Your Questions

Q

Bernard,

I am immensely enjoying the Saxon Chronicles. I would like to know if all medieval or Dark Age warriors named their swords, such as Wasp Sting or Serpent Breath. I hadn't heard of this before.

Also, what is the phonetic pronunciation of "wyrd bid ful araed"?(Fate is inexorable)  And what language is this?

Tom Blake,

Massachusetts

Submitted January 10, 2017

A

They did indeed!  The sagas and chronicles are full of sword names. Think Excalibur!

It comes from an Old English poem, 'The Wanderer', which is very beautiful and rather sad, and is the thoughts of an exile wandering the earth.  It is English, believe it or not!  I'm no expert on Old English pronunciation, but my guess is that it's pronounced Weird bith full arraid. If you can find a copy of the poem, you'll find the quote at line 5.

 

Q

Dear Mr. Cornwell

I have just finished reading the Flame Bearer. Along with the rest of the Last Kingdom Series, these are the best fiction books depicting the turbulent  story of the creation of England.

What would you think of the books being included in the National Curriculum?

I am sure they would bring alive this part of early English history for many students.

Looking forward to meeting Uhtred again.

 

kind regards

 

Mike Newell

Submitted January 10, 2017

A

I do think the English should learn about the origins of England!  Maybe they do? Of course if you make the books part of the National Curriculum you immediately condemn them as ‘necessary’ reading. Much better to let them discover them on their own (but I’ll let you disagree!)

Q

Just finished the Flame Bearer. Great stuff as always. And very pleased to see that the anachronistic modern Scotland-England border has been removed from the map. Just been reading the hugely-informative 1873 book by James Murray. 'The dialect of the southern counties of Scotland' and read that the Scottish kings didn't refer to either Galloway of Lothian as geographically or legally part of Scotland until 1249 (a footnote on page 3). The book can be read on-line. It's chock full of historical surprises about Northern Britain.

Steve Ainsworth

Submitted January 10, 2017

A

Thank you! You’re right (or Murray is!) about the frontier! It’s all horribly complicated which is why I try to simplify it in the books.  The era of Uhtred is really an era when all three kingdoms (Scotland, Wales and England) were emerging and all three had distinct regions which still, to an extent, exist (like Northumbria).  The Scottish story is complex – much of the lowlands had been speaking Welsh! It’s a tangle and, for fiction, best smoothed out!

Q

Mr. Cornwell,

Crecy. Poitiers. Agincourt. All the battles are basically similar-a smaller English army pursued by a much larger French force. The English commanders choose an ideal defensive position and let the French waste themselves on the field of battle. Now as this action spanned roughly 69 years the question is what prevented the French from overwhelming the English forces? Was it Gallic arrogance, or was it simply, time and again, complete ineptitude of French commanders?

Long Live Lord Uthred of Bebbenburg!

Dennis

Submitted January 10, 2017

A

Gallic arrogance? Possibly, though that’s a little unfair. I think in all three cases there’s a lack of good leadership and a good deal of enthusiasm to take the battle to the outnumbered English. Undoubtedly the English archers were a critical factor which the French never quite solved until they developed primitive artillery. It’s worth remembering that the French won the war (a tale I don’t tell) and all three battles are, in a sense, outliers. In all three cases the French were justifiably confident in their numbers and, by Agincourt, they believed they had found a way to neutralize the archers, and that failed mostly because of the mud. In the other two they were attacking uphill into carefully prepared positions .. . showing enormous bravery (as they did at Agincourt!). And the battles are far enough apart in time to mean that experience didn’t really help. And, in the end, by adopting a strategy of fortress war, the French did expel the English. Pity really, or they might play cricket today.

Q

I've just finished 'Ida', and enjoyed that read just as I've enjoyed the others in this series and others you have written too. I looked too at some of the Qs and As and noted that in one response you mention how Uhtred is getting older now so perhaps confused. That might explain the slavery point, He claims that he was sold into slavery by his Uncle. My memory of the previous books is that this isn't so - or is it my memory that fades?

 

yours,

Peter Barley

Submitted January 10, 2017

A

His uncle arranged his capture . . . and paid money. It wasn’t a direct transaction, but in effect he was sold!

 

 

Q

Happy New Year Bernard.

 

Whilst listening to Uhtred's story from start to finish again of the Christmas period, quite a few 'what if's' drifted into my mind as they tend to do from time to time. I won't bother you with most of them, but I am curious if you have any thoughts about the implications and effects on the relationship between Alfred and Uhtred if the latter had fully converted and remained a devout Christina in Alfred's service. Both men clearly respected the other and it seems to me that there had been, on Alfred's part, a desire like Uhtred and foster a friendship, which was soured over the years. I wonder if you fee that had Uhtred been a committed Christian, Alfred would have allowed his merit to raise him to higher levels of lordship. perhaps in place of his cousin, or even to become a sanctioned king under Alfred's overarching rule. If this had happened and Uhtred had been allowed freedom to run the campaign against the Danes freely and with Alfred's full backing, do you think the results would have been wildly different in terms of effectiveness and duration?

