Tag Archives: history
From my blog...
Emma of Normandy: A Life
Emma of Normandy, Dowager Queen of England, died on 6 March, 1052, in Winchester. She was only the second woman to be crowned queen of all England, and the only woman ever to be crowned queen of England twice. For … Read More
Emma of Normandy & Bayeux
The charming town of Bayeux near the coast of Normandy is perhaps best known for its remarkable Tapestry, a very long length of embroidered linen that portrays events surrounding the Battle of Hastings in 1066. A few years ago I … Read More
The Death of Æthelred
Æthelred II, Anglo-Saxon king of England, died on 23 April, 1016. His passing was noted in The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, in an entry that was probably written within a decade of his death: He ended his days on St. George’s day; having held … Read More
A Story in Three Parts
My current work in progress is the third book of a trilogy about the 11th century queen of England, Emma of Normandy. Why write a trilogy, you may wonder. Why not put the entire story into one book? Maybe, you … Read More
Vikings 5 Recap, Episode 9: A SIMPLE STORY
The first half of this episode rockets around from Lagertha’s camp to Vestfold to Floki’s Iceland settlement and back around again. We’re all used to this by now, right? The episode begins with the aftermath of last week’s battle, but … Read More
Vikings 5 Recap, episode 7: FULL MOON
This episode is an increasingly dark, doom-laden build-up toward the battle that is looming between, essentially, the sons of Ragnar. But I want to talk about that later. First, let’s look at the other three elements in this episode (it … Read More
The Great-Sea Flood
A.D. 1014 This year on the eve of St. Michael’s Day, came the great sea-flood, which spread wide over this land, and ran so far up as it never did before, overwhelming many towns, and an innumerable multitude of people. … Read More
THE LAST KINGDOM 2, Episode 4
WE ARE HERE TO DO ALFRED’S BIDDING The title I’ve given this episode distills, I think, the moving force – not only in this episode, but in the entire series. Uhtred is the hero of the story, but the larger background … Read More
THE LAST KINGDOM 2, Episode 3
PULL, YOU BASTARDS! Beware! Spoilers ahead, big time. DO NOT read this if you have not seen Episode 3 of Season 2. Even if you’ve read the book, this episode differs enough from the novel that I don’t want to … Read More
THE LAST KINGDOM HISTORICAL NOTES
Events came at us thick and fast in Episode 1 of Season Two, The Last Kingdom, so I thought I would offer a few historical tidbits. GUTHRED: The 10th century History of St. Cuthbert says that a Dane named Guthred … Read More