Ten Minute English and British History #04 -Alfred the Great and the Rise of Wessex
Twitter: / tenminhistory
Patreon: www.patreon.com/user?u=4973164
This episode follows the end of the Mercian Supremacy and follows the achievements of Alfred the Great of Wessex. Most of the focus is on Alfred's conflict with the Vikings and his reforms at home which were the foundations upon which an England was built.
Ten Minute English and British History is a series of short, ten minute animated narrative documentaries that are designed as revision refreshers or simple introductions to a topic. Please note that these are not meant to be comprehensive and there's a lot of stuff I couldn't fit into the episodes that I would have liked to. Thank you for watching, though, it's always appreciated.
Пікірлер: 732
Just to let everyone know, the rest of the videos in this series beginning with Episode #05 will be released on Fridays from now on. It's mainly algorithm stuff but the episodes that I've previously released on a Friday have done better than those on a Monday.
@jamesronaldo2855
6 жыл бұрын
Ten Minute History ight nigga
@decades1912
6 жыл бұрын
That's fine; keep up the great work! :)
@joeylennon9358
6 жыл бұрын
Where's the videos at
@jamesronaldo2855
6 жыл бұрын
Where dat shit at doe
@decades1912
6 жыл бұрын
I don't want to sound aggresive, but I would like an explanation for why you didn't upload on the 20th. I understand if you wanted a break or you were sick or whatever; we just want an explanation.
I am Uhtred, son of Uhtred! Born a Saxon, but raised as a Dane by my captor the Jarl Ragnar! And I seek what is mine: the city of Bebanburg, my rightful lands, taken by my uncle.
@chubalongchar71
4 жыл бұрын
Destiny is all
@sjewitt22
4 жыл бұрын
@@chubalongchar71 Still haven't watched season 3. I need to get on that.
@630bomber
4 жыл бұрын
Can't wait for season 4
@HellbirdIV
4 жыл бұрын
@@sjewitt22 Damn Netflix only has Seasons 1 and 2 viewable in my country! Just finished it the other week and thoroughly enjoyed it despite its high melodrama, really looked forward to season 3...
@francismagnusson378
4 жыл бұрын
fuck yeah
“And it is worth remembering that of all the Kings to rule this land he is the only one to ever be called, ‘The Great’.” Perhaps my favorite ending to any historical video I’ve ever seen, chilling
@fredbarker9201
2 жыл бұрын
Cnut mad rn
@posniknelb6114
2 жыл бұрын
Yes, I think you forgot Canute/cnut the great mate👍Fun fact . Knutsford in Cheshire is named after him.
@user-qi6tp1te1y
2 жыл бұрын
Cnut the great
@user-qi6tp1te1y
2 жыл бұрын
And Alfred would in modern day would be Alfred the okay
@Hugh_Morris
2 жыл бұрын
@@fredbarker9201 Cnut was a Danish king
"ok I'll surrender, what are your conditions?" "Aite so I'm gonna be ur new dad"
@Captain_Titus3867
3 жыл бұрын
Imagine adopting a man probably older than you , with a full grown beard. 🤣
@thelmaviaduct
2 жыл бұрын
@@Captain_Titus3867 kinda kinky
"Obey God or the Vikings will get you" - Alfred the Great
@hagrid1123
3 жыл бұрын
When did they say that lol
@Sam-gf6ue
3 жыл бұрын
@@hagrid1123 on a nationwide tv broadcast in 885.
@robgau2501
3 жыл бұрын
The truth: "Either way, the Vikings are going to get you. "
@MeatGoblin88
3 жыл бұрын
yeah and he was absolutely right
@davidtownsend6092
3 жыл бұрын
Just as true today as it was in the 9th century
As someone who is not English, King Alfred seems like a more inspiring figure than King Arthur. Less mythical and more real.
@pushingprofound2064
6 ай бұрын
Totally. Alfred's legacy is incredible. I first heard his story on Hacks From the Past podcast and I've been on a deep dive ever since.
"It will not be written that Alfred did stand on Uhtred's shoulders. Many times."
