Tag Archives: Murton Park

Before the Battle, 874 A.D. (Murton Park, August 2014)

At which the Vikings and Englisc both prepared for the battle to seal the fate of Mercia, and an introspective Viking leader, Ivar the Boneless, asked the assembled forces exactly what they wanted.

Before the battle

The war season, 874. The Viking Great Army gathered at Repton in Mercia, home to the burial crypt of the Mercian kings. Meanwhile King Burhred of Mercia, having listened to Alfred’s advice, assembled his forces, called the fyrd, prepared for a counter-attack to seal his fate and the fate of his kingdom. And Ceolwulf, claiming to be the rightful king of Mercia, descendant of the King Ceolwulf who fled Mercia 50 years ago, said that if he were King he would bring peace with the Vikings by paying them to leave.

In a hall near Repton some of the Vikings gathered to prepare for the coming battle – working on their equipment in the forge, fletching arrows, repairing their tunics for possibly the last time. They were visited by envoys and friends from among the Mercians. At the start of the feast, Hersir Hauk of the Oestvikingae spoke. He said that with King Burhred of Mercia gathering his forces, there would soon be war – but for now there was peace, and we should dine well as it may be one of our last meals.

As the guests were tucking into their rich beef stew, the hall was visited by an exceptionally tall and gaunt figure: Ivar ‘the Boneless’ Ragnarsson, eldest of the sons of Ragnar, pre-eminent leader of the Great Army. He was unstable on his feet, leaning on his daneaxe and the hall’s pillars to stand. He said that he was ill, and old. He had been harrying the Englisc for 10 years, ever since his father Ragnar Loðbrók had been killed in Jorvic, leading the Great Army to seek revenge and wealth. He had killed his father’s killer, brought the Northumbrian kingdom centered on Jorvic to its knees, and also crushed the East Anglians. But now, seeing his death approaching, he wanted to make sure that he had done right according to his followers, so asked them what they wanted.

Ingibjorg of the Holmbyggjar spoke of her desire to find a land to live in. She had come to the Englisc lands in the Great Summer Army led by Guthrum, 3 years ago, seeking a quick victory of Wessex and Mercia in order to win herself a place to live. She saw the need to crush Mercia, to take and secure her land with blood, to fulfill the curse placed by the volvas on King Burhred, but ultimately wanted to settle – ideally in East Anglia, with trade-routes to Denmark.

She asked too for clarity on the succession – who would lead the Vikings if Ivar died? Ivar said that the strongest leader would rule, and whoever he nominated did not matter.

Wulf of the Westmen said that he was a mercenary, and spoke of his desire for money. He saw the best route as a bloody path, conquering the Englisc lands and forcing the Englisc to pay rent. However he agreed with Ingibjorg: the land must be won with blood.

Hallgerd of the Westmen agreed – like Wulf, she simply wanted money, won with blood. She has land on the isle of Canna off the land of the Scots, and has no interest in settling on the mainland or who rules here.

Young Cnut of the Oestvikingae, cousin of Hauk, also wanted money – and wanted to grow up a warrior, earning his money with a sword; not a farmer, living in peace.

Wulfruna of the Cilternsaete said that she, possibly unlike her lord Herewulf, ultimately desired peace. But a peace of equals, not the peace of the servant.

Wulfgar of the Cilternsaete, her son, was more direct and violent. He saw that only blood, and the sword, would decide the matter – and threatened to stab King Ivar himself!

Ivar coughed, a terrible fit. He acknowledged that since all wished it so and none could see a peaceful route, there could be no peace without war first, and that the blood must flow. He then withdrew, to visit the other halls where his followers gathered, and talk to them too before battle came. Because it was now certain that battle would come, and the fate of Mercia would be decided with blood…

Feast before we die

Ingibjorg’s lament
Ivar Ragnarsson (‘the Boneless’) asked the Viking war-leaders for their counsel – should they treat with the Englisc or fight? In reply, had she thought of them at the time, Ingibjorg Ragnarsdottir (no relation) would certainly have spoken these lines.

I do not crave the blood-speech of the battle tongues;
I would weave weapons’ woe.
I rode across Njord’s pasture,
My steed thundering over the world worm’s burrow,
In search of green pastures of my own.

