Viking

British author Bernard Cornwell, author of 'The Last Kingdom' and 'Sharpe' series. (Photo by Daniel Sorabji via Getty Images)

Bernard Cornwell on writing historical fiction and his blockbuster series The Last Kingdom: your questions answered

Bernard Cornwell. (Photo by Felix Clay)

Bernard Cornwell on The Last Kingdom

Queen Victoria on an ivory throne, 1876. (W. & D. Downey/Getty Images)

Top 11 monarchs in British history

A 15th-century stained glass window from Canterbury Cathedral, depicting King Cnut. (CM Dixon/Print Collector/Getty Images) (Photo by CM Dixon/Print Collector/Getty Images)

8 things you (probably) didn’t know about King Cnut

Viking ships arriving in Britain, c1130. (Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty

8 key Viking dates you need to know

Viking Berserker figures. The one on the left is wearing a helmet with horns. His companion wears the mask of a wolf or bear. Sweden, 6th century. (Photo by Werner Forman/Universal Images Group/Getty Images)

The truth about Viking berserkers

A view of a calander showing the date, Friday the 13th. (Photo by William C. Shrout/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images)

10 historical superstitions we carry on today

Ragnar Lothbrok. (Illustration by Georgie Gozem for BBC History Magazine)

Ragnar Lothbrok: the immortal Viking

A statue of Æthelflæd – erected in Tamworth to mark the 1,000th anniversary of her fortifying the town. (Photo by Chris Gibson/Alamy Stock Photo

The Library Æthelflæd: The woman who crushed the Vikings

A statue of Æthelflæd which stands in the grounds of Tamworth Castle in Staffordshire. (Photo by Chris Gibson/Alamy Stock Photo)

Æthelflæd: iron lady of Mercia

Vikings on screen

Vikings on screen

Lagertha, portrayed by Katheryn Winnick, in season 4 of Vikings. (Credit: Jonathan Hession/History)

‘Vikings’ creator Michael Hirst on the real history behind the hit drama

Podcast-Website-large-Max-Adams-8419c34

Alfred the Great and science at Christmas

Perhaps the most charming idea about the origins of the festive tradition of kissing under the mistletoe derives from a Viking myth of Frigg, goddess of love and marriage, and her ill-fated son Balder. (Photo by Jurg Waldmeier/StockFood Creative/Getty Images Plus)

Q&A Why do we kiss under the mistletoe?