Alfred the Great and the holy lineage of Wessex: the construction of a myth of origins in Anglo-Saxon England
Elton O. S. MEDEIROS
Original title: Alfred o Grande e a linhagem sagrada de Wessex: a construção de um mito de origem na Inglaterra anglo-saxônica
Published in Relations between History and Literature in Ancient and Medieval World
Keywords: Alfred, Anglo-Saxons, England, Myth, Society.
In the end of 9th century, the actions taken by King Alfred the Great were decisive for the survival of the Anglo-Saxon England against the Vikings. His cultural revival would change the Anglo-Saxon society, reinforcing the defenses of the kingdom, the politics and enable the unification of England in the mid-10th century under king Athelstan’s reign. However, the main reason behind this revival was not cultural but a spiritual. For this task, inspired by the works like Bede’s Historia Ecclesiastica, a myth of origins was forged. A myth that said the Anglo-Saxons were the spiritual heirs of the Hebrews of Old Testament. And their kings would be descendent of a holy lineage of a mysterious forth son of Noah. In this article we will analyze the elements of this myth, how was its construction and its importance for the Alfredian period.
Alienora Dei gratia regina Anglie. The potestas of the English queen Eleanor of Castile (1241-1290): status quaestionis
Andrea BERGAZ ÁLVAREZ
Original title: Alienora Dei gratia regina Anglie. La potestas de la reina Leonor de Castilla (1241-1290): status quaestionis
Published in Music in Antiquity, Middle Ages & Renaissance
Keywords: Eleanor of Castile, England, Historiography, Potestas, Queenship.
The aim of this article is to analyse from a historiographic point of view the potestas of Eleanor of Castile (1241-1290), Queen of England. It studies her activity before she became queen and the extent to which it influenced her subsequent exercise of power. This power is analysed by evaluating the different mechanisms that were used by the queen: mediation and intercession, marriage policy, her influence in the court, her cultural activity, her intervention in the internal and international policy… The political biography of this consort still shows many gaps and questions, something that opens a wide range of possibilities that we believe should be highlighted.
