History Profiles

Ollie
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Greetings,  This is Ollie from History Profiles, I will be revealing the historical truths behind the lives of some of the most famous and powerful people in the historical world.  Subscribe to keep up to date with all my latest content. Check out all my content: inlet.fm/history-profiles

  1. Hengist of Kent: Leader of the Anglo-Saxon Invasion of Britain

    2D AGO

    Hengist of Kent: Leader of the Anglo-Saxon Invasion of Britain

    Emerging from the fifth century's mist are Hengist and Horsa—legendary figures of the Germanic world. These brothers, according to early English traditions, led the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes, the forebears of modern English, across the sea to Britain's shores. In ancient tales, Hengist is depicted as the founding father of the Kingdom of Kent. However, the line between legend and history is blurred, with some scholars suggesting Hengist and Horsa might be symbolic rather than historical figures, possibly representing divine twin brothers revered in Germanic cultures. Their names are preserved in early English chronicles such as the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, The History of the Britons, Bede’s Ecclesiastical History of the English People, and Geoffrey of Monmouth’s History of the Kings of Britain. In Old English, Hengist means stallion and Horsa means horse, both symbols of power and conquest. This is their story. Music by Alexander Nakarada - CreatorChordsTrack: Celtic Music → "Grundar" by Alexander Nakarada (Royalty Free)Link: Celtic Music → "Grundar" by Alexander Nakarada 00:00: Introduction01:29: Ancestry04:19: The Invasion of Britain: The History of the Britons09:09: The Invasion of Britain: Anglo-Saxon Chronicle11:45: Legacy & The Kingdom of Kent #Hengist #Horsa #Anglo-Saxon #Kent #Anglo-Saxonhistory #Britishhistory #Invasion #HistoryoftheBritons #Anglo-SaxonChronicle #Germanicmythology See show notes: https://inlet.fm/history-profiles/episodes/698d42396016bd231ef104a6 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    19 min

  2. 5D AGO

    Wehha: Legendary Founder of East Anglia's Royal Line

    Before the establishment of saints and monasteries in East Anglia, before kings were crowned in stone halls or immortalized in written laws, there was Wehha. In the shadowy centuries of the sixth age, as new peoples crossed the sea and the ancient Roman world in Britain faded, Anglo-Saxon tradition recalls Wehha as the inaugural king of the East Angles. Historical accounts suggest he lived and ruled as a pagan lord during the era of settlement and conflict, when migrants from Frisia and southern Jutland forged a new kingdom along England's eastern shores. This was an era before chronicles, where power was won by blood and sword. From Wehha came Wuffa, his son, who established the House of the Wuffingas, the royal dynasty that ruled East Anglia for generations over the lands later known as Norfolk and Suffolk. Under the Wuffingas, East Anglia rose as a prominent Anglo-Saxon kingdom, with its kings laid to rest with treasures and warriors remembered in legend. However, much of their history has been lost over time. Viking invasions of the ninth century and the dissolution of monasteries in the sixteenth shattered the libraries that once preserved their deeds. What remains are fragments—names, lineages, echoes. An echo survives in the Historia Brittonum, naming Wehha, father of Wuffa, as the first of the Wuffingas. From this single line, historians trace the dynasty's origins to the mid-sixth century, when East Anglia emerged from the mists as a kingdom. 00:00 Introduction02:01 Ancestry03:33 The Migration & Theories05:19 Wehha in the epic Beowulf06:37 Legacy & kin of the wolf Music by Alexander Nakarada - CreatorChordsTrack: Celtic Music → "Grundar" by Alexander Nakarada (Royalty Free)Link 00:00:00: Introduction00:02:01: Ancestry00:03:33: The Migration & Theories00:05:19: Wehha in the epic Beowulf00:06:37: Legacy & kin of the wolf #Wehha #Wuffa #EastAnglia #Wuffingas #Anglo-Saxon #history #migration #warriorking #legendarykings #Beowulf #Vikinginvasions See show notes: https://inlet.fm/history-profiles/episodes/69894deb7460f21ed4761515 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    14 min

  3. FEB 6

    Icel: The Founding King of Mercia and the Angles

    In the early medieval era, Mercia emerged as a dominant kingdom in Britain, founded by Icel, the first King of the Mercians. His lineage traced back to ancient Germanic royalty. Around 515 AD, as Roman influence waned, Icel led his people across the North Sea into a land ripe for conquest, establishing a formidable dynasty, the Iclingas. His descendants included Penda, the last great pagan king, and Offa, a powerful ruler who shaped the English economy. Despite the lack of written records from his time, Icel's legacy lives on in genealogies and the enduring power of his descendants. Music by Alexander Nakarada - CreatorChordsTrack: Celtic Music → "Grundar" by Alexander Nakarada (Royalty Free)Listen here 00:00:00: Introduction00:02:07: Ancestry00:04:24: Life00:07:15: Opinion of Historians00:09:19: Legacy and the Iclingas #Icel #Mercia #Anglo-Saxon #Iclingas #Penda #Offa #Englishhistory #MedievalBritain See show notes: https://inlet.fm/history-profiles/episodes/6985bbcf17fabf32cc99396e Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    15 min

