Varangian

by Griff Hosker

  And so a week later, the army of Alexios Comnenus headed south for its final confrontation with the Norman threat. The further south we went the more convinced we became that this was the correct strategy. There were high mountains close to the coast near the islands he had conquered and if we could hold him there then we could do as the Spartans had done and thwart a much larger invader. We had reports that Guiscard had almost fifteen hundred knights which totally negated our cataphracts. Even more worrying was the fact that he had sixteen thousand men which outnumbered our force by four thousand men. It became imperative to reach the islands before he had landed. The light horse was sent ahead to observe the Normans while we plodded down through the mountains. The only good news was that the weather warmed as we neared our quarry. The Thema sent to halt the Pecheng threat had done just that by holding up in the forts along the border. Some of the land was ravaged but no territory was taken.

  At last we heard the news we wanted, the Normans had not landed. Their fleet was still between the islands of Corfu and Kefalonia. We halted close to the town of Margaritim. It was opposite the fleet and the men were hidden behind the walls and in the woods. We had to wait until Robert decided to attack. We actually needed him to attack for we needed a victory to enable us to deal with the Pecheng threat but for a week we waited.

  Finally they set sail, they must have boarded during the night for in the morning we saw the sails of his ships as they headed directly for us. Alexios quickly mobilised the army and within an hour, just as the Norman fleet was half a mile from the shore, we were all arrayed along the beach. The commander of the fleet must have realised that they would lose too many men in an opposed landing and they tried to slow down the ships and change direction. A number of ships fouled each other and two began to sink. Alexios despatched the horse archers to dispose of any survivors and we watched for Guiscard’s next move. They headed south and, once again, although this time fully armoured, the army set off south watching the fleet to our right the whole time. Fickle Fate then intervened in the favour of the Normans and a wind picked up so that they began to outpace us. The light cavalry was sent to follow them and we trudged on. By noon we were tiring and we came around a headland to see a messenger racing towards us but, in the distance we could see that we had lost the race, the Normans were landing. The messenger confirmed the news. They had landed south of the river, just below the town of Glykeon.

  My face must have fallen for Alexios leaned over to me. “Do not be downhearted Aelfraed. We can see them and they needs must cross the river at some point. We still have the advantage.” Although he was right I knew how dangerous our adversary could be and I hoped that we could find terrain which suited us.

  The town of Glykeon was on a small rise above the river. I could see why they had avoided the river for it looked swampy with glutinous marshes and a grey fuzz of insects. The opposite bank, close to where the Normans had landed and camped was the same. The town itself, where we were, was in clean air some two hundred paces above the river. Some four hundred paces from the town there looked to be a ford, not a shallow one but from the tracks leading to it from either side a well used one. As we set up our own camp and began to assemble the artillery, Alexios and I rode to view the ground over which we would be fighting.

  Alexios pointed to the ford. “That is where they will cross.” We looked at the land behind us, it was steep, too steep for cavalry to risk riding up but perfect for our cataphracts to launch themselves down. “We will put the cataphracts and the light horse there to threaten their right. If they avoid the town and try to head inland then we can attack them from above.”

  I shook my head. “He will want to defeat you.” I pointed up at the Imperial banner. “He knows you are here. He tried to put his own man on the throne and he wants you out of the way. He is an old man and this is his final throw of the dice. If we put my men close to the river with the Hetaireia and the Scorpions then we force him to attack towards the town and we can put the Thema archers behind the city walls. With their elevation and the spears of the others as a barrier we have our best chance and the Scorpions can scythe through their ranks.”

  Alexios considered the plan, “That might work and is as good a plan as any. I will place my banner in the centre to draw him there, away from the Thema.”

  “And I will stand with the Varangians and Hetaireia before you and to the right.”

  That night I went around the camp to speak personally to all the officers so that they knew precisely what we were to do. I sent out men to strew the ground, under cover of darkness, with caltrops and then I joined my Varangians around the camp fires where we told tales of Stamford and Fulford. It was a good night and I saw, in my men’s faces, that they feared nothing, especially not the Normans whom we had already defeated.

  We were up before dawn and saw that it was a misty, foggy day. The men fed and there was the whining sound of the whetting stone as the blades were sharpened. I felt at my belt for Boar Splitter which nestled below my left arm. Today Death Bringer and Boar Splitter would bathe in Norman blood.

  When the mist cleared we saw that Guiscard had been up early too and his army was arrayed on our side of the river. His knights could be seen in a block behind his infantry who faced us, in the town and then at right angles for the cavalry in the hills. The cunning old warrior, who sat astride a black stallion beneath his huge banner, was not risking his knights against the Scorpions. I could see the banners of the soldiers of Dalmatia and Ragusa were to the fore. He would waste his allies and save his own, more valuable knights. William the Bastard had done the same when fighting my father, sacrificing the Bretons. It did not matter; they would all die this day. They waited until the sun rose properly and the ground dried a little more. That suited me for I could see the men waving their arms as flies and mosquitoes swarmed around their heads. The warriors would be irritated while ours were calm. My men began keening a song about Stamford. It was a lonely haunting song and its words carried across the valley making it even more melancholy but, oddly, calming the Varangians who waited for Guiscard.

