Note: This post is a re-print of the Forward from the novel which explains the decisions behind the presentation of some of the minor historical points. If you are considering purchasing, I hope this helps.
Among our sources of knowledge about the Scandinavian people of the
eighth to eleventh century are the rare rune stones. These give us records
written in the actual period. However, they are scarce and, unlike other
ancient languages, there is no Rosetta Stone to help in their deciphering. In
fact, it would seem that what is recorded on many of these stones is street
directions, which indicates that the majority of the population was literate,
but tells us little else.
The ship which provided the greatest inspiration for this novel was unearthed in the Skuldelev find. Skuldelev 2, as it is now known, was built in 1060, in or near Dublin and served the Danish for many years. At thirty meters long, it boasted an impressive thirty pairs of oars and could have transported 100 warriors. This proves that the shipbuilding techniques of the North could be and were transported to the British Isles.
The round, mud huts as described in the novel can also trace their
origins further back to descriptions from Roman soldiers.
I hope you enjoy,
Olene
Author’s Note
The Vikings are a people whose history has been much clouded in
legend, forgotten in time, warped by their enemies, and twisted in popular
culture. Even their name, the Vikings, is incorrect to their people as it stems
from the Old Norse word Vikingr, meaning
freebooter, sea-rover, or pirate. Not all Vikings were pirates. Most were
farmers, landowners, and craftsmen, but it is the few great seamen and the
warriors who ravaged foreign lands whom are best remembered.
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| Gokstad Ship |
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| Detail from Oseberg Ship |
We also have pieces recovered from archaeological digs. Among the
most famous of these are the Oseberg Ship and the Gokstad Ship. Though they are
only two of many vessels which have been unearthed, they are the most
well-preserved, having been buried in clay. From these and other finds,
archaeologists know that by the ninth century Viking ships had undergone vast
improvements as compared to their earlier counterparts and were built for
specific purposes. Some were large, robust vessels, equipped with sails and
built for the open seas. Others were slim, fast war ships, wherein rows took
the place of importance. There is even evidence of ships which seem to be built
specifically for cargo.
The ship which provided the greatest inspiration for this novel was unearthed in the Skuldelev find. Skuldelev 2, as it is now known, was built in 1060, in or near Dublin and served the Danish for many years. At thirty meters long, it boasted an impressive thirty pairs of oars and could have transported 100 warriors. This proves that the shipbuilding techniques of the North could be and were transported to the British Isles.
Another famous set of relics is the Ulfberht swords. These unique
swords were constructed of a quality of steel which was not to be reproduced
until the Industrial Revolution. With a higher carbon percentage and less slag
than their counterparts, the Ulfberht swords were far stronger and more flexible
than their contemporaries. They were smaller than most other swords, but the
inscription, "+VLFBERH+T” and its reputation must have made up for it in
the minds of enemies. One hundred and seventy-one swords have been found to
bear this name, yet few of these are actually constructed of the high quality
steel and often, the inscription on those of lower quality is spelled
incorrectly. From this, it may be assumed that the swords were famous and
feared enough to produce counterfeits. The earliest found Ulfberht dates to 850
AD.
The last relic which was of particular interest to me while writing
this novel is a jade Buddha, found on the Oseberg ship. The burial of the ship
dates back to 834 AD. The Buddha proves the size, power, and wealth of the
Vikings’ trade routes at this time. Caches of jewelry and personal grooming tools have also been found and
inspired the descriptions of this novel.
The Sagas, many of which were recorded much
later than they are purported to have happened and often in different countries
than there origin, give us some idea as to the culture and beliefs of the
Vikings, though, many assertions must be taken with a grain of salt. They are
legends and myths which contain some truth, some exaggeration, some magic, and
much entertainment. The laws and customs as presented in this novel, many of
which seem too strange or modern to have belonged to the Vikings, may be
attributed to these legends.
It would seem that while women did not have exactly the power and
rights of men in Viking society, they were by no means under the same duress
and oppression which other European women suffered during this period. They
were often given their choice of husband, could ask for a divorce for almost
any reason, and, married or not, could own property. To strike or otherwise
harm one’s wife could bring legal fines and familial retribution upon a Viking.
To in any way molest another woman could bring death.
It is also of note that this novel presents a small country under a
king’s leadership. Most of Scandinavia was ruled by clans and chieftains during
this period. Though general laws existed, it was often up to individual clans,
many of whom lived together in great dwellings or settlements, to enforce them.
