Ragnar and the Wessex Response: The Burhs That Saved England

After the Great Heathen Army's campaigns, Wessex was on the brink. But King Alfred the Great didn't just pray—he built. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the network of fortified towns called burhs, documented in the Burghal Hidage. They discuss how these fortifications, each with a specific number of hides and garrison size, created a defensive system that halted the Viking advance. From the construction methods of earthen ramparts and wooden palisades to the strategic placement along Roman roads and rivers, they uncover the military logistics that allowed Alfred to counter the Scandinavian threat. The conversation touches on the daily life of burh inhabitants, the role of the fyrd in manning defenses, and how this system laid the foundation for a unified England. Specific burhs like Winchester, Wareham, and Chichester are examined. The episode also explores the legacy of the burhs in later English history and the archaeological evidence that confirms their existence. No prior knowledge of the Burghal Hidage is needed—just a curiosity about how the Saxons fought back.

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