The fate of Eric Bloodaxe
The fate of Eric Bloodaxe
by Huscarl on 29th February 2008, 8:49 pm
This fearsome Norse king of Jorvik, having just been ousted (again) from York by the local nobles and mighty cleric Wulfstan, under threat of having the region utterly ravaged again by Wessex King Edred, was slain "treacherously" in battle in 954 on the desolate N.Yorkshire moors "in a certain lonely place called Stainmore..."
Apparently, a coalition of Northumbrians(House of bamburgh) under earl Oswulf, the Cumbrians and the Dublin-Norse had 'ambushed' Erik. He had clearly made many enemies in English exile since murdering some of his brothers in his native Norway years before.
But what was Erik and his valiant army doing so far inland on a desolate moor, when he could have easily sailed off in the Humber to the Orkneys or Europe- as he had two years before during his first exile?
Was Erik marching into exile and out of York and heading N.W towards Carlisle on the old Roman road over the moors (avoiding the Mercian border and also Bamburgh?), maybe to venture out into the Irish sea or maybe Orkneys raiding? Or had he been set up on a meeting with someone (at carlisle?), or perhaps a battle?
He had battled the Scots and Northumbrians in 952 in a 'great battle' upon his sudden return after his first exile, so was hardly on good terms with them?
According to Egil's saga(even though the sagas are confused with some names and dates, not everything is wrong in them), he was initially warmly welcomed to Jorvik by none other than king Athelstan as a 'protector' of the north against the Scots and invading Danes.
And as the ASC never mentions Erik, it also never mentions who did govern Northumbria before 939, so it could have been Erik- before he decided to rule independently in latter years, incurring the wrath of the Wessex king Edred?
The Fagrskinna saga stated that, along with his son Haeric and brother Raegnald, Erik had;-
"So great an army that five kings followed him because he was a valiant man and a battle-winner. He trusted in himself and his army so much that he went far up country, and everywhere he went with warfare."
This actually sounds like Erik was deliberately ravaging the surrounding region, but why? Did he intend to simply do this as revenge en route to the W.coast, and to freedom? Had there been land disputes which led to plots with Edred and others (enemies of Erik) to oust him from York in the first place?
In any event,
"Then came against him King Olaf (Earl of Northumbria), a tributary king of King Edmund (Saga erroneously names Edmund, not Edred who was on the throne). ..A dreadful battle ensued in which many English fell, but for every one who fell three came in his place, and when the evening came on the losses turned against the Norsemen and many were killed..."
Clearly Erik had been lured (by a meeting?) into a colossal ambush, and the predictably fierce pitched battle raged, with English reinforcements (prepared for just this occasion?) moving in to quickly negate losses and slaughter the surrounded vikings.
Apparently, a coalition of Northumbrians(House of bamburgh) under earl Oswulf, the Cumbrians and the Dublin-Norse had 'ambushed' Erik. He had clearly made many enemies in English exile since murdering some of his brothers in his native Norway years before.
But what was Erik and his valiant army doing so far inland on a desolate moor, when he could have easily sailed off in the Humber to the Orkneys or Europe- as he had two years before during his first exile?
Was Erik marching into exile and out of York and heading N.W towards Carlisle on the old Roman road over the moors (avoiding the Mercian border and also Bamburgh?), maybe to venture out into the Irish sea or maybe Orkneys raiding? Or had he been set up on a meeting with someone (at carlisle?), or perhaps a battle?
He had battled the Scots and Northumbrians in 952 in a 'great battle' upon his sudden return after his first exile, so was hardly on good terms with them?
According to Egil's saga(even though the sagas are confused with some names and dates, not everything is wrong in them), he was initially warmly welcomed to Jorvik by none other than king Athelstan as a 'protector' of the north against the Scots and invading Danes.
And as the ASC never mentions Erik, it also never mentions who did govern Northumbria before 939, so it could have been Erik- before he decided to rule independently in latter years, incurring the wrath of the Wessex king Edred?
The Fagrskinna saga stated that, along with his son Haeric and brother Raegnald, Erik had;-
"So great an army that five kings followed him because he was a valiant man and a battle-winner. He trusted in himself and his army so much that he went far up country, and everywhere he went with warfare."
This actually sounds like Erik was deliberately ravaging the surrounding region, but why? Did he intend to simply do this as revenge en route to the W.coast, and to freedom? Had there been land disputes which led to plots with Edred and others (enemies of Erik) to oust him from York in the first place?
In any event,
"Then came against him King Olaf (Earl of Northumbria), a tributary king of King Edmund (Saga erroneously names Edmund, not Edred who was on the throne). ..A dreadful battle ensued in which many English fell, but for every one who fell three came in his place, and when the evening came on the losses turned against the Norsemen and many were killed..."