My parents live in the hall of the daughter
Of the thunder-god’s companion.
My husband and my son are Freyja’s guests.
Our lands feed the milk-givers of our foes
And I have no weaving-frame to offer
To my dear daughter Dagrun.

The father-god of the shield trees
Vowed that those trees and their saplings
Would thrust their roots into the west-land valleys.

How then shall I cry craven?
No sword-swinger I – barely can I thrust a spear,
Yet if any home I have, it lies here.

Historical Note – Ivar ‘the Boneless’
Ivar the Boneless is, like many of the Viking leaders, a shadowy figure, straddling legend and history. It is possible that he might be the same figure as the King Ímar of Irish sources, founder of the Uí Ímair dynasty who ruled Dublin, parts of Scotland, and the Hebrides. It is recorded that Ímar died in 873 in Britain. Some accounts don’t say how he die, others say that it is due to an illness. In the Saga of Ragnar’s Sons, he is reported to die childless, of old age – although the Irish King Ímar, in contrast, had several children when he founded his dynasty.
It is not known what Ivar’s ‘the Boneless’ nickname refers to. Some have suggested that it might be a muscular condition meaning he couldn’t use his limbs (although that is contradicted by saga descriptions of him as tall and powerful); others that it could refer to erectile issues (hence the childlessness).
One possible solution to the riddle was uncovered by a farm labourer, Thomas Walker, in Repton in 1686. He dug up a burial mound, uncovering a stone coffin containing ‘a Skeleton of a Humane Body Nine Foot long’, buried with over 100 skeletons arrayed around him. This was clearly an important person, buried with great ritual. Could the (now lost) skeletal giant be that of Ivar ‘the Boneless’, the nick-name an ironic one much like ‘Little’ John? If so, this would tally with the Irish sources giving 873 as his year of death (as it was in 873 & 874 that the Vikings were in Repton). So that’s the theory we’ve gone with!

Events Diary 2013

The first event of 2013 will be a DAS weekend of fighting and feasting over the 5th – 7th April 2013, at Earleywood Scout Camp, near Sunningdale in Berkshire. We welcome all members old and new, who would like to fight in the woods, practice crafts, or just enjoy good fellowship, food and ale with the Dark Ages Society.

DAS members please email or phone the Deputy Secretary, Halla, with any updates or changes.
Any non-members interested in attending, please email the Deputy Secretary for further details, or Contact Us.

2013 Events

When What Contact Where
Sat 2nd February DAS Officers’ Meeting Guthwald, our Chair Ingibjorg’s
15th – 17th March The Original Re-enactors Market (TORM) www.reenactorsmarket.co.uk Ryton on Dunsmore, Nr. Coventry
5th – 7th April DAS fighting weekend Ingibjorg, Holmbyggja Earleywood Scout Camp, Berkshire
10th – 12th May DAS fighting weekend Wulf, Westmen Forest Green, Surrey
28th – 30th June DAS training and living history weekend Ingibjorg, Holmbyggja Chiltern Open Air Museum
23rd – 26th August (Bank Holiday) DAS living history weekend Ingibjorg, Holmbuggyja Murton Park, York
27th – 29th September DAS fighting weekend Hrolf & Morag, Holmbuggyja Cadbury, Somerset
Saturday, 19th October DAS Officers’ Meeting Guthwald, our Chair Guthwald’s, Godmanchester
25th -27th October DAS fighting weekend Herewulf, Cilternsaete Flaunden, Herts

 

Event Details for 2013

Earleywood Scout Camp: 5th – 7th April

A private society event with fighting and banquet. The event runs from Friday evening until Sunday lunchtime.
We’ll stay in a cozy scout camp. There aren’t any beds, but there are hot showers and several nice side rooms.
In the morning we’ll fight in local woodlands, then after lunch we’ll continue skirmishing in the scout camp, which is pleasantly wooded.
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Forest Green: 10th – 12th May

A classic DAS weekend of fighting and feasting, this will be a private society event at the village hall in Forest Green, Surrey. We’ll fight on historic Leith Hill, and later gather for a fine banquet.

