EPISODE · Sep 11, 2026 · 17 MIN

Alfred Ætheling’s Blinding: Politics, Power, and Myth in 11th‑Century England

from The Proper British History Podcast: Kings, Queens, Wars, Empire, Politics, Revolutions, Royalty and the Historical Great Britain · host Podily

The episode unpacks the brutal blinding of Alfred Ætheling, son of Æthelred and Emma, under Harold Harefoot's regency. We explore what contemporary sources reveal about Godwinson’s involvement, how rival claims to kingship were used, and why later chroniclers framed the act as divine retribution. By contrasting evidence and myth, we consider the blinding’s lasting impact on English succession politics and the legacy of mistrust that would echo into 1066. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Sep 11, 2026

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Alfred Ætheling’s Blinding: Politics, Power, and Myth in 11th‑Century England

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