The Secret Life of Anglo-Saxons
May. 7th, 2006 09:57 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
highlyeccentricJust spent two hours making a mind map come family tree of the various anglo-saxon royal houses and their conversions to Christianity. It's as good as a soap opera; people marrying pagans, people converting, going apostate, reconverting, banishing bishops, destroying idols, killing their in-laws... you name it, they had it.
Did you know that King Cynegils of Wessex was simultaenously the godson and the father-in-law of King Oswald of Northumbria?
Or that his son Ceadwalh decided paganism was more fun, until he was reconverted by King Anna of Essex? (yes. king Anna. poor man. but he was a good evangelist) Ceadwalh then accepted Bishop Aigilbert, a Frank, as Bishop in his territory. He soon got jack of Aigilbert, who didn't speak English, and booted him out in favour of Wine. But he got sick of Wine as well, and booted HIM out. Wine went and paid Wulfhine of Mercia for the see of London, and Ceadwalh sent a letter to Aigilbert begging him to come back. Aigilbert replied that no, he was much happier being Bishop of Paris, but being the kind fellow he was he sent his nephew instead. Who didn't speak english either, so THAT wasn't much of an improvement.
Oswy of Northumbria decided to marry his daughter to Paeda son of Penda of Mercia, on the condition that Paeda was baptised. Paeda was, with Oswy's son Aldfrith as his godfather. Then Oswy killed his daughter's new father-in-law, Penda, and Paeda married HIS sister to Aldfrith, making Aldfrith simultaenously Paeda's godfather and brother in law.
and for scandalous Anglo-Saxon News: King Aethelbert of Kent decided to marry his daughter Ethelberga, known to her friends as 'tata' (poor child) to Edwin of Northumbria, on the condition that Edwin was baptised. He sent Bishop Paulinus to this effect. But *shock* Edwin was NOT baptised; he and Tata got married some other how and had a big bouncing baby, and a year later Edwin was still not baptised. Pope Gregory I had to personally write a letter to Tata telling her off, and one to Edwin outlining the advantages of Christianity, before the situation could be remedied.
Did you know that King Cynegils of Wessex was simultaenously the godson and the father-in-law of King Oswald of Northumbria?
Or that his son Ceadwalh decided paganism was more fun, until he was reconverted by King Anna of Essex? (yes. king Anna. poor man. but he was a good evangelist) Ceadwalh then accepted Bishop Aigilbert, a Frank, as Bishop in his territory. He soon got jack of Aigilbert, who didn't speak English, and booted him out in favour of Wine. But he got sick of Wine as well, and booted HIM out. Wine went and paid Wulfhine of Mercia for the see of London, and Ceadwalh sent a letter to Aigilbert begging him to come back. Aigilbert replied that no, he was much happier being Bishop of Paris, but being the kind fellow he was he sent his nephew instead. Who didn't speak english either, so THAT wasn't much of an improvement.
Oswy of Northumbria decided to marry his daughter to Paeda son of Penda of Mercia, on the condition that Paeda was baptised. Paeda was, with Oswy's son Aldfrith as his godfather. Then Oswy killed his daughter's new father-in-law, Penda, and Paeda married HIS sister to Aldfrith, making Aldfrith simultaenously Paeda's godfather and brother in law.
and for scandalous Anglo-Saxon News: King Aethelbert of Kent decided to marry his daughter Ethelberga, known to her friends as 'tata' (poor child) to Edwin of Northumbria, on the condition that Edwin was baptised. He sent Bishop Paulinus to this effect. But *shock* Edwin was NOT baptised; he and Tata got married some other how and had a big bouncing baby, and a year later Edwin was still not baptised. Pope Gregory I had to personally write a letter to Tata telling her off, and one to Edwin outlining the advantages of Christianity, before the situation could be remedied.
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Date: 2006-05-07 12:48 pm (UTC)A quadruple serving of kudos heading your way.
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Date: 2006-05-07 12:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-05-07 12:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-05-07 12:57 pm (UTC)but glad to hear you appreciate my writing :)