Chiltern Open Air Museum: 28th – 30th June

A DAS training weekend, chillout at Chiltern. We’ll be using Arborfield Barn during the day and the roundhouse in the evenings. Anybody who wants to do iron age rather than dark age can use the roundhouse in the day. Cost to be confirmed.
Activities can include: living history and crafts all day, combat training and display practice, general chilling out and enjoying the site, fighting in the woods after hours, partying in the roundhouse. There will be camping space, or we can sleep in the buildings.
No vehicle movements are allowed on site from 9.45 to 5.30 (i.e. during opening hours) – if you want to leave early you need to have your car off site in advance.

Ingibjorg is the contact for now but will not be in charge of the event.

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Murton Park Museum of Farming: 23rd – 26th August

Join DAS for a three-day event at the Danelaw Viking village, set in the Yorkshire Museum of Farming, Murton Park, Murton, York. The site will be open to the public so we must maintain authenticity during the days but the weekend is for us to relax and enjoy ourselves.
Accomodation will be in wooden huts/halls. Bring crafts and games. Cost to be confirmed.

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Cadbury: 27th – 29th September

A private society weekend of fighting and feasting, at the village hall and hillfort in Cadbury, Somerset – possibly the site of Arthur’s Camelot.

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Flaunden: 25th – 27th October

A private society weekend of fighting and feasting, at the village hall of Flaunden in Hertfordshire. This is always a cracking event!

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Village Life with DAS, 2011

Crafts on the Village Brown
Crafts on the Village Brown

Our annual visit to the Danelaw Village, Murton Park, York is the time when we really get back to the Dark Ages. We live in wooden houses, cook on fires, play games and catch up on craftwork.

We had some good weather despite the fact that it was the August Bank Holiday, and it was a great pleasure to sit around the fire on the village ‘brown’ (well, it isn’t green…) outside the longhall working on various crafts. Spoons were carved, bands woven, dresses sewn and socks constructed. In the Dark Ages, socks are a very acceptable gift.

Playing Kubb
Playing Kubb

Kubb is a popular game with both re-enactors and visitors. No, it’s not authentic to the Dark Ages: it’s a Swedish game (specifically Gotlandic), and relatively modern, but it’s a lot of fun and gets people together. Kubb is a kind of strategic skittles that can be played by teams of any size. And yes, that purple tunic was dyed authentically – with elderberries! Time will tell how well it stands up to modern ideas of how often clothes should be washed…but that’s experimental archaeology for you.

Inside the Longhall
Inside the Longhall

We had a few rainy spells in the afternoons, which gave us an excuse to hang out in the nice dry longhall. Cooking became a real group activity with everybody pitching in the chop vegetables, cut wood, tend the fire, wash up cauldrons and so on. But the longhall really came into its own in the evenings, when we gathered for food and conviviality by the light of the hearth fire. Nothing beats firelight on the rafters, tasty food on the table, and good company while the rain beats down outside in the dark night.

As I am obsessed with food, I am always particularly interested in the menu! There were some non-authentic foods for people with dietary restrictions, but by and large we served food appropriate to the dark ages. Breakfast was a simple but hearty affair of bacon, sausage and bread. Lunches included bread, butter, cheese, cured sausage, boiled eggs, pickles and fruit.

Alf with his little chopper
Alf with his Little Chopper

For Saturday’s banquet we served smoked salmon, pickled onions and cabbage, pork stew with cider and apples, and plums cooked with pears and ginger. For vegetarians, there was a vegetable casserole with beans and cider. Sunday’s supper was a sort of risotto made with shredded roast lamb, lentils, garlic and gravy. There was a garlicky lentil dish for the vegetarians.

I’m already missing the village and looking forward to next year!

Danelaw Village

DAS regularly visits the Danelaw village to chill out and live the Dark Age life in peacetime.

The Danelaw village at the Museum of Farming, Murton Park, York.
The Danelaw village at the Museum of Farming, Murton Park, York.

Lunch time soon!
Lunch time soon!

Time for a little village gossip!
Time for a little village gossip!

Lovely squelchy mud!
Lovely squelchy mud!

Oh, that's what it's for!
Oh, that's what it's for!

All patched up!
All patched up!