Anglo Saxon Kings Trivia

1. Etherlred is usually known as "the Unready", but his descriptive name was actually "Unraed". What does this mean?

From Quiz Ethelred the Unready

Answer: ill-advised

The churchmen who wrote the chonicles of the time were labeling Ethelred as one who listened to bad counsel, but the name was also a word play on his first name. That's what makes Ethelred the Unready stand out in the list of Anglo-Saxon kings.

From Quiz Emma of Normandy

Answer: Aethelred the Unready

Emma married Aethelred the Unready ("Ill Counseled") in 1002. When she came to England, she was Aethelred's second wife. His previous wife had given him at least eight children, some of whom may have been close to her in age at the time of the marriage!

From Quiz Æthelred: Friends, Family and Foes

Answer: Ælthryth

Ælthryth or Elfrida was queen consort of King Edgar, who had died in 975. Ælthryth believed that her son Æthelred (only 10 years old in 978), had a better claim to the throne than her step-son Edward, as both Æthelred's parents had been crowned and consecrated. It is alleged that she plotted the murder, and according to Henry of Huntingdon, actually did the deed herself ... He states that Edward "was treasonably slain by his own family ... it is reported that his stepmother, that is the mother of King Æthelred, stabbed him with a dagger while she was in the act of offering him a cup to drink.". Æthelred was consecrated king a fortnight after Easter at Kingston. However, later in the year " a cloud red as blood was seen frequently with the appearance of fire usually about midnight ... and at the first streak of dawn it vanished". The omens were not good for Æthelred.

From Quiz Late Cerdic Dynasty: 2

Answer: Cenfus was the father of Aescwine

Both of these Kings had very brief reigns, and the information we possess about them is sketchy, to say the least. It's thought that Aescwine made his mark by successfully repelling the forces of Wulfhere of Mercia, at the Battle of Bedwin.

From Quiz Anglo-Saxon Kings and Queens

Answer: Alfred

Yes, it's Alfred, who ruled from 871-99. He was an inventor, sailor, military strategist, translator and philosopher - but he never burnt any cakes. Sorry!

From Quiz Alfred the Great

Answer: Vikings

The Battle of Edington in 878 was the only defeat of a whole Viking army by an English king. Northumbria, East Anglia and Mercia had all been overrun.

From Quiz Ethelred the Unready

Answer: Ethelred's mother

When King Edgar died, the ruling council was at odds over which son should succeed his father. When the older son, Edward, from the king's first marriage, was chosen, Edgar's second wife, Elfrida, did not take the decision well. She invited the teenaged Edward to visit her at Corfe Castle, then had several henchmen shoot him with arrows as he approached. Later, St. Dunstan gave this as the reason the Ethelred's reign was so cursed.

From Quiz Harold, the Last Saxon King

Answer: Brother-in-law

Edward the Confessor was married to Harold's sister, Edith. The marriage was a most unusual one for several reasons. First, Edward hated Edith's father, Earl Godwin, so it is strange that he married his enemy's daughter. Second, Edward had shown an inclination to become a monk and perhaps remain chaste forever. Certainly, there were many (unsubstantiated) rumors that Edward and Edith's marriage was not consummated, and Edith never bore him any children. Finally, Edward was, in all probability, old enough to be Edith's father! (Barlow, "Edward the Confessor," 1979). He is also the patron saint of kings - and of difficult marriages. (See Wikipedia, "Edward the Confessor").

From Quiz Emma of Normandy

Answer: Alfred and Goda

Emma's first son became king and was known as Edward the Confessor. Alfred died a horrible death (his eyes were "put out") at the hands of Canute's son Harold Harefoot. Her daughter Goda married twice: first, Drogo of Mantes, count of the Véxin; second, Eustace II, count of Boulogne.

From Quiz Æthelred: Friends, Family and Foes

Answer: Olaf Tryggvasson

Olaf Tryggvasson led a fleet of 93 ships which ravaged the East coast from Sandwich to Ipswich. He then turned back South to the river Blackwater near Maldon in Essex, where he defeated Byrhtnoth of Essex, after which he received 10,000 pounds of silver, and again in 994 this time accompanied by Swein Forkbeard, he attacked London, Essex, Kent, Hampshire and Sussex and received 16,000 pounds in silver. In 995 he returned to Norway where he sized power and became King. In 1000 Olaf was ambushed by a fleet led by Swein Forkbeard and defeated at the battle of Svolder, Olaf is said to have thrown himself overboard when his ship the 'Long Serpent' was overwhelmed and he saw that all was lost.

From Quiz Late Cerdic Dynasty: 2

Answer: Cynegils

It is likely that Centwine ended his reign by abdicating and entering the priesthood.

From Quiz Ruling England 1 - Early Cerdic Dynasty

Answer: Germanic

Cerdic was from a Germanic tribe which hailed from the north-west of Germany. He landed in England in 495AD, and captured a significant portion of of the south-west of mainland Britain. On his death he was succeeded by his son, Cynric.

From Quiz Anglo-Saxon Kings and Queens

Answer: Edgar

Edgar was nicknamed 'the Peaceable', and many kings tried to be just like him, including Cnut.

From Quiz Alfred the Great

Answer: youngest

Alfred had four elder brothers and in a more peaceful time, might never have become king.

From Quiz Emma of Normandy

Answer: Aelfgifu

Emma was given the Anglo-Saxon name Aelfgifu, which was most ironic as her second husband Canute's mistress was also named Aelfgifu.

