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Review - Book
(Published by Amazon.co.uk)
Last, but certainly not least
Ian Walker
Harold, The Last Saxon King
One of the problems afflicting English history surrounding 1066 is that some historians have been swayed by sympathiser sources (e.g. that of Robert of Jumieges, the deposed Archbishop of Canterbury) and the victor's propaganda and actions (e.g. The Bayeux Tapestry, 'The Carmen', and the destruction of many Anglo-Saxon documents).
Harold, The Last Saxon King is a refreshing change.
Ian Walker demonstrates healthy scepticism, steers away from legend, and objectively considers sources - or if lacking, as for some Anglo-Saxon perspectives - reasoned evidence of the time. And through careful analysis and thought, he arrives at good, insightful conclusions.
Considering this book is largely an analysis of sources and literature, the surprise is that it is interesting and involving, which is credit to the author's thinking and writing abilities.
Chapter 11 is an interesting and dispassionate account of the Battle of Hastings. Commonly cited failings directed at King Harold are impetuousness and a 'premature' move from London against Duke William's invading forces - perhaps in hope of surprise, as Harold had previously achieved at the Battle of Stamford Bridge. Ian Walker shows through evidence that Harold was actually a cautious commander in nearly all of his career and generally preferred negotiation to combat, yet there were good reasons to move early against William. Just because Harold lost the Battle of Hastings doesn't mean he wasn't William's equal as a commander. Ian Walker shows Harold was at least that, and without the murderous streak.
Poem
Silver Ring
Cries
for time
before the
dare - Arachne
now weaves in silver threads a ghostly snare
to
capture
emeralds
in vibrant flight,
which dressed in silk await the spinster's bite.
(A runner-up in Quantum Leap's 2009 Tetractys Competition.)
Article
Hard Reign
As a sunlit icefield blinds and dazzles, catching and hurling the sun into onlookers' eyes, so the armour and weapons of the striding Saxon army flashed into the faces of the Vikings.
The Viking warriors, relaxing in the Yorkshire meadows on this hot September day of 1066, jumped to their feet in utter surprise and dismay. Their commander, King Harald Hardraada of Norway, a huge framed and battle-hardened warrior, had woefully underestimated King Harold II of Saxon England. Most of Hardrada's invading army - basking in a recent victory over the Saxon Northumbrian Earls - was not even armed.
Desperately, the Vikings retreated across the River Derwent leaving their finest warrior to guard the river crossing. Feet spread for balance on the narrow wooden bridge, the berserker Viking swung a massive battle-axe - hacking down all Saxon challengers with his berserker rage and buying Hardraada time. Saxon guile, however, encroached unseen. By boat, or perhaps creeping along the riverbank, a Saxon warrior placed himself under the bridge and thrust his spear through a planking gap - deep into the berserker's groin. So legend tells.
What is known is that the Viking outposts mounted a desperate delaying action to slow the Saxon crossing of the Derwent, while the Viking army on the other riverbank frantically donned what armour and weapons were available, and then took up position.
Hardraada formed his army into a triangular-shaped shield wall, presenting a narrow front. The Saxons crossed the river, deepened their ranks, and charged. Savage and bloody hand-to-hand combat raged all day. When Hardraada himself hacked through Saxon ranks, he exposed himself and a Saxon missile pierced his throat. With his felling, Viking resistance crumbled, and the battle became a rout. The slain included King Harold's treacherous brother Tostig, who had considerably assisted the Viking invasion. The remaining Vikings fled towards the invasion longships moored at Riccall, pursued all the way by the Saxons. Only around 30 ships from an initial 300 ships returned to Norway.
This was Harold's finest hour. His rapid march north from London on horseback in just four days had shocked his enemies and contributed to his chilling victory in the river meadows of Stamford Bridge. Just as Harold had promised, Hardraada received not the kingdom for his invasion but just seven feet of English soil. The battle was a Saxon triumph - but a pyrrhic triumph at that. The Saxon core army of professional troops had been tired, wounded, and depleted. And now word reached King Harold that Duke William of Normandy had landed on the south coast to seize the English throne - looting and burning the area around Hastings.