@pandabear4565
3 жыл бұрын
Although we know it to be true
@lgbtqisahategroup9781
Жыл бұрын
@@pandabear4565 … um… it’s not.
@ASillyHistoryBuff
Жыл бұрын
@@lgbtqisahategroup9781 you must be fun at parties
@AC-hj9tv
Жыл бұрын
My feels
@freja9398
3 ай бұрын
@@lgbtqisahategroup9781Although Uhtred wasn't a historical character there were likely many many loyal people like him serving Alfred and other kings, without ever being mentioned in the history.
from what i understand, alfred isnt called the great because of his miliary victories but because he was a true christian king. when he defeated his enemies, he didnt slaughter or enslave them as was the habit of the time, instead he gave them the choice to become his subjects protected under law, which meant that the vikings werent wiped out in england but instead became steadfast supporters of the english realm. theres a story i was told that exemplifies alfred: his army was besiging an enemy castle and his army had captured the young son of the the lord of the castle. it was usual to demonstate hopelessness of the beseiged by maiming of hostages. usually the son would have been made blind and tortured in front of the castle walls. instead alfred showed the son to the castle walls but rather than torturing alfred played conkers with the boy and taught him chess. this was astonishing behaviour. when the seige was ended there was no looting or pillaging, and the lord was allowed to remain so long as he pledged fealty, which he did with tears of gratitude. in later years the boy became one of alfreds most loyal ministers. This and other reasons is why he was called great. Mercy, compassion, intelligence.
Here's the Alfred the Great Episode. I was at first cautious of making an episode devoted essentially to one man but given his importance, it was almost impossible not to. Next episode is the Danelaw so all of the information on the Vikings which isn't covered in this episode will be covered in the next. Thanks for watching.
@toomachoba6370
6 жыл бұрын
Hello can please add reading material to your other videos? THX
@robertjarman3703
6 жыл бұрын
Ten Minute History How does a Viking communicate with Aelfred the Great? (Joke)
@stephenbowden9084
6 жыл бұрын
Great video , loving the series so far
@Ruminations09
6 жыл бұрын
+Ten Minute History Are you going to do a similar thing for William the Conqueror?
@HistoryMatters
6 жыл бұрын
The Norman Conquest is Episode 08 and it comes out November 6th.
"1066: Oh no." Ha!
@ericliu2129
6 жыл бұрын
Merritt Animation 1939 Oh no
@sarahsecker-barker8801
4 жыл бұрын
Hi 👋 I need this just to lern🧇🤢🍕🌭🥞🥨🍔🍟💋👋💄🥐
@ahsanimam73
3 жыл бұрын
Sarah Secker-Barker Why all the emojis? Also, considering you can’t spell learn, watch a history video for young kids, well, not young, but not teen.
@cpj93070
3 жыл бұрын
@@pepsifrog420 Bullshit, they were french settlers from Norway.
@nick0875
3 жыл бұрын
William the Conqueror: "Bonjour."
Watching this British series really sheds light on the inspirations for game of thrones
@Deloowix
5 жыл бұрын
This is nothing compared to what inspired GOT though. The War of the Roses, which happened almost 500-600 years later, was the real inspiration for that. Wessex is considered boring compared to that. Afred is considered a pious christian king compared to the kings during that period
@KampfGruppeLehr88
5 жыл бұрын
The British people are a Warrior people, full of constant battles and we've slightly lost our ways, but when we were not fighting others, we were fighting ourselves.
@Spongebrain97
5 жыл бұрын
@@Deloowix yeah there is dude. The 7 kingdoms in Westeros are directly inspired by the 7 main Anglo saxons kingdoms in England. Also the andals are inspired by the anglos. Similar spelling and the fact that they migrated across a channel. The original celts/britons are what inspired the first men who first settled westeros
@roryodwyer6775
4 жыл бұрын
Trust me especially the stuff with Godwin (pretty much Tywin) and his son Harold Godwin (sort of like Jaim I guess but ) and his brother Toksig (who betrayed him twice once for Harold Hardrada a Viking king) in relation to Edward the confessor, and then u have William I rolling up, ye game of thrones
@nicholashutchinson9348
4 жыл бұрын
nick jack this video has nothing to do with game of thrones but the show the last kingdom is loosely based upon these events
"Pack your things nerd," the best sign in all of the series I seen yet.
