Articles related to "Ancient British History"
A Curious Adherence to Hereditary Right
King Arthur's claim to the British throne was simple: He was the son of the High King. But why the nobles recognized this claim is a different question entirely.
• ancient british history
• king arthur
• high king
• uther pendragon
A King Is Burnt to Death: What Caused It?
In 687, King Mul of Kent and 12 of his companions were burnt to death during an uprising. Was it an accident, or was it murder?
• king mul of kent
• kentish history
• anglo-saxon britain
• ancient british history
Aethelwulf: Worthy Successor?
Aethelwulf succeeded his father, Egbert, to the throne of Wessex. He suffered even more invasions from Danes and Northmen.
• aethelwulf
• egbert
• wessex
• danish invasions
• anglo-saxon england
Ancient Festivals of the Celts
The Celts of Ancient Britain had four major festivals throughout their harvest-based calendar year. Each had a different purpose and different practices, and each can be found as the root of holidays today.
• celts
• ancient british history
• celtic festivals
• samhain
• imbolc
Avebury Hill: More Majestic Than Stonehenge
Avebury Hill is a vast megalithic construction that is larger and was more important than the stones at Stonehenge.
• avebury hill
• megaliths
• stonehenge
• ancient british history
Boudicca: A Woman Warlord's Rebellion
In 60-61, Boudicca, warrior queen of the Iceni, revolted against Roman rule. Her forces at one time numbered 200,000. It took all the might of the Romans to overcome her.
• boudicca
• roman britain
• roman history
• ancient british history
Bronze Age Cremation Pits Discovered
Archaeologists have discovered cremation pits dating back to the Bronze Age, a very significant find indeed.
• bronze age
• ancient british history
• cremation pits
Cadwallon: Leader of Gwynedd
Cadwallon went from boyhood friend of Edwin of Northumbria to mortal enemy in a few short years. He survived their battlefield encounter; Edwin did not.
• cadwallon
• gwynedd
• edwin
• northumbria
• penda
Canute: Foreigner in a Foreign Land
Canute, a foreign king, was embraced by the English as their own ruler. He proved himself worthy of the task, bringing 18 years of peace.
• canute
• england
• ancient british history
Caratacus: The Roman Enemy Who Survived Defeat
Caratacus, king of the Catuvellauni, led resistance against the Roman occupation for nearly a decade. He impressed Rome so much that Emperor Claudius spared his life.
• caratacus
• catuvellauni
• claudius
• roman occupation
• roman britain
Claudius: The Roman Conquest of Britain
The Emperor Claudius finished what Julius Caesar started. In 43, Claudius led the conquest of Britain, making the island a province of the Roman Empire.
• roman empire
• roman britain
• ancient british history
• claudius
Edward the Confessor
Edward the Confessor set the stage for the Norman Conquest by his actions and his affectations.
• edward the confessor
• harold godwinson
• godwin
• anglo-saxon england
• ancient british history
Edwin's Lasting Legacy
King Edwin of Northumbria gave us many things, including the beauty of York and Edinburgh. He also brought peace to the north, which hadn't seen such peace in a long time.
• edwin
• northumbria
• edinburgh
• york
• cadwalla
Far-sighted Romans, Short-sighted Britons
The Romans built the Saxon Shore forts to keep out Saxons, Angles, and Jutes who were harassing trade with Britannia. The Britons had no such foresight, instead inviting the Saxons onto the island--from foresight to short-sight.
• saxon shore
• ancient british history
• roman britain
• saxons
• angles
First Viking Burial Site Found in England
The bodies of two women and four men confirm the discovery of the first Viking burial site ever found in England.
• vikings
• viking burial site
• ancient british history
From Ironside to Son of Ironfist
After the death of Aethelred, England suffered through the brief reign of Edmund and then embarked on the brutal reign of Canute of Denmark.
• canute
• edmund ironside
• aethelred
• anglo-saxon england
• ancient british history
Glastonbury: More Christian "Borrowing"
Glastonbury Abbey is another example of the Christian practice of "borrowing" places and traditions from other peoples and othe religions.
• glastonbury abbey
• christianity in britain
• anglo-saxon britian
• ancient british history
Harald Hardrada: A New Iron Fist Arrives
Harald Hardrada was King of Norway at the time of the Norman Conquest. He wanted the throne of England just like everybody else.
• harald hardrada
• king harald of norway
• tostig
• battle of hastings
• norman conquest
Hoarding: A Bronze Age Conundrum
In the Bronze Age, people began to hoard things--sword, animal skins, anything that showed wealth. But hoarding also had religious significance, especially the hoards that could not be retrieved.
• bronze age
• ancient british history
• hoarding
• ancient religious beliefs
• ancient ritual behavior
Into the Void: The Emergence of Ambrosius and Arthur
Ambrosius and Arthur stepped into the fray to try to keep Britain from falling prey to Saxon domination.
