The Tudors Dynasty podcast.

Learning about all aspects of royal history has always been important to me.

While the Tudors may be the area I have focused on for many years,

it's learning about the other monarchs and eras that helps me to understand

why they made the choices they did,

to learn of the events that influenced their decisions.

It's because of this that I have chosen a few of my favorite events

from this week in royal history,

December 18th through the 25th.

Anglo-Saxon England was a harsh living environment.

If you've ever watched Netflix's The Last Kingdom, you'll know what I'm talking about.

The constant invasion and devastation by the Danes appeared almost commonplace.

Let's think about that for a second.

Try to imagine that you are a regular commoner in England in the 10th or 11th century.

And the news of one country or another invading was constantly on the lips of the town gossips.

But what would that uncertainty look like?

Would you even know when you had a new king?

Today we begin our journey under the rule of King Canute in the early 11th century.

Canute, much like William of Normandy, landed on English shores and fought the king's army.

Edmund II was King of England when Canute invaded, and he fought hard to save his kingdom.

But after months and months of battle, the king was wounded. He agreed to a

treaty. He would keep England south of the Thames, including London, and Canute could have the rest.

...