3:32 Uhtred, is that you?
@DavidElendu
3 жыл бұрын
I didn't catch that at all, I hope the creator watches the last kingdom
@goodcomrade2949
3 жыл бұрын
It was
I love the chronicle, especially the 2 "oh, no" entries. Lol. 1066 was a big oh, no alright.
"To secure Mercian compliance, Alfred married his daughter..." Weird flex, but ok
@richardduff1999
4 жыл бұрын
I heard the same thing, which bothered me, too; but in re-playing it a few times, what is really being said is, " Alfred married his daughter...to the ruler of Mercia", which then made sense. Perhaps this producer/narrator could re-do that, saying something like, "married his daughter OFF to...", or gave his daughter to be married to..." But this tonight, 3/25/20, is the first time I have ever come across this site, and thank this man - whose name I did not catch, nor seem to be able at the moment to find - for this! He has done a real good job, even though he has to speak so fast to get it all in in 10 minutes! Richard Duff.
@TheOneGuy1111
3 жыл бұрын
@@richardduff1999 Oh, I misinterpreted that line as Alfred married the daughter of the ruler of Mercia, but looking it up, you're the one who's right.
@richardduff1999
3 жыл бұрын
@@TheOneGuy1111 Hello OneGuy, Apparently, there must be 2 Richard Duffs that sometimes post in here....and you must be writing to that other Richard Duff, because this that has come to me is nothing I know anything about, and am certainly not involved in. I have never heard of you before, or discussed this subject before, thus you have a big mystery, it looks like! How you solve it, I have no idea! "The other" Richard Duff!
@TheOneGuy1111
3 жыл бұрын
@@richardduff1999 ...Um, What? You absolutely are the same person I'm replying to, or at least, the same account. Nothing about my comment was referring to you or myself personally, I was merely referring to what you wrote in your comment, which itself was about part of the video that this is posted under. Maybe you've forgotten about this since you posted it a year ago, but all you have to do is look above my post in the comment chain to see the post that you wrote...
@richardduff1999
3 жыл бұрын
@@TheOneGuy1111 Well, I guess I did, after all! Sorry 'bout that. I completely forgot...and even now, do not remember this! But why, though, might you be just now, a whole year later, posting again?!....well, it's not important...unless it is to you!
Nothing like taking a break from my archaeology course... and watching history!
@MHG2000DK
6 жыл бұрын
Archaeology and history does go hand in hand
@Britain1251
6 жыл бұрын
Exactly, so I can justify this as work!
@tryingmybest206
6 жыл бұрын
The Walking Man do you think you'll ever make any money with archaeology?
@Britain1251
6 жыл бұрын
I live in the UK so as long as HS2 goes ahead there will be a severe shortage in archaeologists which should, in turn, lead to a pay increase for my profession. To be honest I do it because I love it, the money be damned.
@oliverschoneck7750
5 жыл бұрын
what is it like being an archaeologist what do you actually do?(from a high school student who is a huge history fan/nerd)
I'm watching this while in quarantine along with the last kingdom on Netflix 😅. Stay safe from North Carolina everyone!
@leorosenberg8604
3 жыл бұрын
same
@Nebulasecura
Жыл бұрын
Destiny is all!
(7:35) "Alfred interestingly begins his law code with a demand that all men keep the oaths they made..." Also interestingly, the first order of business upon the convening of the first session of the United States Congress were laws regarding the taking of oaths.
How you described Alfred as the sole 'Great' of England, somehow made me touched with it for a reason. Man, hope you can make a short documentary of the Glorious Revolution.
I'm impressed with how you're able to keep these exactly 10 minutes
When my father was working on the construction of the M11 motorway the job was put on hold as they discovered "dane holes" and the archaeologists had to come in.
