Siward, a formidable eleventh-century earl in northern England, became legendary for his towering stature and exceptional strength. Rising to prominence under Cnut the Great, he became Earl of Northumbria, ruling a land marked by feuds and independence.

By 1033, Siward governed southern Northumbria, modern Yorkshire, for Cnut. He consolidated power amid Scottish raids and local unrest. Loyal to the crown, Siward supported Cnut's successors, Harthacnut and Edward the Confessor, and gained renown through his Scottish campaign against King Macbeth, later inspiring Shakespeare.

Fierce and pragmatic, Siward's legacy endures as the last Viking Lord of the North.

The Danelaw was a significant region in England from the late ninth century until the Norman Conquest, where Danish laws prevailed over Anglo-Saxon governance. This area emerged due to the Danish Viking conquest and occupation across eastern and northern England during this period.

The term Danelaw refers to regions where English kings allowed Viking settlers to maintain their legal customs after the early tenth-century reconquest, in exchange for loyalty to the English crown.

This episode traces the Danelaw's full history: its origins, rise to prominence, and eventual decline and disappearance.

00:00 Introduction
00:35 First Viking Raids in England (787-851)
04:06 The Ragnarsons Invade England (865-878)
11:58 Alfred, Guthrum & Establishment of Danelaw (878-899)
14:50 Edward the Elder & Æthelflæd reconquer the Danelaw (899-924)
19:38 Æthelstan First King of the English (924-939)
24:29 Edmund's loss and recovery of the north (939-944)
27:44 Eadred defeats the Last Viking King of Northumbria (946-955)

Explore the intriguing lives of Godwin, the Earl of Wessex, Harold Godwinson, the King of England, Tostig Godwinson, the Earl of Northumbria, and Edith of Wessex, the Queen of England.

Music: "VOICE OF PRAYER" by Noel Malekar

Explore the epic tales of three legendary Viking kings: Sweyn Forkbeard, Cnut the Great, and Harald Hardrada. Discover their fascinating life stories and lasting impact on history.

Sweyn Forkbeard (963-1014)

Cnut the Great (990-1035)

Harald Hardrada (1015-1066)

Canute IV, famously known as Canute the Holy, reigned as the Danish king during the late 11th century. He aimed to bolster the Danish monarchy and reclaim the North Sea Empire, once ruled by his grand-uncle, Canute the Great. Viewing William the Conqueror as an illegitimate ruler of England, Canute initiated multiple raids to extend his influence.

A fervent advocate of the Roman Catholic Church, Canute was dedicated to religious reforms, yet this fervor contributed to his downfall. His enforcement of strict tithes (church taxes) led to widespread dissent among his subjects. By empowering the clergy to levy taxes and fines on church land peasants, he estranged the common populace.

These grievances incited a peasant revolt in early 1086 in Vendsyssel, coinciding with Canute's presence there. Seeking refuge in a church, he was ultimately killed by rebels, marking a brutal end to his rule.

In 1101, the Roman Catholic Church canonized Canute, making him the first Danish king to receive sainthood, and recognizing him as Denmark's patron saint.

As William the Conqueror heralded Norman rule in England, another figure navigated the misty fenlands with different ambitions. Hereward the Wake, an Anglo-Saxon nobleman, resisted the conqueror to avenge his murdered family.

Leading a guerrilla group of warriors and deemed an outlaw by the Normans, Hereward became a symbol of native resistance. Despite his fame, he remains an enigmatic figure. What do we truly know about this rebel who defied William and his armies?

Reliable information is limited, primarily preserved in the Peterborough Chronicle and the Gesta Herewardi. The latter, an early twelfth-century Latin translation of a lost Old English account, was reportedly written by Leofric, a priest in Hereward’s household. By the time it was copied, the original was already damaged, with missing sections reconstructed from oral tradition. What survives is a mix of memory, storytelling, and history.

The origin of his epithet, “the Wake,” is uncertain. Some trace it to an Old English word meaning “watchful,” while others argue it was later invented by an Anglo-Norman family claiming descent from him. By the fourteenth century, he is clearly recorded as “Hereward the Wake,” although he has also been remembered as “the Outlaw” and “the Exile.”

Over time, parts of his story may have intertwined with or inspired elements of the Robin Hood tradition. Yet, regardless of legend, Hereward remains in the English imagination as a champion against Norman tyranny—sometimes hailed as “the last Englishman.”

From the moment his name was first uttered, Robin Hood captured imaginations as the outlaw who defied authority to champion the poor. But was Robin Hood an actual person—a master archer in the flesh—or merely a legendary figure crafted through generations of storytelling?

Numerous theories have aimed to reveal his true identity, yet no definitive proof has emerged to confirm the man behind the legend. What remain are five ancient ballads that shape our understanding of England's most iconic outlaw: Robin Hood and the Monk, Robin Hood and the Potter, Robin Hood and Guy of Gisborne, Robin Hoode his Death, and A Geste of Robyn Hoode.

In this episode, we examine these primary sources to trace the origins of the legend. What do they reveal about Robin's life, his loyal allies, and his battle against tyranny? And we contemplate a question that has captivated historians for ages: Was Robin Hood a real person—or simply the ideal hero for a world that yearned for one?

Embark on a journey into the depths of Sherwood Forest to unravel the truth behind the Robin Hood legend.

Music by Alexander Nakarada - CreatorChords

Björn Ironside, a legendary Norse chieftain and king of Sweden, was renowned for his warrior spirit and as the son of famed Viking hero Ragnar Lothbrok. His exploits in England, West Francia, and the Mediterranean are well-documented in history.

Björn's legacy is chronicled in medieval sources like the Saga of Ragnar Lothbrok, The Tale of Ragnar’s Sons, Gesta Danorum, Hervarar Saga, and Gesta Normannorum Ducum.

Though semi-legendary, his memory lingers in saga, song, and stone. Björn's barrow, a great burial mound in Uppland, Sweden, once marked by a runestone, connects us to Viking kings and mythical heroes.

Join us as we explore ancient sources recounting Björn Ironside's life, delve into the origins of his fearsome name, and trace his legendary exploits. We maintain the individuality of each account, honoring the unique narratives.

00:00 Introduction
01:33 The Gesta Danorum
04:16 The Saga of Ragnar Lodbrok & his Sons
05:37 The Chronicon Fontanellense
06:55 The Annals of Bertinius
07:45 Gesta Normannorum Ducum
17:47 Fornaldarsögur Norðurlanda
32:32 Hervarar saga
33:46 Burial Mound of Björn Ironside