Had Uhtred been a Christian and in Alfred's good graces, do you think he might have been allowed permission to marry Aethelflaed, and had that union brought forth sons in Alfred's lifetime, would he have recognised the potential for a stronger ruling line from that branch of the family and put them ahead other potential succesors? Alfred showed he could be ruthless, having usurped the throne himself, and I wonder if he would have weighed the future of his kingdom ahead of having Edward follow him

 

Best wishes

 

Andy

 

Of course this is all just idle musings but it does intrigue me!

 

Best wishes

 

Andy

Submitted January 10, 2017

A

I’m not sure what territorial advantages a Christian Uhtred would bring Alfred . . . the immediate ambition was to engorge Mercia into Wessex (which didn’t really happen until after Alfred’s death), and Northumbria was a very distant target. Marriage to Aethelred had tangible advantages – it placed a West Saxon marker on nearby territory!  Uhtred, being an exile from his native Northumbria, and not possessing any land there (except his claim to the land) would have brought no such advantage.

 

Q

Hi Bernard,

Just finished reading, and enjoyed your story greatly, as with the preceding ones.

In your historical research for the backstory I wonder why no mention of the Cuerdale Hoard? The River Ribble was the main connection between Dyflin, Mann and Jorvik.

I know you have explained your siting of Brunanburh to be on the Mersey previously, but still not convinced personally.

I read Michael Livingston's book and its dubious place name derivations. There were Norse settlements along the whole of the North West Coast, I was born in one at Blowick, Southport..

Living in Preston, Lancs., an Angle town, I am biased towards another claim, one amongst many, but which actually possesses some evidence?!

Bruna Hill near Garstang, Alston and Elston named after Athelstan and the Cuerdale Hoard a mercenary payroll still the largest find of Nordic silver outside of Russia. All of these well within a day's walk.

So not wanting to bore you further with the battle site arguments, please try to mention the Cuerdale Hoard somewhere, it did exist, I have handled some of the silver coins and hack silver.

Regards.

Andy.

Submitted January 10, 2017

A

You probably won’t be convinced, and that’s fine! I accept you may be right! The trouble is that we just don’t know and we’d love to know! And until the archaeologists find, say, a mass grave of fallen warriors or some other evidence, we simply won’t know precisely (or even vaguely) where Brunanburh was fought!  I had to make a decision, and did, but I’m not going to fight that corner stubbornly because I accept that it might be wrong . . and thank you so much for your comments.

 

Q

Hi Bernard,

 

I have always been an avid reader of history, especially military history. My father introduced me to your books on Uhtred and I have devoured them until I became caught up a few years back. I also came across a computer game called "Mount & Blade - Warband" which had an additional patch titled "Viking Conquest". It seems to me that the game is inspired by your works, and does include a character named Uhtred floating about. In summary, the game pretty much let's you play out your Saxon or Viking fantasy of raiding, fighting, and conquering, enemies like Æthelhelm, etc...and/or usurp them all and create your own kingdom. Personally, I found Brycheinoig and Cornubia ripe territories on which to found my Viking kingdom, but now have the pesky Irish raiding my lands.

 

I was wondering if you have seen or heard of the game, and if not you should check it out! Although, I do fear it may hamper your writing of the next Uhtred book.

 

-Best,

David F

Submitted January 10, 2017

A

I was not aware of it - thanks!

Q

Hi Bernard!

You have been praised for your very accurate descriptions of the Viking society and their world views. For a fellow history-nerd, it's  a pleasure to see that you put a lot of effort into making some fantastic books. I've recently come across the Vikings of Jomsborg, an supposed mercenary army based in jomsborg near todays Wohlin in Poland. They have been accredited for the killing of Harald Bluetooth and important roles in different swedish succession-wars. What i've read is that they where closer to an actual organisation and not just ad-hoc ventures as the vikings of your books. I wondered if you heard of them and if so, what your thoughts are about these jomsvikings?

Christiern

Submitted January 10, 2017

A

I confess I haven’t! I’ll find out more about them and am very grateful that you have brought them to my attention!

Q

I am an avid reader of your works and thoroughly enjoy them. I currently reside in Essex and get a lot of stick for that but you are proof that we are not all stupid.

Was it your idea to Have Sean Bean play Sharpe? He is absolutely perfect in the role.

Thank you once again for the pleasure you have given to many and to me in particular.

Martin Long

Submitted January 9, 2017

A

I has no say in the casting...nor did I want any.  And you're right!  Sean was terrific!