,Ambrosius and Arthur stepped into the fray to try to keep Britain from falling prey to Saxon domination.
• ambrosius
• arthur
• saxons
• mount badon
• roman britain
Nennius and Arthur's 12 Battles
Nennius, a 9th century monk, writes of Arthur's 12 great battles. Where were they? No one really knows.
• nennius
• king arthur
• geoffrey of monmouth
• ancient british history
Silbury Hill: Ancient Mound of Mystery
Silbury Hill, nearby to the Avebury complex, is another man-made mystery from prehistoric times.
• silbury hill
• man-made mounds
• ley lines
• prehistoric mysteries
• archaeological mystery
Stonehenge Is Still a Mystery
Was Stonehenge a place of sun worship or an astronomical tool? Maybe neither. Nobody knows for sure still.
• stonehenge
• bluestones
• megaliths
• salisbury plain
• ancient british history
The Odyssey: Adventure Story or Coded Message?
Part 2 of a review of Iman Wilkens's book Where Troy Once Stood. In this part, Wilkens asserts that Homer's Odyssey was a set of sailing directions, not the story of a famous adventurer.
• odyssey
• iliad
• trojan war
• ancient british history
The Saxon Occupation: An Innocent Beginning
The Saxon occupation of England began innocently enough--as a response to a call for help from Vortigern, who wanted to solidify his position as High-King of Britain.
• vortigern
• saxons
• hengist
• horsa
• ancient british history
The Sword in the Stone: An Error in Translation?
Did Arthur pull the sword from the Stone? What if he pulled the sword from the Saxon? It could have been an error in translation.
• king arthur
• sword in the stone
• saxon
• arthur
• dark ages
The Trojan War: Another Look
Review of book purporting to prove that the Trojan War was fought in England
• trojan war
• ancient british history
• troy
• mycenae
What the Romans Left Behind: The Baths
A main part of Roman life was the bath. It wasn't just bathing, and it wasn't just at home. Public baths containing several rooms housed bath rooms as well as gyms and recreational reading rooms.
• roman britain
• ancient rome
• roman baths
• bath
• ancient british history
What the Romans Left Behind: The Roads
The Roman road is wonder of engineering. The techniques used and the theories behind them are still studied today. Many of these concrete roads survive.
• rome
• roman road
• roman empire
• roman britain
• ancient british history
Why Vortigern?
Vortigern gets the blame for inviting Hengist and the rest of the Saxons into Britain. Is this blame justified?
• vortigern
• saxons
• hengist
• isle of thanet
• britain
Battle of Hastings Part 1
The Battle of Hastings started out well for Harold. Would William be able to finish the job?
• hastings
• battle of hastings
• william of normandy
• william the conqueror
• harold godwinson
Battle of Hastings: The Finale
The Battle of Hastings ended in victory for William and defeat and death for Harold. But William would find it tough going, both near the end of the battle and after.
• hastings
• battle of hastings
• 1066
• william the conqueror
• harold godwinson
Did Arthur Really Live? A Critical Look
Assertions that no facts exist to prove that Arthur really lived are just one way of looking at the Matter of Britain.
• king arthur
• ancient british history
• matter of britain
• historical arthur
• legendary arthur
From Hastings to Crowning
William of Normandy eventually became King William of England, but it didn't happen overnight or even a week after his decisive victory at the Battle of Hastings.
• william of normany
• norman conquest
• king william i
• battle of hastings
• anglo-saxon britain
Harold and the Beginning of the End
Harold found himself on the throne of England and beset on all sides by competing claims.
• harold godwinson
• harold ii
• harala hardrada
• tostig
• edward the confessor
Stamford Bridge: The Final End of the Viking Threat
Harold and his army scored a smashing victory over the Norwegian invaders at Stamford Bridge only to hear of a Norman invasion in the south.
• stamford bridge
• 1066
• battle of hastings
• harold godwinson
• harald hardrada
The Battle of Hastings: Prelude
Harold and his men had to march the length of England to deal with a new, more dangerous threat, hard on the heels of a great and glorious victory. William and his men, on the other hand, were rested and ready to claim what they thought was naturally theirs.
• battle of hastings
• hastings
• 1066
• william of normandy
• harald hardrada
The Beginning of the World?
The Anglo-Saxon tells us that the world began in 5003 B.C. Is this correct? Does it matter?
• anglo-saxon chronicle
• angles
• saxons
• christianity
• history of the christian church
William of Normandy: A Disputed Crown
William of Normandy had lots of power at his disposal and a full head of steam operating on an alleged promise of the crown of England and a disputed oath of fealty.
• william of normandy
• duke william of normandy
• william the conqueror
• battle of hastings
• norman conquest