Hep meaning seven. The heptarchy was the seven English kingdoms that existed between the sixth and ninth centuries consisting of Kent, Northumbria, Wessex, Mercia, Sussex, Essex and East Anglia. It is strange that kings were ever appointed in England as none existed in the Germanic areas that the Saxon tribes originated from. In England, they […]

Famous Anglo Saxon chronicler (673 – 735). Known as the Venerable Bede. Born in Northumbria and lived most of his life in the monastery in Jarrow. A prodigious scholar who was fluent in Latin and Greek, amongst others. He quietly wrote a history of the British entitled “The Ecclesiastical History of the British People” – […]

Born c.968 Reigned 978 – 1013 and 1014 – 1016 Died 1016  Aethelred II became king following the murder of Edward the Martyr. What followed was a disastrous time for England where all the good work was to go to waste. England, as affluent as it had ever been since the time of the Romans […]

Incursions of Germanic warriors into Britain started late in the 4th century, during the Migration Period in Europe. Roman authors called them Saxons, but they certainly were divided into multiple ethnic groups. According to Bede the Venerable, armies of the invaders comprised representatives of the “three most powerful Germanic peoples” of the time: Angles, Saxons […]

The House of Lancaster was a royal house that ruled England from 1399 to 1461. They were a cadet branch of the House of Plantagenet, and they claimed the English throne after the death of King Richard II. The Lancaster dynasty lasted for 62 years. They were opposed by the House of York, which eventually […]

Since the time of William the Conqueror, there has been a succession of monarchs who have claimed to rule over England. One such dynasty is The House of York, which argued that they are the rightful heirs to the English throne. This article will explore their history, and why they believe they have a legitimate […]

The Medieval Age was an important period during European history. It was during this period that feudalism rose in Europe and became entrenched as new kingdoms and empires came into being. This was a time of great change, as the old ways of life were replaced by new ones. Typical jobs during the Medieval Age […]

The Bayeux Tapestry is a famous piece of art that tells the story of the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. It is over 230 feet long and contains nearly 1,000 images. The tapestry was commissioned by William the Conqueror’s half-brother, Odo, Bishop of Bayeux. It took about 20 years to complete and was likely […]

The life of King Edward V was a short one, and it ended in tragedy. He was born in 1470 and became king at the age of just twelve, after his father, King Edward IV, passed away. Edward V was the son of Elizabeth Woodville and Edward IV. He was made prince of Wales in June […]