My new book, Women of Power in Anglo-Saxon England, features the mothers, wives and daughters of…
Annie Whitehead
Turning up the Past: The One Who Got Away
Once, at a parents’ evening, a teacher told me that history is an easy subject because…
Old English Female Names and their Meanings
As I’ve found myself saying quite a lot recently, my new book, Women of Power in…
The ‘Evil’ Women of Mercia
Adultery, poison, witchcraft, murder, incitement to murder, and being murdered. Exciting times for the noblewomen of…
Alliteration As An Aid: What’s in a Name?
A lot of people tell me that they find the ‘Anglo-Saxon’ personal names quite challenging, and…
It’s All About Context: Deciphering Old English
Context is everything. I don’t claim to be any great shakes at Old English, but I…
The History of English Part II: From Conquest to Printing Press
I’m currently writing a story set in the aftermath of the Battle of Hastings. One of…
The Senses in Anglo-Saxon England
A friend told me once that he had been reading about the Roman occupation of Britain…
“Word Hoard” and the Difficulties of Making Dialogue Authentic
“I hold your oaths fulfilled.” These words are spoken by Aragorn in the film version of…
Government in the Reigns of Edgar and Æthelred II
Last time I gave a brief overview of the events leading up to the reign of…
King Edgar and his Earls: A Brief Overview
Ahead of an in-depth look at government in the reigns of King Edgar and his son, Æthelred…
Military Service in Tenth-Century England
Last time I talked about duties and obligations in tenth-century England; today I’m concentrating on military…
Duties and Obligations in Tenth-Century England
Placing oneself under the protection of a lord was a solemn and ceremonious affair. In England…
Winchcombe & Its Anglo-Saxon History
Winchcombe is a pretty Cotswold town, not far from Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire. Walking or driving along…
Wealth, Power and Influence in Later Anglo-Saxon England
Last time I talked about defining nobility. Now I’ll examine the careers and wealth of those…
Defining ‘Nobility’ in Later Anglo-Saxon England
The word ‘nobility’ is a vague term; no society in history could be described as having…
1066 – The Mercian Angle
In 1066, when Edward the Confessor died, Harold Godwineson was declared king. Yet he felt the…
The Decline of Mercia – Kings No More
It’s the time of year for anniversaries – William the Conqueror crowned on Christmas Day, 1066,…
Anglo-Saxon Goings-On in 2018
As another year comes to a close, it seems a good time to look back on…
Interview with Staffordshire Live
I was delighted to be asked by Staffordshire Live what I thought of the portrayal of Æthelflæd,…
Lordship in the Tenth Century
“No man can make himself king, but the people have the choice to select as king…
How Cnut Established Himself as Full King in England
On November 12 1035, Cnut died. How had he, a foreigner, established himself as king of…
Blōtmōnað – Blood Month
It’s November, or Blōtmōnað as the Anglo-Saxons called it. (the Old English letters ð and þ are represented in modern English by…
Anglo-Saxon Attitudes – Transcript of Talk Given to Garstang Historical Society
I began by thanking the committee for inviting me to talk about the Anglo-Saxons:Now, the Anglo-Saxon period…
Mercia Vs The Godwines
The story of the last earls of Mercia is linked to the powerful Godwine family. At…