The rise of Alfred the Great
HistoryExtra podcast
04/11/26
•44m
About
Comments
Featured In
As the Viking Great Heathen Army refused to leave Anglo-Saxon England, the pressure mounted on the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms to respond, placing the future of the land in the hands of Alfred the Great. In this second episode of our four-part Sunday Series on the Viking invasion of ninth-century England, James Osborne and historian Dr Eleanor Barraclough explore the regions overrun by Viking forces and the rise of Alfred the Great amid the collapse of Anglo-Saxon resistance.
–––––
GO BEYOND THE PODCAST
To deepen your understanding of this pivotal moment in Viking and Anglo-Saxon history, James Osborne has selected some essential reading and listening from our archives: https://bit.ly/412VTIB
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Previous Episode
Stalin's murderous vendetta against Trotsky
April 9
•38m
Mexico City, August 1940: a study door closes, an ice axe is raised and the Bolshevik Revolution’s greatest exile meets his grisly end. But what led to this dramatic moment? Danny Bird speaks to Josh Ireland about Josef Stalin’s mortal enemy and the story behind their deadly rivalry. From his affair with artist Frida Kahlo to the pitiless destruction of his family, Josh explains how this is a story of exile, obsession and the long reach of totalitarian power.
-----
GO BEYOND THE PODCAST
Trotsky’s assassination was one of the most brutal and shocking in history – but it's far from the only example of a leader meeting a grisly end. From Julius Caesar and Indira Gandhi to Empress Sisi of Austria and Martin Luther King, read our list of the 50 assassinations that changed the world: https://bit.ly/4t2JFLL
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Next Episode
How Tudor London inspired literary genius
April 12
•40m
In the bustling streets of Elizabethan London, a vibrant community of writers helped shape the future of the English language and literature. From poets seeking noble patronage to playwrights hustling for the hottest theatre stages, these wordsmiths navigated rivalry, collaboration, public critique, and bursts of creative genius. In this episode, Emily Briffett is joined by Dr Brett Greatley-Hirsch as they dive into the world that produced Shakespeare, Marlowe, and countless other literary voices. Who were the people behind the plays and pamphlets that captivated a growing urban audience? And what do their feuds and friendships reveal about the pressures and passions of literary life in the late 16th century?
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
If you like this episode you’ll love
Promoted