo-Saxon heritage, prehistoric sites and medieval castles• Tours can be customized for different accessibility needs and interests• The east coast of Britain is surprisingly dry but often windy – bring appropriate layers• Summer visitors benefit from extended daylight hours with light from 5am until 10pmListeners of the UK Travel Planning Podcast can receive a 10% discount on Iles Tours by using the code UKTP10 when booking directly through the website www.ilestours.co.uk or via email (for tours in 2025).⭐️ Guest - Alex Iles from Iles Tours

Patreon Series: Context of a ConquestEpisode 173: Eadric the WildThis tale is one of alliance, defiance, and no small amount of grit. We're headed to the borderlands in this episode. Eadric of Herefordshire and Shropshire teams up with Welsh princes in a last-ditch effort to push back the Norman tide. Anglo-Saxon resistance isn't dead—not yet. And in the shadowy woods and rugged hills, a fragile hope still flickers.[Fits nicely between public Episodes 76 and 77.]NOTE: Any mispronunciation of Welsh names is entirely due to my Midwestern 'Merican accent. I hope I can bring respect through the attempt, but I'm afraid my attempts may be so bad it's in fact disrespectful. Forgive me. :)No More Paywalls! How?If you believe in what's happening here – bringing our shared history to life, warts and all, free to the public with absolutely no more paywalls…ever…please consider donating to my caffeine-mediated research and writing through the website/app Buy Me A Coffee! With opportunities for one-time donations and even a monthly donation plan, you can voluntarily contribute to the continuation of this show. I would be eternally grateful!Social Media:YouTube: Fortune's Wheel PodcastMeta: https://www.facebook.com/fortunes.wheel.3 X: https://twitter.com/WheelPodcastBuy Me A Coffee!Music:“Beyond Time” by Danijel Zambo Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/danijel-zambo/beyond-timeLicense code: 8TGHY8YXD5D73OVH

In this thought-provoking episode of The Mel K Show, I am joined by my friend and brilliant historian, Matt Ehret, to discuss an upcoming summit that could have profound global significance. Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin are set to meet in Alaska, and Matt brings his deep geopolitical and historical insight to unpack what this means for both the United States and the world. We start by exploring why Alaska was chosen as the location. As Matt explains, this choice carries powerful symbolic meaning. Alaska has been at the crossroads of pivotal historical struggles, serving as both a strategic gateway and a contested territory in the global balance of power. From its purchase in the 19th century to its role in Cold War strategy, the Arctic region has shaped alliances, trade, and security. But there is also a darker side to the story. Matt brings attention to the controversial statue of Albert Pike, a Confederate general with deep ties to secret societies and subversive networks that have influenced American history. Drawing on the work of historian Anton Chaitkin, Matt traces Pike's connections to the early American deep state, linking him to forces that have long sought to undermine the republic from within. These connections extend to the creation of Skull and Bones, the Wall Street power structure, and the later formation of the CIA and FBI. From there, we move into the larger geopolitical context. The Trump-Putin meeting comes at a time when old imperial structures, what Matt calls the “Anglo-Saxon world empire,” are in decline. This summit could be an opportunity to move toward a more cooperative and multipolar order, one that rejects perpetual conflict in favor of mutual respect and shared prosperity. Matt and I discuss the historical examples of successful diplomacy that changed the trajectory of world events, as well as the dangers of ignoring history's lessons. We talk about the role of narrative control, the rewriting of history to serve entrenched powers, and why it is so important for the American people to understand the true roots of our national challenges. Here is what you will learn in this episode: The symbolic and strategic importance of Alaska as the summit location The hidden history behind Albert Pike and his influence on American power structures How deep state networks have operated from the nation's founding to the present Why the Trump-Putin meeting could signal a shift in global power dynamics The role of historical truth in shaping a better future for the United States and the world This is more than a conversation about current events. It is a reminder that history is alive, and the decisions made today will shape the world our children inherit. By understanding the past, we can navigate the present with wisdom and clarity. Matt Ehret's research and analysis shine a light on the deeper currents beneath the headlines, giving us the tools to see beyond the surface and recognize the forces that truly shape our world. Learn more about Matt Ehret and his work: https://canadianpatriot.org https://risingtidefoundation.net https://matthewehret.substack.com https://x.com/ehret_matthew

