Histories and pseudohistories of the post-Roman era: King Arthur, Hengest and Havelok

This course explores these later accounts of these centuries and asks how credible and trustworthy the information preserved in this material is likely to be. Heroes and events covered include the supposed victor over the Saxon invaders, King Arthur; the legends surrounding Hengest, Horsa and Vortigern and the Anglo-Saxon settlement; the foundation legends attached to Ida and the ruling family of Anglo-Saxon Bernicia (Northumbria); and the medieval tale of Havelok the Dane and the British kingdom of Lincoln and Lindesi.

Course programme

Friday 4 December 2015

Please plan to arrive between 16:30 and 18:30. You can meet other course members in the bar which opens at 18:15. Tea and coffee making facilities are available in the study bedrooms.

19:00 Dinner
20:30 Session 1
22:00 Terrace bar open for informal discussion

Saturday 5 December 2015

07:30 Breakfast
09:00 Session 2
10:30 Coffee
11:00 Session 3
12:30 Free
13:00 Lunch
14:00 Free
16:00 Tea
16:30 Session 4
18:00 Free
18:30 Dinner
20:00 Session 5
21:30 Terrace bar open for informal discussion

Sunday 6 December 2015

07:30 Breakfast
09:00 Session 6
10:30 Coffee
11:00 Session 7
12:30 Free
12:45 Lunch

The course will disperse after lunch