Wait, where is Uhtred?
@HistoryMatters
6 жыл бұрын
He's there.
@charliesterns4353
6 жыл бұрын
3:34
@michaelmilburn911
6 жыл бұрын
Haha nice easter egg there
@tims9100
6 жыл бұрын
In real life though (just to be clear) he was not born yet
@scr3aming3agle83
6 жыл бұрын
Um...its Uhtred of Babbenburgh Thank you very much
I love you channel and this series in particular is especially great! the period between the fall of Rome and the 10th century has always been quite blurry to me and you are helping me clarifying at least one part of it! Keep it up
Alfred the great: "This Bible thing seems rather important, so I translated it so the people can know what it's about." Martin Luther: hmmm🤔
2:36 “I’m gonna to pay you $100 to fuck off" *Alfred the great king of Wessex*
I really enjoyed this one. Especially the ending, him being the only king ever to be called "the Great". I would love to see more episodes on singular people when you have the desire and time. Keep up the good work!
“Of all the Kings in this land , he’s the only one to be referred to as “the great.” Cnut: Am I a joke to you?
Love your channel! Watching someone run through the flowers will NEVER not bring a smile to my face!
"I’m gonna pay you $100 to fuck off" - *Alfred the great, king of Wessex*
Very good quality video, you deserve way more subscribers
Loving this series!
Really enjoying this series, good work mate!
Love this series, keep up the great work!
Love your videos! So glad they are coming fast and frequent now. Shout out for Wallingford!
I really appreciate that the last couple videos have been more chronological. It has hooked me into the channel, before I would just occasionally check if anything interesting had been released but now I am anxiously awaiting the next episode! I would suggest doing some videos on Chinese history. There isn't many indepth videos about chinese history on youtube so I think an animated type video would do really well.
Who else watching “the last kingdom”
@kalebdegroot7825
3 жыл бұрын
Eyyyyyyy.
@vojtechkorhon4159
3 жыл бұрын
I read The last kingdom. Does that count?
@sheadoherty7434
3 жыл бұрын
@@vojtechkorhon4159 sure. Its different from the show but its the original
@vojtechkorhon4159
3 жыл бұрын
@@sheadoherty7434 it's a pretty fun book
@sheadoherty7434
3 жыл бұрын
@@vojtechkorhon4159 I can imagine, would love to get into them but I gotta plenty of excuses but very few reasons
LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS SERIES!!!!
Very impressive writing indeed. Spectaular concission and ye gods, amazingly well timed. Well done guys!
assassin's creed valhalla is gonna jump up the views
@nicholashutchinson9348
4 жыл бұрын
Deion Goldsmith tbh this video actually got most of its views from The Last Kingdom (you can tell by all the comments about it)
@Danny-zn3nz
4 жыл бұрын
@Drew Madison Exactly. Why don't we go ahead and give the vikings bolt action rifles and turn Saxons into transexual green orcs? It's a fiction after all. God, people need to stop making everything historically accurate. IT'S JUST A VIDEO GAME. COME ON. I want to see those Scandinavians barrel roll out of the aircraft carrier and do a 360 no-scope on giant Saxon attack helicopters.
@tumatauenga6433
3 жыл бұрын
@Drew Madison Are you sure? Yes the games are works of fiction but they are based on factual events. Every assassins game I've played was somewhat of a history lesson. They're just remixed to include a fictitious character which is in someway involved in all major events in that era.
@tumatauenga6433
3 жыл бұрын
@Drew Madison But they are though the only thing that makes them fictitious is that all these events in history are spearheaded by the never ending struggle between the templars and assassins in their bid to unearth the secret of the precursors. Take that out and you're essentially playing history the game
@tumatauenga6433
3 жыл бұрын
@Drew Madison Because you said the games aren't meant to be historically accurate but they are even the fight between the templars and assassins depicted in the first game is historically accurate. The games dont change the course of history, they tell it how it is.. just with a little spice of their own like never ending warring factions and space alien McGuffin's Kind of like TV and movies based on "true events" it happened, just not like that.
