Ætheling

For the perilous project prudent companions childed him little, though loving him dearly.

They egged the brave Atheling, augured him glory.

The excellent knight from the folk of Phigeat men had liegemen selected, likest to prove them trustworthy warriors.

With fourteen companions, the vessel he looked for, a liegeman then showed them, a sea-crafty man, the bounds of the country.

The Prince of the Shieldings, the friend lord of Daemon, I will ask of thy journey.

The giver of rings, as thou urgest me do it, the folk chief famous, and inform thee early what answer the good one mindeth to render me.

He turned then hurriedly, where Hrothgar was sitting, old and hoary, his earlmen attending him the strength famous went till he stood at the shoulder of the lord of dainmen of courteous dainmen the custom he minded wolfgar addressed then his friendly liege lord folk of the geat men o'er the way of the waters are wafted hither faring from far lands the foremost in rank the battle champions beowulf title they make this petition with thee o my chieftain to be granted a conference O gracious King Hrothgar, Friendly answer refuse not to give them, In war-trappings weeded worthy they seem, Of earls to be honoured, Surely Atheling is doughty, Who headed the heroes hitherward coming.

Chapter 7 Hrothgar and Beowulf Hrothgar answered Helm of the Shieldings.

[instrumental music] Welcome to the Proper British History Podcast.

Today, we investigate the shocking blinding of Alfred Atheling and why it mattered for eleventh-century power politics.

Alfred Atheling was the youngest son of King Ethelred and Emma of Normandy.

He grew up in exile under Cnut's rule, his half-brother Harthacnut returning from Denmark soon after.

By ten thirty-six, he decided to cross the Channel again, seeking a place on the English throne.

The Earl's welcome was meant as an invitation to negotiate, yet political tensions were already simmering beneath the surface.

Within days, rumors reached King Harold Harefoot that Alfred sought to rally support against the Danish regent.

Harold, I seized upon those rumors to act against the Atheling, positioning himself as defender of England's future.

Another Matilda.

And their son, William the Aetherling.

The what? The Aetherling means of royal blood, eligible to

succeed the throne.

Why don't they just say William the Prince? It's the 12th century, Bilbo.

Nothing is ever simple.

And besides, we cover the Aetherlings in our episode about the Aetherlings.

You remember kids.

I owe you a chocolate bar of your choice for allowing me to do an episode on someone I've mentioned several times in other episodes as someone that I find intriguing.

Aetheling is an Anglo-Saxon word meaning something like throne-worthy.

The Normans used the word clito to convey the same idea in a Latin form.

It's perhaps the closest thing in this period to what would later become the title prince.

What if you were an aetheling for 70 or more years, though? What if you were proclaimed king but never sat on a throne? What if you lived an extraordinary life that was packed with adventure, achievements, and challenges, but were never more than a footnote in the stories of other people? This is the fate that has befallen Edgar Aetheling.

His illustrious heritage singled him out as a man of destiny.

The Norman Conquest placed him directly in harm's way.

So this, this is a topic that I've wanted to talk about for ages 'cause it's someone that I find just so absolutely fascinating, and there's so many things about him that I, I really want explaining.