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.

Characters

Sweyn 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 Sweyn

Gunhild - mother of Swein

Cnut - son of Sweyn Forkbeard

Gunhild - first wife of Sweyn

Sigrid the Haughty - second wife of Sweyn, wife of Erik the Victorious

Palnatoke - founder of the Jomsvikings

Jari Sigvaldi - chieftain of the Jomsvikings

Erik Hakonarson - Norwegian jarl

Olaf 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 Aethelred

Emma of Normandy - second wife of Aethelred, wife of Cnut

Ulfcytel - nobleman and military leader

St. Edmund - King of East-Anglia (855-69)

Adam of Bremen - chronicler

Credits

Music: Daudir by Alexander Nakarada (https://www.creatorchords.com)Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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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.

Characters

Aethelred - King of England (978-1013, 1014-16)

Edward the Martyr - King of England (975-78), half-brother of Aethelred

Edgar - King of England (959-75), father of Aethelred and Edward

Aelfthryth - third wife of Edgar, mother of Aethelred

Aelfgifu - first wife of Aethelred

Emma of Normandy - second wife of Aethelred

Edmund Ironside - son of Aethelred

Aethelflaed - first wife of Edgar, mother of Edward

Dunstan - Archbishop of Canterbury (959-88)

Sigeric - Archbishop of Canterbury (990-94)

Aelfheah - Archbishop of Canterbury (1006-12)

Wulfstan - Archbishop of York

Aethelwold - Bishop of Winchester

Oswald - Bishop of Worcester, Archbishop of York

Aethelwine - Ealderman of East-Anglia

Aelfhere - Ealdorman of MerciaByrhtnoth - military commander

Wulfgeat - favourite of Aethelred

Eadric - nicknamed ‘the grabber’, favourite of Aethelred

Wulfnoth - favourite of AethelredBeorhtic - favourite of Aethelred

Olaf 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 Forkbeard

Richard I - nicknamed ‘the fearless’, duke of Normandy (942-96)

Richard II - nicknamed ‘the good’, duke of Normandy (996-1026)

William of Malmesbury - chronicler

John of Worcester -chronicler

Credits

Music: Prepare for War by Alexander Nakarada (https://www.creatorchords.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Freesounds.org

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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