Clearly Erik had been lured (by a meeting?) into a colossal ambush, and the predictably fierce pitched battle raged, with English reinforcements (prepared for just this occasion?) moving in to quickly negate losses and slaughter the surrounded vikings.
Re: The fate of Eric Bloodaxe
by Melisende on 29th March 2008, 10:59 am
I had read that Erik ruled Nothumbria (which he was given by Athelstan) with considerable harshness - so an ambush or assassination is not out of the question. But there is also mention that Erik's half-brother Hakon drove him out of Northumbria. Whatever the reason, mystery surrounds it.
There is a poem called "Eiriksmal" composed at the request of his widow - maybe this could shed some light on the matter. I haven't come across it before so can't comment.
And none of the "major" chnronicles of the day mention why Erik was at Stainmore. Mayhap he was attempting to make his way back to Orkeney.
The only mention of Erik's death is the following from "Egil's Saga"
"Egil heard tidings from east over the seas that Eric Bloodaxe had fallen in the west while freebooting; but Gunnhilda and her sons and Eric's had gone to Denmark, and all those that had followed Eric to England had left that country."
There is a poem called "Eiriksmal" composed at the request of his widow - maybe this could shed some light on the matter. I haven't come across it before so can't comment.
And none of the "major" chnronicles of the day mention why Erik was at Stainmore. Mayhap he was attempting to make his way back to Orkeney.
The only mention of Erik's death is the following from "Egil's Saga"
"Egil heard tidings from east over the seas that Eric Bloodaxe had fallen in the west while freebooting; but Gunnhilda and her sons and Eric's had gone to Denmark, and all those that had followed Eric to England had left that country."
"For my part, I adhere to the maxim of antiquity: The throne is a glorious sepulchre."
Re: The fate of Eric Bloodaxe
by Wulfhild on 30th March 2008, 9:30 pm
Melisende:
Were Gunnhilda and her sons, the wife and children, respectively, of Erik Boodaxe?
Anne G
Were Gunnhilda and her sons, the wife and children, respectively, of Erik Boodaxe?
Anne G
Melisende wrote:I had read that Erik ruled Nothumbria (which he was given by Athelstan) with considerable harshness - so an ambush or assassination is not out of the question. But there is also mention that Erik's half-brother Hakon drove him out of Northumbria. Whatever the reason, mystery surrounds it.
There is a poem called "Eiriksmal" composed at the request of his widow - maybe this could shed some light on the matter. I haven't come across it before so can't comment.
And none of the "major" chnronicles of the day mention why Erik was at Stainmore. Mayhap he was attempting to make his way back to Orkeney.
The only mention of Erik's death is the following from "Egil's Saga"
"Egil heard tidings from east over the seas that Eric Bloodaxe had fallen in the west while freebooting; but Gunnhilda and her sons and Eric's had gone to Denmark, and all those that had followed Eric to England had left that country."
Re: The fate of Eric Bloodaxe
by Huscarl on 31st March 2008, 4:16 am
Melisende wrote:I had read that Erik ruled Nothumbria (which he was given by Athelstan) with considerable harshness - so an ambush or assassination is not out of the question. But there is also mention that Erik's half-brother Hakon drove him out of Northumbria. Whatever the reason, mystery surrounds it.
There is a poem called "Eiriksmal" composed at the request of his widow - maybe this could shed some light on the matter. I haven't come across it before so can't comment.
And none of the "major" chnronicles of the day mention why Erik was at Stainmore. Mayhap he was attempting to make his way back to Orkeney.
The only mention of Erik's death is the following from "Egil's Saga"
"Egil heard tidings from east over the seas that Eric Bloodaxe had fallen in the west while freebooting; but Gunnhilda and her sons and Eric's had gone to Denmark, and all those that had followed Eric to England had left that country."
Hi Mel
Eric's rule in Norway was apparently harsh and unpopular, and his kingship was challenged by his one surviving, youngest brother Hakon in 934.
Hakon is said to have been brought up in England at the court of Athelstan, and this fits well with Athelstan's recorded policy of fostering the sons of potential allies.
Hakon sailed to Norway to claim his inheritance,and as Eric's rule was hard and despotic, and this would account for the alacrity with which the Norse nobles joined forces to oust him.
Eric fled Norway and, after waging unsuccessful campaigns to regain the throne, Eric moved to the Orkney Islands and later Jorvik. Though I haven't found reference to Hakon kicking Eric out of Northumbria?
Manuscript E of the ASC for 952 says:
"This year the Northumbrians expelled King Anlaf, and received Eric the son of Harold."
Manuscripts D and E, of the ASC for the year 954:
"This year the Northumbrians expelled Eric; and King Eadred took to the government of the
Northumbrians."
At the battle of Stainmoor Erik had with him 'his son Haeric and brother raegnald', his wife and 'family' later sailed from York to Orkney.