  4. FEB 4

    Cerdic of Wessex: Father of English Kings

    In the early dawn of post-Roman Britain, Cerdic emerges from legend and history. Recognized by the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle as the first king of Wessex, he ruled from approximately 519 to 534 AD. His legacy links him as the ancestor of subsequent Wessex kings. However, Cerdic's origins, ethnicity, and very existence are subjects of intense debate, straddling myth and historical memory. Cerdic, in his time, was not known as a “West Saxon” king but as the leader of the Gewissae—a tribal group believed to be Germanic mercenaries settling in Britain post-Roman era. Fascinatingly, Cerdic's name might not be Germanic but Brittonic, possibly derived from Caratīcos, hinting at his potential native Briton roots, with his lineage becoming Anglicised over time. This theory is supported by the names of his descendants—Ceawlin, Cedda, and Cædwalla—reflecting a fusion of cultures. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, composed over three centuries after Cerdic's death during Alfred the Great’s reign, is influenced by time, politics, and myth-making. Still, it immortalizes Cerdic as the first king of Wessex, tracing his lineage back to Woden, the chief god of the Germanic pantheon. Whether Cerdic was a man, myth, or something in between, he remains a pivotal figure in England's formation, where legends melded with kingship. 00:00: Introduction02:09: Cerdic in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle04:57: Opinions of Historians08:14: Legacy #Cerdic #Wessex #Anglo-SaxonChronicle #Englishkings #Gewissae #Cerdic'sancestry #mythandhistory #Brittonicorigins #Woden #Anglo-Saxonhistory See show notes: https://inlet.fm/history-profiles/episodes/6982b670000ba87757641613 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    15 min

  5. JAN 31

    The Legendary Ragnarssons: Sons of Ragnar Explored

    Explore the legendary tales of Ragnar Lothbrok's five famous sons. Delve into riveting stories of Ivar the Boneless, Halfdan Ragnarsson, Ubba Ragnarsson, Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye, and Björn Ironside. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction - Ragnar Lothbrok 02:26 Ivar the Boneless - The Cursed Heathen 19:12 Halfdan Ragnarsson - The First Viking King of Northumbria 33:58 Ubba Ragnarsson - Legendary Viking War Lord 42:56 Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye - The Mythical Ancestor of Kings 52:58 Björn Ironside - The Warrior Champion Music by Alexander Nakarada - CreatorChordsTrack: Celtic Music → "Grundar" by Alexander Nakarada (Royalty Free)Listen here Sources: The Gesta Danorum The Saga of Ragnar Lodrok and his Sons Annals of Ireland Annals of Ulster Vulsunga saga The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle 00:00:00: Introduction - Ragnar Lothbrok00:02:26: Ivar the Boneless - The Cursed Heathen00:19:12: Halfdan Ragnarsson - The First Viking King of Northumbria00:33:58: Ubba Ragnarsson - Legendary Viking War Lord00:42:56: Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye - The Mythical Ancestor of Kings00:52:58: Björn Ironside - The Warrior Champion #RagnarLothbrok #IvartheBoneless #HalfdanRagnarsson #UbbaRagnarsson #SigurdSnake-in-the-Eye #BjörnIronside #Viking #Vikinghistory #Norsemythology #Vikinglegends See show notes: https://inlet.fm/history-profiles/episodes/697d707ca0b588c7d4f588d2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    1h 3m

  6. JAN 27

    Exploring Viking Funerals: Rituals of Power and Transformation

    Across the cold lands of the Viking Age, funerals were more than farewells; they were rituals of power and transformation. These traditions are revealed through Old Norse poetry, Icelandic sagas, and astonished travelers from the Muslim world, who watched these events in disbelief. A warrior's resting place was dictated by their status. Farmers returned to the soil, while chieftains and heroes required grander send-offs. Status influenced death as it did life, yet beneath the Norsemen's iron pride lay a deeper dread of what awaited beyond. Funerals intertwined theater and terror. Sacrifices were staged, woven into narratives where the dead played their final roles. These rites extended for days, characterized by feasting, drinking, and rituals that blurred the line between worlds; drums, chants, and songs echoed beneath the sky. Central to these rites were fire and ships—cremation liberated the spirit, while ship burials carried the dead to eternity. Each rite declared death not as an end, but a passage into legend. Burial mounds became lasting testaments to a chieftain's life, enshrining their deeds and memory. Join us as we delve into Norse funeral practices, exploring their rituals, beliefs, and fears, and discover why, to the Vikings, death and burial held as much significance as life. 00:00: Introduction02:34: Burial Mounds or Barrows05:33: Ship Burials09:19: Ibn Fadlan's account of A Varangian Funeral20:24: Legacy #Vikingfunerals #Norserituals #OldNorsepoetry #Icelandicsagas #VikingAge #shipburials #cremation #burialmounds See show notes: https://inlet.fm/history-profiles/episodes/6978fd4f7e9685ce71cd9f28 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    25 min

