Oswiu, King of Kings

by Edoardo Albert

  Gododdin A tribe who lived in what is now the south-east of Scotland and the north-east of England, with strongholds at Edinburgh and Traprain Law.

  Gwynedd Kingdom of the Britons in north-west Wales.

  “Hwæt” The traditional way to begin a recitation or song. Can be translated as listen, hear this.

  Jutes The Jutes settled in Kent and the Isle of Wight.

  Loki Thunor’s brother.

  Mercia Kingdom of the Angles, covering the Midlands and beyond.

  Picts The original inhabitants of what later became Scotland.

  Rheged A kingdom of the Britons, roughly centred on Carlisle.

  Saxons One of the three main peoples that migrated to Britain in the fifth to seventh centuries. The Saxons mainly settled along the Thames Valley and to its south and west.

  Scop A bard and poet – the keeper of the collective memory of his people.

  Seax A short sword/long knife, worn by all Anglo-Saxons (indeed, it gave the Saxons their name).

  Spear The mark of a free Anglo-Saxon. Slaves were not allowed to carry weapons.

  Strathclyde A kingdom of the Britons, with its chief stronghold upon Dumbarton Rock.

  Thegn A nobleman – that is, a warrior.

  Thunor Battle god of the Anglo-Saxons.

  Witan The assembly of the chief men of a kingdom. An ætheling had to win the support of his witan in order to claim the throne.

  Woden Chief god of the pagan Anglo-Saxons.

  Wyrd Key Anglo-Saxon concept. Can be translated as fate or destiny.

  The Kingdoms of Britain, c. 635

  Pronunciation Guide

  How do you pronounce Æ and Œ?

  In Old English, Æ (or “ash”, to call the letter by its name) represented a vowel that sounded like a cross between “a” and “e”. Try saying it like the “a” in “cat”. As for Œ (the ēðel rune), say it as “oy”.

  A note on names

  The names in this book are difficult to say. Two conquests – the slow-motion one of the Anglo-Saxons and then the lightning bolt of the Normans – have consigned most of the personal names in use during the seventh century to obscure history books.

  Another factor in the loss of Anglo-Saxon names was the conviction among the Anglo-Saxons that a name was personal property and, as such, should be unique to the person and not handed out to later generations, even if related. A notable example of this is that while Cerdic founded the kingdom of the West Saxons, the most long-lasting of all the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, none of his successor kings ever bore the name of their legendary forefather. As generations passed, and original names became harder to come by, the solution was to combine words in compound forms, so producing names like Godgifu (Gift of God) and Sigeberht (Victory Bright). But while names had to be unique, they also, particularly in the case of noble or royal families, had to indicate family relationship. This was done by alliteration and using the same stem. Thus Alfred the Great, the youngest of five brothers and one sister, was the only one whose name did not begin with Æthel. Presumably, once his parents had got through calling on Æthelbald, Æthelberht, Æthelred, Æthelstan and Æthelswith, they decided they could not face another Æthel in the hall (Æthel means “noble” – an appropriate name stem for an ætheling) and plumped for Ælfræd (which means “elf wisdom” or “counsel”). Although modern English is the direct descendant of Old English, the sound of the old language strikes the present-day hearer as akin to that of Danish – search on YouTube for readings of Beowulf in Old English to hear how it sounds.

  To make matters more difficult, some names in this book come from Brittonic and Goidelic, the related languages that diversified from the original proto-Celtic, with Brittonic going on to produce Welsh, Cornish, Cumbric and Breton, and Goidelic giving us Gaelic, Scottish Gaelic and Manx.

  To help readers (and the writer!), Dr Alex Woolf, senior lecturer in history at the University of St Andrews, has very kindly transcribed the most difficult names into modern English. Here they are:

  Of the events in Edwin: High King of Britain and Oswald: Return of the King

  Hounded through Britain by the man who had usurped him on the throne of Northumbria, Edwin takes refuge at the court of Rædwald, king of the East Angles. But the usurper, Æthelfrith, will not rest until Edwin is dead, and he attempts to suborn Rædwald into giving up his guest. But Rædwald withstands the pressure and, with Edwin beside him, catches Æthelfrith unawares and kills him in battle. With Æthelfrith dead, Edwin becomes king of Northumbria and, when Rædwald dies shortly afterwards, Edwin becomes the most powerful king in the land.

