Location of the Battle of Brunanburh is pinpointed

Daily Mail Online ^ | November 20, 2017 | Phoebe Weston

[SunkenCiv]

He gives six main reasons as evidence for the battle's location in South Yorkshire:

1. The region south of York was the centre of conflict between the Northumbrians and the West Saxon kings during the second quarter of the 10th century.
2. ...the case for Bromborough being the location of the battle 'rests on the name alone'... Bromborough is not mentioned in the 1086 Domesday Book and doesn't appear until the 12th century.
3. There are also doubts about whether Brunanburh should be spelt with a single or double 'n', as it was by several 10th and 11th century chroniclers. Altering the spelling to a double 'n' and Brunnanburh changes the Old English meaning from 'Bruna's fort' to 'the fort at the spring', which could refer to Robin Hood's Well.
4. ...highlights a poem in 1122 in which John of Worcester reported Anlaf's fleet landed in the Humber, the opposite side of the country to the Wirral.
5. ...a lost 10th century poem quoted by William of Malmesbury says the Northumbrians submitted to the invaders at or near York, implying the invaders were in Yorkshire in the prelude to the battle.
6. An early Northumbrian source, the Historia Regum, gives an alternative name for the battle site - Wendun... this could be interpreted as 'the dun by the Went' or 'Went Hill' in south Yorkshire, near to Robin Hood's Well.

[SunkenCiv]

The search for King Athelstan takes us from the coasts of Devon to the dramatic fortress of Dunnottar in Scotland. In Durham Michael Wood discovers the splendid royal treasure given to St Cuthbert. In Hampshire he traces the bounds of the estate Athelstan gave to his armour bearer. Programme in the form of "a historical detective story" (Radio Times) in which Michael Wood attempts to trace the story of the founder of the first British Empire, King Athelstan, who reigned between AD 925 and 939. Within the Malmesbury Abbey lies the tomb of King Athelstan. He is believed to have been buried here after the people of Malmesbury showed him significant support at the Battle of Brananburh in 937AD. In which he defeated the Kings in Northern England & Scotland to become the first 'King of all England'. Upon his victory he donated 500 acres of land to the town and its people which is still owned by descendants to this day.

In Search of: Athelstan by Michael Wood [uploaded to YT August 11, 2019]

[SunkenCiv]

• The Battle of Brunanburh -- The Great Debate [05/06/2012]

[sauropod]

Just watched a video about this the other day. Thx!

[SunkenCiv]

My pleasure.

[wardaddy]

Poor Æthelstan

Always in gramps shadow

Arguably Saxon number two king wise...

Tomb empty....that I did not know

[SunkenCiv]

He's the one who finished his gramps' work, and built the English state, ending what has come to be known as the Heptarchy. That was some family. Hmm, come to think of it, technically I'm in that family. Aethelstan's level of field intel seems impressive for that era.