Anglo-Saxon

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Pod Alice Roberts WL

Alice Roberts on unearthing the Romans, Vikings & Anglo-Saxons . This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

The Floralia, an ancient Roman celebration of fertility and nature that took place around early May

What is the history behind May Day and why do we celebrate it?

Aelfwynn in season 5 of The Last Kingdom, holding the crown of Mercia that belonged to her mother

The real Aelfwynn of Mercia

Aethelflaed, Lady of the Mercians, illustrated sitting on a throne

Aethelflaed, Lady of the Mercians: the warrior queen who crushed the Vikings

Alexander Dreymon as Uhtred of Bebbanburg in The Last Kingdom season 5

The real Uhtred of Bebbanburg: the historical inspirations for The Last Kingdom’s hero

The Last Kingdom season 5 starsAlexander Dreymon as Uhtred of Bebbanburg

The Last Kingdom season 5: real history and historical accuracy

Wales' fans celebrate victory at the 1957 Five Nations Tournament, France vs Wales, holding the Welsh symbol, the leek. (Photo by Universal/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images)

Q&A Why is the leek associated with Wales?

A page from The Encomium, a flattering account of the reign of Cnut written in the early 1040s and commissioned by his mother Emma of Normandy to show her powerful position

Emma of Normandy: not just a two-time queen consort of England

Alfred the Great “managed to ensure history’s enduring affection by making sure that he wrote it himself,” argues Max Adams. (Photo by Granger Historical Picture Archive/Alamy Stock Photo)

Alfred the Great: “He was an excellent king, but that’s not the whole story”

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Part one in our 20-part series looking at decisive moments of the last 1,000 years in British history explores 1000–1049

Turning points 1016: The Danish conquest of England . This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

A manuscript illumination dated c1100 depicting Viking warriors sailing towards Brittany

What if... The Vikings had never left their homelands?

A sword/hammer type coin from the Danelaw

The Danelaw: is the ‘realm’ of the Vikings in Anglo-Saxon-era England a place or an idea?

Pod Rob Gallagher WL

The man who made King Alfred great

Benjamin Savill discusses the St Brice’s Day Massacre of 1002, in which Danes living in England were killed, apparently on royal orders. (Image by Getty Images)

The St Brice’s Day Massacre of 1002

A depiction of King Æthelred II holding a sword

The St Brice’s Day Massacre: what really happened?