Ceorl: What’s in a Word?
When we hear the word churl today, we think of an oaf or a loathsome person, one who has little education or manners. The...
The Gododdin: Heroic Defeat and Arthur
The Germanic “settlers” were pushing the Britons ever westward and northward. The Britons were desperate, having lost their dux bellorum, Arthur. They held out....
The Saxon House
Naturally, when the talk turns to life as a Saxon, one question that comes to mind is this: “What about the daily life?” Much...
Penda: Middle Anglian Warlord Extraordinaire
One of the two men in the alliance that killed Edwin, king of Northumbria, was Penda, who later became king of Mercia. Who was...
Cadwallon: Leader of Gwynedd
The other man in the alliance against Edwin (besides Penda) was Cadwallon, king of Gwynedd. He is not to be confused with his predecessor,...
Archaeology: Key to Understanding Ancient Britain
Germanic invaders were commonly lumped together as Saxons in early accounts of the invasions-migrations, but the Angles and Jutes were well represented. They were,...
Christmas: Resonances in Ancient Britain
Christmas in Britain is taken for granted these days, but it wasn’t so in ancient days. For one thing, the date of the birth...