Historical Britain Blog
Mercedes Rochelle writes about 11th century Britain and all the questions that come up while researching historical fiction. I am especially interested in Macbeth, Malcolm III of Scotland, the Battle of Hastings, Canute the Danish King of England, Earl Godwine and his sons Harold, Tostig, and Swegn.
Articles
Exile of Earl Godwine, 1051
2012-01-22 17:27:02
By the middle of the eleventh century, Earl Godwine might have seemed pretty much at the height of his power. His daughter was married to King Edward, Godwine himself held the most important Earldom in England and his second son Harold was Earl of East Anglia. He had more strapping sons awaiting their turn to the [...]
2012-01-22 17:27:02
By the middle of the eleventh century, Earl Godwine might have seemed pretty much at the height of his power. His daughter was married to King Edward, Godwine himself held the most important Earldom in England and his second son Harold was Earl of East Anglia. He had more strapping sons awaiting their turn to the [...]
Swegn Godwineson, Evil or Tragic?
2011-11-17 20:45:09
Swegn was the eldest son of a prolific family. His father, Godwine of Wessex, worked his way up from relative obscurity to the most powerful Earl in the country. Swegn’s future would have been assured if only he had behaved himself and not acted like a rogue and an outlaw. He was the only one [...]
2011-11-17 20:45:09
Swegn was the eldest son of a prolific family. His father, Godwine of Wessex, worked his way up from relative obscurity to the most powerful Earl in the country. Swegn’s future would have been assured if only he had behaved himself and not acted like a rogue and an outlaw. He was the only one [...]
Waltheof, Last Saxon Earl
2011-08-09 08:18:19
Earl Waltheof’s foray into the history books was unlucky and unhappy. From beginning to end, it seems like he was in the wrong place at the wrong time and never managed to live up to his destiny. Waltheof was the younger son of Earl Siward, who died when Waltheof was only 10 years old. His older [...]
2011-08-09 08:18:19
Earl Waltheof’s foray into the history books was unlucky and unhappy. From beginning to end, it seems like he was in the wrong place at the wrong time and never managed to live up to his destiny. Waltheof was the younger son of Earl Siward, who died when Waltheof was only 10 years old. His older [...]
Harold Godwineson in Normandy 1064
2011-07-28 10:00:27
Harold’s ill-fated trip to Normandy has sparked much debate among historians. Why did he go? How much damage did it cause? One thing is certain: Harold and William were far from strangers by the time they met on the battlefield of Hastings. It is thought by some that Harold was on a fishing trip in [...]
2011-07-28 10:00:27
Harold’s ill-fated trip to Normandy has sparked much debate among historians. Why did he go? How much damage did it cause? One thing is certain: Harold and William were far from strangers by the time they met on the battlefield of Hastings. It is thought by some that Harold was on a fishing trip in [...]
Tostig and Stamfordbridge
2011-06-24 10:10:10
By many accounts, the blame for Harold Godwineson’s failure to stop William’s invasion can be laid on his brother Tostig’s shoulders. What might have started as sibling rivalry seems to have evolved into jealousy, then resentment turned into recrimination, and finally a desire for revenge seems to have swept aside all other considerations…even the safety of the [...]
2011-06-24 10:10:10
By many accounts, the blame for Harold Godwineson’s failure to stop William’s invasion can be laid on his brother Tostig’s shoulders. What might have started as sibling rivalry seems to have evolved into jealousy, then resentment turned into recrimination, and finally a desire for revenge seems to have swept aside all other considerations…even the safety of the [...]
Intro to THOU SHALT ‘GET KINGS
2011-05-17 12:57:56
It is of legends that I write in this story, rather than facts; for after almost a thousand years of history, what can we call truth out of the tiny scraps that survived? When men claimed descent from a bear, and people believed that dragons roamed the earth, who is to say what is fact [...]
2011-05-17 12:57:56
It is of legends that I write in this story, rather than facts; for after almost a thousand years of history, what can we call truth out of the tiny scraps that survived? When men claimed descent from a bear, and people believed that dragons roamed the earth, who is to say what is fact [...]
Battle of Fulford 1066
2011-04-30 21:36:01
The battle of Stamfordbridge is well-known as the turning point in King Harold’s fortunes. But how did Harold know to rush north in the first place? It was more than just a messenger that got his attention: a full-fledged battle was fought with great loss of life. And Harald Hardraada was the winner. In a [...]
2011-04-30 21:36:01
The battle of Stamfordbridge is well-known as the turning point in King Harold’s fortunes. But how did Harold know to rush north in the first place? It was more than just a messenger that got his attention: a full-fledged battle was fought with great loss of life. And Harald Hardraada was the winner. In a [...]
Death of Alfred Aetheling
2011-04-08 15:08:04
If you read my post Heirs to the Throne After Canute you would see mention of Edward and Alfred, the sons of Aethelred II and Emma. When Emma married Canute, they agreed that the sons from their own marriage would take precedence over any previous children. This meant that the two sons from her first marriage would [...]
2011-04-08 15:08:04
If you read my post Heirs to the Throne After Canute you would see mention of Edward and Alfred, the sons of Aethelred II and Emma. When Emma married Canute, they agreed that the sons from their own marriage would take precedence over any previous children. This meant that the two sons from her first marriage would [...]
Who is Harthacnut?
2011-03-25 12:19:51
Soon after Canute gained the throne of England, he invited Aethelred’s widow Emma of Normandy to be his queen. Emma agreed, on the condition that only the sons born of their union would be next in line to the throne. This meant that two of his sons and two of her sons from previous marriages [...]
2011-03-25 12:19:51
Soon after Canute gained the throne of England, he invited Aethelred’s widow Emma of Normandy to be his queen. Emma agreed, on the condition that only the sons born of their union would be next in line to the throne. This meant that two of his sons and two of her sons from previous marriages [...]
Who is Harold Harefoot?
2011-02-19 14:56:27
After Canute’s untimely death in 1035, Queen Emma, backed by the powerful Earl Godwine of Wessex, strongly supported her son Harthacnut’s claim to the English throne. Unfortunately, Harthacnut’s position in Denmark at that moment was very insecure, and much though he would have loved to claim the crown of England, he just couldn’t get away. Enter [...]
2011-02-19 14:56:27
After Canute’s untimely death in 1035, Queen Emma, backed by the powerful Earl Godwine of Wessex, strongly supported her son Harthacnut’s claim to the English throne. Unfortunately, Harthacnut’s position in Denmark at that moment was very insecure, and much though he would have loved to claim the crown of England, he just couldn’t get away. Enter [...]