The Kings and Queens podcast

In 1013, the  audacious Sweyn Forkbeard (1013-14) reappeared at Sandwich,  with  a  powerful  fleet  He  was  accompanied  by his three usual attendants,  Fire,  slaughter,  and  pillage;  and all  England  trembled  before  him,  like  the  rustling  of  a  bed of  reeds  shaken  by  the  western wind.CharactersSweyn Forkbeard - King of Denmark (986-1014), King of Norway (1000-1014), King of England (1014) Harald Bluetooth - King of Denmark (958-986), King of Norway (970-985), father of SweynGunhild - mother of Swein Cnut - son of Sweyn ForkbeardGunhild - first wife of SweynSigrid the Haughty - second wife of Sweyn, wife of Erik the VictoriousPalnatoke - founder of the JomsvikingsJari Sigvaldi - chieftain of the JomsvikingsErik Hakonarson - Norwegian jarlOlaf Tryggvason - King of Norway (995-1000)Erik the Victorious - King of Sweden (970-95)Olof Skotkonung - King of Sweden (955-1022)Otto I - Holy Roman Emperor (962-73)Otto II - Holy Roman Emperor (973-83)Aethelred - King of England (978-1013, 1014-16)Edward the Martyr - King of England (975-78), half-brother of AethelredEmma of Normandy - second wife of Aethelred, wife of CnutUlfcytel - nobleman and military leaderSt. Edmund - King of East-Anglia (855-69)Adam of Bremen - chroniclerCreditsMusic: Daudir by Alexander Nakarada (https://www.creatorchords.com)Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Freesound.org 127006__bulbastre__wooden-boat-row-water194982__soundmary__wild-horses-running 241824__haldigital97__waves-1367479__timsc__small-waves-on-shingle-beach733333__haulaway__bag-of-coins-drop

Æthelred's (978-1013, 1014-16) story would be one of turbulence, political intrigue, and the relentless march of fate. The boy who would become king would soon be marked by the legacy of doubt and misfortune, a monarch whose reign would be defined by both his early promise and his later failures. According to William and Malmesbury, he was an accomplice to murder, a coward who fled from danger, a wastrel who died a miserable death.CharactersAethelred - King of England (978-1013, 1014-16)Edward the Martyr - King of England (975-78), half-brother of AethelredEdgar - King of England (959-75), father of Aethelred and EdwardAelfthryth - third wife of Edgar, mother of AethelredAelfgifu - first wife of AethelredEmma of Normandy - second wife of AethelredEdmund Ironside - son of AethelredAethelflaed - first wife of Edgar, mother of EdwardDunstan - Archbishop of Canterbury (959-88)Sigeric - Archbishop of Canterbury (990-94)Aelfheah - Archbishop of Canterbury (1006-12)Wulfstan - Archbishop of YorkAethelwold - Bishop of WinchesterOswald - Bishop of Worcester, Archbishop of YorkAethelwine - Ealderman of East-AngliaAelfhere - Ealdorman of MerciaByrhtnoth - military commanderWulfgeat - favourite of AethelredEadric - nicknamed ‘the grabber’, favourite of AethelredWulfnoth - favourite of AethelredBeorhtic - favourite of AethelredOlaf Tryggvason - King of Norway (995-1000)Sweyn Forkbeard - King of Denmark (986-1014), King of Norway (1000-1014), King of England (1014)Cnut - son of Sweyn ForkbeardRichard I - nicknamed ‘the fearless’, duke of Normandy (942-96)Richard II - nicknamed ‘the good’, duke of Normandy (996-1026)William of Malmesbury - chroniclerJohn of Worcester -chroniclerCreditsMusic: Prepare for War by Alexander Nakarada (https://www.creatorchords.com)Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Freesounds.org194982__soundmary__wild-horses-running 458113__brunoboselli__countryside733333__haulaway__bag-of-coins-drop231537__vkproduktion__forest-birds-loop-02449652__magnesus__walking-through-forest241824__haldigital97__waves-1

