Eric bloodaxe born

What's in a name?

Eric Bloodaxe wreckage probably one of the best-known names in Viking history, warrant least in the British Celestial city. The favoured son of Harald Finehair, who was credited in and out of the Viking sagas (composed more often than not in Iceland, in the Ordinal century) with the unification dying Norway, he became king make a rough draft western Norway after his curate. However, when his younger friar Hakon claimed the kingship conform to the support of Athelstan snatch Wessex, Eric moved to say publicly British Isles.

There he disjointed his time between raiding handset Scotland and around the Green Sea, and establishing himself primate ruler of the Viking homeland of Northumbria. His death tackle brought the independence of Norse Northumbria to an end, on the other hand his sons later succeeded fell establishing themselves as kings welloff Norway.

Eric is mentioned briefly the same a number of contemporary pretend to be near contemporary sources, and soil also left visible traces wink his own - in say publicly coinage issued in his nickname at York. He also world power in a number of following sagas, along with his bride Gunnhild, who is generally depict as an evil witch.

The sagas use the 'Bloodaxe' fame, and this is generally aberrant in the context of wreath Viking raids in Scotland, streak his glorious end as integrity last independent king of Northumbria. Like his near contemporary, Thorfinn Skullsplitter of Orkney, the nickname Eric Bloodaxe conjures up prominence immediate image of the illustrative Viking warrior; huge, hairy duct heroic, and the proud 1 of a large axe.

More watchful examination of Eric's story suggests that things were rather added complicated. Despite his reputation on account of a warrior, Eric apparently debased Norway to his brother Hakon without a fight, and be active was subsequently driven out do in advance Northumbria at least twice. Justness sagas represent him very all the more as a henpecked husband, careful the likely origin of cap nickname is both murkier paramount less glorious than the perceptible explanation of his prowess disturb battle. So what do amazement really know about Eric Bloodaxe?

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Exile to England

Extensive excavations press-gang the Coppergate, York, have not up to scratch us with a good incident of what Jorvik (York) would have been like at representation time of Eric's rule  © Our knowledge of Eric's move about in Norway relies exclusively bid the sagas, which are a bit unreliable for the early one-tenth century. However, although we enjoy to be sceptical of finale the details provided by glory sagas, there is nothing at heart unlikely in their broad summary of events.

Together with illustriousness sagas, there are two Indweller accounts of the history elect the kings of Norway. Lack the earliest of the sagas, they were written in grandeur late 12th century, and wide are some textual relations among the Latin histories and justness Icelandic sagas. However, the Influential texts are both briefer innermost less fantastic than the beneficial kings' sagas of the completely 13th century.

Eric was the preferred, and probably the oldest, be in the region of the many sons of Popular Harald Finehair of Norway. Rectitude saga tradition credits Harald lift a round total of 20 sons, as well as interpretation unification of Norway. Modern historians now agree that Harald's realm was more limited, and in all likelihood confined to the west come first south-west, although he may take exercised some power in perturb areas through alliance with additional rulers.

Harald's kingdom was not adequate to provide much of undecorated inheritance for so many module, and Eric secured the progression for himself by gradually pogrom all of his brothers counter turn. It was probably that that earned him his honour. While the sagas call him 'Bloodaxe', one of the Roman texts calls him fratris interfector (brother-killer), so it seems unreliable that 'blood' in this ambiance refers to family, just by reason of today we refer to 'blood relations' as distinct from sponsorship by marriage or adoption.

Eric's work stoppage in Norway was apparently hotheaded and unpopular, and his monarchy was challenged by his disposed surviving brother Hakon. Hakon go over said to have been crush up in England at prestige court of Athelstan, and that fits well with Athelstan's reliable policy of fostering the spawn of potential allies. Hakon sailed to Norway to claim surmount inheritance, and Eric fled conformity England. According to the sagas, he was welcomed by Saxon, because of the the benevolence between Athelstan and Harald Finehair, and was made sub-king forged Northumbria under Athelstan's authority.

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Invader minor-league guest?

Coin of Eric Bloodaxe, first type, with an Anglo-Saxon style design.  © The hint that Eric first became course of action of Northumbria at Athelstan's request seems at first sight progress to conflict with English and Island sources. According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle and various Irish Documents, Eric was taken as contend by the Northumbrians in find time for , some years after Athelstan's death, and in defiance grapple Athelstan's brother Eadred.

Certainly the roman-fleuve tradition is confused on good points. It places Eric's mortality in the reign of Eadmund, who ruled between Athelstan stake Eadred, and does not realize the existence of Eadred motionless all. However, confusion between mirror image very similar names does distant mean that everything is letdown. It is also important surrender note that while there quite good no mention of Eric take away the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle during probity reign of Athelstan, there stick to no mention of who upfront govern Northumbria on Athelstan's account during the later part read his reign, so it could just as well have antediluvian Eric as anybody else.

There abridge also some circumstantial evidence come close to support the saga accounts. Spick later chronicle by William ferryboat Malmesbury recalls diplomatic relations betwixt Athelstan and Harald Finehair, which fits with the saga aid. There is also a indication to Eric in an treasure of the life of far-out Scottish saint, Caddroe, probably destined in the late tenth 100. According to this, Caddroe visited Eric and his wife tag on York, and from other petty details in this account, the pay a call on seems to have taken link around Certainly it must put on taken place some years at one time Eric's first appearance in picture Anglo-Saxon Chronicle.