  The Croatian troops began their march towards us. I was not in the front rank for I needed to react to the enemy and their movements. The front ranks of the Imperial Guard bristled with spears. They did not attempt to try to climb the hill to face the archers and artillery and they remained a silent threat. As soon as the front ranks struck the caltrops their cohesion went, but they were brave men and came forwards to face a withering volley from the archers in the town. Protected by huge shields they took fewer casualties than might have been expected but that very defence proved to be a hindrance as they reached my well trained men. The Croatians did not see the spears which stabbed and jabbed unseen; they fell to the axes wielded by masters of their trade and they began to fall back through their dead and dying.

  I was on a low wall behind my men and I could see beyond the retreating infantry. I looked for the signal for the knights to charge but it did not come. Instead I saw him wave his pennant and a line of Dalmatian soldiers with crossbowmen began to trudge up the hill. Even from eight hundred paces away I heard the whoosh as the bolts were released and the screams as the bolts and the arrows began to take their toll but the crossbowmen had targeted the Scorpion crews and the number of bolts began to slow; allowing the Dalmatians to close with the Thema. The commander of the light cavalry ordered his men forwards and a volley of javelins sent the line backwards and we could see the ground littered with bodies and darkly stained with blood. Alexios saw the danger and sent two Droungoi of Thema to bolster the men on the hill.

  Perhaps that was what William had been waiting for as he sent in his Norman men at arms. They walked steadily with a shortened version of the kite shield and they too were armed with spear and sword. The caltrops had served their purpose and now the infantry tramped steadily towards us, a line of mailed warriors facing another line of mailed veterans. This would be bloody. I left my place to stand in the third rank of my Varangi
ans. My banner descended with me and my men began to beat their shields and chant my name. As they came into the archers’ range, men began to fall but they were quickly replaced by the well trained men in the second rank. These men had not fought and conquered Italy without showing that they had steel and determination in their bodies.

  “Brace!” All of us put our shields into the backs of the man in front and placed our right legs behind us. The Normans hit our front ranks and then were pushed back. I could see the axes rising and falling and then rising again, bloodier. Here and there I saw a gap appear and then it was filled by another Varangian. The Normans were dying, but they were dying hard. I saw a gap before me and stepped into it. There was little point in trying to use Death Bringer and I took out the shortened Boar Splitter. One of the Normans saw a gap and raised his spear to stab one of the men in the front line. Boar Splitter darted out and went through his eye into his brain. As he slid to the ground the spear head came free. I saw a space between the two Varangians before me and I stabbed the short spear forwards. The cry of pain told me that I had struck someone. And so it went. They were brave men but we were protected by archers who shot at any who lowered their shields and eventually they began to retire. They had lost many men and although we had suffered fewer losses, ours were the more telling for we had not as many men as the Normans who could afford a battle of attrition.

  I looked to the left. The men on the hill still stood but I saw more bodies. Guiscard had attacked both lines at once. “Rotate!” The third ranks exchanged positions with the front rank which had fought long and hard. “Well done but the next ones will be the horses. Second ranks spears. Front rank, axes.” I made my way to the front rank and stood between Cnut and Edward. They both grinned at me and although I could see that they were covered in blood, it was not theirs. I glanced behind me and saw Alexios salute me. We both knew that the next attack would be directed towards him. Guiscard would go for the king in this deadly game of chess and I, the rook, would need to defend him. “Be prepared to go into wedge on my command!”

  The cheer told me that they had heard. Sure enough, the pennant dropped and the line of Normans moved inexorably towards us. This was the time when your bowels felt loose but you also enjoyed the thrill of excitement. These were not cataphracts, these were just Norman knights. I had fought them and I had defeated them and I would do so again. I saw that Guiscard himself was leading the line which was impressively straight as it moved towards us. They picked up the pace and gathered speed. I could see that they held the lances overhand, not couched. “They will throw javelins! Second rank ready shields!” A thrown javelin was unpredictable because, although the flight was slow and you could follow it, when there were a number you could be struck by one you didn’t see.

  They launched into the charge. “Steady!” A line of spears poked over our shoulders and it went a little darker as shields were raised. Then the javelins hit us. Some of my men fell to those with a shallow trajectory but most clattered off the shields and then they were upon us. Death Bringer scythed a line before me and I saw half a horse’s head fly away. I saw a Norman knight crash to the floor and I split open his head. I sensed a sword come down and I grabbed it in my left hand and pulled the knight from his horse. He flew over my head and I heard his screams as those in the third rank ended his life. We were winning! There was a clear space before us but I could see the enemy were having more luck against the Hetaireia and Alexios looked in danger. “Wedge!”