I love your channel so much! Your videos are really helpful and make learning history fun!
this one was truly wonderful, thanks for the video, loved it!
Love these videos, keep up the great work!
This is GREAT stuff. Bravo
Excellent content, mate.
Great video! I love this channel!
Those were the days, not a cell phone in sight just people living in the moment
Splendid series
Thank you All the histories are from there
Wooo Jarrow got a mention. The ruins of the monastary are quite a good place to visit.
No way!... I guess I must have watched this one a few years ago, but I really missed hearing: James Bissonette, Kelly Moneymaker, Sky Chapelle, Booglywoogly, Spinning Three Plates, Maggie Patsowski, Charles 1st and Co at the end! Your Patreon shoutouts are verging on legendary!
I love Europe’s history, I really really want to visit someday..
I just checked I’ve watched all your videos .....please make more
That feeling when a local road gets name checked XD big up Watling Street!
That was awesome. You are awesome. Please keep being awesome.
Alfred, the only king of England to have the title 'The Great'... Cnut The Great: "Oh no!"
3:00 hahahaha Guthrum is like,, enyone home"😂😂😂😂
Best channel going
I like that final note '....the only one to have been known as 'the Great'...' How true and unlike others called '...the Great'. He wasn't a monster (Peter, Ivan, Frederick...)
@Nebulasecura
Жыл бұрын
Cnut was also known as the great but he wasn't technically an English birthright but a Dane.
@Ultimaton100
Жыл бұрын
Frederick wasn’t monstrous.
@rusoviettovarich9221
Жыл бұрын
@@Ultimaton100 He was gay as a goat
@Ultimaton100
Жыл бұрын
@@rusoviettovarich9221 And? That doesn’t make him a monster.
@rusoviettovarich9221
Жыл бұрын
@@Ultimaton100 Ah gee 'wokie' it does in eternity if he didn't repent....
Yarr! Yo-ho, I be a Norseman here to plunder and pillage ye monasteries! With me crew and me parrot I rove the Northern seas looking for worthy sacrifices for Odin's favor! Rrrrrrr!
@bepsi6204
6 жыл бұрын
They never had parrots dude
@Killzone742
6 жыл бұрын
Comrade Bepsi Marx They also didn't talk like blackbeard. It's a joke
@Usammityduzntafraidofanythin
6 жыл бұрын
Basically accurate.
@sweetlone8297
6 жыл бұрын
dude u on crack ?
@MeatyGorak
6 жыл бұрын
gay
"Of all the kings of this land he is the only one to be named the great" What about Cnut ? you know, the guy who really was the first king of all of that land.
@MrRooibos123
4 жыл бұрын
Cnut the Great wasn't from England. Maybe that's what he meant
@faithlesshound5621
3 жыл бұрын
Didn't he also rule Denmark, Norway and Sweden?
@jasonhight6703
3 жыл бұрын
The first king of England was Alfreds grandson Athelstan
@PrincessLockette
2 жыл бұрын
England had alot of kings that weren't english
Great stuff. Very funny.
A quick interjection at roughly 1:20! The last battle in dumnonia (I've seen conflicting reports of whether it was considered dumnonia or kernow at this point idk) was at Hingston down in North Cornwall on Kit hill where the Dumnonian and Viking armies rallied against the invading wessexians and were resoundingly defeated. Though oddly enough the king of Wessex allowed the king of dumnonia to swear fealty to him, retaining his land and titles and being named the Duke of Cornwall (or there abouts). This is largely considered to be maybe the first or at least the oldest continuous duchy in the UK
An old roman road called Watling Street. I assume that there is an episode covering Boudica and the Battle of Watling St. ? I'm new here.
"Say how great how I am." - Alfred The Great.
