by Tony Bradman
GLOSSARY
Angles a Germanic people from the part of Europe we now know as northern Germany and Denmark, who arrived in Britain in the fifth century CE
Britannia the Roman name for Britain
Britons people who lived in Britain before the arrival of the Anglo-Saxons
byrnie a piece of chain-mail armour that covered a soldier’s neck and shoulders
Elmet a small ancient kingdom roughly corresponding to part of Yorkshire today
Franks a Germanic tribe who took over Gaul as Roman rule ended
Friga goddess of love and wisdom and wife of the god Woden in Anglo-Saxon mythology. In Norse mythology she is known as Freya.
Frisian Sea an area of the North Sea near to what is now the Netherlands
Gaul the Roman name for a land that today includes France and parts of some of its neighbours
Geats a Germanic tribe from Scandinavia
Goths a Germanic people from Scandinavia who took over most of Hispania as Roman rule ended
Gwynedd an ancient Welsh kingdom, today a county in Wales
hand-fasted engaged or married
Hispania the Roman name for what is now Spain and Portugal
Jutes a Germanic people who invaded Britain in the fifth century CE along with the Angles and Saxons
Lindsey a small ancient kingdom roughly corresponding to part of Lincolnshire today
mead an alcoholic drink made from honey, water and spices
Norns legendary figures who create and control fate
pelt animal skin or fur
pommel the knob at the top of a sword or dagger
poultice a treatment for wounds and swellings, made from a heated mixture spread on a cloth or spiders’ webs
Powys an ancient Welsh kingdom, today a county in Wales
Saxons a Germanic people from the part of Europe we now know as northern Germany and Denmark, who arrived in Britain in the fifth century CE
scop a court poet
seax a long knife or dagger used by the Anglo-Saxons
spatha a type of long, straight sword
stockade a defensive wall built of large wooden posts
Tamesis the Roman name for the river Thames
Thunor god of thunder in Anglo-Saxon mythology. In Norse mythology he is known as Thor.
Vandals a Germanic tribe who are famous for attacking and destroying Rome
Vikings people from Scandinavia who settled in parts of the British Isles from the eighth century CE. They are also known as Norse people.
Woden king of the gods in Anglo-Saxon mythology. In Norse mythology he is known as Odin.
wyrd fate, a power that decides everything that happens, according to Anglo-Saxon belief
Yggdrasil the mighty tree that supports the whole universe in Anglo-Saxon and Norse mythology
Yuletide a midwinter festival celebrated by Anglo-Saxons and other ancient northern European peoples. Some of the Yuletide customs have been kept as part of Christmas traditions.
BLOOMSBURY EDUCATION
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
50 Bedford Square, London, WC1B 3DP, UK
BLOOMSBURY, BLOOMSBURY EDUCATION and the Diana logo are trademarks of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
First published in Great Britain 2019 by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
This electronic edition published 2019 by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Text copyright © Tony Bradman, 2019
Tony Bradman has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as Author of this work
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publishers
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN: PB: 978-1-4729-5378-0; ePDF: 978-1-4729-5377-3; ePub: 978-1-4729-5376-6
To find out more about our authors and books visit www.bloomsbury.com and sign up for our newsletters.