Ælfweard, the Forgotten King: England’s Monarch for Sixteen Days (Or Was He?)

History remembers the mighty, the long-reigning, and the victorious, but what about the nearly forgotten? This article explores the short, shadowy life of Ælfweard, the little-known son of Edward the Elder, who may have briefly ruled England for just sixteen days.

Between the political turmoil of Anglo-Saxon succession, rival claims to the throne, and the uncertain legacy of his education and legitimacy, Ælfweard’s story is one of potential, tragedy, and mystery. Was he truly king? Was he meant to rule at all? Dive into the lost life of a prince who stood on the edge of power—and vanished almost as quickly as he appeared.

OCD VampireAugust 8, 2025August 8, 2025Leave a comment

Experts, Middle Ages, OCD Vampire

The Rise of Brian Boru: Cennétig mac Lorcáin and Medieval Ireland’s Royal Bloodline

When we think of the medieval period, our minds often go to Camelot: knights in shining armour, long gowns, grand feasts, and stories immortalized by movies and TV shows. But what about Ireland?

The Meaning of “Medieval”

“Medieval” is synonymous with the Middle Ages: a long and complex period in European history that stretches from the 5th century AD (around 476) to the 16th century AD (approximately 1500s). It’s a millennium that continues to inspire artists, writers, and dreamers of all kinds.

The Middle Ages are commonly bracketed between the fall of the Western Roman Empire and the dawn of the Renaissance, or more globally, the rise of the Ottoman Empire. It’s a time defined by transformation, fragmentation, and relentless ambition.

OCD VampireJune 3, 2025June 2, 2025Leave a comment

Experts, Medicality, Middle Ages, OCD Vampire

Therapeutic Phlebotomy Or Bloodletting Has A Medieval History

Many people are fascinated with medieval medical procedures and want to know how people survived them. So, let’s explore the history of bloodletting.

The Overall Humourism Meaning Of Bloodletting

Bloodletting, or by its otherwise name, therapeutic phlebotomy, consists of the withdrawal of blood from a human body or patient. Back then, people believed that it would cure and prevent diseases. The classical way to eject blood from the body was either accomplished by the physician of the time or leeches.

But what do I mean by humourism? Well, in Ancient Greece and Rome, philosophers and physicians adopted what they would call “humourism” as a system of medicine to describe the workings of the human body. Is your head spinning around like Regan in The Exorcist yet?

OCD VampireMay 8, 2024May 7, 2024Leave a comment

Experts, Middle Ages, OCD Vampire

The History Of Impalement: A Method Of Torture From Ancient To Reformation Times

When we think about impalement, we don’t necessarily associate it with bodies, or do we? Because of Vlad the Impaler, we know that at least one person used it obsessively, but what if I told you it is much older than Vlad?

How Old Is The Practice Of Impalement?

The history of impalement is torturous. It is an excruciating and irreversible method of execution. The classical practice consists of the penetration of a human body through a bottom orifice by an inanimate object such as a stake, pole, spear, or hook. The completion of the torture follows with the perforation at the other end of the object through the torso.

Impalement was often the sentence for crimes against the ‘state’ throughout numerous civilizations. It was a capital punishment reserved for horrid crimes of the time or era. However, death through impalement, due to its horrifying scenery, was also employed to implement fear and suppress the desire for rebellion against a leader.

OCD VampireMay 7, 2024Leave a comment

Experts, Middle Ages, OCD Vampire

Did You Know That Vlad The Impaler, Cried Tears Of Blood?

Many things are said about the Prince of Wallachia, known as Vlad the Impaler. He was the guy who impaled people. He is the vampire Count Dracula. But have you heard of him crying blood tears?

What Do We Know About Vlad The Impaler?

Vlad the Impaler lived in the 1400s or close to the end of the Middle Ages and the beginning of the Renaissance era. Romania was separated into three principalities: Wallachia, Transylvania and Moldavia. He was the middle child of a family of three sons. His mother was a noblewoman, while his father was Vlad Dracul II, Prince of Wallachia.

