Murder in Anglo-Saxon England: Justice, Wergild, Revenge

'We all love a good murder story. Historian and author Annie Whitehead has collated around 100 cases in Anglo-Saxon England, from regicides to robberies gone wrong, and from personal feuds to state-sanctioned slaughter, examining their veracity and asking what, if anything, they can tell us about the motives of those who recorded them and about Anglo-Saxon governance and society. The records contain many stories of murder, some of which include details of witchcraft and poisoning, or of betrayal of the worst kind, leaving us with the impression that this period was one of lawlessness and rebellion. But how many of these tales are true, and how do they square with a period known to have had lengthy, detailed law codes and harsh punishment for unlawful killing? Was the ‘Viking’ practice of killing by blood eagle – with reference to King Aelle of Northumbria, an alleged victim – a myth or real? Annie Whitehead also makes a few accusations herself – invoking the old adage that there is no smoke without fire…'

"Annie Whitehead does an excellent job of navigating the wealth of myths and legends in search of historical evidence to find what we can learn about Anglo-Saxon values and society.

I’ve learned more than I expected from this highly readable new book, and like how Annie Whitehead’s passion for the subject shines through. Highly recommended." Tony Riches, Author

"The early medieval period is often thought of as a hotbed of violence. It is perhaps, then, a surprise to learn that only around 90 reported murders exist from five centuries of Anglo-Saxon England. Annie Whitehead’s book attempts an in-depth, chronological guide to these cases. While the unfamiliar reader may initially struggle to get their head around the seemingly endless swathe of Æthel-s and Ælf-s, those with a sound understanding of the period are likely to enjoy the murderous tour, helpfully divided into chapters exploring time periods, kingdoms, and themes, each one headed by a list of the victims (or attempted victims) to be discussed. With grim revelations, from execution cemeteries to assassination to eye-gouging, what we learn from the book is perhaps simply that today’s penchant for true crime is not a new one, for – as the author points out – the Anglo-Saxon chroniclers seemed to enjoy a crime drama as much as the modern media consumer." Current Archaeology Magazine

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