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chunek

horrible gamer posture and still on his laptop.. dude on the right looks so done with Æthelstan


4th_Fleet

It more looks like porn enthusiast getting his laptop cleansed from all the sins.


UserMuch

"*Are you winning, Æthelstan?*"


Maziomir

Not without Uthred, the son of Uthred help!


Ok-Piglet-8887

Destiny is all!


Ryp3re

Still annoyed that the show couldn't even get that quote right. Anyway, wyrd bið ful aræd. Fate is inexorable.


hyakumanben

Too many big words for the average Netflix viewer.


futchydutchy

Destiny is all has a better ring to it.


Ryp3re

I think there's a fundamental difference in attitude between the two though. "Destiny is all" leans much more into this attitude of "my destiny is great and it is my honour to follow it to the end!". The original line is a lot more like "fate is unavoidable, and it will happen to you whether you like it or not". This fits a lot more with his book characterisation, where he will repeatedly call fate a treacherous bitch and generally call the gods a bunch of assholes. I personally think that's a much more interesting perspective than the rather generic heroism of "destiny is all"


noradosmith

Arseling


royaldocks

The Last Kingdom and the anime Vinland Saga got me craving for more Viking era England shows.


[deleted]

I think something set from 410AD, describing the Romans and the Romano-Britons as the Romans left England would be cool. It could then describe the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes in their contemporary setting in Germany/ Denmark and show their migration to Britain, starting with Hengist and Horsa all the way up until vikings attacked Lindisfarne in 789 AD. Like a prequel to the Viking invasions.


Bloody_Nine

They are actually making this. Adaption of Bernard Cornwells Arthur saga set just after Rome left and when the saxons invades the Britons. "The Winter King", premieres in august.


Shadakthehunter

This is great news! I hope they don't fuck it up....


Ryp3re

At least it's different people than the ones that worked on the last Kingdom, so there is some hope that it'll stay true to the books, but I'm not holding my breath


Bloody_Nine

Well Merlin is casted black it seems so it will at least have some debate around launch I guess.


Ryp3re

I really don't care all that much about that. Out of any character it would make the most sense for Merlin to not be white. Dude's travelled far and wide and seems to possess a lot of knowledge about for example the Romans that no one else in Britain has. Regardless of arguments about inclusivity (which are frankly perfectly valid) there is not much of a reason why he shouldn't be black. Frankly the costuming has me much more concerned, because it looks like this show is gonna be another "men with no sense of personal hygiene and suspiciously modern haircuts running around in weird leather vests" kind of deal.


Bloody_Nine

There is actually a badass black character in the books though, a former member of the roman legion. Which makes it weird that they cast the highest member of the celtic druids as black. But yeah, costumes etc are more worrying.


Ryp3re

I know about Sagramor. I just dont think having a few other black characters is all that big of a deal, or that the show needs to strictly adhere to the ethnic makeup of the books. I'm more concerned if the actor is gonna be able to pull of the switching between crazy, grumpy old crackhead, terrifying, authoritative wizard and kind father/mentor figure that defines Merlin all that well. I'm sure the guy is a competent actor, but they seem to be playing him straight in the trailer.


Shadakthehunter

I don't mind that, to be honest. I'm more concerned about the story line.


Kedain

Honestly the Viking series and the spinoff Valhalla are quite good on the subject


Toxicseagull

My man Æthelstan. Good ol' stoney.


nippl

\- Who's that, then? \- I don't know. Must be a king. \- Why? \- He hasn't got shit all over him. Well I didn't vote for him.


alternativuser

Destiny is all!


ampsuu

Destiny is all!


PureDealer7

Uthred son of Uthred, Grandson of Uthred, cousin of Uthred, father of Uthred, brother of Uthred, uncle of Uthred, descendent of Uthred, Twin of Uthred, destiny is all !


[deleted]

[удалено]


LazyZealot9428

Woad do you mean?


[deleted]

[удалено]


LazyZealot9428

It’s all good dude


Orkan66

Giv Danelagen tilbage til de danske!


More-Court-361

I'm up for a rematch at Stamford.


woody313

That was us actually, but you can keep your offer. We've decided to reclaim by culture victory, starting with Orkney


More-Court-361

>That was us actually All you Norse look the same to me.


[deleted]

Them's fighting words.


Hlorri

> Them's fighting words. Sånn ja! Jävla Britonska rassgat. Fanden æde mig.


Clever_Username_467

All Norse words are fighting words.


Raz0rking

More bridges and more berserkers!


vytah

Why are they blue?


RandomUsername600

Because he was also the first Smurf to be king


Raz0rking

Because about 1000 years will likely add some discolouring?


flexipol

They paid $8 per month.


de_G_van_Gelderland

Oh my god Karen, you can't just ask people why they're blue


incognitomus

Because if they were green they would die.


WandlessSage

because they're royals lol didn't you hear the saying "niebieska krew"?