The forests of Britain and Ireland not only fuelled their indigenous populations, but also the Romans, Anglo Saxons, Vikings and Normans. Tonight, Éanna chats to biologist Jonathan Mullard, who is the author of a recently published book entitled 'Forgotten Forests: Twelve Thousand Years of British and Irish Woodlands'

Stefan Collini, FBA. Professor Emeritus of Intellectual History and English Literature, University of Cambridge.The Donald Winch Lectures in Intellectual History.University of St Andrews. 11th, 12th & 13th October 2022.In the course of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, universities expanded to include a wide range of what came to be regarded as academic ‘disciplines'. In Britain, the study of ‘English literature' was eventually to become one of the biggest and most popular of these subjects, yet it was in some ways an awkward fit: not obviously susceptible to the ‘scientific' treatment considered the hallmark of a scholarly discipline, it aroused a kind of existential commitment in many of those who taught and studied it. These lectures explore some of the ways in which these tensions worked themselves out in the last two hundred years, drawing on a wide range of sources to understand the aspirations invested in the subject, the resistance that it constantly encountered, and the distinctive forms of enquiry that came to define it. In so doing, they raise larger questions about the changing character of universities, the peculiar cultural standing of ‘literature', and the conflicting social expectations that societies have entertained towards higher education and specialized scholarship.Handout - Lecture 3: Syllabuses1. ‘“English”, including Anglo-Saxon and Middle English along with modern English, including what we ordinarily call the “dull” periods as well as the “great” ones, is an object more or less presented to us by nature.'2. ‘In the 1880s, an exciting duel between two great publishing houses brought the price of the rival National and World Libraries (Cassell's and Routledge's, respectively) down to 3d in paper and 6d in cloth. And not only were prices cut: the selection of titles was greatly enlarged, the old standbys - Milton, Pope, Cowper, Thomson, Burns, Goldsmith, and the rest - being joined by many other authors who had seldom or ever appeared in cheap editions.'3. ‘Sir John Denham (1615-1668) is familiar from the oft-quoted couplet in his poem of Cooper's Hill, the measured and stately versification of which has been highly praised. He died an old man in the reign of Charles II, with a mind clouded by the sudden loss of his young wife, whom he had married late in life. John Cleveland (1613-1659), author of the Rebel Scot and certain vigorous attacks on the Protector, was the earliest poetical champion of royalty. Butler is said to have adopted the style of his satires in Hudibras. Colonel Richard Lovelace (1618-1658) ....'4. ‘Poetry: More advanced poems from Chaucer (e.g. The Prologue), Shakespeare, Spenser, Milton, Pope, Wordsworth, Tennyson, or from selections such as The Golden Treasury; Shakespeare, (Histories, Comedies or easier Tragedies). Prose: Plutarch's Lives, Kinglake, Eothen, Borrow, Lavengro, Ruskin, Sesame and Lilies, Frowde [sic; ?Froude], selected short studies, Modern prose Comedies (e.g. Goldsmith and Sheridan), Selections from British Essayists (e.g. Addison, Lamb, Goldsmith), Macaulay, Essays or selected chapters from The History.'5. ‘In the 1930s favourite Higher Certificate set books and authors among the various Boards include: The Faerie Queene, Marlowe's Faustus, Bacon's essays, Sidney's Apologie for Poetrie, Hakluyt, The New Atlantis, Shakespeare, Chaucer, Milton, Lamb, Carlyle, Pope, Dryden, Scott and the Romantic poets. These texts and authors changed hardly at all between 1930 and 1950 (and represent a very similar situation to that of 1900-1910).'6. ‘An Honours Degree in English Language and Literature at present entails, in every University in England, some knowledge both of Latin or Greek at the outset, and of Old English later.' This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit standrewsiih.substack.com

