Finally had a chance to watch "The Dig", about the discovery of the Sutton Hoo ship burial on Netflix last night. I enjoyed it (despite what some critics said) and read up on it a little this morning. I didn't realize scholars believe Rædwald of East Anglia is the most likely person to have been buried in the ship.
Rædwald was the son of Tytila of East Anglia and a member of the Wuffingas dynasty (named after his grandfather, Wuffa), who were the first kings of the East Angles. Details about Rædwald's reign are scarce, primarily because the Viking invasions of the 9th century destroyed the monasteries in East Anglia where many documents would have been kept. Rædwald reigned from about 599 CE until his death around 624 CE, initially under the overlordship of Æthelberht of Kent. In 616 CE at the decisive Battle of the River Idle, Rædwald's army was split into three formations, led by Rædwald, Rægenhere, and Edwin. With more experienced fighters, Æthelfrith attacked in loose formation. At the sight of Rægenhere, perhaps thinking he was Edwin, Æthelfrith's men cut their way through to him and slew him. After the death of his son, Rædwald furiously breached his lines, killing Æthelfrith amid a great slaughter of the Northumbrians. With the defeat of Æthelfrith of Northumbria, Rædwald was able to install Edwin, who was acquiescent to his authority, as the new king of Northumbria.
Studying the map and information about the site on Wikipedia, I was also surprised to learn that archaeologists found a burial of executed individuals as well as a single warrior's grave there as well (not discussed in the movie). It made me wonder if the executed men were a burial sacrifice of prisoners or designated tribesmen selected to accompany the king. I haven't read much on Anglo Saxon history since it's a little beyond my focus on ancient civilizations around the Mediterranean, but I find it raises intriguing questions and deserves attention.
Image: A Gold Shoulder Clasp, with inlays of garnets and glass from the Sutton Hoo ship burial courtesy of The British Museum and Wikimedia Commons.
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