History Profiles

Harald Hardrada, one of the most formidable Viking kings, is immortalized through sagas and chronicles. Known for his unparalleled ferocity, he is a legendary warrior-king to some and a feared villain to others. His nickname, Hardrada, translates to 'stern counsel' or 'hard ruler,' reflecting his formidable reputation.
From a young age, Harald's life was marked by battles across the world. He fought from the icy realms of Scandinavia to the sunlit coasts of the Mediterranean, and from Asia Minor to the Holy Land. Chronicler Adam of Bremen described him as a relentless warlord whose conquests spanned Greece and Scythian regions.
Revered for his warrior spirit, Harald's saga is akin to epic fantasy tales, yet his life was real. His legacy of glory and conquest marked the end of an era where Vikings instilled fear globally. This is the epic story of Harald Hardrada.
0:00:00 Introduction0:02:23 Ancestry & Early Life0:07:55 The Battle of Sticklestad0:11:14 Harald's Exile0:15:29 Service in the Varangian Guard0:17:44 Expeditions in Sicily & North Africa & The Holy Land0:27:54 Harald Blinds the Emperor0:35:17 Harald Escapes Constantinople0:38:27 The King of Norway0:45:36 War With Sweyn II & Kingship0:49:16 Harald Hard Ruler0:55:57 The Battle of Nisa0:59:14 The English Crown in Turmoil1:03:20 Lord Tostig & Hardrada's Invasion of England1:06:53 The Battle of Fulford1:10:39 The Battle of Stamford Bridge & Death
Music by: Savfk - MusicThe Hunt by Savfk [CC-BY royalty free music - orchestral epic emotional]

0:00:00: Introduction0:02:23: Ancestry & Early Life0:07:55: The Battle of Sticklestad0:11:14: Harald's Exile0:15:29: Service in the Varangian Guard0:17:44: Expeditions in Sicily & North Africa & The Holy Land0:27:54: Harald Blinds the Emperor0:35:17: Harald Escapes Constantinople0:38:27: The King of Norway0:45:36: War With Sweyn II & Kingship0:49:16: Harald Hard Ruler0:55:57: The Battle of Nisa0:59:14: The English Crown in Turmoil1:03:20: Lord Tostig & Hardrada's Invasion of England1:06:53: The Battle of Fulford1:10:39: The Battle of Stamford Bridge & Death
#HaraldHardrada #VikingKing #warrior #sagas #chronicler #VarangianGuard #Battles #Constantinople #Norway #VikingAge
See show notes: https://inlet.fm/history-profiles/episodes/699de7590665c1012397922b
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Æscwine of Essex is celebrated as the inaugural ruler of the East Saxons, an ancestor of the dynasty that would later govern London in the 7th century. He marks the dawn of Anglo-Saxon England, a migration era between archaeology and written history, spanning from the late fifth to the mid-sixth century.
No chronicles from his lifetime mention him, and no witnesses documented his battles or halls. Our knowledge survives solely through genealogies, meticulously transcribed by monks centuries later to justify royal legitimacy.
His name, Æscwine, holds significant meaning. 'Æsc' could signify an ash tree or an ash-wood spear, an emblem of the warrior. 'Wine' meant friend or protector, suggesting 'Friend of the spear' or 'Protector of the war band.'
Kingship in his world required more than power; it demanded sacred ancestry. Royal lineages were traced into myth, and uniquely, Æscwine was believed to descend from Seaxnēat, the Saxons' tribal god, embodying the people's identity.
Whether viewed as a man, memory, or legend, Æscwine stands at the gateway of English history, marking the transition from wandering warbands to kingdoms and the belief that rulers were god-born. This is his story.
Timeline:
00:00 Introduction
01:45 Seaxnēat — the lost tribal god of the Saxons
04:00 The Coming of the East Saxons
08:00 Legacy
Music by Alexander Nakarada - CreatorChordsTrack: Celtic Music → "Grundar" by Alexander Nakarada (Royalty Free)Link: Grundar by Alexander Nakarada

