Abstract
Ships and seafaring were intrinsic to early English cultures, identifiable in the origin story of the adventus Saxonum, in the material cultures of 6th- to 10th-century England, and in later portrayals of good kingship. However, effective control of the sea only became critical to Anglo-Saxon kings in the 10th century, serving to legitimate their authority and demonstrate both power and prestige. Using a combination of historical texts and archaeological evidence, this article examines the intersection of kingship and sea-power in 10th-century England, both as practical necessity and cultural symbol of legitimate kingly authority.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 329-340 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | International Journal of Nautical Archaeology |
Volume | 49 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Sept 2020 |
Keywords
- Early Medieval England
- boat burial
- English Kingship
- Medieval
- North Sea
- Viking Age