Ælfflæd was the second of Edward the Elder’s three wives and, although the longest serving of Edward’s wives, is a good example of the vulnerability of Saxon consorts. We take a look at her time as consort and then her efforts to have a role in the succession and the significance of consorts in this process.
Listen to her podcast episode here or read on to find out more.
Continue readingAt the start of the twelfth century, the Scottish monarchs were caught in the net of England’s Norman kings and seemingly incapable of siring heirs. As yet another son of Malcolm III came to the throne, would Alexander I be able to steady the ship and set Scotland on a new course?
Listen to Alexander’s episode here or read on to find out more.
Alexander I of Scotland
After over thirty years of stability under Malcolm III, the next few years would see chaos in Scotland with Edgar being the third to succeed his father when he came to the throne just 4 years later. With his evil uncle, Donalbain, still kicking around and a power-hungry Viking on the scene, Edgar would have a difficult job on his hands to keep the throne.
To listen to Edgar’s episode click here or read on to find out more.
The Scottish monarchy was thrown into crisis and civil war when Kenneth II, having tried to ensure that the succession would pass from father to son, was killed in 995. After ten years of conflict, Kenneth’s son, Malcolm II, has finally become king, but was it worth the wait? To find out how Malcolm II fared as king, listen to his podcast episode here or read on to find out more.
Rex Factor 