Did The Anglo-Saxons Have A "High King?"

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  • Опубліковано 14 лип 2023
  • Before the Viking invasions of the late ninth century, Anglo-Saxon England was divided into multiple smaller kingdoms. And yet, some kings are said to have ruled over many others, with titles like "Bretwalda" being used to describe them in modern history books. Were these kings anything like the high kings of Ireland or other lands? Was this an official position in Anglo-Saxon society? As usual, the truth is a little more complicated.
    Follow me on Instagram: / studium.historiae
    Recommendations for further reading:
    -B. Yorke, "The Vocabulary of Anglo-Saxon Overlordship," in Anglo-Saxon Studies in Archaeology and History, 2 (1981): 171-200.
    -D.P. Kirby, The Earliest English Kings (1991).
    -N.J. Higham, An English Empire: Bede and the Early Anglo-Saxon Kings (1995).
    -N.J. Higham, The Convert Kings: Power and Religious Affiliation in Early Anglo-Saxon England (1997).
    -Patrick Wormald, The Times of Bede: Studies in Early English Christian Society and its Historian (2006).
    -Damian Tyler, "An Early Mercian Hegemony: Penda and Overkingship in the Seventh Century," in Midland History, 30 n.1 (2005), pp.1-19.
    -Alexander Langlands and Ryan Lavelle, eds., The Land of the English Kin: Studies in Wessex and Anglo-Saxon England in Honour of Professor Barbara Yorke (2020).
    Outro music: Laid Back Guitars by Kevin MacLeod, CC BY-SA 4.0
    incompetech.com/music/royalty-...
    #medieval #medievalhistory #england #anglosaxon #educational #history #middleages #king #politics #britain #uk #bede #bretwalda

КОМЕНТАРІ • 18

  • @CambrianChronicles
    @CambrianChronicles Рік тому +14

    Super interesting video! It’s fascinating how complex it could become, which I’m sure wasn’t helped by the later kings trying to proclaim their dynasty as the rightful rulers.
    That single use of Rex Brittaniae is also really interesting, because that was a title frequently employed by the Welsh (in a similar context to Bretwalda), I wonder if there’s some sort of connection? Or if the guy just thought it sounded cool

    • @studiumhistoriae
      @studiumhistoriae  Рік тому +3

      Based on how much interaction there was between Mercia and Wales, I'd be surprised if there was no connection at all. He must have at least been aware of their use of it.

  • @TriBgarage
    @TriBgarage Рік тому +3

    Enjoyed the video, don't know how you keep everyone straight in your head. Learn something new on all your posts. Keep them coming.

  • @sircalvin83
    @sircalvin83 Рік тому +1

    Your channel is outstanding sir. This is one of the few places one can come to get a "deep dive" into Saxon England . Keep 'em coming!

  • @antonyreyn
    @antonyreyn 8 місяців тому +1

    Great video cheers from Mercia

  • @ravensthatflywiththenightm7319

    Subscribed.

    • @studiumhistoriae
      @studiumhistoriae  Рік тому

      Thanks! I hope you continue to enjoy the videos to come

  • @THINKincessantly
    @THINKincessantly Рік тому +1

    I love looking at the contemporary art of the post Roma-Medieval era... 3:23 Ive always thought the forked beard was a Norse thing but check out the king here...I guess fashion wasn’t all that different across the continent back then...Ever look at modern photos of men with forked beards? Apparently its been a fashion for over 1000 years...Neat stuff

    • @studiumhistoriae
      @studiumhistoriae  Рік тому +2

      If I could grow a beard that long I'd have it forked too. It's a real power move

  • @silverfox2358
    @silverfox2358 5 місяців тому

    My problem as a brit is that there are no butchers or pubs in the small white towns with german bratwurts etc (germans eat these as an entire meal), british are bacon and eggs, roast beef and yorkshire pudding, scotish hagis, nor have I heard of saxon king raids all over britain and ireland. Normandy which is france invaded in 1066 with william the conquerer all the famous viking names ragnar loathbrok etc came from norway and jutland (Denmark) but no (german) saxony, angles princes or kings in the records probably because they are very busy fighting in land germany and use britain for a vital trade for raw material and weapons while under seige.

  • @qboxer
    @qboxer Рік тому +2

    What is the fresco seen at 5:20?

    • @studiumhistoriae
      @studiumhistoriae  Рік тому +2

      It depicts the battle of the Milvian bridge in 312. It's what led the Emperor Constantine to support Christianity as he attributed his victory to Christ. I chose it as a representation of the idea that God supported the Roman empire. Although it looks like a fresco, it's actually painted parchment from a 9th century Byzantine manuscript (BnF MS Gr510, folio 440r.)

    • @qboxer
      @qboxer Рік тому +2

      @@studiumhistoriae thank you! I figured the scene but the iconography felt bizarre, as Constantine (presumably) looked more like a Justinian in terms of regalia.

  • @NathanDudani
    @NathanDudani Рік тому +3

    Yesn't

  • @THINKincessantly
    @THINKincessantly Рік тому +4

    I cant believe they fell for that Abrahamic bologna

    • @jamesmaybrick2001
      @jamesmaybrick2001 Рік тому

      Constantine did what any successful ruler does, use every weapon at his disposal to take and hold power, he saw the potential in christianity to subjugate the masses. Made his own religion...and all these years later its still being used by the powerfull to maintain their grip. "Christianity" is such an innacurate name, is should be some mix of Paul and Constantine. They founded it. That possibly mythical dead dude did bugger all really. Paulantiniaty. I just coined that. Now. Lol. Its a fascinating historical "what if...". If Constantine hadnt won then we might well be living in a Pagan world. With less division maybe the world be a much better place.

    • @mercianthane2503
      @mercianthane2503 27 днів тому +1

      Christ is king!

    • @SandileNgwenya-gv7nx
      @SandileNgwenya-gv7nx 26 днів тому

      Keep crying 😂