From the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle describing Edward the Martyr (975-78). 'Men murdered him, but God exalted him. In life he was an earthly king; after death he is now a heavenly saint. His earthly kinsmen would not avenge him, but his heavenly Father has greatly avenged him. The earthly killers would have destroyed his memory. Those who would not bow to his living body now humbly on their knees bow to his dead bones. How we may understand that the wisdom of men, their plans and counsel, are nothing against God’s purpose.' Characters Edward the Martyr - King of England (975-78) Aethelred - brother of Edward and claimant Edgar - King of England (959-75), father of Edward and Aethelred Aethelflaed - first wife of Edgar, mother of Edward Wulfthryth - possible second wife of Edgar Aelfthryth - third wife of Edgar, mother of Aethelred Dunstan - Archbishop of Canterbury Aethelwold - Bishop of Winchester Oswald - Bishop of Worcester, Archbishop of York Aethelwine - Alderman of East-Anglia Aelfhere - Ealdorman of Mercia Brihthelm - former Archbishop of Canterbury Kenneth II - King of Scotland Geoffrey Gaimar - chronicler Lantfred - chronicler and Winchester monk Byrthferth - chronicler Osbern of Canterbury - chronicler Music: Medieval Suspense by Alexander Nakarada (www.creatorchords.com) Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ In Excelsis Deo

According to the Anglo-Saxon chronicle, ‘in Edgar's (959-75) days all things gladly grew good, and God granted that he dwelt in peace while he lived, and he did, as was necessary, work eagerly towards it. He was mighty in arms, exulting in sceptres and diadems, and regally protected the laws of the kingdom with militant authority.’ Characters Edgar - King of England (959-975), King of the Mercians and Northumbrians (957-59) Aethelflaed - first wife of Edgar Wulfthryth - possible second wife of Edgar Aelfthryth - third wife of Edgar Eadwig - King of England (955-59), brother of Edgar Edmund I - King of England (939-46), father of Edgar Eadred - King of England (946-55), uncle of Edgar Eadgifu - grandmother of Edgar Dunstan - Archbishop of Canterbury Aethelwold - Bishop of Winchester Oswald - Bishop of Worcester, Archbishop of York Aethelstan half-king - Alderman of East-Anglia Aelfsige - former Archbishop of Canterbury Brihthelm - former Archbishop of Canterbury Kenneth II - King of Scotland Geoffrey Gaimar - chronicler Lantfred - chronicler and Winchester monk Credits  Music: Cold Journey by Alexander Nakarada (www.creatorchords.com) Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Suso_ramallo__binaural-catholic-gregorian-chant-mass-liturgy

Perhaps no image of an Anglo-Saxon king has been shaped as unyieldingly by his enemies as Eadwig's (955-59). Ruthless purging of the old guard of his father and uncle and the appointments of favourites resulted in his character assassination in the hagiographies of the men he’d dismissed. He was labelled an incorrigible rascal and lecher. The accounts paint a picture of a naïve, capricious, salacious misguided boy, who side-lined experienced advisors when they resisted his childish impulses. Characters  Eadwig - King of England (955-59)  Aelfgifu - wife of Eadwig Edmund I - King of England (939-46), father of Eadwig Aelfgifu of Shaftesbury - mother of Eadwig Eadgifu - grandmother of Eadwig Edgar - younger brother of Eadwig, King of the Mercians and Northumbrians Aethelgifu - mother of Aelfgifu, Eadwig’s wife Aelric - Eadwig’s foster parent Dunstan - Abbot of Glastonbury Oda - Archbishop of Canterbury Aethelwold - Abbot of Abingdon Aethelstan half-king - Alderman of East-Anglia B - chronicler  William of Malmesbury - chronicler Credits Music: Nomadic Dawn by Alexander Nakarada (www.creatorchords.com) Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 Licence https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Medieval_Town_SFX_Bundle 

