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Focusing on the family of Ealdorman Leofwine, which retained power throughout an extraordinary period of political and dynastic upheaval, Stephen Baxter reassesses fundamental elements of late Anglo-Saxon government and society, offering a fresh interpretation of the structure of the late Anglo-Saxon polity and the origins of the Norman Conquest.
The Earls of Mercia Series Books 3 and 4 combined
Before his encounter with Ealdorman Leofwine on his fateful trip to Shetland, King Swein first had to wrestle Denmark from his father's kingship and make his own name as a warrior of great renown. This side story to the Earls of Mercia series tells of the early years of King Swein's reign, his first raid on England, his encounter with Ealdorman Leofwine and his quest to once and for all kill Olaf of Norway, culminating in the mighty sea battle of Svolder in 999. Swein, the Danish King is a companion novella to the epic Earls of Mercia series and should perhaps be read following Ealdormen, book 2 of the Earls of Mercia series.
This book constitutes a major reappraisal of the late Anglo-Saxon state on the eve of its demise. Its principal focus is the family of Ealdorman Leofwine, which obtained power in Mercia and retained it throughout an extraordinary period of political upheaval between 994 and 1071. In doing so it explores a paradox: that earls were extraordinarily wealthy and powerful yet distinctly insecure. The book contains the first extended treatment of earls' powers in late Anglo-Saxon England and shows that although they wielded considerable military, administrative and political powers, they remained vulnerable to exile and other forms of political punishment including loss of territory. The book also offers a path-breaking analysis of land tenure and the mechanics of royal patronage, and argues that the majority of earls' estates were held from the king on a revocable basis for the duration of their period in office. In order to compensate for such insecurities, earls used lordship and religious patronage to construct local networks of power. The book uses innovative methods for interpreting the representation of lordship in Domesday Book to reconstruct the affinity of the earls of Mercia. It also examines how the house of Leofwine made strategic use of religious patronage to cement local power structures. All this created intense competition between the earls of Mercia and their rivals for power, both at court and in the localities, and the book explores how factional rivalry determined the course of politics, and ultimately the fate of the late Anglo-Saxon state.
The extraordinary history of Mercia and its rulers from the seventh century to 1066. Once the supreme Anglo-Saxon kingdom, it was pivotal in the story of England.
Ealdorman Leofwine, bereaved and betrayed by the new Danish King of England, hides away from the politics of the Witan, desperate to forget his past links with Cnut and his father, Swein, only Cnut won't let his most trusted ealdorman go quite so easily. He knows that for his fledgling kingship to survive, he needs the old guard from the previous king's reign to add legitimacy to his own. His new men, the men who've followed him from Denmark, know how to conquer, but not how to rule the English. And Cnut has his eye on an even bigger prize.
England: The Second Viking Age Leofwine Ealdorman - The Earls of Mercia Series Book 1 Five ealdormen bestride King Aethelred II's Witan offering wise counsel whilst serving their King as his representative in the old Saxon Kingdoms, united now for nearly fifty years. Leofwine, newly created ealdorman of the Hwicce is chosen to represent his King on a vitally important diplomatic mission, but when tragedy befalls him he must fight for his survival and hold his own amongst men who call him friend but see him as a threat. Leofwine: wily diplomat or pandered invalid? As the Viking raiders grow ever more determined to take what is not theirs, forming alliances with the Norman Dukes and the Irish Kings, can Leofwine navigate the twisted paths of loyalty and self-interest to enable his King to fight for glory and self-respect? Ealdormen - The Earls of Mercia Book 2 Leofwine, Ealdorman of the Hwicce, has proved himself in battle and won the support of his King, Aethelred II, but the specter of Swein of Denmark, the man who partially blinded him five years before, has suddenly become a harrowing reality. As the Viking raids intensify, conflict at the King's Witan and amongst his Councillors grows and Leofwine finds himself still treading a difficult path between loyalty and the twisted self-interests of the men the King surrounds himself with. Can Leofwine weather more storms and grow his own power base, or will his King, once and for all, lose patience with his broken Ealdorman?
The start of a brand new series from bestselling author MJ Porter for fans of Bernard Cornwell and Matthew Harffy. 'Immediate and personal' Bestselling author Matthew Harffy 'No lover of Dark Age warfare is going to be disappointed. Son of Mercia is personal, real, fascinating and satisfying.' S.J.A. Turney 'If you love history, fiction, adventure and great stories, grab a copy of Son of Mercia. You won’t regret it!" Eric Schumacher Tamworth, Mercia AD825. The once-mighty kingdom of Mercia is in perilous danger. Their King, Beornwulf lies dead and years of bitter in-fighting between the nobles, and cross border wars have left Mercia exposed to her enemies. King Ecgberht of Wessex senses now is the time for his warriors to strike and exact his long-awaited bloody revenge on Mercia. King Wiglaf, has claimed his right to rule Mercia, but can he unite a disparate Kingdom against the might of Wessex who are braying for blood and land? Can King Wiglaf keep the dragons at bay or is Mercia doomed to disappear beneath the wings of the Wessex wyvern? Can anyone save Mercia from destruction? 'MJ Porter recounts a sensitive, reluctant hero's coming-of-age within a Dark Age realm riven by chaos and conflict' Bestselling author Matthew Harffy ‘Refreshing... I was reluctant to put the book down’ Historical Novel Society Readers are spell-bound by Son of Mercia!: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 'So real I felt I was there!... A page-turner' Reader review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 'Wonderful to read and hard to put down' Reader review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 'I found the pages flying by... A great book' Reader review
Ealdorman - The Earls of Mercia Series England: The Second Viking Age Five ealdormen bestride King Aethelred II's Witan offering wise counsel whilst serving their King as his representative in the old Saxon Kingdoms, united now for nearly fifty years. Leofwine, newly created ealdorman of the Hwicce is chosen to represent his King on a vitally important diplomatic mission, but when tragedy befalls him he must fight for his survival and hold his own amongst men who call him friend but see him as a threat. Leofwine: wily diplomat or pandered invalid? As the Viking raiders grow ever more determined to take what is not theirs, forming alliances with the Norman Dukes and the Irish Kings, can Leofwine navigate the twisted paths of loyalty and self-interest to enable his King to fight for glory and self-respect?