Anglo-Saxon England
Kingdoms and Kingship in Anglo-Saxon England
Sep 28, 2021
Exploring the foundations of Anglo-Saxon kingship, princely burials in the 6th century, lavish Sutton Hoo burial with military regalia, emergence of Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, evolution of rulership and centralization, multiple law codes by kings, role of charters in defining land ownership and kingship, development of land rights and royal monopoly on charter production by Mercian kings
21:18
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Quick takeaways
- Burial sites like Sutton Hoo reveal warrior kingship ideals, linking wealth to kingdom formation.
- Anglo-Saxon laws evolved with wheregilds, feuds, and centralization, showcasing royal power and bureaucracy.
Deep dives
Emergence of Anglo-Saxon Kingship
The podcast discusses the emergence of Anglo-Saxon kingship and the role of legendary rulers such as Ichael and Sirdich in legitimizing ruling dynasties and kingdom authority. It highlights the ambiguity of the material history of kingship and the significance of princely burials like Sutton Hoo in understanding the early Anglo-Saxon kings. These burials, reflecting the ideal of warrior kingship seen in texts like Beowulf, suggest a connection between wealth accumulation through raiding and the establishment of Anglo-Saxon kingdoms through power struggles among chiefs.
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