"What should we name the document about our new complex system of splitting up our lands into hides and army into burgs?" "The Burghal Hidage obviously"
Actually, all the Vikings that invaded England were called Danes, for example Eric Bloodaxe was of Norwegian royalty, but they still called the land he ruled the danelaw. The word Norse refers to the language(Old Norse) and the culture of the people of the time which was very similar to pre Christian Anglo-Saxon culture (Tiw, Woden and Thunor being the old English equivalents of Tyr, Woden and Thor). The Anglo-Saxons did not distinguish between the Vikings which is understandable as Scandinavians spoke the same language at the time. There was no Danish or Norwegian, just dialects. Even today, the Scandinavian languages enjoy a high level of mutual intelligibility, especially if the dialects are geographically close.
I'm coming here after finishing Vikings and Last Kingdom! LOL So of course I want to watch this!
I'm gonna go frolic through a field of daisies and screech "I'M SO GREAT!" now, because it's true. I am spectacular.
If you rotate Ireland 90 degrees counterclockwise it looks like a very shaggy dog or bear or similar creature.
the last kingdom minecraft version
Waaaaaaiiiit a minute. That's Uhtred at 3:33! You clever son of a gun.
I love his subtle jokes
Wow there is a ton of vids coming out! Hope you are still getting your sleep :)
Where's my main man Ragnar?
@leorosenberg8604
3 жыл бұрын
killing ceartan
“1066 - Oh no” great quote
NO MERCY FOR THE KING OF MERCIA, WOOOOOOOOOOOO
My family have always come from Wessex.Essex,Sussex,Middlesex East anglia and Mercia.
@AC-hj9tv
Жыл бұрын
Mine is from Norsex
He bravely paid Vikings to go away away ♪♫♬
im really fucking with how u dropping these episode so quickly appreciate it my nigga!
@TheRealOnlineAcc
6 жыл бұрын
Your Highness I think they produced them in advance
Narrator: "Of all the kings who ruled these lands Alfred is the only one ever called the Great." Cnut: "Am I a joke to you?"
Great video, as always, but there's a sound like a cricket through it.
DESTINY IS ALL.
Is the guy with the goatee in the throne room suppose to be Uhtred?? That would be awesome.
TY🙏🙏
3:35 Ayyyy that’s Uhtred
Alfred the great. Possibly the greatest englishmen to ever exist
Great vid, but I was wondering why you cited the fact that many of the intellectuals under Alfred's patronage were Mercians as evidence against Alfred's claim that British Christendom had experienced a sharp downturn in learning, but I don't see the causal link between these two statements. Am I missing something?
@krishenjalali3266
5 жыл бұрын
I guess as opposed to Alfred having outsourced many intellectuals from continental Europe.
Love the Anglo Saxon video.
Hmm... I can't help but notice that, throughout all this, the readily available Wales doesn't seem to have ever been fought over. What is the reason for this?
@jamesgillespie5529
6 жыл бұрын
id guess its because its quite hilly and hard to hold territory which wasnt that fertile. There where raids in wales but no real conquests by the vikings or anglo-saxons due to this.
Its a small detail, but it's worth noting that not all of Wessex spoke English or Latin, Cornwall still spoke Cornish (Kernewek) until the language became extinct in the late 1700s
Are the Battles of Necthansmere and Athelstaneford mentioned in these histories? They may have been quite important. Athelstaneford was 832 apparently, but then there's popularly conceived histories and what really happened and when. It would be nice to know about them if they're relevant.
3:35 Uhtret.. there he is.
"Help! The village is getting raid by Vikings!!!" Alfred The Great : " This is how God punish you!"
Where are your source books you state are in the description?
Well done
*remembers that the last kingdom connects to the video, head explodes*
The term "viking" comes from an old nordic verb called viking. The are many runestones where a relative is said to have "gone viking". I think the "vikingr" word you refer to comes from the old nordic verb. At least that's how it is taught in Scandinavia ;-)
Kool video
Well, searching my memory, Alfred the Great is the only Anglo-Saxon knig to have a University level college named after him. I could be wrong, please let me know of any others, learning should never end, and I don't mind being corrected. Went out with a couple of girls from King Alf's in Winchester back in the '90's, great days.....
5:40 cracked me up omg paahahahaha but seriously this is such a great refresher for my uni course. thank you xxx