The British History Podcast

When we last left Edwin, Bishop Paulinus finally had his prize. He convinced the great King of Northumbria… the Bretwalda!... Edwin… to abandon his gods and convert to Christianity. It had been a long hard road for the Bishop. Failed assassinations, war, marriage, magical visions, and some pretty astoundingly rude arguments regarding the weather had all been brought to bear in order to get this King to convert. But at last he was successful! Support the Show

When we last left Edwin, Bishop Paulinus finally had his prize.  He convinced the great King of Northumbria… the Bretwalda!... Edwin…  to abandon his gods and convert to Christianity.  It had been a long hard road for the Bishop.  Failed assassinations, war, marriage, magical visions, and some pretty astoundingly rude arguments regarding the weather had all been brought to bear in order to get this King to convert.  But at last he was successful! And on Easter, 627ish… the dates are soupy... Edwin was baptized.  Again, this is a pretty commonplace thing for us… but think about how strange this ritual is from the outside.  The sources agree that, unlike our modern baptisms, this was done old school… outside… in a natural body of water. So… Edwin… in April… in northern England... was expected to walk into a body of water... and then somehow fight back the shivering, teeth chattering, and shrinkage…  and relax into the arms of a Christian, and then let himself be submerged under the water only to be lifted out when that Christian was good and ready. Now don’t forget that Edwin only recently avoided assassination, something that his werod and courtiers were all too aware of.  And we saw how he reacted to that… he brought total destruction down upon everyone in Wessex suspected of being involved in the attempt.  This was not a man to be trifled with… and also he strikes me as a man who was, how can I put this nicely, was a little highly strung and sensitive to danger.  And I imagine that was also the case for his trusted warrior companions, whom were are told were fiercely loyal and protective of him.

109 – Edwin’s Ambitions

Ever since I was a kid in Catholic school, I’ve been somewhat fascinated by the date of Christmas. I often wondered where it came from, given that it doesn’t appear anywhere in the Bible, and (as the feast is celebrating the birth of Jesus) it seemed rather odd to set the date so close to midwinter given the fact that the middle east gets pretty nippy in Winter and the story of the Nativity takes place pretty much outside… with lambs and stuff. So what was going on there? Was one of the sheep just looking to get a mid-year quickie and had an unscheduled surprise? Did Mary and Joseph just pack a lot of blankets and thermal undies? Or was something else going on? Support the Show

Ever since I was a kid in Catholic school, I’ve been somewhat fascinated by the date of Christmas.  I often wondered where it came from, given that it doesn’t appear anywhere in the Bible, and (as the feast is celebrating the birth of Jesus) it seemed rather odd to set the date so close to midwinter given the fact that the middle east gets pretty nippy in Winter and the story of the Nativity takes place pretty much outside… with lambs and stuff.  So what was going on there?  Was one of the sheep just looking to get a mid-year quickie and had an unscheduled surprise?  Did Mary and Joseph just pack a lot of blankets and thermal undies?  Or was something else going on? Well, interestingly, there aren’t any indications that the early Christians kept a tradition of the date for the birth of Jesus.  Attempts at placing the date didn’t come for centuries, and the vast majority of those trying to find a date for his birth tended to opt for Spring.  In fact, it wasn’t until 354 that our current date for Christmas appeared, with it popping up in the calendar of Philocalus in Rome.  From there it spread to the East, though it was resisted by some of the Churches (most notably the Armenian Church, which never adopted it)… and it would take another 200 years before that date managed to reach Jerusalem. So why December 25th?  Why that specific date?

108 – The Christmas Special

107 – Edwin’s Conversion

Ok, so when we left off, Bishop Paulinus thought he was about to get Edwin to convert… but then Edwin pulled a bait and switch, and said that god hadn’t jumped through enough hoops yet. And that he wanted to speak with his council and then deliberate privately before making a decision. Support the Show

Ok, so when we left off, Bishop Paulinus thought he was about to get Edwin to convert… but then Edwin pulled a bait and switch, and said that god hadn’t jumped through enough hoops yet.  And that he wanted to speak with his council and then deliberate privately before making a decision. Now Edwin was slick.  He built political ties on the island.  He also tied himself across the channel with the Merovingians, as his children with AEthelburh were kin of the Frankish king.  And he was also aware of the importance of symbology and appearances, so he did things like bearing a standard ahead of him that harkened back to Roman times.  And ties to Rome carried an aura of authority and he almost certainly knew that Christianity would put him even closer to Rome, and I suspect that he had that in mind when he chose to marry AEthelburh.  AND that ambition probably also played a role in why Edwin allowed the church to establish a See in York, despite his (and Northumbria’s) paganism.  Moreover, having churchmen in his kingdom meant that he would have access to technological advances from the continent, and even things like the ability to have literate men in his court which was no small advantage.  There were plenty of upsides to conversion when you look at the power that it would confer.  So why the delay? Well, this was dangerous as hell.  I mean, things hadn’t exactly gone well from the Christian Kings in Anglo Saxon Britain, and this Christian God probably didn’t seem all that powerful.  If he was, why would powerful kings like Raedwald have gotten away with turning away from him… and why was only Kent Christian?  And if this god was so mighty, why was Edwin of Northumbria the Bretwalda rather than Eadbald of Kent?

