Cædwalla of Wessex: The Wild King Who Burned a Kingdom to Build England

Cædwalla of Wessex: The Wild King Who Burned a Kingdom to Build England

Royalty: Let’s Make Sense of This Shit

👑 Violence, exile, and the bloody forging of a kingdom
Cædwalla’s story is brutal and fast—an exiled prince returns with fire and sword to reshape the south of England. In just three years, he conquers Sussex, Kent, and the Isle of Wight, blending conquest and faith in a fierce, terrifying reign.

🔥 In this episode:
* Ruthless campaigns that changed the map—and scarred the land.
* The uneasy dance between pagan violence and Christian conversion.
* A king who abdicated, journeyed to Rome, and died baptized—but was it redemption or politics?
* The missing voices: queens, conquered peoples, and those erased from history.
* Legacy and loss: How did this wild reign shape Wessex and the future of England?
✨ Why listen?
Because this isn’t the sanitized tale of monarchy. It’s raw, complicated, and deeply human—showing the fierce cost of power and the messy intersection of faith and violence. Isabella guides you through the myth, the fact, and the shadows in between.

🤔 What’s at stake?

Who defines a king? Can violence ever be redeemed? What happens when history is written by the victors—and who gets left out?

🧾 Sources & Scholarship:

Bede’s Ecclesiastical History, the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, and modern historians’ insights—all woven with myth-busting, personal reflection, and a dash of irreverence.

🌱 Listener Reflection:

If power demands blood and sacrifice, what legacy will you leave? Share your stories, questions, and thoughts—we’re making sense of this royal shit, together.

Next episode: Ceolwulf. From chaos to consolidation—how kingship evolves in early Wessex.

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