In 991, Vikings attacked Anglo-Saxons in eastern Essex, not far from the current city of Chelmsford northeast of London. A large stream connected by a bridge separated the two forces. The Anglo-Saxons could have likely held off the Vikings for a considerable period. But the Vikings asked permission to cross the bridge to fight, and it was granted by the Anglo-Saxon leader Beorhtnoth. It’s not known why, except perhaps that Beorhtnoth thought he might find glory in battle.
And that he did, except it wasn’t what he expected. The hand-to-hand combat was vicious and intense. When the Battle of Maldon ended, Beorhtnoth was dead, along with several members of his family, and the Vikings were victorious.
What detail we have of the battle is contained in the fragment of an epic poem probably written shortly after the battle. It’s one of the oldest British historical manuscripts, older than even Beowulf. And J.R.R. Tolkien spent considerable time, particularly in the earlier part of his academic career, studying and translating the poem and researching the period. He also wrote a verse play himself, a fictional attempt to file in some of the missing texts.
To continue reading, please see my post today at Tweetspeak Poetry.
Some Tuesday Readings
Blackberry Memories – poem by Janice Canerdy at Society of Classical Poets.
A Hobbit’s Journey Home: Dreaming of the Shire – Joseph Pearce at The Imaginative Conservative.
A list of things lost – poem by Kathleen at The Course of Our Seasons.
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