  To strengthen his position, King Edwin contracts marriage with Æthelburh, the sister of the king of Kent. As part of the marriage agreement, Edwin, a pagan, agrees that Æthelburh, who is Christian, may continue to practise her religion and that she may bring a priest with her when she travels to Northumbria.

  Faced with a series of signs and wonders, Edwin himself decides to adopt the new religion and puts the decision to the witan – the assembly of his leading men – to hear their voices on the matter. Coifi, Edwin’s pagan priest, speaks at this meeting, decrying the gods of old, for they have turned their faces from him and he can no longer discern the workings of wyrd as he once was able to, and his words carry the day. The witan of Northumbria agrees to accept the new god – even though this is the god of the people their forefathers had defeated in carving out their kingdom.

  As Edwin’s power grows, opposition to him from the other kings mounts. The king of the West Saxons attempts to assassinate him. Then Cadwallon, king of Gywnedd, enters into alliance with Penda of Mercia. They trick Edwin into riding after them and, at the Battle of Hatfield Chase, Edwin is defeated and killed.

  When news of this reaches Æthelburh she takes her children and flees into exile, taking ship to her kin, first in Kent and then to her mother’s people in France. James the Deacon remains to minister to the people of Northumbria, but Cadwallon ravages the kingdom, exacting revenge for the humiliations suffered by him and his people.

  News of the High King’s fall travels through the land and eventually reaches a small island off the west coast of Scotland, where a community of monks has established a monastery and where a young prince, in exile, has found peace for a while…

  That prince is Oswald, son of Æthelfrith. With his mother Acha, his younger brother Oswiu, and his sister Æbbe, he had gone into exile when his father was killed by Edwin. While in exile, Oswald and all his family had converted to the new religion (although younger brother Oswiu found some of its sterner precepts hard to follow, having made a princess of the powerful Uì Neìll clan pregnant), but the news of Edwin’s death reaches Oswald just as he has resolved to lay down his sword and enter the monastery on Iona. But the abbot of Iona, Ségéne, has other plans for Oswald, seeing him as the instrument by which the new religion may be brought to the people of Northumbria.

  Still determined to become a monk, Oswald delays returning to reclaim the throne when he learns that his older half-brother, Eanfrith, who took refuge among the Picts, has claimed the throne of Bernicia. But when Oswald hears that Eanfrith is dead, killed while attempting to negotiate with Cadwallon, he realizes he must return to save his people.

  With Oswiu and a small party of warriors, and the blessing of Abbot Ségéne, Oswald lands in the kingdom of Rheged and is received by King Rhoedd. While gaining the king’s permission to ride through his kingdom, Oswald and Oswiu see his daughter, Rhieienmelth, and King Rhoedd offers her in marriage to Oswald. Although struck by her beauty, Oswald refuses the match for himself, for he knows full well that should he succeed in gaining the throne of Northumbria, he will need to make an alliance, through marriage, with a more powerful kingdom. But while Oswald cannot marry Rhieienmelth, the princess would make a good wife for his brother, both for the political alliance it will bring and by providing a match for Oswiu.

  So, with the marriage contracted, Oswald and Oswiu ride swiftly east, hoping to take Ca
dwallon by surprise. Although Cadwallon does receive news of their approach, he believes the brothers to be among the kings of the Old North, come to acclaim him as the new Arthur. So, seeing their approach, he does not form into a shieldwall but awaits their acclaim.

  In the confused battle that follows, Cadwallon is killed and his army is destroyed. The king has returned.

  Now king of Northumbria, Oswald sends to Ségéne for monks and priests to spread the new faith to his people. Ségéne sends him Aidan – an old friend – and other monks, who found a monastery upon Lindisfarne, within sight of the royal stronghold at Bamburgh.

  With the kingdom now secure, Oswiu marries Rhieienmelth, and while it is a good marriage that quickly produces children, yet there is also, between Oswald and Rhieienmelth, considerable attraction that both are aware of, yet strive to avoid.

