Glossary

atheling
a prince, the king's son
bower house
a separate building on an estate that was a bedroom and private chamber, the great hall would be where everyone gathered
cross gartering
bands worn around the leg to hold up socks
danegeld
gold and silver paid to the Vikings as a bargain to stop their raids
food rent
food given to the landlord in return for the right to farm his land
fyrd
the militia made up of local farmers summoned by the lord of the estate when danger threatened
hnefatafl
a Viking game, like chess, in which pieces were moved around a board
kirtle
a long dress worn by women
mancuses
a measure of gold
northmen
invaders from Denmark and Norway, called Vikings because they came from small farming communities or viks. Increased pressure on the land caused their migration.
reeve
the man who ran an estate for a great lord and was responsible for preparing a feast; also the name of a lord answerable to the king if overseeing a county
scald
the Viking equivalent of the Saxon scop, poet and musician who entertained in the feasting hall
scop
a poet and musician who would recite tales and compose songs in praise of a hero and entertained in the feasting hall
seax
a short sword or knife
strakes
planking extending along the hull of a boat from stem to stern
thegn
the king's most loyal men rewarded for their loyalty with gifts and land
wain
a cart

Bibliography

  • Alfred the Great. Asser's life of King Alfred and other contemporary sources. Simon Keynes and Michael Lapidge, Penguin 1983
  • An Introduction to Anglo Saxon England - Peter Hunter Blair. Cambridge University Press 2003
  • Alfred the Great - Justin Pollard. John Murray 2006
  • Alfred's Britain - Max Adams. Head of Zeus Ltd 2017
  • Alfred the Great - Richard Abels. Addison Wesley Longman 1998
  • The Anglo Saxon World. An Anthology - Kevin Crossley Holland. Oxford University Press 1984
  • Alfred's Kingdom - David A Hinton. Book Club Associates. J.M.Dent and Sons Ltd 1977
  • The Anglo Saxons - Edited by James Campbell. Penguin Books 1982
  • Viking Age England - Julian D Richards. English Heritage. B.T. Batsford Ltd/English Heritage 1991
  • The Vikings - James Graham- Campbell and Dafydd Kidd. Book Club Associates London, British Museum Publication Ltd 1980
  • An Introduction to Viking Mythology - John Grant. Eagle Editions Ltd 2006
  • A Viking Voyage - W Hodding Carter. Ballantine Publishing Group, Random House Incorporated 2000
  • Snorri Sturluson. The Prose Edda - Penguin Classics 2005