A view from St Giles Hill for this #onthisday thread 👇 [1/5] 
Waltheof, Earl of Northumbria, was executed #otd in 1076 after a year-long imprisonment, likely at Winchester Castle.
Fearing civil unrest, Waltheof was secretly transported to the site of his execution, St Giles Hill, at dawn while the city slept.
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Fearing civil unrest, Waltheof was secretly transported to the site of his execution, St Giles Hill, at dawn while the city slept.
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Orderic Vitalis recalls a rather unusual account of the execution. Faced with his imminent death, Waltheof's request to recite the Lord’s Prayer was granted on the condition that he did so quietly. Before reaching the final line Waltheof burst into tears, sobbing loudly.
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Startled by the noise, the executioner swung his axe. The severed head, undeterred however, continued to finish the last line and complete the prayer.
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For those interested, we'd recommend watching Professor Lavelle's inaugural lecture on power and revolts in the early medieval England and France
38mins➡️ for Waltheof and the significance of St Giles Hill for his execution.
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38mins➡️ for Waltheof and the significance of St Giles Hill for his execution.
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Please unroll @threadreaderapp
