Ælfred's Britain : war and peace in the Viking age

Maps by Jeff Edwards. In 865, a great Viking army landed in East Anglia, precipitating a series of wars that would last until the middle of the following century. It was in this time of crisis that the modern kingdoms of Britain were born. In their responses to the Viking threat, these kingdoms forged their identities as hybrid cultures: vibrant and entrepreneurial peoples adapting to instability and opportunity. Traditionally, Ælfred the Great is cast as the central player in the story of Viking Age Britain. But Max Adams, while stressing the genius of Ælfred as war leader, law-giver, and forger of the English nation, has a more nuanced and variegated narrative to relate. The Britain encountered by the Scandinavians of the ninth and tenth centuries was one of regional diversity and self-conscious cultural identities: of Picts, Dál Riatans and Strathclyde Britons; of Bernicians and Deirans, East Anglians, Mercians and West Saxons. In 865, A Great Viking Army Landed In East Anglia, Precipitating A Series Of Wars That Would Last Until The Middle Of The Following Century. It Was In This Time Of Crisis That The Modern Kingdoms Of Britain Were Born. In Their Responses To The Viking Threat, These Kingdoms Forged Their Identities As Hybrid Cultures: Vibrant And Entrepreneurial Peoples Adapting To Instability And Opportunity. Traditionally, Aelfred The Great Is Cast As The Central Player In The Story Of Viking Age Britain. But Max Adams, While Stressing The Genius Of Aelfred As War Leader, Law-giver, And Forger Of The English Nation, Has A More Nuanced And Variegated Narrative To Relate. The Britain Encountered By The Scandinavians Of The Ninth And Tenth Centuries Was One Of Regional Diversity And Self-conscious Cultural Identities: Of Picts, Dal Riatans And Strathclyde Britons; Of Bernicians And Deirans, East Anglians, Mercians And West Saxons. Author's Note -- Introduction -- Part One: The Tigers In The Smoke, 789-878 (timeline 1: 789-878 ; Forespæc ; 1. Landscape With Figures ; 2. Central Placves ; 3. The Incoming Tide ; 4. The End Of Days) Part Two: Newton's Cradle: 879-918 (timeline 2: 879-918 ; Forespæc ; 5. The Balance Of Power ; 6. Arriivals And Departures ; 7. Fragmentary Annals ; 8. Politics By Other Means) Part Three: Going Native: 919-955 (timeline 3: 919-955 ; Forespæc ; 9. Innate Affinities With Ambiguity ; 10. Lawyers, Guns And Money ; 11. A House Of Cards ; 12. The Illusory Prize) Appendix; Regnal Tables (rulers Of Wessex, 802-955 ; Rulers Of York, 867-955 ; Rulers Of Mercia, 757-924 ; Rulers Of Pictavia; Dál Riata, Alba, 839-955 ; Rulers Of The Welsh, 808-950) Max Adams. Maps On Lining Papers. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 465-489) And Index. A history of the peoples of Britain, in the century and a half between the first Viking raids and the expulsion of the Vikings from York in 954; from the bestselling author of "The King Of The North" and "In The Land Of Giants". In 865, a great Viking army landed in East Anglia, precipitating a series of wars that would last until the middle of the following century. It was in this time of crisis that the modern kingdoms of Britain were born. In their responses to the Viking threat, these kingdoms forged their identities as hybrid cultures: vibrant and entrepreneurial peoples adapting to instability and opportunity. Traditionally, lfred the Great is cast as the central player in the story of Viking Age Britain. But Max Adams, while stressing the genius of lfred as war leader, law-giver, and forger of the English nation, has a more nuanced and variegated narrative to relate. The Britain encountered by the Scandinavians of the ninth and tenth centuries was one of regional diversity and self-conscious cultural identities: of Picts, Dl Riatans and Strathclyde Britons; of Bernicians and Deirans, East Anglians, Mercians and West Saxons List of Maps Dedication Map Frontispiece Author’s note Introduction PART I: The tiger in the smoke, 789–878 Timeline 1: 789–878 Forespæc Chapter 1: Landscape with figures Chapter 2: Central places Chapter 3: The incoming tide Chapter 4: The End of Days PART II: Newton’s cradle, 879–918 Timeline 2: 879–918 Forespæc Chapter 5: The balance of power Chapter 6: Arrivals and departures Chapter 7: Fragmentary annals Chapter 8: Politics by other means PART III: Going native, 919–955 Timeline 3: 919–955 Forespæc Chapter 9: Innate affinities with ambiguity Chapter 10: Lawyers, guns and money Chapter 11: A house of cards Chapter 12: The illusory prize Endpapers Appendix: Regnal tables Rulers of Wessex 802–955 Rulers of York 867–955 Rulers of Mercia 757–924 Rulers of Pictavia; Dál Riata; Alba 839–955 Rulers of the Welsh 808–950 Abbreviations, sources and references Notes Bibliography Picture credits Acknowledgements Index The story of Aelfred the Great, his war against the Vikings and the foundations of modern Britain. In AD 865 , a 'great host' of battle-hardened Norse warriors landed on England's eastern coast , overwhelmed East Anglia with terrifying swiftness and laid the North to waste. Ghosting along estuaries and inshore waters, in 871 they penetrated deep into the southern kingdom of Wessex, ruled over by a new and untested king, Ælfred son of Æðelwulf. It seemed as though the End of Days was come. Max Adams tells the story of the heroic efforts of Ælfred , his successors and fellow-kings of Britain, to adapt and survive in the face of an apocalyptic threat; and in so doing, to lay the foundations of the nations of modern Britain in all their regional diversity. "In AD 865, a 'great host' of battle-hardened Norse warriors landed on England's eastern coast, overwhelmed East Anglia with terrifying swiftness and laid the North to waste. Ghosting along estuaries and inshore waters, in 871 they penetrated deep into the southern kingdom of Wessex, ruled over by a new and untested king, Ælfred son of Æðelwulf. It seemed as though the End of Days had come. Max Adams tells the story of the heroic efforts of Ælfred, his successors and fellow-kings of Britain, to adapt and survive in the face of an apocalyptic threat; and in so doing, to lay the foundations of the nations of modern Britain in all their regional diversity."-- Page 4 of cover