Lightingmn7

A nice English post for once 😊


Gdott

Sort of I guess. Aethalstan wasn’t English by blood. When the Roman’s left Britain the populace needed safety and security. They turned to the Saxons. The Saxons then realized how weak the lands were and took control of the British isles. Aethelstan is a product of that event.


Pillar1212

He was very much English by blood! English as a term coming from the Angles who came along with the Saxon. Not Briton by blood, but I'd be surprised if he was pure Saxon as he was born several centuries after the first raiders/mercenaries arrived


Gdott

Yea, who were also Germans by blood. I would be surprised if they intermingled with locals going off prior and post history of the leadership of isles. The nobility of the English after the Saxons were French, starting with William. Everything from record of the time period was recorded in French. The nobles spoke French, most of them not even knowing any of the native language. Really Franglais if we get nit picky but this lasted till 1362.


[deleted]

Bro, there were no "Germans" at that time. There were Germanic tribes, that's it. Perhaps you should think less about this "pure blood" thing and open a bloody book instead.


Cosmos1985

> Yea, who were also Germans by blood. Are you seriously arguing for the term "English" being used improperly and somewhat anachronistically here, while at the same time calling people from that time "Germans"?


AemrNewydd

>Aethalstan wasn’t English by blood. You're right, but not for the reasons you are thinking of. The term 'English' comes from the Angles. One of the Germanic tribes that settled Britain in the post Roman years. However, Æthelstan wasn't an Angle, he was a West Saxon. He, and his grandfather Ælfraed, decided to push this new concept of the Saxons and Angles being the same people so that they could market their rule to the Angles of the north and east. They flattered the Angles by naming this new identity after them so that they might more readily accept West Saxon dominance.


dipdipderp

Come off it, the Saxons, Angles and Jutes arrived centuries before this event. They arrived with a completely different culture from top to bottom - religion, how a king was selected, economic system, and so many more things. Æthelstans England was not the same as Cerdics Wessex. The Saxons were not necessarily just invaders/conquerors though - they become the dominant culture but it wasn't through violence alone. I wouldn't call the acculturation a singular event, more of a process.


Gdott

I said he was a result of those events. The Angles, Jutes and Saxons started to arrive 5th/6th century as “protection” for the locals from the Scots/Irish raiders.


dipdipderp

You misunderstand the concept of Englishness. There was no England before, or at the time of the Saxon arrival. It took centuries of change to arrive there - and the people and descendents of the people who migrated are a big part of this. The formation of England only really becomes a thing during the dying days of the Heptarchy and against a backdrop of Norse/Danish invasion and settlement. The arrival of the Germanic peoples is much more complex than you portray it too. Yes, there were mercenaries, but the migration is much more complicated and fuzzy. The collapse of the Roman empire created more problems than creating raiding opportunities - the entire economic system collapsed. It took centuries to move back to a monied economy. The acculturation took time and involved a lot more than violence - the Saxons filled the post-Rome vacuum with pitchforks, plows and 'functional' governance as much as they did with spears (arguably more so).


CMuenzen

> Aethalstan wasn’t English Yeah, he obviously was Paraguayan.


PoiHolloi2020

/r/confidentlyincorrect


Redditforgoit

Æthelstan kept saying he was king of all the English people, till he was blue in the face.


Rogthgar

OG Stan...


ImperiumOfBearkind

Athelstan he also ushered in the first English golden age. It was a very prosperous time for England.


Puzzleheaded_Law_370

I'd say St Alfred gave us a good golden age too


hconfiance

Any one read about the Battle of Brunanburh? The English beat a combined army of Britons (celts), Scots, Irish and Vikings to confirm their position as the rulers of Britain. The poem is pretty badass ( [Link)](https://www.telelib.com/authors/T/TennysonAlfred/verse/ballads/brunanburh.html)


[deleted]

England was England before France was France. European history is interesting.


Tychus_Balrog

I would say France was also France with Charlemagne, though i suppose that's debatable. But Denmark was certainly Denmark before then. And Italy and Greece go further back still.


AemrNewydd

Italy and Greece as polities only date back to the 19th century. They're younger by almost a thousand years. Italian unification was in 1861 and Greek independence was in 1830.


Tychus_Balrog

Hmm, but Italy was unified during the roman empire. Does that not count?


AemrNewydd

It's wasn't Italy though, not as we know it, it was the Roman Republic/Empire. Not the same thing.


Tychus_Balrog

Nope, just found out its San Marino. They got their independence from Rome in 301! That's awesome


Tychus_Balrog

I suppose so. Is Denmark the oldest european country then, or is there another that is older?


AemrNewydd

Good question. I think you might be right. I think the Vatican is a contender, the Papal States going back to 754. Bit of an unusual case though, that one.


