Welcome to the British History Podcast.

My name is Jamie and this is Episode 315.

Athel Red, the cracks in the foundation.

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Quote, under Athel Red, nothing was done.

Or more truly, throughout his whole reign, he left undone those things he ought to have

done, and he did those things he ought not to have done.

End quote.

That's the damning conclusion of Edward Augustus Freeman.

The Victorian historian and epic beard grower.

And if you're a lit nerd, you might also know the saying, quote, if you once have paid

him the dain-geld, you never get rid of the dain.

And that's a line from no other than the famous Victorian writer Rudyard Kipling.

And he was talking about Athel Red.

And you might be catching a theme here.

The Victorians were not fans of Athel Red.

But they really did love the misunderstood nickname, Unred.

...