  Alarmed at the death of Cadwallon, his ally, Penda of Mercia, launches an attack against Oswald. But Oswald gathers his allies and meets Penda with such overwhelming force that Penda is forced to surrender rather than risk battle. To secure peace, Penda offers his brother, Eowa, as hostage.

  Eowa is, apparently, greatly angered that he has been used as a pawn in such a way, and slowly becomes a friend to Oswald – particularly as Oswiu is more often apart from his brother, guarding the northern marches of the kingdom.

  Oswald contracts a marriage with the daughter of the king of the West Saxons. Cyniburh bears him a son, Œthelwald, but dies in childbirth. A grief-stricken king gives the baby to Rhieienmelth to raise, stoking the increasing jealousy of his brother.

  Through alliances and campaigns, Oswald’s power grows so great that he is able to impose a new king upon Mercia, forcing Penda from the throne and into exile and placing Eowa upon the throne. So, when Eowa sends a messenger to Oswald, calling for his help against Penda, who has besieged him at his stronghold at Maserfield, Oswald does not hesitate to ride to his relief.

  However, Oswiu, in the north of the kingdom, learns that Eowa is calling his brother into a trap. With a small group of men, Oswiu rides south as fast as he can, hoping to intercept Oswald before the trap is sprung.

  But he is too late.

  Oswald is trapped between the armies of Eowa and Penda. But Penda first betrays his brother into Oswald’s hands, so Eowa is killed. Only then, when Oswald’s army has been diminished, does he attack. Oswald and all his men are killed.

  After the battle, Penda dismembers Oswald, cutting off his head and arms to offer them in sacrifice before Woden’s tree.

  Oswiu arrives too late to save his brother. With Oswald dead, he is king. But without the charisma of his elder brother, will the witans of Bernicia and Deira accept him as king?

  PART 1

  Raid

  Chapter 1

  The column of riders rode through the water meadows that spread out from the broad river. Their spears glittered in the noon sun and their shields, slung over shoulder or held low and loose, glowed with colour. At the head of the column rode the standard bearer carrying the purple and gold flag of the House of Ida.

  Just behind the standard bearer rode the king, Oswiu, king of Bernicia and king of Northumbria, upon a white horse, his cloak flowing behind, his shield, quartered and quartered again in the colours of the Idings, upon his shoulder.

  The man riding beside the king pointed ahead, to the city on the river. “They will have had no word that their king comes.”

  Oswiu laughed. “That’s why I made you my warmaster, Æthelwin: to tell me what I already know. But any thegn will know that in cruel and uncertain times like these, the king may arrive without warning.”

  “He might know that, but will his victualler?” The warmaster grimaced. “It has been a long ride and I am hungry and thirsty.”

  “It would have been longer if we had waited upon the boats.”

  “I know, my lord. That’s why you had us ride.” Æthelwin glanced ahead. A horn had sounded, distant but definite. The watch had seen the riders. “York has seen us.”

  “About time. If we had been a Mercian raiding party, we would almost have got to the walls before any were ready to meet us.” The king grinned, but there was little humour in his smile. “I will have words with the thegn who has care of this city from us. Who is he?”

  “He is named Hunwald, my lord. I know little of him.”

  “We will know more soon. I had little dealing with Deira when… when my brother was alive.”

  Æthelwin glanced at his king. It was but a season since King Oswald had died, slain in the depths of winter by the treachery of a man taken to their hearth. The traitor, at least, had died in the battle that had claimed Oswald’s life. Æthelwin knew, all the king’s men knew, of the great ride Oswiu had made, when he learned of the treachery, to reach his brother. But the ride had come too late. Oswald and his men had died. Oswiu lived, and now he ruled. But that rule was tenuous, and though the men of Bernicia, sworn to the House of Ida of old, had rallied to the new king, yet the men of Deira, followers of the House of Yffi, held silence with their pledge and sent no embassy to give oath. So now their king came to them, to York, the chief – only – town of Deira, to claim their loyalty and to give gifts of gold and land.

  Æthelwin shaded his eyes against the lowering, westering sun. “They close the gates against us, lord.”