Vlad Dracula was a Christian-Orthodox, as was Wallachia, placed between the Roman Catholic Empire and the Islamic Ottoman Empire. Due to political and religious conflict, Wallachia was a vassal state rather than a country in its own right. When Vlad Dracula took over the throne, he put Wallachia on the map and grew its legend.

OCD VampireFebruary 18, 20242 Comments

Books, Experts, OCD Vampire, Reviews

Vlad Dragwlya by Timothy E. Rodrigue: A Review And Overall Thoughts

As an obsessive fan of Vlad Dracula, I find myself often buying books about his life, whether it is historical fiction or purely history. So, here’s my review of the book Vlad Dragwlya by Timothy E. Rodrigue.

Official Summary of Vlad Dragwlya

Here begins a very cruel frightening story about a wild bloodthirsty man Prince Dragwlya… The war-torn principality of Wallachia is a perilous fulcrum, one of the few geographical boundaries that hinders the Ottoman Empire’s march across Europe.

There are those who would gladly bow to the demands of the Turkish if it meant the procurement of their lands and wealth. There are others who would defy the sultans with every last breath. Prince Vlad III, Dragwlya, is of the latter ilk. Eastern Europe is decidedly Machiavellian, and Dragwlya is the epitome of the doctrine.

OCD VampireFebruary 12, 2024February 12, 20241 Comment

Experts, Middle Ages, OCD Vampire

Before Vlad The Impaler There Was His Brother Mircea II

As a medievalist enthusiast and a Vlad the Impaler fan, I learn daily about his life. One brother of his with a horror story is Mircea II of Wallachia.

Why Is Mircea Important To Vlad’s Story

When I hurt my back last week, I was glued to the bed with limited motion. I couldn’t do much, so I decided it was time to read. I was an avid reader from when I learned to read to my twenties. I can’t recall why I stopped.

I discovered Vlad when I was a tween but only started learning about his life as a teenager. My love for the paranormal and folklore won over me, and I wanted to know who the man behind Dracula from Bram Stoker was.

OCD VampireFebruary 7, 20241 Comment

Experts, Middle Ages, OCD Vampire, Paganism

The Strange And Magickal Origin Of Fays

When thinking about fairies, we often lean toward the little, tiny female entities with charming laughs and small dragonfly types of wings. But what is a fairy, really?

What does Fay Mean And Where Does It Come From?

The word fay saw the light of day in the early Dark Ages. Its spelling varies from fae, fay, fey, and fairy, which all mean the same. We can also see lesser-known variations such as faerie, fairie, fayrye, and feirie.

However, the spelling faerie, adopted in Middle English, later became the word fairy. The word means “enchanted” or anything related to charm. The word itself, borrowed from Old French faerie, came from the same meaning, “realm of the fays.”

OCD VampireJanuary 31, 2024January 30, 20241 Comment

England - Stonehenge - Paganism - Celtic - Druidism

Experts, Middle Ages, OCD Vampire, Paganism, Witch History

The Secret Knowledge Of The Age Of Druidism

In the writing world, we often use folklore and legends. But Druids are not part of the usual characters in novels. Their secrecy might be to blame.

Why Did I Fall Into The Rabbit Hole Of Druidism

Upon research as a medievalist enthusiast, looking for various types of witches, the word Druid popped into my head. Many associate druids with fantasy or games such as Magic The Gathering or Dungeons & Dragons. But there is much more to them.

Druids are not as known as other Celtic folkloric people, such as Leprechauns, Faeries, Elves, and Trolls, to only name a few. The influence of the Celtic culture in fantasy literature is significant and provides solid roots. But druids are different.

OCD VampireJanuary 22, 2024January 21, 20241 Comment

Experts, Middle Ages, Paula Phillips, Serial Killers & Murders

Germany’s Medieval Boogeyman Known As Peter Niers

Throughout history, humankind has encountered many murderers and people thirsty for the blood of innocents. Worldwide known names come to mind, but what about those in the shadows of the big names?

The Names We Know Of The Medieval Period

When you think of the evillest murderers of medieval times, there are specific names that come to mind that took over their centuries. They inspired fear so great that they branded their time with their names.

But if you mention the name Peter Niers, nobody would know who you are talking about. But this person deserves a place on those charts because he left his mark, so who is he, and what did he do?

NZGeekChicOctober 26, 2023October 25, 20231 Comment

Experts, OCD Vampire

The Crusade, Prince John Of England And Robin Hood

We all know the story of Robin Hood and his mortal enemy, the Sheriff of Nottingham. However, what about the ‘Phony King of England,’ Prince John?

Who Is Prince John, And From Which Era?

When we think about Robin Hood, we know Prince John was the antagonist alongside the Sheriff of Nottingham. Prince John is also King Richard’s younger brother, from whom he took the crown while away on the Third Crusade.

While the information is assumed from popular culture from known movies such as Robin Hood: Men In Tights and Walt Disney’s Robin Hood, the information on the character is limited. Prince John’s depiction is also quite different from one movie to the next.

OCD VampireOctober 2, 2023Leave a comment

Experts, Indie Community, OCD Vampire

Gothic Bite Magazine Interviews Their Writer, Ivy Wayne

At Gothic Bite Magazine we love welcoming new patients to become part of our asylum. We question them and learn about them. It doesn’t matter what creative field they are part of because they’re our patient now. This week, we welcome Ivy Wayne

Patient Name: Ivy Wayne

I’m Ivy Wayne, and I grew up in the publishing world and attended acting/art school. I grew up in a small northern French town in Québec, Canada. Determined to make it into the big leagues. I learned English independently. I had Stephen King, Oliver Bowden, Charlaine Harris, Jeaniene Frost, Katie Aiken Ritter and Bernard Cornwell as my ‘literary teachers in writing.

Odd to most people, I became a bookworm and developed an antisocial personality disorder my whole life. I fought many stereotypes and misconceptions from the outside world her entire life. After all, horror is hard to defend to other parents when your daughter is only six-year-old.

OCD VampireApril 26, 2023November 26, 2023Leave a comment

Experts, OCD Vampire

The Dancing Plague Of The Middle Ages

We all heard of the Bubonic Plague, Black Plague, the Plague, or the Black Death, all synonyms for the same illness that killed a third of the world’s population. But do you know about the Dancing Plague?

But First, The Black Plague!

Europe in the Middle Ages suffered from many illnesses and diseases as they developed in various societies. The popularity of trading ports expanded the horizons of kingdoms but also had them face new pathogens, bacteria and germs their lives did not accustom them to.

Nothing prepared their immune system for the possibility of contagion. Their limited knowledge of medicine also led them to die in great numbers. The Church spread it was either God punishing them for their sinful ways or Satan spreading its diseases. Either way, the morale was down.

OCD VampireMarch 30, 20232 Comments

Experts, OCD Vampire, Reviews, YouTube

The Last Kingdom Is A Gothic, Historical Story

Sometimes history hides heroes deep in the art and leaves a battlefield without a name. The Last Kingdom is about one of those men.

Where It Came From

The Last Kingdom is a gothic, historical story. But where to begin? History is an infinite source of ideas for authors.

It is becoming a series that has people glued to their small screens. Netflix didn’t waste time and jumped on Bernard Cornwell‘s work of The Saxon Stories and called it The Last Kingdom.

OCD VampireJanuary 30, 20231 Comment

Experts, OCD Vampire, YouTube

The Black Death History Of The Middle Ages

When the words Black Plague come together, we automatically think of the Middle Ages. Most recently, the term Dark Ages turned inappropriate but remained used, as it has another meaning for us goths, the Bubonic Plague.

The Overall Meaning Of The Black Death

The term Black Death resonates with an outburst of bubonic plague turned into a pandemic. It occurred in Western Euroasia and spread down to North Africa. Its period of spread was between 1346 to 1353.

This era was the most brutal and fatal death-spreading pandemic in human history to this day. Nothing has ever come close to the number of deaths related to a disease.

OCD VampireDecember 30, 2022January 13, 20232 Comments

Experts, Paula Phillips

Gilles de Rais Went From Noble Warrior to Serial Killer

Serial killers aren’t always made. Sometimes they are born and asleep until one spark ignites. Gilles de Rais is one of human history’s most horrific figures. His descent to Hell is one of the infamous tales of France.

The Proof That Stereotypes Are Wrong

It’s incredible how some of the most infamous serial killers can also be the ones you never expect. A famous example in recent times is Ted Bundy. Bundy worked alongside Ann Rule at a women’s shelter.

Bundy helped counsel many women. Yet simultaneously, he hid from being a serial killer. He murdered many women in his time. The disturbing part was Ted going home afterwards and acting as a dedicated husband and father.

NZGeekChicDecember 21, 2022Leave a comment

Experts, OCD Vampire

Before The Birth Of Vlad The Impaler There Was His Father

When we think of Romania, we often think about Vlad the Impaler, but every historical figure has a beginning and an origin story. Let’s go back to the beginning to unveil the man behind the larger-than-life figure he became.

An Only Child With No Friends By Choice

I was the odd kid parents warned their children about. I was the nightmare blowing through mindless youngsters’ hair. No grown-up liked me, and I hadn’t a care. All I needed were books, blank papers, crayons, and one person from history to kick-start my story.

My maternal grandparents raised me as I was their only child’s child. My grandpa worked at a printing and binding company and often would come home with boxes of expensive books that didn’t make the cut. It was a minor mistake, like the margin’s width or not the right colour, and so on. As an only child surrounded by books all the time, I started reading ahead of other children my age and went to a performing arts school.

OCD VampireDecember 19, 2022January 13, 20233 Comments

Romania — Transylvania — Fortress Castle

Experts, OCD Vampire

An Epic Wallachian Battle In Most Gothic Times Won By Basarab I of Wallachia

Many battles occurred during the Middle Ages, often due to pride or religion. Some of the epic battles were between Wallachia and Hungary. This is the story of the Battle of Posada.

Wallachia Was Small, But Mighty

Between November 9th and 12th of 1330, the Battle of Posada took place between Basarab I of Wallachia and Charles I of Hungary, who shared the name, Charles Robert. Wallachia, known today as Romania, had a small army with Basarab at the head. The cavalry and archers lived in a land of mountains and would mostly travel on foot.

Historians claim that the Turks’ nomadic people, the Cumans, helped Wallachia in their battle. However, because of the substantial number of Cuman-Hungarian people, there is no proof to back the claim. Charles referred to Basarab as Voivode, a Romanian word and term translating as Warlord, but nothing above it. Charles did so due to Wallachia being a vassal to Hungary in 1324.

OCD VampireDecember 2, 2022January 13, 20231 Comment

Experts, Paula Phillips

The First Witch Trial In The British Isles

In the history of witch trials, we can go as far back as the beginning of Christianity and later on Catholicism. Being part of the church didn’t even ensure your safety among your people. History is cruel to those who dare be just a little different.

Women And Witchcraft

Throughout history, we have read about the various women who, back in the early days, suffered persecution and accusation of witchcraft. When anything wrong seemed to happen, they were the ones to blame.

The women were at fault, and they viewed it as suspicious if it happened more than once. The suspicion turned towards the idea that the female must be at fault and a witch.

NZGeekChicNovember 30, 2022November 30, 20222 Comments

Experts, OCD Vampire, Reviews, YouTube

Knightfall Is The Underrated Medieval Series Deserving Of More Seasons

When I finished watching The Last Kingdom, I was looking desperately for something to satisfy my Dark Ages addiction. Knightfall showed up, and quickly I found myself hooked on the last years of the infamous Templars.

The Official Summary

In 1306, the Knights Templar were winding down their run as one of the most powerful organisations in the Christian world. Acre, the Templar’s last stronghold, has fallen, and years later, a rumour is heard that the lost Grail is still in that area.

The Templars, led by the courageous, headstrong, but noble Templar Knight Landry, have shifted their attention to regaining a foothold in the Holy Land. They take their battle back to the Holy Land, and their battles become the Crusades.

OCD VampireNovember 22, 2022January 13, 2023Leave a comment

History remembers the mighty, the long-reigning, and the victorious, but what about the nearly forgotten? This article explores the short, shadowy life of Ælfweard, the little-known son of Edward the Elder, who may have briefly ruled England for just sixteen days.

Share this:

When we think of the medieval period, our minds often go to Camelot: knights in shining armour, long gowns, grand feasts, and stories immortalized by movies and TV shows. But what about Ireland?

The Meaning of “Medieval”

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Many people are fascinated with medieval medical procedures and want to know how people survived them. So, let’s explore the history of bloodletting.

The Overall Humourism Meaning Of Bloodletting

Share this:

When we think about impalement, we don’t necessarily associate it with bodies, or do we? Because of Vlad the Impaler, we know that at least one person used it obsessively, but what if I told you it is much older than Vlad?

How Old Is The Practice Of Impalement?

Share this:

Many things are said about the Prince of Wallachia, known as Vlad the Impaler. He was the guy who impaled people. He is the vampire Count Dracula. But have you heard of him crying blood tears?

What Do We Know About Vlad The Impaler?

Share this:

As an obsessive fan of Vlad Dracula, I find myself often buying books about his life, whether it is historical fiction or purely history. So, here’s my review of the book Vlad Dragwlya by Timothy E. Rodrigue.

Official Summary of Vlad Dragwlya

Share this:

As a medievalist enthusiast and a Vlad the Impaler fan, I learn daily about his life. One brother of his with a horror story is Mircea II of Wallachia.

Why Is Mircea Important To Vlad’s Story

Share this:

When thinking about fairies, we often lean toward the little, tiny female entities with charming laughs and small dragonfly types of wings. But what is a fairy, really?

What does Fay Mean And Where Does It Come From?

Share this:

In the writing world, we often use folklore and legends. But Druids are not part of the usual characters in novels. Their secrecy might be to blame.

Why Did I Fall Into The Rabbit Hole Of Druidism

Share this:

Throughout history, humankind has encountered many murderers and people thirsty for the blood of innocents. Worldwide known names come to mind, but what about those in the shadows of the big names?

The Names We Know Of The Medieval Period

Share this:

We all know the story of Robin Hood and his mortal enemy, the Sheriff of Nottingham. However, what about the ‘Phony King of England,’ Prince John?

Who Is Prince John, And From Which Era?

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At Gothic Bite Magazine we love welcoming new patients to become part of our asylum. We question them and learn about them. It doesn’t matter what creative field they are part of because they’re our patient now. This week, we welcome Ivy Wayne

Patient Name: Ivy Wayne

Share this:

We all heard of the Bubonic Plague, Black Plague, the Plague, or the Black Death, all synonyms for the same illness that killed a third of the world’s population. But do you know about the Dancing Plague?

But First, The Black Plague!

Share this:

Sometimes history hides heroes deep in the art and leaves a battlefield without a name. The Last Kingdom is about one of those men.

Where It Came From

Share this:

When the words Black Plague come together, we automatically think of the Middle Ages. Most recently, the term Dark Ages turned inappropriate but remained used, as it has another meaning for us goths, the Bubonic Plague.

The Overall Meaning Of The Black Death

Share this:

Serial killers aren’t always made. Sometimes they are born and asleep until one spark ignites. Gilles de Rais is one of human history’s most horrific figures. His descent to Hell is one of the infamous tales of France.

The Proof That Stereotypes Are Wrong

Share this:

When we think of Romania, we often think about Vlad the Impaler, but every historical figure has a beginning and an origin story. Let’s go back to the beginning to unveil the man behind the larger-than-life figure he became.

An Only Child With No Friends By Choice

Share this:

Many battles occurred during the Middle Ages, often due to pride or religion. Some of the epic battles were between Wallachia and Hungary. This is the story of the Battle of Posada.

Wallachia Was Small, But Mighty

Share this:

In the history of witch trials, we can go as far back as the beginning of Christianity and later on Catholicism. Being part of the church didn’t even ensure your safety among your people. History is cruel to those who dare be just a little different.

Women And Witchcraft

Share this:

When I finished watching The Last Kingdom, I was looking desperately for something to satisfy my Dark Ages addiction. Knightfall showed up, and quickly I found myself hooked on the last years of the infamous Templars.

The Official Summary

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