BATTLE FOR THE ISLAND KINGDOM : the struggle for england's destiny 1000-1066

A rich history of the years leading up to 1066 when Vikings, Anglo-Saxons and Normans vied for the English crown. A tale of loyalty, treason and military might. In a saga reminiscent of Game of Thrones and The Last Kingdom , Battle for the Island Kingdom reveals the life-and-death struggle for power which changed the course of history. The six decades leading up to 1066 were defined by bloody wars and intrigues, in which three peoples vied for supremacy over the island kingdom. In this epic retelling, Don Hollway ( The Last Viking ) recounts the clashes of Vikings, Anglo-Saxons and Normans, their warlords and their conniving queens. It begins with the Viking Cnut the Great, forging three nations into his North Sea Empire while his Saxon wife Aelfgifu rules in his stead and schemes for England's throne. Her archenemy is Emma of Normandy, widow of Saxon king Aethelred, claiming Cnut's realm in exchange for her hand in marriage. Their sons become rivals, pawns in their mothers' wars until they can secure their own destinies. And always in the shadows is Godwin of Wessex, playing all sides to become the power behind the throne until his son Harold emerges as king of all of England. But Harold's brother Tostig turns traitor, abandons the Anglo-Saxons and joins the army of the last great Viking, Harald Hardrada, where together they meet their fate at the battle of Stamford Bridge. And all this time watching from across the water is William, the Bastard, fighting to secure his own Norman dukedom, but with an eye on the English crown. Half Title 2 Dedication 3 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Contents 6 List of Illustrations 8 Author’s Note 10 Dramatis Personae 16 Introduction: A New Millennium 20 Part One: The Vikings 28 I: Normandy Invasion: 1001 30 II: Foreigners: 1002 37 III: Woe to King Aethelred: 1003–1009 45 IV: The Jomsvikings: 1009–1012 61 V: Hnefatafl: 1012–1014 69 VI: Sons of the Fathers: 1014–1016 85 VII: One King to Rule All: 1016 105 VIII: Viking England: 1017–1022 115 IX: Forging an Empire: 1022–1028 125 X: Kingdoms, Dukedoms, Heirdoms: 1028–1030 138 XI: Seeking Deliverance: 1030–1035 146 XII: Power Games: 1036–1037 157 XIII: Nadirs: 1037–1040 171 XIV: Harthacnut: 1040–1042 179 XV: Their Just Rewards: 1042–1043 191 Part Two: The Anglo-Saxons 198 XVI: Edward Rex: 1042–1045 200 XVII: Comeuppances: 1045–1046 211 XVIII: Outcasts: 1046–1047 219 XIX: Val-ès-Dunes: 1047 225 XX: The Godwins: 1047–1049 232 XXI: William the Bastard: 1049–1051 238 XXII: Rebellion: 1051 249 XXIII: Heir to the Throne: 1051–1052 257 XXIV: The Return of the Godwins: 1052 264 XXV: Asserting Power: 1052–1053 270 XXVI: Wars in the North: 1054 276 XXVII: The Godwinsons: 1055–1056 284 XXVIII: War and Diplomacy: 1057 291 XXIX: Supremacy: 1058–1060 298 XXX: Fragile Peace: 1061 305 XXXI: Conquerors: 1062–1063 313 XXXII: Betrayals: 1064–1065 321 Part Three: The Normans 340 XXXIII: Challenge Accepted: Spring 1066 342 XXXIV: Opening Moves: Summer 1066 351 XXXV: Return of the Vikings: September 1066 360 XXXVI: Hastings: October 1066 374 Afterword 402 Sources 411 Bibliography 417 Acknowledgments 425 Index 426 About the Author 433 Plates 434