  “At this distance, not even the sharpest eye might see my standard and know it,” Oswiu grunted. “They will be glad enough to open them when we get closer.”

  But they did not.

  As the column of riders approached, now near enough York that any man upon the walls might see the colours of the standard they flew, yet the gates to the city remained closed.

  Seeing the gates still shut, the column, without order, slowed until the horses walked. Men, suddenly unsure, scanned wall and tower, searching for any movement, but there was no sign. Outside the city, where most of its dwellers preferred to live, in houses of thatch and wood rather than the wraith-haunted stone and brick buildings within the walls, some few children, ragged clothed and dirt smeared, stared in silence at the riders, but made no move to approach, until they were called inside their poor dwellings by whisper and gesture.

  Æthelwin, seeing this, turned to Oswiu. “They act as if we were raiders, come to reive.”

  “They must know my standard – it is as the one my brother bore.” Oswiu shook his head. “I do not understand.” He looked ahead, to where the gates still stood closed. “Send a man on; let them know who I am.”

  As the column slowed to a stately walk, a rider cantered ahead to the gates and, pulling his beast to a halt, made known who it was that came to the ancient city of York.

  “Open the gates for Oswiu, king, Iding, of the House of Ida, brother of Oswald, king of Bernicia, king of Deira, king of Northumbria. Your king, my king. I say, open.”

  But the gates did not open, though the rider rode to them and beat upon the wood with the pommel of his sword. Then, when wood alone answered his summons, the rider rode back.

  Oswiu held up his hand before the man could report. “I saw.” He pulled his horse to a halt and sat staring at the gate and gate towers to the city. “Tell them, Æthelwin – tell this Hunwald, if it is he who holds the city against us – that we commend him for his caution in this time. It is indeed true that men use trickery and guile to achieve what arms might not, and a Mercian or other raider might indeed claim to be me. Tell him I will give gift for his care and his steadfastness, but now it is time to open the city to his king.”

  “If Hunwald should ask, what token should I give that you are as you say?”

  “There must be some there, mayhap Hunwald himself, who had dealings with my brother. Any man who knew Oswald would know us for brothers.”

  Æthelwin made the courtesy and walked his horse on to the gates of the city.

  “I am Æthelwin, warmaster to Oswiu, king, lord of the land of the mountain passes, master of the people of watersmeet. King Oswiu sends word to the thegn of Deir
a, commending his caution in these troubled times; he will give gift to mark such care. Now, let the gates be opened; let there be joy. Your king has come to you.”

  “Who is this king?”

  The voice came from the gate tower. Æthelwin pulled his horse back, that he might better see who spoke, but the man stood in shadow and his face was dark.

  “Who speaks? Who asks such a question?” asked the warmaster.

  “If he is who you say he is, let him speak for himself.”

  “There is caution, and then there is stupidity.” Æthelwin circled his animal. “Think you to gain some favour from such a display? We have ridden long and hard, and the king is hungry and thirsts. Do not keep him waiting any longer than you already have.”

  “I say again, if he is a king, let him speak for himself.”

  “I will.”

  Oswiu rode up beside Æthelwin, the column of his household retainers following behind.

  “But tell me whom I speak with, for you can see us, but we cannot see you.”

  “That, at least, is easily rectified.” A man stepped out of the gate tower and stood upon the rampart. A thegn – his dress and bearing and voice all told his status – a man of middle years, with fair hair and heavy shoulders. A fighting man, he stood at ease with his spear in hand, haft grounded upon stone, and he looked down upon the riders. “I am Hunwald. York master. Keeper of the river. And I have been charged to keep this city and this river for the king’s returning.”

  “I am your king,” said Oswiu. “I have returned.”

  “You are not my king,” said Hunwald. “The witan of Deira has met and it has chosen. We will not have another Iding over us, but a man of our blood and our earth.”

  “But… but I am of your blood. My mother, Acha, she is of the House of Yffi, blood from your blood. And you had my brother Oswald to king.”

  Slowly, deliberately, Hunwald gathered phlegm in his mouth and then spat. The spit arced over the wall and landed, wetly, before the men outside his gates.