The Bloodiest Anglo Saxon Royal Murders
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Looking for more shady and sinister stories? Sign up to History Hit. You can join us to explore the tragic life of the Brontes or discover the chilling story of Burke and Hare. Plus, with your History Hit subscription you'll unlock hundreds of hours of exclusive documentaries with a brand new release every week exploring everything from the ancient world to World War II. Just visit historyhit.com forward slash subscribe to start exploring the past. The year is 946 and King Edmund I of England has been murdered at the dinner table. Blood gushes from his wounds, men grapple across the mead hall as blades are drawn, cups crash to the floor and a royal feast descends into slaughter. But King Edmund's shocking murder at the age of only 25 is one killing in a world of bitter feuds, massacres and murdered monarchs.
In an era of warring Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, no one is safe, least of all the king. In today's episode, we're going to be investigating some of the most gruesome and impactful murders of this period. These deaths ended dynasties, whole royal bloodlines, started and ended wars and forever changed the course of history. From the chaos of Anglo-Saxon England, welcome to After Dark.
After Dark
Hello, everyone, and welcome to After Dark. I'm Maddie.
And I'm Anthony.
In today's episode, we're going to be exploring some of the most significant murders of the Anglo-Saxon period, and there were many, so buckle up. England as a kingdom began roughly in the 10th century, and it's fair to say that it was... an extremely volatile and violent place. Joining us to take us through some of these murders is the co-host of our sister podcast, Gone Medieval. Drumroll, please. It's Matt Lewis. Hello. That went a bit game show vibes
there. Medieval game show.
We will be playing Medieval Murders and the prize you will win is to survive.
Medieval Murders? No, I would definitely lose. Come here to me. This is one of the things where we were talking earlier about the medieval period. And when you're an expert in medieval time period, it's a big old span. And, you know, we talk about the long 18th century and stuff, but it's still only 120 odd years, whereas you guys go across centuries.
You've got to know a lot of stuff in this time period, Matt. There's a lot.
So where does the Anglo-Saxon... fit into the medieval? Yeah, we try and claim
at least a millennium. I'll give it to you. I try
and fight Tristan. It makes my job
easier. The Anglo-Saxon period sits after the evacuation of Britain by the Roman Empire. So they kind of leave culminating kind of 410. They begin to withdraw military protection for Roman citizens in Britain. And that creates a huge vacuum of power. And from around about 450, we think, onwards, we get the arrival of tribes who are called the Angles, the Saxons and the Jutes.
The poor Jutes never get a look in, do they? They completely
get lost in all of this. But there's very definitely significant numbers of Angles, Saxons and Jutes coming over. And they're coming from what today is northern Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, places like that. What we're not clear about is precisely why they come. Do they see somewhere that is vulnerable because the Roman Empire has left and think, looks like a great place to attack, let's give it a go. There is also some hint that they're coming over as paid mercenaries.
Are these mercenaries that they're paid for by the Britons, the Romani British that are left behind?
I think there's a sense that the Britons are feeling like they need some kind of protection, that things are getting a little bit chaotic
and
we need some muscle to come in and help look after us, help to defend territories. Because what does it mean when Rome no longer rules the whole of Britain? It's fragmenting, it's breaking up everywhere. You've got to try and cling on to something.
And
there's some sense that they're talking to the Angles, Saxons and the Jutes saying, if we pay you, can you come over? And they're like, yeah, absolutely fine. Once they get here, they're like, ooh. This might be a little bit more interesting than we thought it
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–4:48
2
What happened in Britain after the Romans left in the 5th century?
4:48–10:55
3
How did the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes establish the early Anglo‑Saxon kingdoms?
10:55–20:56
4
What legal and communal systems existed to curb violence in Anglo‑Saxon England?
20:56–41:49
5
Why is Edward the Martyr’s murder considered a medieval whodunit?
41:49–52:09