  Edward took the place behind me on my left and Cnut to my right. I brought my shield around and held Death Bringer one handed. “A wedge of four hundred warriors is huge and the wall of shields to our right meant we were safe from attack. I edged to the left and led my Varangians into the flank of the horsemen. Their shields faced us which meant their swords were on the wrong side and, initially, we cut through them like a knife through butter. We carved a path through two rows of knights and I saw the pennant and banner of Robert Guiscard and then their line turned to face us and we were amongst the finest Norman knights of the age. I hacked at the horse before me, for I wanted to face Guiscard. Alexios was safe and we had done our duty; now the Varangians would rid the land of the Normans. A horse reared to my left and Edward and I raised our shields and pushed. The overbalanced horse fell backwards and we surged forwards. Suddenly Cnut was no longer next to me but I cared not for there was but one knight between me and my prey. I fended off his sword with my shield and swung my axe overhand, as it bit into his chest, I felt a sharp pain in my side, I had been hit but, as the knight disappeared I saw Guiscard before me, his face a mask of fury. I could see the white hair through his mail but I was not complacent; he had much experience and would be a dangerous opponent. He had a long sword and he stabbed it towards my throat. I held my shield up. He suddenly thrust the point of his shield over his horse and it struck me on the neck. I could feel the warm trickle of blood as it seeped down my chest. I held my dagger in my left hand with the shield and Malcolm Canmore’s gift from years earlier stabbed forwards and struck Guiscard in the leg. The bright blood told me I had struck home. At the same time I swung my axe and caught his horse a glancing blow to his shoulder. The beast reared away and Robert Guiscard was led away by his son who was instantly recognisable by his size.

  “We have them! Forwards!”Two of his knights bravely faced us to stop our progress and others filled our flanks. As I sliced through the leg of one knight I felt a sharp pain in my right arm and I could not hold Death Bringer. I dropped it to the ground and pulled out the stump of Boar Splitter. Then more knights surged forwards to attack us. The knight above me triumphantly raised his sword for the killing blow. I thrust upwards and felt Boar Splitter slide into his groin and then there was a crash and all went black.

  As I slipped to the ground I heard an almighty cheer and then it was quiet and I saw people moving across the battlefield but it was no longer a battlefield it was Medelai and Nanna was there with her arms open and her rosy cheeks shining and behind her walked Aethelward and my father with a woman who looked familiar and finally I saw Wolf, Osgar and Aedgart who faced me with grins as wide as a sunset. It began to go quiet and peaceful, it felt like my new estate and I wondered where Ragnar was and then I heard Harold Godwinson say as blackness took me, “Welcome son, and welcome a hero.”

  Epilogue

  Constantinople 1118

  It is over thirty years since my friend Aelfraed Godwinson died. And today as we bury the great Emperor Alexios Comnenus, it is time to put on paper the story of the greatest English warrior of his age. The Emperor was a great Emperor; there is not a doubt about that. He defeated the Pechengs and he drove the Seljuks from his land but his greatest achievement, the defeat of the Normans was not his. That was Aelfraed’s doing. He and his Varangians drove the Normans from the field although all but three were killed. The blow struck by my friend which sent Guiscard from the field although not mortal was vital for the wound became infected as he and his men recovered in the swampy ground where he and five hundred of his knights died from fever. The cataphracts and their charge drove them from the field but it was the loss of their king which drove them back to Italy, never to return.

  They brought Aelfraed’s body, packed in ice to the city where everyone turned out to watch it returned to his final home. Jarl Gunnersson provided a boat and Aelfraed Godwinson, Commander of the Varangian Guard; the last Englishman was laid to rest with all his weapons and his armour beneath the hull of the boat. Gunnar explained that was the way the Anglo Saxons had buried their dead and it seemed fitting to send Aelfraed on his final voyage that way. The hull was covered with earth and, at the end; there were just a handful that remained while Eric sang the song of Aelfraed.

  We all kept in touch over the years which were marked for me by my daughter growing, marrying and having children, by my training those men who still flocked to join the Varangians and hear the tales of Aelfraed and the others. Eric and Snorri became part of the city council while
Ragnar prospered as a farmer but he mourned Aelfraed’s death every year until he too died. The Jarl left the sea, for Aelfraed’s death had brought his own mortality that bit closer.

  And me, Ridley of Coxold? Well I write this because I wish to put matters straight, Anna Comnenus, the Emperor’s daughter, has written her history of the event of that time. She is her father’s daughter and always shows him in his glory. Alexios himself spoke often to me of the debt he owed Aelfraed but you will not see his name in the annals of the Empire. He is remembered only in the stories men tell around the table; the story of Aelfraed the Housecarl, who was loyal and brave, honest and faithful, the greatest enemy of the Normans and my friend. He never once failed to honour his word and he never once berated anyone for a mistake. To his men he was the ideal to which they aspired and to his friends, well he was Aelfraed and we loved him and now, as my life comes to an end, I look forward to the moment that he will greet me and then I shall be happy again. For Aelfraed truly was the greatest Saxon and English warrior.

  Ridley of Coxold

  Varangian

  Constantinople 1118

  The End

  Characters and places in the novel

  Fictional characters are in italics.

  Name

  Explanation

  aelfe

  Saxon Elf

  Aelfraed

  Descendant of Alfred the Great’s son

  Aethelward

  Aelfraed’s uncle

  Alexios Comnenus

  Strategos and Emperor of Byzantium after 1081

  Alfred

  King of Wessex in the ninth century

  Andronikos