Bernard Cornwell

Athelstan–Our Greatest Monarch?

Jul 17, 2022

anniversaries, archaeology, battles, buildings, genealogy, law, religion

“The last Kingdom”, Alfred, Anglo-Saxons, Athelstan, Bernard Cornwell, books, Brunaburh, Cheshire, Constantine II, Dissolution of the Monasteries, Eadgyth, Edward the Elder, Elizabeth I, Germany, House of Wessex, illegitimacy rumours, legal reforms, Malmesbury Abbey, novels, piety, royal burials, Scotland, St. Aldhelm, St. Cuthbert, Tom Holland, Venerable Bede, Vikings, York

A recent poll searching for Britain’s ‘Greatest Monarch’, came up with the surprise winner of… drum roll, King Athelstan. Not that the Anglo-Saxon king wasn’t so great, but the winner is a little surprising since most people seem to have believed the ‘crown’ would go to Elizabeth I. (Yawn!) I hope the voters actually remembered…
Marc Morris on mediaeval television programmes and films …

Jun 15, 2022

anniversaries, battles, buildings, films, television reviews, Uncategorized

“Red Wedding”, “The last Kingdom”, anachronisms, Anglo-Saxons, atrocities, Barons, Bernard Cornwell, Black Dinner, Blind Harry, Braveheart, castles, Dover Castle, Edward I, French wars, Game of Thrones, Godwinsons, hats, Ironclad, James II, John, Knights Templar, Magna Carta, Marc Morris, Norman conquest, Robin Hood, Runnymede, Scotland, shield wall, Sir William wallace, taxation, Vikings, Waltheof, woad, women

… programmes and films about the Middle Ages, not actually made during them – which would require an even greater advance that the Viking discovery of America before Columbus … Here he discusses: The Game of Thrones (2013), Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves (1991), Ironclad (2013), The Last Kingdom (2015), Vikings (2013), Braveheart (1995)

Bernard Cornwell

Athelstan–Our Greatest Monarch?

Marc Morris on mediaeval television programmes and films …