In Ireland, Sigtryggr and Stiorra are besieged after refusing to aid Ragnall. One heads north to shore up Northumbria while the other marches further into Mercia. Uhtred retaliates and kills hundreds of Ragnall’s men in a surprise attack, forcing the invader to split his army in two. As we saw last season, she is sworn against Uhtred for leaving her alive to be captured as a slave. The 43rd is Uhtred’s son Father Oswald, captured and castrated by Brida, who was last seen giving birth. However, the killing doesn’t slow Ragnall, who slaughters 42 captives in front of Uhtred in revenge for the 43 of his own men that Uhtred killed in the initial attack. What became of Haesten was never recorded, but we can assume he died an old man with a fearsome reputation. He moved from Northumbria to East Anglia before his forces finally dispersed, settling in the two domains and even across the channel in France. While he was undoubtedly at Ceaster, after the advance of Mercian forces and a siege in 893, he marched south and pillaged kingdoms in Wales. We don’t know what happened to Haesten in history. After seizing his stronghold, Uhtred orders Edward’s son Aethelstan to fight and then kill Haesten. It is here, likely early in the season, we can expect to see the death of Haesten. However, he’s just buying time for Ragnall to gather men and invade Mercia. The duplicitous Haesten offers to surrender to Aethelflaed at the first opportunity, claiming his men are Christians. A returning Jarl Haesten also lends his support to Ragnall, as does the brother of Finan, creating divided loyalties all around. “Warriors of the Storm” adds a personal stake to this conflict, as Ragnall is the brother of Sigtryggr, who is now married to Uhtred’s daughter Stiorra. Uhtred attacks his rear but is pleased to see Ragnall gone from Mercia. The book shows how Ragnall becomes established in the north, taking an entire kingdom by fooling his opponents from thinking he was only attempting to seize Ceaster (Chester). This group approached Lady Aethelflaed of Mercia for assistance, offering to bend the knee.
He subsequently became king of the northern English kingdom of Northumbria and was opposed by Vikings who had converted to Christianity.
Ivarson ruled territory in Scotland after being expelled from Ireland, soon returning with a fleet to retake Dublin. Bernard Cornwall’s ninth Saxon Stories novel, Warriors of the Storm, introduces the real-life figure Ragnall Ivarson.
0 kommentar(er)