The Saga of Hakon the Good reveals little more, though Michael Wood and other historians has suggested that some details of those old sagas may have been later (12thC?) literary inventions due to their glaring mix-up of names and places. Though some details are invaluable.
Re: The fate of Eric Bloodaxe
by Wulfhild on 1st April 2008, 2:14 am
Huscarl and Mel:
When you look at Icelandic sagas, there is a fair amount of "historical" material in them. However, the consensus nowadays is, they have to be treated with some caution, since, as Huscarl points out, at least some of them were written down in the 12th century, long after, say, Erik Bloodaxe was alive. OTOH, they tend to be very accurate in giving a flavor of "Viking life". How any of this illuminates the fate of Erik Bloodaxe, I will leave for wiser minds than my own to figure out.
Anne G
When you look at Icelandic sagas, there is a fair amount of "historical" material in them. However, the consensus nowadays is, they have to be treated with some caution, since, as Huscarl points out, at least some of them were written down in the 12th century, long after, say, Erik Bloodaxe was alive. OTOH, they tend to be very accurate in giving a flavor of "Viking life". How any of this illuminates the fate of Erik Bloodaxe, I will leave for wiser minds than my own to figure out.
Anne G
="Huscarl
Eric's rule in Norway was apparently harsh and unpopular, and his kingship was challenged by his one surviving, youngest brother Hakon in 934.
Hakon is said to have been brought up in England at the court of Athelstan, and this fits well with Athelstan's recorded policy of fostering the sons of potential allies.
Hakon sailed to Norway to claim his inheritance,and as Eric's rule was hard and despotic, and this would account for the alacrity with which the Norse nobles joined forces to oust him.
Eric fled Norway and, after waging unsuccessful campaigns to regain the throne, Eric moved to the Orkney Islands and later Jorvik. Though I haven't found reference to Hakon kicking Eric out of Northumbria?
Manuscript E of the ASC for 952 says:
"This year the Northumbrians expelled King Anlaf, and received Eric the son of Harold."
Manuscripts D and E, of the ASC for the year 954:
"This year the Northumbrians expelled Eric; and King Eadred took to the government of the
Northumbrians."
At the battle of Stainmoor Erik had with him 'his son Haeric and brother raegnald', his wife and 'family' later sailed from York to Orkney.
The Saga of Hakon the Good reveals little more, though Michael Wood and other historians has suggested that some details of those old sagas may have been later (12thC?) literary inventions due to their glaring mix-up of names and places. Though some details are invaluable.
Re: The fate of Eric Bloodaxe
by Huscarl on 22nd June 2008, 12:46 pm
And here is the last few minutes (a bit pixellated) of that Michael Wood "In Search of" 1981 episode about Erik...
Re: The fate of Eric Bloodaxe
by Wulfhild on 22nd June 2008, 8:02 pm
Huscarl wrote:And here is the last few minutes (a bit pixellated) of that Michael Wood "In Search of" 1981 episode about Erik...
Huscarl:
Your link doesn't really work. . . .and the picture doesn't show, either(sigh)
Anne G
Re: The fate of Eric Bloodaxe
by Aelfina on 23rd June 2008, 1:02 am
Huscarl wrote:No, the pic doesn't show, but the vid works fine here...
Try this link-
In Search of...Erik Bloodaxe
That is indeed a very strange place for the left-over Anglo-Saxon cross to be? Thanks for sharing that! Interesting...
Verily enow Lady Aelfina is called to be...Fie! The Warrior Lady ne'r we see!
http://www.myspace.com/shruffles35
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Re: The fate of Eric Bloodaxe
by Huscarl on 23rd June 2008, 6:46 am
Christine Love wrote:
That is indeed a very strange place for the left-over Anglo-Saxon cross to be? Thanks for sharing that! Interesting...
There's evidence that these crosses were "garishly coloured" and that stone masons were commissioned to insert mixed Christian/Viking imagery and symbolism in such dedications, almost as if many Scandinavians were toying with the idea of becoming Christians, but not quite crossing that threshhold.
Re: The fate of Eric Bloodaxe
by Aelfina on 24th June 2008, 6:56 am
Huscarl wrote:Christine Love wrote:
That is indeed a very strange place for the left-over Anglo-Saxon cross to be? Thanks for sharing that! Interesting...
There's evidence that these crosses were "garishly coloured" and that stone masons were commissioned to insert mixed Christian/Viking imagery and symbolism in such dedications, almost as if many Scandinavians were toying with the idea of becoming Christians, but not quite crossing that threshhold.
Yes definitely! Or "crossing the threshhold" with needed comfort...
Verily enow Lady Aelfina is called to be...Fie! The Warrior Lady ne'r we see!
http://www.myspace.com/shruffles35
http://www.myspace.com/shruffles35