Following Edgar's death, we enter into what would be one of the most turbulent periods of Anglo-Saxon history which would see murder, renewed Viking activity, and invasion bring England to its knees. It all began with a dispute over the succession. Credits – Music: 'Wælheall' by Hrōðmund Wōdening https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQfdqIyqJ4g&list=LL&index=5&ab_channel=Hr%C5%8D%C3%B0mundW%C5%8Ddening Social Media - Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/anglosaxonengland Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Anglo-Saxon-England-Podcast-110529958048053 Twitter: https://twitter.com/EnglandAnglo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anglosaxonenglandpodcast/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzyGUvYZCstptNQeWTwfQuA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matthew Hollis has reworked the classic Anglo-Saxon poem The Seafarer into a poem desperately relevant for our times: in a society threatened by climate change and the coming-loose of social bonds, Hollis invites us to hear, as the Anglo-Saxons did, the spirit music of land, wind and sea. Hollis's text is one half of a collaborative project with the photographer Norman McBeath, who was at the shop with Hollis to present and talk about their work. The discussion was chaired by Sara Hudston of Hazel Press. Find more events at the Bookshop: https://lrb.me/eventspod

The Sutton Hoo helmet featured a distinctive full-face design, including a nose, eyebrows, and moustache, as well as decorative panels showing scenes of warriors and ...

We wrap up our look at possibly the greatest of all Anglo-Saxon monarchs. Credits – Music: 'Wælheall' by Hrōðmund Wōdening https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQfdqIyqJ4g&list=LL&index=5&ab_channel=Hr%C5%8D%C3%B0mundW%C5%8Ddening Social Media - Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/anglosaxonengland Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Anglo-Saxon-England-Podcast-110529958048053 Twitter: https://twitter.com/EnglandAnglo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anglosaxonenglandpodcast/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzyGUvYZCstptNQeWTwfQuA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

World War II endures in the popular imagination as a heroic struggle between good and evil, with villainous Hitler driving its events. But Hitler was not in power when the conflict erupted in Asia—and he was certainly dead before it ended. His armies did not fight in multiple theaters, his empire did not span the Eurasian continent, and he did not inherit any of the spoils of war. That central role belonged to Joseph Stalin. The Second World War was not Hitler's war; it was Stalin's war. Drawing on ambitious new research in Soviet, European, and US archives, Stalin's War: A New History of World War II (Basic Books, 2021) by award winning historian, Sean McMeekin, Professor of History at Bard College, revolutionizes our understanding of this global conflict by moving its epicenter to the east. Hitler's genocidal ambition may have helped unleash Armageddon, but as McMeekin shows, the war which emerged in Europe in September 1939 was the one Stalin wanted, not Hitler. So, too, did the Pacific war of 1941–1945 fulfill Stalin's goal of unleashing a devastating war of attrition between Japan and the “Anglo-Saxon” capitalist powers he viewed as his ultimate adversary. McMeekin also reveals the extent to which Soviet Communism was rescued by the US and Britain's self-defeating strategic moves, beginning with Lend-Lease aid, as American and British supply boards agreed almost blindly to every Soviet demand. Stalin's war machine, McMeekin shows, was substantially reliant on American materiél from warplanes, tanks, trucks, jeeps, motorcycles, fuel, ammunition, and explosives, to industrial inputs and technology transfer, to the foodstuffs which fed the Red Army. This unreciprocated American generosity gave Stalin's armies the mobile striking power to conquer most of Eurasia, from Berlin to Beijing, for Communism. A groundbreaking reassessment of the Second World War, Stalin's War is revisionist history at its very best: breaking down old paradigms and narratives and bringing to the fore new understandings of the historical process. All from a historian who has the best claim to be the closest, modern-day American equivalent of A. J. P. Taylor. Charles Coutinho Ph. D. of the Royal Historical Society, received his doctorate from New York University. His area of specialization is 19th and 20th-century European, American diplomatic and political history. He has written for Chatham House's International Affairs, the Institute of Historical Research's Reviews in History and the University of Rouen's online periodical Cercles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

In the pantheon of great cruciverbalists, there clearly needs to be a pedestal with Erik Agard's name on it. Why? Just check out today's crossword (and podcast!), or any of Erik's 81 other crosswords that have appeared in the NYTimes. This one being a Saturday, it was tough -- and Mike found it almost streak-breakingly-so, whereas Jean, to whom people are apt to turn when Wikipedia doesn't deliver the goods, had a much easier time of it. Deets inside!Show note imagery: An AIREDALETERRIER (from the Anglo-Saxon for "awwwwwww, so cute").We love feedback! Send us a text...Contact Info:We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com.Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!

