22 May High Middle Ages, Medieval History, Uncategorised Was King John Really That Bad? Part 2: The Prince In The Tower 26 March 2024 By Charles J Lockett His name has passed into legend as a by-word for corrupt government, cruelty and swingeing taxation: ‘Bad King Jo... Continue reading
08 May High Middle Ages, Medieval History, Uncategorised Was King John Really That Bad? – Part 1: The Inconstancy of Prince John 26 March 2024 By Charles J Lockett King John, the only English monarch of that name, has become a by-word for monarchical cruelty and excess. This i... Continue reading
02 Jan Bladesmith, Uncategorised The Best Bladesmithing Books 8 December 2023 By Charles J Lockett So – we’ve seen how bladesmithing is an ancient craft, with roots which stretch back into the medieval era and be... Continue reading
18 Dec Medieval History, Uncategorised King Canute the Great, Ruthless Viking Emperor: Part 2 – The North Sea Empire 8 December 2023 By Charles J Lockett In the spring of 1017 CE, Knútr Sveinsson - known to the English as Canute – was crowned King of England by the A... Continue reading
04 Dec Anglo-Saxons, Medieval History, Uncategorised Was King Ethelred Really Unready?: Æþelræd Unræd, King Sweyn Forkbeard and the Danegeld 30 October 2023 By Charles J Lockett Anglo-Saxon England died a slow and torturous death. The date of 1066 CE is an easy date for historians: when Wil... Continue reading
20 Nov Anglo-Saxons, Medieval History, Uncategorised Aethelflaed, Lady of Mercia: The Anglo-Saxons’ Only Queen 28 November 2023 By Charles J Lockett The Viking Great Heathen Army had devastated the Anglo-Saxon world. Four Anglo-Saxon Kings were dead or exiled, ... Continue reading
06 Nov Anglo-Saxons, Early Middle Ages, Medieval History, Uncategorised The Danelaw: Partition and Reconstruction in Early Medieval England 2 October 2023 By Charles J Lockett The invasion of the Great Heathen Army in 865 CE upended the Anglo-Saxon world. Thousands of Scandinavian warrior... Continue reading
30 Oct Anglo-Saxons, Medieval History, Uncategorised The Viking Invasion of England: Part 3 – King Alfred and Guthrum the Dane 2 October 2023 By Charles J Lockett England is burning. The Great Heathen Army have pillaged and burned their way across the Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms - b... Continue reading
16 Oct LARPing, Uncategorised How To Choose the Best LARP Weapons 2 October 2023 By Charles J Lockett So you’ve gotten into the LARP hobby. You might have been dragged along to a LARP event by a friend – or you migh... Continue reading
09 Oct Anglo-Saxons, Medieval History, Uncategorised Viking Invasion of England: Part 2 – The Great Heathen Army 2 October 2023 By Charles J Lockett Until the winter of 865 CE, the Vikings showed little intention of conquering England. They had raided and pillag... Continue reading