Battle for the Island Kingdom
England's Destiny 1000-1066
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5.0 • 2 Ratings
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- $20.99
Publisher Description
SHORTLIST FOR MILITARY HISTORY MATTERS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2024
Weaving together period sources and a fast-paced narrative, this is a rich history of the years leading up to 1066 when Vikings, Anglo-Saxons and Normans vied for the English crown.
Includes all the key individuals that inspired the final season of Netflix's Vikings: Valhalla and the brand-new BBC drama King and Conqueror.
Bloody battles, political intrigues and dynastic marriages all played a part in shaping a nascent England. Battle for the Island Kingdom is a rich history of the violent six decades when Vikings, Anglo-Saxons and ultimately Normans vied for the English crown before the seismic Battle of Hastings determined the fate of England for centuries.
Discover the defining personalities of the age, from the English king Aethelred and his nemesis Viking Svein Forkbeard to Cnut who forged an empire across England and Scandinavia only for his Norman queen Emma and Saxon consort Aelfifu to pit his sons against each other. We discover how the power-hungry Earl Godwin plays all sides until his own son Harold eventually seizes the crown and why Harold's brother Tostig chose to betray both him and his people for the Norman William the Bastard, who would become William the Conqueror.
Thisis a gripping tale of divided loyalties, treason and military might by master storyteller Don Hollway, author of the critically acclaimed The Last Viking.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Historian Hollway (The Last Viking) chronicles in this brisk study the 66 tumultuous years culminating in the Norman victory at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 CE. In the Middle Ages, the island now comprising England, Scotland, and Wales proved tempting to the Scandinavians and the French, Hollway explains; frequent invasions resulted in violent altercations, a rapid turnover in rulers, and the decimation of villages. The luckless Anglo-Saxon king Aethelred the Unready (better translated as "Ill-Advised," according to Hollway) massacred Danes living under his rule—including the Danish king's daughter, Gunhilde—on St. Brice's Day in 1002 CE. Her brother, Svein Forkbeard, retaliated by sacking Essex. While the Anglo-Saxons and Vikings battled for control of the island, William the Bastard's martial adeptness earned "great respect" from the Norman nobles and paved the way for him to inherit his father's duchy in France. In 1066, Anglo-Saxon king Harold warded off a Viking incursion in the north co-led by his own disgruntled brother, Tostig. William's appearance in the south cut celebrations short for Harold and his battle-worn army. Despite the outcome being well-known, Hollway's suspenseful buildup during William's rise as a credible threat to Harold pays off in his recounting of the epic battle. Throughout, Hollway explains frankly when source material may be questionable, and his footnotes clarify the path leading to the Norman Conquest. The result is an accessible and vibrant portrait of a turning point in world history.