00:00: Introduction01:45: Seaxnēat — the lost tribal god of the Saxons04:00: The Coming of the East Saxons08:00: Legacy
#Æscwine #EastSaxons #Anglo-SaxonEngland #Seaxnēat #tribalgod #genealogies #sacredancestry
See show notes: https://inlet.fm/history-profiles/episodes/699a7160e65eac8878289496
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In the early days of England's history, when new kingdoms emerged from the mists, a name rose to prominence: Ida. He was known as the first king of Bernicia, ruling from around 547 to 559. Although historical records are sparse, his impact echoes through time. Ida's lineage continued to thrive and eventually established the powerful kingdom of Northumbria, overcoming the Britons.
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle notes his 12-year reign and the construction of his stronghold at Bamburgh. He took over the ancient Brittonic fortress and transformed it into his own bastion of power. From this strategic location, he governed, laying the foundation for future kings of Bernicia.
This episode explores the origins of a dynasty and the creation of a kingdom. Discover Ida's legacy and his role in shaping history.
Music by Alexander Nakarada - CreatorChords
Track: Celtic Music → "Grundar" by Alexander Nakarada (Royalty Free)
00:00: Introduction01:19: Ancestry02:01: Conquest of the North03:00: Where Ida came from04:17: The capture of the Rock05:04: War with the Britons05:59: The birth of a dynasty & Legacy
#Ida #Bernicia #Northumbria #Anglo-Saxon #Bamburgh #Britishhistory #Englishheritage #conquestofEngland
See show notes: https://inlet.fm/history-profiles/episodes/6995fe3a08a9d45335b0a1f3
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In the early days of Anglo-Saxon England, where battles forged kingdoms, one name emerged—Ælle. As the first King of Sussex, ruling from 477 to 514, Ælle stood as a pivotal figure between the waning Roman influence and the rising Saxon power.
Known not just as a king, but as an imperium ruler, Ælle's legacy was immortalized by the 8th-century chronicler Bede and further celebrated in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle as the first Bretwalda, or “Ruler of Britain.” His reign symbolized dominance that transcended borders, shaping the destiny of the land.
Unlike Christian monarchs, Ælle followed the old gods, leading as a battle-forged warrior king. This is his tale—the first Bretwalda and founding monarch of Sussex, a titan of England's shadowy legendary era.
Music by Alexander Nakarada - CreatorChordsTrack: Celtic Music → "Grundar" by Alexander Nakarada (Royalty Free)Link to music

00:00: Introduction01:45: Ælle in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle07:00: Legacy
#Ælle #Sussex #Anglo-Saxon #Bretwalda #Britishhistory #warriorking #Anglo-SaxonChronicle #imperium
See show notes: https://inlet.fm/history-profiles/episodes/6992883de3ebb726bbb26cf9
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Emerging from the fifth century's mist are Hengist and Horsa—legendary figures of the Germanic world. These brothers, according to early English traditions, led the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes, the forebears of modern English, across the sea to Britain's shores.
In ancient tales, Hengist is depicted as the founding father of the Kingdom of Kent. However, the line between legend and history is blurred, with some scholars suggesting Hengist and Horsa might be symbolic rather than historical figures, possibly representing divine twin brothers revered in Germanic cultures.
Their names are preserved in early English chronicles such as the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, The History of the Britons, Bede’s Ecclesiastical History of the English People, and Geoffrey of Monmouth’s History of the Kings of Britain. In Old English, Hengist means stallion and Horsa means horse, both symbols of power and conquest. This is their story.
Music by Alexander Nakarada - CreatorChordsTrack: Celtic Music → "Grundar" by Alexander Nakarada (Royalty Free)Link: Celtic Music → "Grundar" by Alexander Nakarada

00:00: Introduction01:29: Ancestry04:19: The Invasion of Britain: The History of the Britons09:09: The Invasion of Britain: Anglo-Saxon Chronicle11:45: Legacy & The Kingdom of Kent
#Hengist #Horsa #Anglo-Saxon #Kent #Anglo-Saxonhistory #Britishhistory #Invasion #HistoryoftheBritons #Anglo-SaxonChronicle #Germanicmythology
See show notes: https://inlet.fm/history-profiles/episodes/698d42396016bd231ef104a6
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