We've moved

If there is anyone out there who ever comes to this blog, you are probably thinking that it's not been the most exciting experience - or ate least not since Edward the Elder. That's because we've moved! The podcast still goes on, the blog is stuffed full of maps and comments and all that sort of thing. So come and join us. We are at www.thehistoryofengland.com

English Conquest

Enter Edward the Elder, son of Alfred. Through careful steps, Edward and his sister Aethelflaed reconquered all of the Danish lands south of the Humber.

http://historyofengland.typepad.com/blog/2011/02/10-english-conquest.html

Alfred the Great

Alfred's story is well known and justly famous.

Defeat and revival
In the campiagn of 870-1, Wessex fought the Danes to a standstill, and survived to fight again. But Guthrum caught Alfred napping in 878, and in Athelney marsh Alfred came close to final defeat - and now we could all be speaking Danish. But at Ethandun Alfred changed history.
http://historyofengland.typepad.com/blog/2011/02/7-alfred-the-great-and-the-fight-for-survival.html

Reconstruction
Alfred made good use of hte years between 878 and 892 - capturing London, re-ordering trade, reviving learning, re-organising the army and instituting the Burghal system.
http://historyofengland.typepad.com/blog/2011/02/8-reconstruction-and-defence.html

A Kingdom Defended
The danish wars of 892 - 896 were very different to those of 878. The Danes could not penetrate the Wessex defence, and eventually give up, and go home.
http://historyofengland.typepad.com/blog/2011/02/9-unshakeable-pillar-of-thewestern-people.html

Pirates from the North - the Vikings

The vikings turned 9th Century England upside down. for the first half of the century, the Danes bled the kingdoms of their strength, and then in 865 the Great heathen Army arrived and kingdoms began to fall . . .
http://historyofengland.typepad.com/blog/2011/01/6-pirates-from-the-north-the-vikings.html

Egbert and the supremacy of Wessex

Egbert was the most powerful of the Wessex kings before Edward the Elder. He didn't have a good start - denied the throne of wessex by Offa and forced to flee to the court of Charlemagne. But he returned despite Cenwulf, Offa's successor, and then in 825 he broke Mercian power for ever.

http://historyofengland.typepad.com/blog/2011/01/5-egbert-and-almost-england.html

Offa - A Golden Age of Anglo Saxon England

Offa was one of our greatest Kings, a contemporary of Charlemagne and recognised by him as an equal. Offa was a Mercian, but recognised as an overlord of all the English Kingdoms. During his rule, English learning and scholarhsip led the western world.

http://historyofengland.typepad.com/blog/2011/01/3-offa-and-a-golden-age-of-anglo-saxon-england.html

The 7th Century Kings of Wessex

Wessex through the 7th Century suffered a series of seek kings and uncertain succession. But sone names of ambition and vision stand out from time to time. One of these is Ine, one of the first Anglo Saxon Kings to understand the wider role of kingship, and the importance of bringing law and order to his people.

http://historyofengland.typepad.com/blog/2011/01/3-offa-and-a-golden-age-of-anglo-saxon-england.html