seamod

So here's how i feel about the Battle of Maldon


Written from the point of view of an Anglo-Saxon, The Battle of Maldon is considered a contemporary account of a victorious battle for the Viking invaders of England over the Anglo-Saxons and the then king, Aethelred the Unready. The poem itself seems like a document written to praise the brave and condemn the cowards of the battle on the Anglo-Saxon side. From the poem we learn of the deeds of lord Byrhtnoth and his men in this fatal battle against the ferocious vikings. Through its reading we can discover the relationship between a lord and his warriors, how the Anglo-Saxons viewed the viking invaders and how those invaders imposed themselves on the Anglo-Saxon world of England.
Byrhtnoth, the lord championed in this poem appears brave and loved if a foolhardy; he was an old retainer--shook his ash spear: full boldly he thought warriors. His foolhardiness is emphasised when he decides to allow the Vikings cross the water to fight a pitched battle. This pitched battle would ultimately be his down-fall. James Campbell defends astutely Byrhtnoths decision to allow such a battle but the poem does suggest a strategic advantage had been surrendered. When Byrhtnoths life is lost, his men (despite some fleeing) endeavor to avenge him until their own death, charging into battle in devotion of their fallen leader. As Leofsunu says in reaction to the death of his lord;

I vow it, that hence I will not
flee a foots length but will advance,
avenge in strife my lord-friend,
Steadfast heroes need not reproach me
with words around Sturmere, now my friend fell,
that I journeyed home lordless,
turned from the battle: but weapon must take me,
spear-point and iron.

This demonstration of devotion is testament to the devotion of at least some of the warriors to their lord and the relationship therein. The antithesis of this devotion is in the criminalisation of those who fled the battle field as Offa states: Us Godric has, Oddas craven son, betrayed altogether of this devotion. Byrhtnoth's ability as a tactician is also alluded too (despite his aforementioned fatal error); There against anger Byrhtnoth stood ready, surrounded by warriors, He bade them with shields,build the battle hedge, hold that troop, fast against foes, then the fight was near and as Steadfast they stood, Byrhtnoth directed them. The death of Byrhtnoth lends weight to the extent and achievements in the spread of christianity in England at this time as when wounded he says:

I thanks thee, Wielder of peoples,
for all those joys I had in the world.
Now have I, mild Measurer, most need
that you grant to my spirit goodness,
that my soul may journey now to thee,
into they wielding, Lord of the angels,
depart in peace. I am entreating thee
that no hell-scathers harm it
Then heathen men hewed him

This is in stark contrast to the portrayal of the heathen vikings. For the poem has various allusions to their heathenism and the death of one of these vikings is described with a similar but heathen last gasp:


through the youths neck, hand guided it.
so that it reached life in the ravager
.......the brave man laughed then, said thanks to Method
for the day-work God gave him.

Their ferocity and bravery is reiterated throughout but no without the aide of some slanders remarks like slaughter wolves or the ravager. There persuasion of Byrhtnoth to accept a pitched battle is portrayed somewhat as trickery; another detestable trait of the viking invaders. those loathly strangers began to use guile, asked for free landing, passage to shore.
In what is considered the first step in the downfall of king Aethelred and the success of the Danish invaders, the Danes were increasingly able to enforce their will with every battle won. Danegeld was one such enforcement. The Danegeld, essentially a land tax imposed on the subjects of the new Danish kingdom in Britain, is believed to have been used to generate funds for Thorkells army. James Campbell also suggests that this is where the permanent land tax know as the Geld originated. This was originally named heregeld and the perhaps changed to soften the blow of financing Thorkells military might that conquered the Anglo-Saxons in the first place. The Danegeld was measured by hide which was the unit of land measurement at the time. Dane geld came to prominence during the second wave of viking invasions (980-1035) and the vast amount collected is evidence of both the strength of the Vikings and the wealth of the English and what began as random tribute to the Viking invaders became a steady income for military upkeep.
The poem therefore while not laden with the details we would like, gives us an insight into the feelings of those devoted to a failing society. Both those quick to abandon the cause and those willing to die for the cause are highlighted. Christianity also rears its head and condemnation of heathen worship, no doubt as a result of a conviction of the author. Essentially what The battle of Maldon provides us with is an encounter both extreme bravery and apparent foolishness in the face of an overpowering enemy and in their description of that enemy, what the Anglo-Saxons felt they were fighting for and against.


Campbell, James, The Anglo Saxons (London 1982), pp. 195-198.
The Battle of Maldon, Tutorial Document p. 9.
Campbell, James, The Anglo Saxons (London 1982), p. 198.
The Battle of Maldon, Tutorial Document p. 7.
The Battle of Maldon, Tutorial Document p. 7.
The Battle of Maldon, Tutorial Document p. 6.
The Battle of Maldon, Tutorial Document p. 4.
The Battle of Maldon, Tutorial Document p. 5.
The Battle of Maldon, Tutorial Document pp. 4-5.
Campbell, James, The Anglo Saxons (London 1982), pp. 200-201.
Campbell, James, The Anglo Saxons (London 1982), pp. 200-201.
Logan, Donald F., The Vikings in History (London 1983) pp. 172-173.