Within a year of being crowned, Eadred (946-55) was faced with possibly the most feared, most ruthless and most famous Viking to set foot on English shores. The battle to save Northumbria from Viking control was also fought in conjunction with a battle against a truly debilitating illness. Like his brothers before him, in securing the legacy of his forebears, he could not fail. Characters Eadred - King of England (946-55) Edmund I - King of England (939-46), elder brother of Eadred Eadgifu - third wife of Edward, mother of Eadred Edward the Elder - King of the Anglo-Saxons (899-924), father of Eadred Aethelstan - King of the Anglo-Saxons (924-37), King of England (927-939), half-brother of Eadred Eadburh - sister of Eadred Eadwig - son of Edmund and Eadred’s successor Alfred - King of the West-Saxons (871-886), King of the Anglo-Saxons (886-899), grandfather of Edmund Dunstan - Abbot of Glastonbury Aethelwold - Abbot of Abingdon Aethelstan Half-king - Alderman of East-Anglia Oda - Archbishop of Canterbury Hywel Dda - King of Deheubarth Oswulf I - Earl of Bamburgh, commander of Northumbria Wulstan - Archbishop of York Olaf Sihtricson - King of Northumbria (941-44, 949-52) Eric Bloodaxe - King of Northumbria (947-48, 952-54) Credits Viking Calls - Marcus Dellicompagni (www.poundsound.uk) Bbc_monasterie_07065024 bbc_bells---mo_07037647 8632__anton__male_slurping_water 432380__fedor_ogon__dry-cough

Much like those who came before and those who would follow, Edmund I’s (939-46) reign was largely dominated by the Viking threat. Though his early years were tense and characterised by Viking resurgence, he recovered the land won by his father and half-brother and ultimately succeeded in keeping the Viking threat at bay and thus continued the dream of his forebears, the dream of a united, peaceful England. Characters Edmund I - King of England (939-46) Eadgifu - third wife of Edward, mother of Edmund and Eadred Aelfgith - first wife of Edmund, mother of Eadwig and Edgar Aethelflaed of Damerham - second of wife of Edmund Edward the Elder - King of the Anglo-Saxons (899-924), father of Edmund Aethelstan - King of the Anglo-Saxons (924-37), King of England (927-939), half-brother of Edmund  Eadred - brother of Edmund  Eadburh - sister of Edmund Eadwig - son of Edmund  Edgar - son of Edmund Alfred - King of the West-Saxons (871-886), King of the Anglo-Saxons (886-899), grandfather of Edmund Aelfweard - half-brother of Edmund and Aethelstan and claimant Edwin - half-brother of Edmund and Aethelstan and claimant Dunstan - Abbot of Glastonbury Aethelstan Half-king - Alderman of East-Anglia Charles the Simple - King of West Francia (898-922), father of Louis Louis IV - King of West Francia (936-54), nephew of Edmund Alain - Duke of Brittany Wulstan - Archbishop of York Oda - Archbishop of Canterbury Olaf Guthfrithson - King of Dublin (934-39), King of Northumbria (939-41) Olaf Sihtricson - King of Dublin (945-47), King of Northumbria (941-44) Hywel Dda - King of Deheubarth Idwal foel - King of Gwynedd Constantine II - King of Alba (900-43) Malcolm I - King of Alba (943-54) Owain - King of Strathclyde Dyfnwal/Dunmail - King of Strathclyde/Cumbria, son of Owain Hugh the Great - Duke of the Franks Otto I - King of East Francia Leofa - outlaw and killer of Edmund Credits  Freesound.org: 567701__nox_sound__foley_rocks_stones_impacts_mono548384__nox_sound__footsteps_mountain_boots_mud_mono 682383__pnmcarrierailfan__axe-pacts-wood-09-w-crash 400380__klankbeeld__running-dog-passing 438380__craigsmith__g28-20-raucous-unruly-indoor-crowd 271206__mrprofdrdickweed__riot-crowd-immersed-in-5  505272__diegolar__surrounded-by-horse close perspective  417386__klankbeeld__hors-bristling-crow-calling-170917-1223 Music: The Wizard by Alexander Nakarada (www.creatorchords.com) Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Aethelstan (924-939), renowned through the whole world whose fame flourishes and whose honour endures everywhere, whom God set as king over the English people. Raised on the high throne, and leader of these earthly armies, so that the king himself, mighty in war, could conquer other fierce kings and crush their proud necks. Characters Aethelstan - King of the Anglo-Saxons (924-927), King of the English (927-939) Edward the Elder - King of the Anglo-Saxons (899-924), father of Aethelstan Ecgwynn - first wife of Edward, mother of Aethelstan Aelfflaed - second wife of Edward, mother of Aelfweard, Edwin and Eadgifu Eadgifu - third wife of Edward, mother of Edmund and Eadred Aethelflaed - Lady of Mercia (911-918), aunt of Aethelstan Alfred - King of the West-Saxons (871-886), King of the Anglo-Saxons (886-899), grandfather of Aethelstan Aelfweard - half-brother of Aethelstan and claimant Edwin - half-brother of Aethelstan and claimant Constantine II - King of Alba Owain - King of Strathclyde Sihtric - Viking King of Dublin (917-20) Guthfrith - Viking King of Dublin (920-34) Olaf Guthfrithson - Viking King of Dublin (934-39) Henry I - King of GermanyHarald Finehair - King of Norway Hywel Dda - king of Deheubarth Idwal foel - king of Gwynedd Morgan ap Owain - king of Gwent Tewdwr ap Elisse - king of Brycheiniog  William of Malmesbury - 13th century chronicler Credits Music: Chivalry Fair by Alexander Nakarada (www.creatorchords.com) Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Though Edward the Elder's reign (899-924) is overshadowed by his father and his son. His achievements during his 25 years reign were unquestionable. He continued his father’s work with determination and courage. Historian Frank Stenton characterised his reign as one of the best sustained and most decisive campaigns in the whole of the Dark Ages. Characters Edward the Elder - King of the Anglo-Saxons (899-924) Aethelflaed - Lady of Mercia (911-918), elder sister of Edward Alfred - King of the West-Saxons (871-886), King of the Anglo-Saxons (886-899), father Edward and Aethelflaed Ealhswith - mother of Edward and Aethelflaed Aethelwold - cousin of Edward and claimant to the throne Aethelhelm - cousin of Edward and former claimant to the throne Ecgwynn - first wife of Edward, mother of Aethelstan and Edith Aelfflaed - second wife of Edward, mother of Aelfweard, Edwin and Eadgifu Eadgifu - third wife of Edward, mother of Edmund and Eadred Aethelstan - aetheling and son of Edward Aethelred - Lord of Mercia (881-911), husband of Aethelflaed Plegmund - Archbishop of Canterbury William of Malmesbury - chronicler Guthrum - Danish warlord and King of East-Anglia (878-890) Eohric - Danish Viking king of East Anglia (890-902) Western-Viking hybrid music - Alexander Nakarada Vikings-in-battle-swords-crossing-shields-bashing-men-yelling-17335 Soundmary - wild horses running Warfare and battlefields - medieval battlefield - weapons- horses- and soldiers Warfare and battlefields - medieval battlefield - weapons and horses - close perspective Factus est repente

