Glossary Churl – the OE word Ceorl, meaning common freeman, the lowest class of free citizen in Anglo-Saxon society Danegeld – money paid to Viking raiding armies to leave a territory, or to enlist them as mercenaries against other Viking forces; ‘set a thief to catch a thief…’ Old English – the language spoken byContinue reading “The Old That is Strong: Tolkien & the Anglo-Saxons”
Tag Archives: Anglo-Saxon
Worn & Wielded: The Sutton Hoo Helmet
The Sutton Hoo helmet is perhaps the most iconic image of the Anglo-Saxon age. It is a fascinating object with a fascinating history, so let’s take a look at an item ‘worn and wielded’ by the Anglo-Saxons. Glossary Bretwalda – a term used to denote Anglo-Saxon kings whose influence was recognized across large swathes ofContinue reading “Worn & Wielded: The Sutton Hoo Helmet”
Positive Pedantry: The Last Kingdom
It seems that it is impossible to produce historical fiction without provoking a swarm of online pedantry. From the angle of thatch to armour, from battle tactics to clothing, finding videos and content criticizing the reality of this or that facet of historical shows is sadly easy. Now while pedantry is satisfying in aContinue reading “Positive Pedantry: The Last Kingdom”
The Cross and the Hammer: Christianity in Anglo-Saxon England
Christianity has a long history in Britain, but from where did it originate? Below is my attempt at a brief history… Glossary Angelcynn – the Old English word meaning the Anglo-Saxon peoples, literally ‘Angle-folk’ Bishopric – the area controlled by a bishop. The more modern term Diocese came to be used by the time ofContinue reading “The Cross and the Hammer: Christianity in Anglo-Saxon England”