  7. JAN 22

    Rediscovering the Lost Deities of Anglo-Saxon England

    Before Christianity's arrival, England thrived with gods, spirits, and ancient rituals. The Anglo-Saxons, who settled between the 5th and 8th centuries AD, practiced a rich tapestry of beliefs now known as Anglo-Saxon paganism—a Germanic faith shared across northwestern Europe. This religion originated from northern Europe's Iron Age traditions and reached Britain with the Anglo-Saxon migrations in the mid-5th century. For centuries, it influenced daily life, from seasonal cycles to kingly authority. As Christianity spread in the 7th and 8th centuries, remnants of the old faith lingered, merging into folklore and memory. We learn about these ancient practices mainly from Christian chroniclers like Bede and Aldhelm, who documented a world their faith aimed to replace. Temples and altars were destroyed, sacred groves vanished, and rituals stopped. Yet, the old beliefs left enduring marks: in the days of the week, named after gods like Woden and Thunor; in royal genealogies linking kings to divine ancestors; and in archaeological treasures like Sutton Hoo, where a helmet with dancing warriors reflects the spiritual imagination of a people who revered both natural and supernatural realms. Join us on a journey to uncover what remains of this once-dominant religion in England: its gods, sacred traditions, and magical rituals that guided life, death, and the invisible forces surrounding them. 00:00 Introduction02:11 Woden (God of Wisdom)04:31 Týr (God of War, Law & the Sky)06:38 Thunor (God of Thunder)08:31 Frīg (Goddess of Marriage, Childbirth & prophecy)10:30 Ing (God of Fertility)12:52 Ēostre (Goddess of Spring & Renewal)14:40 Siġel and Mōna (The Solar and Lunar Deities)16:34 Seaxnēat (The Warrior God of the Saxons)17:53 Shamanism, magic, and witchcraft21:07 Legacy Music by Alexander Nakarada: Grundar (Royalty Free) 00:00: Introduction02:11: Woden (God of Wisdom)04:31: Týr (God of War, Law & the Sky)06:38: Thunor (God of Thunder)08:31: Frīg (Goddess of Marriage, Childbirth & prophecy)10:30: Ing (God of Fertility)12:52: Ēostre (Goddess of Spring & Renewal)14:40: Siġel and Mōna (The Solar and Lunar Deities)16:34: Seaxnēat (The Warrior God of the Saxons)17:53: Shamanism, magic, and witchcraft21:07: Legacy #anglo-saxon #paganism #gods #woden #thunor #frīg #ing #Ēostre #Seaxnēat #shamanism #magic #witchcraft #archaeology #folklore #Christianity See show notes: https://inlet.fm/history-profiles/episodes/697192d86f54d6b81f81bf87 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    26 min

  8. JAN 15

    The Legendary Winged Hussars: Europe's Elite Cavalry

    The Winged Hussars were an elite heavy cavalry unit serving Poland and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth from 1503 to 1702. Their name derives from the impressive feathered wings on their backs, designed to instill fear and confusion in enemies during charges. Renowned for their effectiveness, they often defeated forces much larger than their own. For generations, these elite warriors marked their prominence in Polish cavalry, earning the nickname “angels of death” on the battlefield. They played pivotal roles in many of Europe’s iconic battles. After their military service ended, the hussars transitioned to ceremonial duties, concluding a remarkable military era. Music: "VOICE OF PRAYER" by Noel Malekar Watch the video here. 00:00:00: Introduction00:01:20: Origins00:03:12: Armour & Weapons00:05:52: Battle of Kircholm (1605)00:09:32: Battle of Klushino (1610)00:13:39: Battle of Khotyn (1673)00:15:41: Battle of Vienna (1683)00:18:24: Battle of Kliszów (1702)00:21:00: End of an Era & Legacy #WingedHussars #Polishhistory #elitecavalry #angelsofdeath #cavalrycharge #BattleofKircholm #BattleofKlushino #BattleofKhotyn #BattleofVienna #BattleofKliszów #militaryhistory See show notes: https://inlet.fm/history-profiles/episodes/69692b498f887fa6fca82f98 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    24 min
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About

Greetings,  This is Ollie from History Profiles, I will be revealing the historical truths behind the lives of some of the most famous and powerful people in the historical world.  Subscribe to keep up to date with all my latest content. Check out all my content: inlet.fm/history-profiles

Information

  • Creator
    Ollie
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    289

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