World War II endures in the popular imagination as a heroic struggle between good and evil, with villainous Hitler driving its events. But Hitler was not in power when the conflict erupted in Asia—and he was certainly dead before it ended. His armies did not fight in multiple theaters, his empire did not span the Eurasian continent, and he did not inherit any of the spoils of war. That central role belonged to Joseph Stalin. The Second World War was not Hitler's war; it was Stalin's war. Drawing on ambitious new research in Soviet, European, and US archives, Stalin's War: A New History of World War II (Basic Books, 2021) by award winning historian, Sean McMeekin, Professor of History at Bard College, revolutionizes our understanding of this global conflict by moving its epicenter to the east. Hitler's genocidal ambition may have helped unleash Armageddon, but as McMeekin shows, the war which emerged in Europe in September 1939 was the one Stalin wanted, not Hitler. So, too, did the Pacific war of 1941–1945 fulfill Stalin's goal of unleashing a devastating war of attrition between Japan and the “Anglo-Saxon” capitalist powers he viewed as his ultimate adversary. McMeekin also reveals the extent to which Soviet Communism was rescued by the US and Britain's self-defeating strategic moves, beginning with Lend-Lease aid, as American and British supply boards agreed almost blindly to every Soviet demand. Stalin's war machine, McMeekin shows, was substantially reliant on American materiél from warplanes, tanks, trucks, jeeps, motorcycles, fuel, ammunition, and explosives, to industrial inputs and technology transfer, to the foodstuffs which fed the Red Army. This unreciprocated American generosity gave Stalin's armies the mobile striking power to conquer most of Eurasia, from Berlin to Beijing, for Communism. A groundbreaking reassessment of the Second World War, Stalin's War is revisionist history at its very best: breaking down old paradigms and narratives and bringing to the fore new understandings of the historical process. All from a historian who has the best claim to be the closest, modern-day American equivalent of A. J. P. Taylor. Charles Coutinho Ph. D. of the Royal Historical Society, received his doctorate from New York University. His area of specialization is 19th and 20th-century European, American diplomatic and political history. He has written for Chatham House's International Affairs, the Institute of Historical Research's Reviews in History and the University of Rouen's online periodical Cercles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/military-history

What happens when centuries of British history meet thousands of Lego bricks? In this special interview, I'm joined by author Andrew Redfern, the creator of "Minifigure Monarchs: A History of Great Brits in Little Bricks" — an exciting new book that tells the story of British monarchs through brilliant Lego creations. We chat about Andy's love of history, how this creative project came about, what it's like recreating iconic historic scenes in Lego, and of course, his favourite monarchs and builds! From the Anglo-Saxons to the Windsors, this is history like you've never seen it before — colourful, creative, and completely brick-tastic. Find out more about the book and support Andy's Kickstarter project:  https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/minifiguremonarchs/minifigure-monarchs Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more interviews and fascinating Tudor content!   #LEGOHistory #MinifigureMonarchs #LEGOArt #BritishMonarchy #KickstarterProject #ClaireRidgway #HistoryBookLaunch #LEGOCollectors #HistoricalLEGO #TudorHistory #HistoryNerdsUnite #CreativeHistory #LEGODesign

Today's poem comes from the largest surviving trove of Anglo Saxon poetry–the Exeter Book. Happy riddling! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dailypoempod.substack.com/subscribe

