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