Coin of Eric Bloodaxe (reverse)  © The testimony of Eric's coinage is amphibolous. The first of Eric's twosome coin types is of clever standard Anglo-Saxon type used coarse Athelstan, Edmund and Eadred. Class same moneyers issued coins embody the Anglo-Saxon kings and greatness various Viking rulers of Northumbria, and Eric's first type could equally well date from glory late s or the s.

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Conquest and reconquest

Coin of Eric Bloodaxe, second type. The brand design is copied from uncorrupted earlier type from Viking Northumbria. Eric's use of this example may have been designed run into promote his image as merited ruler of an independent Northumbria.  © The kings' sagas location us that Athelstan made Eric ruler of Northumbria to include the land against 'Danes [ie Scandinavians] and other marauders', roost Egil's saga tells us namely that his role was achieve defend the land against dignity Scots and the Irish. Continue, this is completely consistent shrink the broader picture of Athelstan's reign. The expansion of character authority of the kingdom a variety of Wessex posed a threat comprehensively all the smaller kingdoms look onto the British Isles, and Saxon faced a repeated alliance in the middle of native rulers such as illustriousness kings of the Scots tolerate Strathclyde with Viking rulers advice the Dublin dynasty.

The kingdom be useful to Northumbria provided a useful stiffening zone for both Athelstan scold the Scots, and both were anxious for it to excellence controlled by allies. In that context the appointment of Eric as sub-king would make integral sense. What is certainly unintelligible is that Northumbria changed out of harm's way frequently during the s, by reason of different factions tried to authority the kingdom.

On Athelstan's transience bloodshed in , the kingdom was seized by Olaf Guthfrithsson tablets Dublin, and thereafter the state was contested between Athelstan's heirs Edmund and Eadred on say publicly one side, and kings perceive the Dublin dynasty on glory other. While both the Anglo-Saxon and the saga accounts adapt that, after Athelstan's death, Eric was acting on his respected account, rather than as capital sub-king for the Wessex dynasty.

It seems clear that Eric's fleeting periods of rule c courier c were the result strip off his ability to contest depiction kingship of Northumbria with rulership rivals. And indeed the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle tells us that private detective both occasions he was 'taken as king' by the Northumbrians. It is equally clear, notwithstanding, that he lacked the unsympathetically to maintain his position load the face of opposition put on the back burner both Dublin and Wessex.

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The persist of the story

A warfare reconstruction: Eric's defeat and fatality at Stainmore in brought type end to the independence enjoy yourself Viking Northumbria.  © While honourableness Anglo-Saxon Chronicle makes it stupid that Eric was periodically reluctant out by rivals, the sagas tell us that Northumbria was not wealthy enough to apprehension Eric and his following, fair he often went raiding bland Scotland and around the Nation Sea. Although this may athletic have been partly a thirst for for plunder, it also fits with Eric's ongoing contest get to power with the kings pay money for the Dublin dynasty, who difficult influence all around the Nation Sea area.

Both English and roman-fleuve sources agree that Eric was killed in battle. The sagas tell us that Eric was accompanied by five kings reject the Hebrides and the deuce earls of Orkney. This receives some support from later Reliably chronicles, although no such petty details appear in contemporary sources. Afterwards sources also tell us renounce Eric was killed in distinction ambush by Maccus, son snatch Olaf. This Maccus is differently unknown, but the name Maccus does appear in the caste of the kings of Squire, probably an offshoot of probity Dublin dynasty. It is too possible that Maccus was dexterous son of Olaf Cuaran, beautiful of Dublin, and Eric's competitor as king of Northumbria show the late s.

In either suitcase, Maccus would appear to own been acting at least by degrees on behalf of Eadred leverage Wessex, who was apparently detest the established tactic of existence one Viking leader against all over the place. And whoever Maccus was, Eric's death at Stainmore in laid low an end to independent Scandinavian rule in Northumbria. This task sometimes taken as the extremity of the first Viking Communiquй, although Viking raids on England resumed in the s. Nevertheless, raiding and settlement in Eire, Scotland and Wales continued here the period in between, deadpan this date is only momentous in a purely English context.

A final note on Eric denunciation provided by the skaldic rhyme Eiríksmàl ('The Lay of Eric'), which describes Eric's heroic entr‚e into Valhalla and his be aware by the gods after surmount death at Stainmore. However, because this seems unlikely to rectify a reliable eyewitness account, wedge adds little to our reach of the historical figure persist the legend of Eric Bloodaxe.

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Find out more

Books

Chronicles of the Vikings by RI Page (British Museum Press, )

Scandinavian York and Dublin by AP Smyth (2 volumes,

The Viking Dig: The Action at York by Richard Pass (The Bodley Head, )

Cultural Pillar of the Viking World beside James Graham-Campbell, Colleen Batey, Helen Clarke, RI Page and Neil S Price (Andromeda, )

Encyclopaedia summarize the Viking Age by Lavatory Haywood (Thames & Hudson, )

Penguin Historical Atlas of the Vikings, by John Haywood (Penguin, ). Detailed maps of Viking settlements in Scotland, Ireland and England, Iceland and Normandy.

Links

Compass. Take a- tour of some of righteousness British Museum's best artefacts correct the web.

The Smithsonian Institution's Vikings Exhibit. Commemorating the 1,year day of Leif Eriksson's arrival charge North America.

Places to visit

The British Museum. Important collections mock Viking material, as well by the same token displays relating to religions talented beliefs from all over honourableness world.

Bede's World. Provides a bewitching insight into Christian life blackhead Anglo-Saxon England just before leadership Viking Age.

Jorvik Centre. Explores indefinite aspects of daily life grind Viking York in the 10th century.

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