The Fates of Classical Antiquity not only survived in the form of related fairy-tale figures but also as the object of superstitions and rituals associated with newborns. In South Slavic and Balkan regions particularly, these customs represent a surprisingly long-lived and genuine case of pagan survival. We begin our episode examining the fairy godmothers of "Sleeping Beauty" as embodiments of the Fates.  Mrs. Karswell reads a few key passages from the definitive version of the story included in Charles Perrault's 1697 collection, Histoires ou contes du temps passé ("stories of times gone by.") We learn how the fairies fulfill the historical role of godparents at the newborn's christening. We also note the peculiar emphasis on the quality of what's set before the fairies at the christening banquet, observing how a failure there leads the wicked fairy to curse the Sleeping Beauty. 1874 illustration by František Doucha for a Czech edition of Sleeping Beauty We then explore antecedents to Perrault's tale, beginning with the 14th-century French chivalric romance, Perceforest.  A peripheral story in this 8-volume work is that of Troylus and Zeelandine, in which the role of Sleeping Beauty's fairy godmothers are played by Greek and Roman deities, with Venus as supporter of Princess Zeelandine (and her suitor Troylus) and Themis cursing Zeelandine to sleep in a manner similar to Perrault's princess.  A failure to correctly lay out Themis' required items at the christening banquet is again again responsible for the curse, though the awakening of Zeelandine by Troylus awakens is surprisingly different and a notorious example of medieval bawdiness. Preceding Perceforest, there was the late 13th-century French historical romance Huon of Bordeaux, in which we hear of the newborn fairy king Oberon being both cursed and blessed by fairies attending his birth.  From around the same time, French poet and composer Adam de la Halle's Play of the Bower describes a banquet at which fairy guests pronounce a curses and blessings on those in attendance prompted again by their pleasure or displeasure at what's set before them at a banquet. We also  hear of the Danish King King Fridlevus (Fridlef II) bringing his newborn son to a temple of "three maidens" to ascertain the  destiny pf the child in Gesta Danorum ("Deeds of the Danes").written around 1200 by Saxo Grammaticus. And lest listeners think such appeals to the Fates were strictly a literary motif, we hear Burchard of Worms, in his early-11th-century Decretum, condemning the not uncommon among the Germans of his region of setting up offering tables for the Fates.  By this point, the connection between how fairy godmother types are served at a banquet and offerings made to the Fates to ensure a cild's fortune should be clear. We then turn back to the Greek Fates, the Moirai (Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos) and the Roman Parcae (Nona, Decuma, and Morta). Particularly in the case of the Parcae, we hear examples of their connection to the newborn's destiny in the celebration nine or ten days after the birth of the dies lustricus, during which offerings were made to the Fates. The Three Fates by Bernardo Strozzi, late 17th c We make a brief side-trip to discuss the Norns (Urðr, Verðandi and Skuld), the Germanic equivalent of the Fates.  These are more distant cousins, not strongly associated with the newborn and his destiny, though we do hear a passage from the Poetic Edda, in which the Norns are  present birth of the hero Helgi. We also hear a gruesome passage from the 13th-century Njáls Saga, in which the Valkyries weave out the fate of those who will die in the Battle of Clontarf. The Anglo-Saxon equivalent of the Fates, the Wyrds, are also discussed, and we hear how the  witches in Macbeth partook in this identity as the "Weird Sisters," an association Shakespeare inherited from his source material, the 1587 history of Great Britain, known as Holinshed's Chronicles.

The likely final episode of War and Conquest.1066-1087: William has won his great victory at Hastings, but he's not king of England yet. There are plenty of Anglo- Saxons who would rather end up dead than see a French flag fly over London Song; Vangaurd by August Burns Red- Found In Faraway Placeswww.warandconquest.com warandconquestpcast@gmail.com https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdUOD52RBg1BBm_zndE-DdA https://www.patreon.com/warandconquest https://www.facebook.com/warandconquestpcast https://www.instagram.com/warandconquestpcast/https://twitter.com/warandconquest1Venmo: @Warand Conquest https://www.twitch.tv/theproslayer7

The Gaming Hut gets informative as beloved Patreon backer Daiv Barr asks for campaign frames built around the librarian answer-seeking list Stumpers-L, aka Project Wombat. The Mythology Hut looks at St. Cuthbert, the historical Anglo-Saxon saint who became a D&D god.  Our Cinema Hut fantasy essential series continues with the early 40s. Finally Ken's Time […]

The Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Mercia played an important role in the development of England. Although it was sandwiched between the other Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of Northumbria and Wessex, unlike those two places, it lacks a great historical chronicle. And, according to Max Adams, this means it's been somewhat overlooked in the story of the birth of the Anglo-Saxon state. Talking to David Musgrove, Max explains why we ought to know more about Mercia. (Ad) Max Adams is the author of The Mercian Chronicles: King Offa and the Birth of the Anglo-Saxon State, AD 630–918 (Bloomsbury, 2025). Buy it now from Waterstones: https://go.skimresources.com?id=71026X1535947&xcust=historyextra-social-histboty&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.waterstones.com%2Fbook%2Fthe-mercian-chronicles%2Fmax-adams%2F9781838933258. The HistoryExtra podcast is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices