Ever since the late ninth-century Viking raids, parts of eastern England had often come under Danish control - and for some of the 11th century the whole of England became part of a vast Danish empire, which also included Norway, southern Sweden.England became the subject of a geopolitical tug-of-war between the Scandinavians and the Normans. The half-Norman English king Edward the Confessor was intensely pro-Norman, while his half-Danish successor Harold was supported by the Anglo-Danish community.In 1066 the country was invaded by both the Scandinavians and the Normans, both of whom were determined to seize permanent control of England.As an ethnic Dane, Hereward was intensely anti-Norman, probably even more so than many Anglo-Saxons.He was able to enlist military support from Denmark itself, the new research reveals, and in 1069 the Danish royal family and the Danish church sent a small army across the North Sea to assist Hereward.As a result of his long guerrilla campaign and by avoiding the attentions of the William's soldiers he earned the popular title "the Wake", meaning "the watchful". Popular tradition has maintained that Hereward was the son of an Anglo-Saxon nobleman, Earl Leofric. This nobleman, so the story goes, was married to Lady Godiva, who rode naked through the streets of Coventry to make her husband lower taxes.But an in-depth study, Hereward, the Last Englishman, to be published this week, reveals that Hereward was the son of a prominent Anglo-Danish magnate called Asketil.The research by the historian Peter Rex sheds a fascinating light on the political circumstances of the time.

"It doesn't quite have the visual appeal of a cork flying across the room, but it's probably not as dangerous either Traditional corks will never be completely phased out. These are for people looking for something innovative."Jamie Goode, publisher of the Wine Anorak website, said crown closures were a good idea but would never replace cork."Champagne doesn't just sell on the quality of the bottle; people are also buying a sense of mystery and celebration," he said. "The romance is part of the experience, which is why they can charge £15 for what is sometimes a very basic bottle of wine.". One of history's "greatest Englishmen" wasn't really English at all. Hereward the Wake, the guerrilla leader who fought William the Conqueror for five years from 1066, was, according to new research, a high-ranking Dane.

However, some experts said it will kill the romance associated with champagne drinking.John West, Mo?Hennessy brand director for wines, said the advantage of a crown cap was the lack of cork "taint" ­ the fungal taste associated with corked wines ­ although he admitted that beer bottle-style caps lack cork appeal."It will still open with a good pop, and people will get used to it," said Mr West. The Chandon Green Point Z*D ­ made by an off-shoot of the world's largest champagne producer, Mo?& Chandon ­ will retail at a modest £12.99 a bottle. Made from chardonnay grapes, the sparkling wine has a metal "crown" top familiar to brown ale drinkers.Mo?expects other wine makers to copy its controversial use of this type of fitting on champagne in what marks the latest departure from traditional cork. I used to work in a club, getting in at 4am then up again at 9am for my day job. I did it for a year but it got too much.Finding energy for auditions is never a problem.