From Quiz Æthelred: Friends, Family and Foes

Answer: Emma

Emma, sister of Richard II Duke of Normandy married Æthelred in 1002. Æthelred and Emma had three children, one of them the future king Edward the Confessor. On Æthelred's death she married king Cnut, their son Harthacanute ruled England for two years 1040-1042. Through his great-aunt, William Duke of Normandy would have one avenue to his claim of the crown of England.

From Quiz Late Cerdic Dynasty: 2

Answer: Rome

After a successful career as a conqueror, Caedwalla suddenly abdicated in 686 to go on a pilgrimage to Rome. This was most probably as he feared for his life after being wounded. He managed to fulfil his aim of being baptized in Rome, then died a short while later.

From Quiz Anglo-Saxon Kings and Queens

Answer: Emma

Yes it's Emma, who married Aethelred the Unready, and later, the Danish conqueror Cnut who displaced him. Crafty! Her two ruling sons were Harthacnut and Edward the Confessor. Aelfgifu of Northampton was Cnut's first wife who ruled Norway as his regent for a time, and gave birth to his son Harald Harefoot. A praise poem called the 'Encomium of Emma the Queen' is our main source for her life - and a great read too!

From Quiz Alfred the Great

Answer: Winchester

Winchester was the capital of Alfred's ancestral kingdom of Wessex. It stayed the home of the royal treasury for centuries.

From Quiz Ethelred the Unready

Answer: Danegeld

On six different occasions Ethelred handed over payments to the Danes. The total probably amounted to 160,000 pounds of silver.

From Quiz Harold, the Last Saxon King

Answer: Wessex

After Earl Godwin's death, Harold was 'promoted' to the earldom of Wessex. Wessex was a particularly important earldom, as it had been the ancient seat for the Saxon kings in the past. Wessex was a rich and plentiful region, and Harold's appointment to this region consolidated his position as the most powerful man in England, save only the king. (Clemoes, "The Anglo Saxons," 1959)

From Quiz Æthelred: Friends, Family and Foes

Answer: Swein Forkbeard

Swein Forkbeard was the son of Harald Bluetooth. Swein had raided in England in the early 990's but in 1003 he attacked England allegedly in response to the St Brice's Day massacre, in which his sister Gunhild was killed. Wessex and East Anglia bore the brunt of his attack, so much damage was done that a famine occurred and in 1005 the Danes were forced to return to Denmark. Further attacks were carried out by his Jarls, 1006-07 and 1009-12. Swein came back to England with his army in 1013 and eventually conquered England forcing king Æthelred to flee to Normandy. Swein was declared king of England on Christmas day 1013, but on February 3rd 1014 he died. His son Harald, succeeded him as king of Denmark, the other son Cnut, who was with him in England, was proclaimed king of England by the Danish fleet but was forced to return to Denmark when Æthelred returned in the spring of that year.

From Quiz Anglo-Saxon Kings and Queens

Answer: Aethelred the Unready

I'm sure you knew that! Alfred's nickname means 'truth-teller', 'Edgar's 'the Peaceable' and Edmund's refers to his armour, extensive for the time. For the uninitiated, 'unready' really comes from the Old English 'unraed' and means 'no counsel' or more specially "unadvised". Another interesting fact about Athelred is that he managed to clock up about fifteen children between his two wives.

From Quiz Ethelred the Unready

Answer: The approach of the year 1000 AD

Most people in Ethelred's day had no idea what year it was, but the Monks who wrote the chronicles did. Ever since the Veneralble Bede, they had been noting dates with Anno Domini (Year of our Lord), so they grew wary as the big One Triple-Oh approached. Some Bible texts appeared to hint that Christ's rule on Earth would last a thousand years, so some churchmen thought their time was up.

From Quiz Harold, the Last Saxon King

Answer: His mother hated him

Harold had a "Danish wife," Edith Swanneck, for nearly twenty years. Danish wives were not accepted by the church, and were relegated to mistress status by the clergy. Rich or powerful men, then, could "marry" one woman for the sake of love, and another for politics or property. Harold and Edith had at least six children. By many accounts, Harold enjoyed a cordial relationship with most members of his family. (Walker, "Harold," 1997)

From Quiz Emma of Normandy

Answer: Hardicanute and Gunhilda

Hardicanute became King of Denmark upon his father's death. He later also became King of England. He ruled for a very short period, was thoroughly hated, and died at a wedding feast. Gunhilda married Henry III, King of Germany. He was the son the Holy Roman Emperor, Conrad II.

From Quiz Æthelred: Friends, Family and Foes

Answer: Ulfcytel

In 1004, after plundering Norwich the Danes had moved to Thetford, meanwhile Ulfcytel had gathered what forces he could and ordered the raiders ships to be destoyed (an order that was not carried out). The Danes plundered and burned the town of Thetford, the next morning they were surprised to see Ulfcytel blocking their path, battle ensued and both sides took heavy casualties, but the Danes won the day and returned to their ships. "As the enemy said themselves, that they never met with worse hand-play in England than Ulfcytel brought them." (Extract from the 'Anglo-Saxon Chronicle'). He fought another hard battle at Ringmere in 1010 with the same result. Ulfcytel was killed at the battle of Ashingdon in 1016. He was given the name Snillingr (the valiant), and East Anglia is referred to as Ulfcytel's land in the Norse 'Heimskringla'.

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