Tychus_Balrog

I've found out San Marino got their independence from Rome in 301, so they're the oldest. I do recall hearing that Napoleon asked the ruling Prince of San Marino whether it was true that he was a descendant of Augustus Ceasar, and the Prince confirming it. Though that may just be a story.


Tony-Angelino

Looks like he's just been given the English User Manual.


OkInvestigator561

Bro had the plan.


[deleted]

He truly is the älteste of Anglish kings.


FanFictionneer

Bro got a Big Mac to celebrate.


pevalo

So cool that parts of that crowning ceremony were still displayed with the coronation of King Charles. Looking straight in the 10th century!


Jemapelledima

Oh, that’s why aethl means noble in English, I always wondered about it , nice to know


lampyridae5

He doesn't look happy


Alastair789

While its true that Æthelstan was crowned King of the the English peoples, earlier Kings, like Penda, Offa, and Alfred, were calling themselves "Rex Angolorum" in charters, as they either had direct power over smaller English kingdoms, or were allied to them via marriage. Offa. " Some of his charters use the title "Rex Anglorum," or "King of the English," and this has been seen as a sweeping statement of his power." https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Offa_of_MMercia


Puzzleheaded_Law_370

Right so he was the first king of all English peoples, thanks for clarifying what I already said


Alastair789

I wasn't disagreeing with you, I was giving supplemental information.


Dokky

hægl!


[deleted]

Huh, I thought they were an autonomous collective.


Lynraske

Why does the guy looking like a priest have a circle around his head?


Puzzleheaded_Law_370

Its a halo. The priest looking guy is Saint Cuthbert, monk and bishop. By the way, no offence but how are you in a subreddit about Europe but have never seen art with a halo in it? Its pretty ubiquitous


mok000

The halo is painted because Saint Cuthbert was a saint, and he had been dead for about 300 years when Æthelsten lived.


Heerser87

Ancient scuba diving


cyrkielNT

Fashion at that times was pretty wild


JohnnyJohnCowboyMan

Thanks for asking the question I was too embarrassed to ask


[deleted]

Obviously it's ok to not know things, especially if you're open to learn, but how can't you know what a halo is in ~~medievil~~ medieval depictions? You never had art class?


Alaishana

>medievil You never saw the word 'medieval'? I mean, they were pretty evil times... Give them a break, eh? Honest questions deserve an answer. People are pretty cultureless and uneducated these days.


[deleted]

English is not my native language and since "Medieval" is pronounced as you would pronounce "medievil" that's the way my brain made me spell it 🤷 And if I'm not wrong "medieval" was created with a negative meaning, so the "-evil" made even more sense to me 😅


Puzzleheaded_Law_370

Medieval comes from "medi" "aeval" (or something like that), latin for middle ages


Once-Upon-A-Hill

I don't know what caption to use yet, but this image would make a great meme for something.


Ok_Working_9219

Near 1100 years later & still being ruled by a monarchy. Republic now😡


Toxicseagull

Nah fuck off. Æthelstan forever.


Earl0fYork

We tried that it didn’t go so well. So that clearly means we must become a theocratic state to take another one off our todo list


Ok_Working_9219

It was a Republic based upon Puritan values, due to the agrarian period. The French & Russian Revolutions were based upon the Proletariat, rising up against their oppressors in a war of class. Hence why both Republics still exist & ours failed.


AemrNewydd

Last tried 350 years ago. I reckon it's about time to give it another shot. Cromwell's dead and we have more democratic traditions now, so it probably won't go pear-shaped. Would be depressing to think we're stuck with the royals.


DunkingDanger

I'm sorry, but the danelaw still existed in 927 occupying vast amount of English native territory. Now how in the hell can this be a "Unification/Birthday" of Britain. Factually Æthelstan was king of maybe 2/3 of the English...


SarahHatched

By this point, the Danish lords had either been defeated by the Anglo-Saxons or had submitted to their rule. The Danish settlements were still there and still enjoyed some autonomy, but were part of the new country.


[deleted]

In the same way that 4th July could have significance to somebody in a territory that was not part of the 13 colonies in 1776?


PuddingWise3116

And thus the demon king was born


BRAVOMAN55

cringe cringe cringe


[deleted]

[удалено]


Brazilian_Brit

Who doesn’t? The geographically illiterate? Those who are stupid enough to think that the existence of a political union supersedes geography?


[deleted]

[удалено]


stuff_gets_taken

Yes? What else would it be, america?


Brazilian_Brit

…Yes?


Earl0fYork

Yeah it is.


FOKvothe

Yeah, and so is Norway and the Faroe Islands?


Cantkeepmeawaylol

Marcus Roberus got those guys with one of his glitter bombs?


buzzkiller2u

Yep! Big supporter!


Inevitable_Can618

And he was paying security to the Peaky Blinders


KaKa_-

I wonder if we would be speaking Anglo-Saxon English right now if the Normans had invaded the island.


tosheroony

And so the pantomime begins and still g going