Paul, many congratulations on Blood Feud. We’re now at the start of a new series with Blood Feud, it’s 1067 and so post Hastings. The Conqueror has been crowned. What was the state of the kingdom so soon after this seismic event in English history?
Thanks. I’m not going to lie; it feels like a long time since my last novel (more than two years), so it’s great to have a new book out.
It’s an interesting question for sure. At this stage, William’s grip on power was by no means secure. I think he had a firmer grip on the southeast of the country, but as you pushed north and west, that control was so much weaker. And that’s where we see rebellion after rebellion in those early post conquest years (one of my previous novels – Thurkill’s Rebellion – deals specifically with uprisings in Shropshire and Exeter). And nor was he yet in a position to impose his will across the whole country. At first, he was compelled to rely on some Englishmen to hold lands for him (for a tidy sum of course); men like Copsig who we see, in the novel, was not well liked in Northumbria (which makes him a strange choice to be Earl).
In short, I’d say the country is in a state of turmoil to a greater or lesser extent depending on your location. It was probably too soon to know what sort of a ruler William would be – though that would soon become abundantly clear. And in some areas – like the far north of England for example – they would probably think like Oslac: William who?
Oslac is our hero of the novel. What sort of man is he?
He’s a fairly typical Anglo-Saxon thegn, I think. He has a strong sense of honour and takes his duties towards the people of his village (Acum, or Acomb as it is now called) very seriously. But his outlook is quite limited. He has little understanding or interest in the wider, political landscape; he’s more concerned about ensuring that Acum’s food supplies don’t run out over the winter and – most of all – keeping the village safe from the Danes from Hexham on the other side of the River Tyne, with whom his family have been feuding for almost two centuries, on and off.
Is he based on a historical figure?
He’s not to be fair. Like with my Thurkill trilogy, I like to concoct a character around whom I can weave the story without being constrained too much by historical realities. They can then become the focal point for interacting with other, real characters, like Copsig and Earl Oswulf – his supposed kinsman.
As I explain in the historical note, it was a feature of one of the dynastic families of Northumbria (specifically Bernicia, the northern half) to have alliterative names all beginning with O – going back as far as the Saint King Oswald in the 7th century. Hence my assumption that Earl Oswulf could trace his lineage back to him, as well as Oslac and his two brothers.
Did William venture up to the north-east during his reign?
He did. And this may – spoiler alert – be a feature of a subsequent novel in this series. You could almost say there’s a pattern at work around the country as the various insurgencies take place. At first, the king might trust the local Earl or Sheriff to look after it, but if that fails – or if the rebellion becomes more widespread – then he will typically muster an army and deal with things personally.
Interestingly, however, we rarely see much in the way of pitched battles taking place; there’s no repeat of Hastings or Stamford Bridge. The sad fact is – from an Anglo-Saxon perspective – that the rebellions were largely localised in scope and tended to melt away when William approached with the full force of his army. Had there been better collaboration and, perhaps, a stronger figurehead around whom to rally, then they might have enjoyed greater success.
Did William replace all the earls with his own men, or did they have the opportunity to pledge fealty to the new regime?
It was something that changed with time. At first, I think he was forced to rely on some of the existing lords to keep order for him. As and when they came to swear fealty to the new king, William would offer them the opportunity to retain their lands and position upon payment of a, typically, exorbitant fee. For the king, this had the dual benefit of keeping the status quo until he was ready to bring in his own men, as well as being a nice little earner. I think it’s true to say, however, that by 1075 there were no earls of English origin left. Indeed, by the time the Domesday Book was written (1086), only circa 10% of the landowners were still Anglo-Saxon. This was probably the biggest impact of the Norman Conquest: the almost wholesale change in land ownership over a single generation.
Bebbanburh is the location of much of the action. It’s a stunning castle. What is its history?
Bebbanburh Castle
It is an amazing location, isn’t it? You can see why it became the site of a fortress over many centuries, perched on a rocky outcrop that towers over the surrounding area.
It is famous for being the first seat of power for the Angles who arrived there in the mid sixth century (under King Ida), but it had been a Celtic fortress before that (known as Din Guarie), though may well have been abandoned by the time Ida arrived. Its situation meant that it was an obvious choice to be the ‘capital’ of Bernicia. Its name derives from Bebba – the wife of King Aethelfrith (early 7th century).
If readers are interested, I’d recommend looking up the archaeological work that has been happening there – particularly the bowl hole cemetery in the dunes to the south of the castle. Fascinating stuff. Using strontium isotope analysis (amongst other things), they have found the burial of a warrior who hailed from the western isles, where King Oswald was known to be in exile until his return. The book, Warrior, by Edoardo Albert and Paul Gething is a must read.
Was the Viking threat over after Harold’s victory at Stamford Bridge in 1066?
Effectively, yes. King Harald Hardrada was the last of the great (and perhaps the greatest) Viking leaders to invade or raid England. Whilst there were sporadic raids or incursions thereafter, I don’t think the scale of the threat ever reached the level of 1066 again. Don Holloway’s book, The Last Viking, (which has previously been featured in Aspects of History) is a great read on the life of this amazing man.
What is it about the Norman invasion that fascinates successive generations?
I think it’s because it was so pivotal and led to so much change, not to mention the end of the Anglo-Saxon era. Whilst there were several subsequent invasions over the centuries that followed, the Norman Conquest is specifically known as the last successful conquest of this island. The fact that it almost completely overshadows another successful invasion 50 years before is another indicator of its stature. Instead of another film about Robin Hood, King Arthur, or the Tudors and Stuarts, I would love to see a blockbuster feature that covers 1066. It’s long overdue.
What can we expect in Book Two?
Hopefully before the end of 2024. The first draft is roughly one third complete already. Not sure of a title as yet, but I’m toying with Uprising.
Paul Bernardi is the author of Blood Feud, published by Sharpe Books.
