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Ancient British History

Welcome to the fascinating and mist-shrouded world of Ancient British History. The historian’s task is frustrating but exhilarating, deciphering old manuscripts, exploring Roman ruins, and following the trail of the elusive King Arthur. All these things are found herein–the columns explore Britain from the Bronze Age to the Norman Conquest. Come on and in and enjoy!

Mount Badon: Arthur’s Greatest Victory

The Saxons had been raging around the countryside for years. The Britons had been fighting them off as best they could, but the hordes...

Eadwig: Teen King With a Short Reign

Eadred died childless, so the problem of succession rose its ugly head again. Eadwig, nephew to Eadred, was chosen to be king, largely because...

The Beginning of the World?

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, which was written by many different writers over a long period of time, has this interesting log entry for 616 A.D.: And...

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...

Celtic Influence on Arthurian History

Readers of Arthurian literature are no doubt familiar with the Celtic shimmerings throughout. Famous examples are the knights Kay (originally Cei) and Gawain (originally...

What the Romans Found: The Picts

One of the chief threats to Roman occupation of Britannia was the continued presence of the Picts, an ancient people who lived in what...

Aethelwulf: Worthy Successor?

Following in the difficult footsteps of Egbert, first-ever king of all England, was Aethelwulf, Egbert’s son, who took the throne of Wessex in 839....

Harald Harefoot and Hardacanute: The End of the Danish Line

By the time that Canute died, the people of England were tired. They were tired of fighting. They were tired of conquest. They were...

The Dooms of King Ine

King Ine of Wessex was a strong and popular king. He reigned for many years as the strongman of southern England. He is most...

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...