Podcast: The Normans and the Slave Trade

Last week I recorded a podcast for History Today magazine about how the Normans did away with Anglo-Saxon slavery. You can listen to it here.

Anglo-Saxon democracy: some initial thoughts

I’m reading a lot of popular books on the Norman Conquest, and keep reading that Anglo-Saxon kingship was elective (and therefore good), and quite unlike Norman kingship, which was hereditary (therefore bad).

Let’s have a quick look at the two centuries before 1066 to see how Anglo-Saxon election worked in practice.

Alfred the Great (871-99) is succeeded by his son, Edward the Elder (899-924), who is succeeded by his son, Athelstan (924-39), who has no children, and so is succeeded by his younger brother, Edmund (939-46). Edmund is murdered in 946, and his two sons are only small boys, so the succession passes to his younger brother, Eadred (946-55) – who dies without issue, allowing Edmund’s eldest son, Eadwig, to inherit – sorry, succeed. Eadwig (955-59) also dies childless, so is succeeded by his younger brother, Edgar (959-75), who is succeeded by his son Edward the Martyr (975-78), who, being martyred before he has a chance to procreate, is succeeded by his brother Athelred the Unready (978-1016). The succession then becomes somewhat messy because late in Aethelred’s reign England is conquered by the Danish king, Swein Forkbeard (1013-14), but the principle for choosing a king remains unaltered: Aethelred is succeeded by his son, Edmund Ironside (d. 1016) and Swein by his son Cnut (1016-35). Cnut is succeeded first by his son Harold Harefoot (1035-40) and then by his second son Harthacnut (1040-42). Both die without sons of their own, so the succession passes to Aethelred the Unready’s only surviving son, Edward the Confessor (1042-66).

Hooray for Anglo-Saxon democracy! Boo the Norman hereditary principle!

 

Canterbury Waterstone's

Two discriminating young men check out the details of a forthcoming author talk at Canterbury Waterstone's (St Margaret's Street). The one on the left is making sure that he is still named on the dedication page.

A letter to Terry Deary

Terry Deary, author of the Horrible Histories series, is reportedly in favour of closing public libraries.

 

Dear Terry Deary

I’ve just started reading your book, Stormin’ Normans. I’m only up to page 10, I’m afraid, but then I’m a slow reader.

You describe the site of William the Conqueror’s first battle, Val-es-Dunes, as being ‘on the Norman border with France’. It’s actually just outside Caen, nowhere near the French border.

You say that William died a year after 1085, i.e. 1086. He actually died in 1087.

You say that Henry I’s only son died in 1119. The correct date is 1120.

You say that William’s queen, Matilda, was only 127cm tall. This is a modern myth caused by misreporting. The French archaeologists who examined her partial remains actually concluded she was 152cm (about 5’).

You say William was buried in a cathedral he founded in Caen. There is no cathedral in Caen. William founded an abbey.

I'll get back to you again when I've finished the rest of the book. But in the meantime, I can't help wondering: do you think you should have spent more time in the library?

best wishes
Dr Marc Morris

Time Team, Oakham Castle

I appeared in the episode of Time Team that went out on Sunday 10 February. You can watch it again here.

Now available on Twitter

You can now follow me on Twitter! Marc Morris @Longshanks1307

Inside Out

On Monday 4 February I appeared on BBC 1's Inside Out (South East), defending the belief that the Battle of Hastings was fought on the site of Battle Abbey.