Overview

One of Britain's most enigmatic legendary figures is brought to life in this new account. Cerdic was a Dark Age warrior who founded the kingdom which became England, but the circumstances of his reign amid the collapse of the Western Roman Empire have been shrouded in mystery. Until now. Paul Harper tells of how Cerdic emerged from the ashes of Rome and rose to power with a warband known as the Gewisse, who offered protection to civilians from barbarians roaming the land and then fought for territory with Anglo- Saxon and Romano-British kingdoms. While other domains were conquered, the Gewisse survived and evolved into Wessex (West Saxons). During an unprecedented climate disaster, which blocked out normal sunlight for 18 months and led eventually to a plague pandemic which killed millions, Cerdic carved out a new realm that would shape Britain up to the present day. How various myths and folklore, including the King Arthur Legend, are connected to Cerdic is explored at length. The book features an in-depth investigation into the potential site of Cerdic's burial based on an ancient charter from Edward the Elder, the son of Alfred the Great, which suggested his great ancestor had been laid to rest at a spot in Hampshire. Fascinating research leads to a former Bronze Age burial mound which was once known as Ceardices Beorg (Cerdic's Barrow). One-by-one mysteries are solved including the identity of his shadowy son Creoda, the location of every bloody battle against rival warlords and the links to an iconic medieval poem – called the Elegy for Geraint. AUTHOR: Paul Harper is an experienced journalist who has been writing reports and investigations for more than a decade for British newspapers. He has worked for several top local and national news publications. Paul is now a press officer for a London-based university promoting academic research to the wider public. He has a passion for history, particularly the Anglo Saxon and Viking periods. 70 b/w illustrations

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9781399037280

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Reviews

""The writing flows well and Paul's experience as an investigative journalist is obvious; the reader really will feel they have been on a mystery tour to potentially find Cerdic's Barrow. From the ancient capital of Wessex, the marauding Anglo-Saxons, the chronicles, the devastation of plague and climate changes, travelling the ancient landscape in today's world, real historical people and fully referenced knowledge on all of this, I highly recommend Cerdic as a book to either ignite, intensify or simply enjoy the history of this era.""--Louise Wyatt, author ""This is also a good book to start on the cultural, political and socio-economic face of what must have been one of the most terrible centuries in British history with a collapsing population, shattered economy and unprecedented violence. Well worth a read.""--Rupert Matthews, author

Author Information

Paul Harper is an experienced journalist who has been writing reports and investigations for more than a decade for British newspapers. He has worked for several top local and national news publications. Paul is now a press officer for a London-based university promoting academic research to the wider public. He has a passion for history, particularly the Anglo Saxon and Viking periods.

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