England

  • THE CROWNING OF KING AETHELSTAN (Athelstan)

    Athelstan was the grandson of Alfred the great, born between 893 and 895, he was the son of Edward the Elder who in turn was the first born son of Alfred. Not a lot is known about his mother Ecgwynn other than she did live at court. There is no record of a marriage between her and Edward and so came to be the question of Athelstan’s legitimacy and a pact that would see him unable to marry or sire an heir if he wanted to be King. It is thought that Athelstan was Alfred’s favourite grandson. At some point before the great king’s death he bestowed upon Athelstan a…

  • The Anarchy

    The period between 1135 and 1154 was a time of huge unrest in England, a Civil War which Victorian historians would later name The Anarchy. On December 1st 1135 King Henry I of England fell ill and died whilst on campaign in Normandy, supposedly after eating vast quantities of Lamprey, although poison has also been suggested as a possible cause. His only legitimate male heir, William Adelin had perished in The White Ship tragedy, 15 years earlier, and despite Henry’s hasty remarriage to Adeliza of Louvain (The King’s first wife Queen Matilda had died in 1118), no more male heirs would follow. This left only a daughter, Matilda, who had…

  • Robert the Bruce

    Born on 11 July 1274, Robert de Brus was the heir apparent to the Lordship of Annandale, through his grandfather, the 5th Lord, and his father, the 6th Lord. The Lordship of Annandale were established in 1124 by David Fitzmalcolm, when he was named King David I of Scotland, to Robert de Brus, who was a member of the King’s retinue. Originating in the Brix region of France, the de Brus’ were related to William Longsword, Great Great grandfather of William, Duke of Normandy. The Lordship included several lands through England, and Scotland with the seat being in the central border region of what is now Dumfries and Galloway. Robert…

  • THE MURDER OF KING RUFUS (WILLIAM II OF ENGLAND)

    William was born in 1056, the third son of William the Conqueror, he was more commonly referred to as William the Red or William Rufus due to his rugged red appearance. He was never married nor did he have any children, legitimate or otherwise. When William I died in 1087 he left his title and lands in Normandy to his eldest son Robert. He left England to his favourite son William. His second son had died in a hunting accident in the New Forest, something of a deadly trend in this family as his grandson also died some years later in the New Forest. In September 1087 William Rufus was…

  • THE BATTLE OF CRECY

    Known as one of the most decisive battles in English history and The Hundred Years war, Crecy has come to be known as a military revolution in its massive use of the longbow and the ultimate demise of the age of chivalry. Previous battles had been fought mostly by the infantry and mounted knights. Battles before had adhered to chivalric code that had mostly kept the knights protected. Crecy was a game changer. Edward III had inherited an England at war. He was fighting on two fronts, Scotland and Aquitaine in south west France. The battle of Dupplin Muir (moor) in Scotland proved to be a crucial turning point for…