Harold II Godwinson, the last Anglo-Saxon king of England, ruled for just nine months in 1066 before his death at the Battle of Hastings. As Edward the Confessor's most powerful noble and eventual successor, Harold faced invasions from both the north and south. He famously defeated the Norweg

Æthelred II (reigned 978–1013, 1014–1016) is often remembered harshly by history. His nickname “Unready” is a mistranslation of Old English unræd, meaning “poor counsel.” The real meaning is not “unprepared,” but “ill-advised”&m

Mercia and the Viking Onslaught During the early medieval period, England was not yet a unified nation, but a patchwork of competing kingdoms. Among them, Mercia stood out as a powerhouse, strategically located in the heart of Anglo-Saxon England. At its height during the 8th and 9th centuries un

The Anglo-Saxons spoke Old English, a Germanic language that formed the foundation of modern English. It was rich in dialects and evolved over the centuries through contact with Celtic, Norse, and Latin influences. One of the most famous examples of Anglo-Saxon literature is “Beowulf”