Massive Watlington Viking Hoard Could Re-Write History Of England And Reveal King Alfred The Great’s Hidden Secret

MessageToEagle.com –  A massive 1,000-year-old Viking hoard unearthed by a metal detectorist in a field in Oxfordshire, UK earlier this year could re-write English history and reveal King Alfred the Great’s hidden secret.. Experts state it shows how Alfred the Great “airbrushed” a rival king from history.

Ceolwulf II of Mercia is barely mentioned in contemporary records and largely forgotten by history, only briefly described in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle as an “unwise King’s thane”.

However, the 1,000-year-oled coins reveal a different version of history. It would seem that the both kings had a powerful alliance, ruling their kingdoms equally.

“The hoard, made up of 186 coins, seven items of jewellery and 15 ingots, was found by amateur metal detectorist James Mather on his 60th birthday, after he uncovered it in a muddy field.

A selection of the coins show two emperor-like figures, believed to represent Alfred and Ceolwulf, and are now known to have been produced extensively in both kingdoms,” The Telegraph reports.

What do we know about King Alfred The Great and Ceolwulf II?

Born in Wantage, Berkshire, in 849, Alfred became King of Wessex at the tender age of 21. Crowned in 871, he reigned for 28 years

Following the wishes of his father, Aethelwulf, he succeeded the kingship after his brothers, to prevent passing the crown to an under-age king when the country was under constant attack from Viking raids.

At the Battle of Ashdown in 871, King Alfred the great defeated the Danes, but his army sustained heavy losses. In 878 Alfred was victorious at the Battle of Edington, resulting in a treaty with the Danes. King Alfred died in 899 at the age of 50, and was interred in Winchester, the burial place of the West Saxon royal family.

Alfred was without doubt one of the most famous kings in British history, but Ceolwulf is only known from a list that says he reigned for five years. His fate is unknown, and the only accounts of his character come from Alfred’s side – after the victorious Alfred also annexed Mercia – describing him as foolish and a puppet of the Vikings.

The Watlington Viking Hoard sheds new light on history of England

When the Watlington Viking hoard arrived at the British museum, it was described as “a greasy haggis with bits of treasure sticking out at the corners”. However, the precious hoard discovered by James Mather on his 60th birthday could add valuable information to our history books.

A selection of the coins show two emperor-like figures, believed to represent Alfred and Ceolwulf, and are now known to have been produced extensively in both kingdoms.

Gareth Williams, curator at the british museum said: “Here is a more complex political picture in the 870s which was deliberately misrepresented in the 890s after Alfred has taken over the whole of Ceolwulf’s kingdom.

Perhaps we should be thinking more of Stalin and Trotsky, with Ceolwulf being airbrushed out of history because he’s no longer convenient.

See also:

Secrets Of Legendary Viking Crystal Sunstones And The Mysterious Uunartoq Artifact Unraveled

Revealed: Vikings’ Symbols Of Travels, Prestige And Adventure Were Imported From Abroad

Swinegate Finds: Young Viking Era Woman Buried Beneath Lost Church Could Have Lived 999 Years Ago

That of course gives a very different picture of history of Alfred the great national hero, defeating the Vikings.”

The hoard will now be examined with a view to being classed as treasure, whereupon Mr Mather and the landowner of the field in which it was discovered will receive a significant payout.

The haul has not yet been valued, but good quality individual coins from the era can fetch five-figure sums.

It is then likely to go on display to the public locally, with the the Ashmolean Museum and Oxfordshire Museums Service already working with the British Museum to examine it.

MessageToEagle.com

References:
The Telegraph – King Alfred the Great (849 AD – 899 AD)
The Telegraph – Viking hoard discovery reveals little-known king ‘airbrushed from history’
The Guardian – Watlington hoard of Viking silver casts light on Alfred the Great era