The National Trust for Scotland Foundation USA is partnering up with the British History Podcast! This is huge for us! And it's also huge for Members! If you are a US Resident and become a Yearly Member (or when your Yearly Membership Renews next year) you will get a complimentary year with the National Trust of Scotland Foundation USA! This means that in addition to keeping the this project going, and of course getting Member material (like bonus episodes on Celtic myths, King Arthur, and other interesting tidbits), you'll also get... Free admission to over 129 properties owned by the National Trust for Scotland Free admission to more than 300 properties in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland owned by The National Trust Free admission to other worldwide properties, including The National Trust for Historic Preservation (USA), The Bermuda National Trust, Heritage Canada, The New Zealand Historic Places Trust, and The National Trust of Australia Free subscription to Scotland in Trust, the NTS's award-winning magazine Free car parking at National Trust for Scotland sites when displaying your membership sticker and Discount admission to Whisky Live (http://www.whiskylive.com/) and who doesn't love Whisky? This is a pretty big deal of the show, and I'm so excited that our scrappy little community has gotten the attention of such an important organization! Thanks everyone!

106 – If You Give Edwin an Inch…

Alright, so when we last left Edwin he was installed as King of Northumbria by King Raedwald, Bretwalda. And he had wielded his newly granted power to exact revenge upon King Ceretic of Elmet, probably in response to the British King poisoning Edwin’s Nephew. But for as powerful as Edwin was in the north, Raedwald was the true power in Britain. He was referred to Rex Anglorum by Bede… King of the Angles. And he was certainly that. But unfortunately, the battle at the river Idle is the last entry we have about Raedwald. He just vanishes. So lets hit pause on him for a minute and look south. To Raedwald’s neighbors in Essex. Support the Show

Alright, so when we last left Edwin he was installed as King of Northumbria by King Raedwald, Bretwalda.  And he had wielded his newly granted power to exact revenge upon King Ceretic of Elmet, probably in response to the British King poisoning Edwin’s Nephew.  But for as powerful as Edwin was in the north, Raedwald was the true power in Britain.  He was referred to Rex Anglorum by Bede… King of the Angles.  And he was certainly that.  But unfortunately, the battle at the river Idle is the last entry we have about Raedwald.  He just vanishes.  So lets hit pause on him for a minute and look south.  To Raedwald’s neighbors in Essex.   Do you remember King Saebert’s three sons?  They were the Pagan Kings who ruled Essex following Saebert’s death.  As you might remember, they controlled both Essex as well as London but it looks like they were rather ambitious.  So in 617, only a year after the Battle at the River Idle, the warbands of the East Saxons clashed with the West Saxons… quite possibly over Surrey.   Now let me say this.  Surrey is beautiful  It really is.  However, they might have regretted their choice because in that battle all three fantastically named kings of Essex, King Sexred, King Saeward, and (probably) King Seaxbald were killed in battle.  Leaving Saeward’s son, Sigeberht, as the sole King of the East Saxons.  And Surrey was still under the control of the West Saxons.  And even worse, this defeat brought an end to the charming tradition of Sex names.   Oh well.   And then things were quiet for a bit… until there was a wedding.   You see, at some point in this period, Edwin married AEthelburh, the daughter of King Aethelberht of Kent and the sister of the current King of Kent, Eadbald.  That’s a pretty good marriage for the new king of Northumbria.  Kent was powerful, and by marrying AEthelburh, he was also tying himself in with the Merovingians of Frankia.  Don’t forget that her mother, the former Queen of Kent, was Bertha, the daughter of the King of Paris.  So through this union, hopefully Edwin’s children would have the support of the Franks.  That’s a pretty smart move.  And as incentive for the marriage to take place, Edwin apparently said that he would consider converting to Christianity.  Not that he WOULD convert, only that he’d consider it.  But hey, it’s a start.  And he’d allow AEthelburh to bring a priest with her.  Which should remind you of how the conversion of King AEthelberht of Kent started.  So the new Queen of Northumbria brought an Italian priest by the name of Paulinus with her, and we’re told that Paulinus was "a man tall of stature, a little stooping, with black hair and a thin face, a hooked and thin nose, his aspect both venerable and awe-inspiring."

Get your pencils ready, grab a pint, and get ready for another pub quiz!

Get your pencils ready, grab a pint, and get ready for another pub quiz!