There generally existed no strong legal or monarchists governments. However,
kings, some powerful and some weak, cropped up throughout this period. Their
rule was not easy, nor was it taken for granted. Divine right was not a concept
among the Vikings, nor could lineage stand in the face of the greatness of
other warriors, even were they born to poor origins. It is, in fact, this
instability which led me to choose to present my hero as the heir to a newly
won throne.
The hero is presented as a berserker. This word stems from the Old
Norse word berserker, meaning “bear
shirt”. These warriors were reported to work themselves into a blood-thirsty,
insane, rage before battle and were often called the greatest of the Norse
warriors. They are believed to have made up Byzantine Emperor Constantine VII’s
Varangian guard, and that he would choose these strange men from so far away
attests to how notorious they must have been. They were best described by
Icelandic poet Snorri Sturluson, “His men rushed forwards without armour, were
as mad as dogs or wolves, bit their shields, and were strong as bears or wild
oxen, and killed people at a blow, but neither fire nor iron told upon them.
This was called Berserkergang.”
The history of the Celts of this period is cloudier yet than the
history of the Vikings. We know what was written of them by their Roman
invaders who surely were not the most unbiased source, and we know what was
recorded once they came under Viking rule, but this era is not referred to as
the Dark Ages without just cause.
The Celts are generally accepted to have been, if not a matriarchal
society, than one in which women, at least, had relatively easy access to
power. Queens Boadica, Tetua, and Onomaris attest to that. We also know that female
warriors met the Romans on the battlefield. One Roman observed, “A whole troop
of foreigners would not withstand a single Celt if he called his wife to his
assistance. The wife is even more formidable. She is usually very strong. She
begins to strike blows mingled with kicks as if they were missiles from a
catapult...The voices of these women are formidable and threatening, even when
they're being friendly."
We also know that Roman women were regarded so poorly that they were
not even given their own names, and were instead called by the female
derivative of their father’s or family’s name and then given a number if there
was more than one daughter.
I considered all of this while forming my heroine. Rome certainly left
its mark on the British Isles, bringing new politics, new food, new clothes, and
new architecture. I believe that it is safe then to assume that even so early,
the role of women in Celtic cultures was changing. I cannot attest to what
extent or in exactly which circumstances these changes would have existed
during the setting of this book, so I tried only to make educated guesses.
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| Roundhouse Reconstruction at National History Museum of Wales |
Catholicism was one thing which could be said to have changed the
British Isles dynamically after the Roman conquests. There were Christians in Ireland even before
Palladius arrived in 431 as the first missionary bishop sent by Rome. St.
Patrick and others helped to spread the beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church.
However, to their chagrin, the new beliefs often mixed and mingled right
alongside the old, pagan traditions. While religion is not at all a theme of
this novel, we can deduce that certain practices and customs regarding
everything from land management to marriage, death, and eating would by this
point have been influenced by the Catholic Church.
All of the names used in this novel are accurate to the culture and
time period, but many spellings have been changed to their modern form to help
in the ease of reading. As to the language, it is needless to say that the
English language was not yet in existence at this time. Since I do not fluently
speak Old Norse or Gaelic, nor, presumably do many of my readers, it is a
necessity that every word herein is an anachronism. Hopefully, I have struck a
pleasant balance between modern English and the avoidance of any wildly out of
place slang. The words and phrases given in Gaelic and Norse were translated to
the best of my ability.
You will find that the exact dates of archaeological finds referenced
here do not match up with some of the content of this novel, though they are
often correct to within a few decades. This is because, though we often cannot
prove that certain technology or customs existed in a specific location at this
specific time, we also cannot prove that they did not. I have taken some
creative license with the history regarding both of these cultures. Though I
love history and research, and though I wanted to be as accurate as possible in
my representation of these people, I am no scholar, nor am I a historian. My objective
in writing was not to teach, but rather to entertain.
My characters must, in the majority of their ways, appeal to and be
understood by modern readers. As much as I sometimes wish to, I cannot adhere
to every custom of the age of which I know. Behavior that is too confounding,
or that takes too long to explain only serves to weigh down a novel, as do explanations
of some objects which are extremely foreign to us.
I have not filled the novel with explanations of the differences
between a knarr, a karve, a faering, and a longship, nor have I expounded on the exact
geography of any given region. That, perhaps, is best left to another writer
with a different purpose and a greater education.
My hope is that this forward will help to explain some of the history
to those who are unaware and caught off guard by this very unusual
representation of the Vikings and Celts, and to beg the patience of those who
find any anachronisms in my work.
I hope you enjoy,
Olene
***
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