PUBLIC LECTURE

The Battle of Brunanburh: new light on the ‘Great War’ of the Tenth Century

by Professor Michael Wood FSA

This lecture will be live streamed.

In this lecture, Michael Wood looks at one of the most famous events of the Viking Age. In 937 a Viking and North British coalition invaded England, only to be defeated by the English King Athelstan at a place called Brunanburh. A generation later, according to the chronicler Aethelweard, the battle was described by the man in the street as ‘The Great War’. Long the subject of controversy, the site is still unidentified, but over the last forty years a consensus has grown that it should be located on the Wirral.  Reviewing the evidence from texts, coins and place names, and setting the war in the context of the politics of Northumbria, North Britain and the Irish Sea in the Viking era, Michael Wood will offer a new perspective on arguably the most significant battle to have taken place in Britain in the five centuries before Hastings.

 

Online booking is now closed but you can join us on YouTube here.

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Please note that due to COVID 19 restrictions we are unsure if this event will be held at Burlington House or just live streamed. Moving forward all our lectures will be live streamed so booking is recommended to recieve the live stream link. If attendance at Burlington House is feasible it will be limited and allocated through the booking link below. 

Attendance by Live Stream:

• Registration is essential.
• Once you have registered we will be in touch regarding how you can join via Zoom video-calling.
• The event will also be live-streamed to YouTube here, so you can watch along if you prefer
• Places through zoom will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
• The event will begin at 13.00, GMT.
• You will recieve an email with the link to join the day before the lecture.
• Attendees’ cameras and microphones will be off throughout.

Attending Burlington House:

• Registration is essential.
• Those attending in person will be subject to temperature checks and will have to wear masks in the Meeting Room.
• There will be no refreshments.
• There will be no access to the Library or Fellows Room.
• Admittance to the event is only 20minutes prior.
• Fellows can not bring guests.

If you have any questions please contact our Communications Manager on [email protected]