Battle for the Island Kingdom

England's Destiny 1000–1066

Don Hollway (Autor)

Buch | Hardcover

432 Seiten

2023
Osprey Publishing (Verlag)
978-1-4728-5893-1 (ISBN)

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A rich history of the years leading up to 1066 when Vikings, Anglo-Saxons and Normans vied for the English crown. A tale of loyalty, treason and military might.

Includes all the key individuals that inspired the final season of Netflix's Vikings: Valhalla - Harald Sigurdsson, King Cnut, Emma of Normandy and Godwin of Wessex

Battle for the Island Kingdom reveals the life-and-death struggle for power which changed the course of history. The six decades leading up to 1066 were defined by bloody wars and intrigues, in which three peoples vied for supremacy over the island kingdom. In this epic retelling, Don Hollway (The Last Viking) recounts the clashes of Vikings, Anglo-Saxons and Normans, their warlords and their conniving queens.

It begins with the Viking Cnut the Great, forging three nations into his North Sea Empire while his Saxon wife Aelfgifu rules in his stead and schemes for England’s throne. Her archenemy is Emma of Normandy, widow of Saxon king Aethelred, claiming Cnut’s realm in exchange for her hand in marriage. Their sons become rivals, pawns in their mothers’ wars until they can secure their own destinies. And always in the shadows is Godwin of Wessex, playing all sides to become the power behind the throne until his son Harold emerges as king of all of England.

But Harold’s brother Tostig turns traitor, abandons the Anglo-Saxons and joins the army of the last great Viking, Harald Hardrada, where together they meet their fate at the battle of Stamford Bridge. And all this time watching from across the water is William, the Bastard, fighting to secure his own Norman dukedom, but with an eye on the English crown.

Don Hollway is an author and historian. His first book, The Last Viking, is a gripping history of King Harald Hardrada which was acclaimed by bestselling author Stephen Harding, by Carl Gnam of Military Heritage magazine and by Michael Dirda in The Washington Post. He is also a classical rapier fencer. His work is also available at www.donhollway.com. He lives in Pennsylvania.

List of Illustrations
Author's Note
Dramatis Personae
Introduction: A New Millennium

Part One. The Vikings: AD 1001–1043
I. Normandy Invasion: 1001
II. Foreigners: 1002
III. Woe to King Aethelred: 1003–1009
IV. The Jomsvikings: 1009–1012
V. Hnefatafl: 1012–1014
VI. Sons of the Fathers: 1014–1016
VII. One King to Rule All: 1016
VIII. Viking England: 1017–1022
IX. Forging an Empire: 1022–1028
X. Kingdoms, Dukedoms, Heirdoms: 1028–1030
XI. Seeking Deliverance: 1030–1035
XII. Power Games: 1036–1037
XIII. Nadirs: 1037–1040
XIV. Harthacnut: 1040–1042
XV. Their Just Rewards: 1042–1043

Part Two. The Anglo-Saxons: AD 1042–1065
XVI. Edward Rex: 1042–1045
XVII. Comeuppances: 1045–1046
XVIII. Outcasts: 1046–1047
XIX. Val-ès-Dunes: 1047
XX. The Godwins: 1047–1049
XXI. William the Bastard: 1049–1051
XXII. Rebellion: 1051
XXIII. Heir to the Throne: 1051–1052
XXIV. The Return of the Godwins: 1052
XXV. Asserting Power: 1052–1053
XXVI. Wars in the North: 1054
XXVII. The Godwinsons: 1055–1056
XXVIII. War and Diplomacy: 1057
XXIX. Supremacy: 1058–1060
XXX. Fragile Peace: 1061
XXXI. Conquerors: 1062–1063
XXXII. Betrayals: 1064–1065

Part Three. The Normans: AD 1066
XXXIII. Challenge Accepted: Spring 1066
XXXIV. Opening Moves: Summer 1066
XXXV. Return of the Vikings: September 1066
XXXVI. Hastings: October 1066

Afterword: Domesday, 1066–1154
Sources
Bibliography
Acknowledgments
Index
About the Author

Erscheinungsdatum	18.10.2023
Zusatzinfo	8-page plate section in colour
Sprache	englisch
Maße	153 x 234 mm
Themenwelt	Geschichte ► Allgemeine Geschichte ► Mittelalter
	Geisteswissenschaften ► Geschichte ► Regional- / Ländergeschichte
	Geschichte ► Teilgebiete der Geschichte ► Militärgeschichte
	Sozialwissenschaften ► Politik / Verwaltung
ISBN-10	1-4728-5893-X / 147285893X
ISBN-13	978-1-4728-5893-1 / 9781472858931
Zustand	Neuware