introduction6164667836ab08b81b8e-42be7794b013b8d9e301e1d959bc4a76.r3… · 2015-06-09 ·...
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Map 1 The Viking World
York
Lin
disf
arne
Que
ntov
ic
Dor
esta
dHed
eby
Gro
bina
Wol
lin
Kau
pang Ju
mne
Tru
soD
ublin
Bir
ka
Kie
v
Ber
ezan
y
Con
stan
tinop
le(M
ikle
gard
)
Nap
les
Am
alfi
Bul
gar
Nov
goro
d
Gne
zdov
o
Star
aja
Lad
oga
L’A
nse
aux
Mea
dow
s
Bra
ttah
lid
GR
EE
NL
AN
D
AT
LA
NT
IC
OC
EA
N
Icel
and
New
foun
dlan
d
Nor
weg
ian
Sea
Dav
isSt
rait
Nor
thSe
a
Baf
fin Is
land
Irel
and
Faro
e Is.
Shet
land
Is.
Ork
ney
Is.
Rhine
Dan
ube
Volga
SCO
TL
AN
D
NO
RWAY
SWED
EN
EN
GL
AN
D
DE
NM
AR
K
Wes
tern
Sett
lem
ent
Eas
tern
Sett
lem
ent
0
010
00
1000
km mile
s
NV
ikin
g ho
mel
ands
Are
as c
onqu
ered
or
colo
nize
d by
Vik
ings
347KK_tx.indd 14 02/02/2015 12:17
Introduction
Then the wolvish Vikings, avid for slaughter, waded to the west across the River Panta. The seafarers hoisted their shields on high and carried them over the gleaming water. Byrhtnoth and his warriors awaited them, ready for battle; he ordered his men to form a phalanx with their shields, and to stand firm against the onslaught of the enemy. Then was the battle, with its chance of glory, about to begin. The time had come for all the doomed men to fall in the fight.
The clamour began; the ravens wheeled and the eagle circled overhead, craving for carrion; there was shouting on earth. They hurled their spears, hard as files, and sent sharp darts flying from their hands. Bow strings were busy, shield parried point. Bitter was the battle. Brave men fell on both sides, youths choking in the dust . . . The brave men stood resolute, rock firm. Each of them hunting for a way to be first in with his spear, winning with his weapons the life of a doomed warrior; the dead sank down to the earth. But the rest stood unshaken and Byrhtnoth spurred them on, inciting each man to fight ferociously who wished to gain glory against the Danes . . . Another seafarer advanced on the earl, meaning to make short work of him and snatch away his treasures – his armour and his rings and his ornamented sword.
Byrhtnoth drew out his sword from its sheath, broad-faced and gleaming, and made to slash at the seafarer’s corselet. But his enemy stopped him all too soon, savagely striking Byrhtnoth’s arm. The golden-hilted sword dropped from his hand. He could hold it no longer nor wield a weapon of any kind. Then the old warrior raised his men’s morale with bold words, calling on his companions to do battle again . . . Then the heathens hewed him down and the two men who stood there supporting him; Aelfnoth and Wulfmaer fell to the dust, both gave their lives in defence of their lord . . . So Aethelred’s earl, the prince of those people fell; all his hearth-companions could see for themselves that their lord lay low. Then the proud thanes, with the utmost
347KK_tx.indd 1 02/02/2015 12:17
347KK_tx.indd 1 20/03/2015 10:55
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