Alfred the Great – Thijs Porck

26 Jun 20174 Aug 2018 thijsporck Alfred the Great, Anglo-Saxon anecdotes, The Last Kingdom (BBC)

Kings and Candlesticks in Anglo-Saxon England

Three early medieval English kings had a thing for candlesticks. From candle clocks to candle chastisement.

4 May 201631 Dec 2018 thijsporck Alfred the Great, Doctor Who (BBC), Medievalism, Old English

Lǣce Hwā: Doctor Who and Alfred the Great

The TARDIS occasionally found its way to early medieval England and these visits of the nation’s most beloved ‘Time Lord’ can also teach us something about Anglo-Saxon history and the Old English language. This post focuses on Alfred the Great and is the second of a series of three blogs that deal with the visits of … Continue reading Lǣce Hwā: Doctor Who and Alfred the Great

12 Nov 201531 May 2020 thijsporck Alfred the Great, Medievalism, Paris Psalter, The Last Kingdom (BBC)

Arseling: A Word Coined by Alfred the Great?

This blog post discusses the origins and use of the word 'arseling' in Old English, where it occurs as 'earsling'. There may be a surprising connection to none other than King Alfred the Great himself!

29 Oct 201531 May 2020 thijsporck Alfred the Great, BL, Royal 12 D XVII, Medieval medicine, Medievalism, The Last Kingdom (BBC)

Passion, Piles and a Pebble: What Ailed Alfred the Great?

The second episode of The Last Kingdom (UK airdate: Thursday, 29 October, 9 pm, BBC 2) introduces Prince Alfred, who would later become King Alfred the Great (d. 899). In his first scene, Alfred is portrayed as a man tormented both physically (because of his health) and morally (because of his lustful feelings towards the … Continue reading Passion, Piles and a Pebble: What Ailed Alfred the Great?