Alfred the Great (871-99) was the embodiment of the ideal, but practical, Christian ruler. He was the ‘truth teller’, described as a brave, resourceful, pious man.  Despite his legacy being warped by Victorian and contemporary accounts, his achievements remain visible and profound. They allowed his son and grandsons to build on his political and military initiatives to unite England under the rule of one king. Characters Alfred - King of Wessex (871-86), King of the Anglo-Saxons (886-99) Ealhswith - wife of Alfred Aethelred - King of Wessex (865-71), brother of Alfred Aethelbert - King of Wessex (860-65), brother of Alfred Aethelbald - King of Wessex (858-60), brother of Alfred Aethelwulf - King of Wessex (839-58), father of Alfred Ecgberht - King of Wessex (802-39), grandfather of Alfred Edward - son and heir of AlfredAethelswith - Alfred’s sister, wife of Burghred Aelle - King of NorthumbriaEdmund - King of East-Anglia Burghred - King of MerciaCeolwulf - King of Mercia Lord Aethelred - Lord of the Mercians under Alfred Aefelflaed - Lady of the Mercians, wife of Lord Aethelred Viking leaders Guthrum  Ivar the Boneless Ragnar Lothbrook  Haesten Ubbe Credits Leaving for Valhalla - Alexander Nakarada 320530__suso_ramallo__binaural-catholic-gregorian-chant-mass-liturgy 704440__roemergruft__viking-horn-in-d Bbc_quiet-hall_00008086 Vikings-in-battle-swords-crossing-shields-bashing-men-yelling-17335 613317__solifer__fireplacebbc_marsh-atmo_nhu0505006 Bbc_boats--pun_07026051 bbc_water---ro_07038289