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The Isle of Man eh? Its not much, but its a start, at least the Godwinsons have land, and good council.
 
So, they have a nest in which to grow, for the moment anyway.
 
They have found a very welcome home. Lets see how things develop for the twins and their guardians.
 
A base close to the old land, sounds very practical indeed when the twins have grown up to be vengeful, Saxon warriors. ;)
 
Enewald said:
And how can a norsemen speak latin? :eek:
That's impossible...
Haven't you ever read Arn ? :p
 
Enewald said:
Nope... and that only mentioned him being dansk, or was it svensk.
Not a norsemen. ;)
Swedish. And "norseman" ought to refer to the whole Nordic region, i.e. Norway, Denmark and Sweden at that time. :D
 
Yes, there isn't a lot about to the Isle of Man. It's barren and fairly poor, and inhabited by more stinking vikings :p But it was available, it would make sense in the story (some sense at least) and it is indeed very close to the ancestral lands. So it would be suited for a base from which to chip away small Irish, Scottish and English counties, and hopefully a duchy soon. Also, due to it's proximity to the remaining Saxon lands, some exiled Saxon lords are bound to end up here as well... ;)

And Enewald, why shouldn't newly Christianised Norsemen be able to speak Latin? I kinda envisioned Hjalmar as an educated man, de de facto kind of Veisafjord (which is now Wexford) and secretly also the kingpin of Norse operations on the southern coast :D
 
Motte_bailey.jpg
Fearna​

January 11, 1067
Ulf has fallen ill. I decide to keep him under Hjalmar’s care while I travel to Fearna. I talked with length with Hjalmar about his liege, and about the Isle of Mann which my father once visited. Apparently King Dairmait has good reasons to keep us on the edge of his realm, on an island that is his in name only. The more I think about it, the more I wonder about the king’s ulterior motives. But could I just turn his offer down?

January 12, 1067
Today I met with King Dairmait’s steward at the king’s hill fort at Fearna, but the king was in session the whole afternoon and the man couldn’t or wouldn’t tell me much. He let a servant bring us to a small lodge built against the ring wall, and kept us there with only little bread and cheese. The guards also took my sword and Hunwald’s axe. I managed to keep this diary and my supply of ink hidden. We feel like prisoners now. Hunwald said there are at least two guards posted at the door, and they don’t speak Latin on Norse. Was this all a trap?​

January 13, 1067
It’s almost too dark to read or write in here. A guard brought us some food, including fruit, but they won’t allow us to leave the lodge. Hunwald and I estimated how far we would make it if we make a break for it, but with at least four armed guards around and the status of fugitive ahead of us, we better wait. I just hope the boys are safe in Veisafjord.

January 14, 1067
Boredom is beginning to take its toll already. Hunwald and I managed to make an opening in the wall, so we can at least see what’s going on around us. We tried burning the chairs for warmth and light, but there is no way for the smoke to escape. I must admit I had expected a better treatment, even from these Celt savages. Are we waiting for execution?​

KingDairmait.jpg

January 15, 1067
The old king Dairmait has finally agreed to meet with us, and we were brought before him with an escort of four guards. The king apparently excused for the harsh welcome, but didn’t seem too happy to have us run around in his house. On the other way, he promised the twin two fairly holdings on the Isle of Mann, holdings he now held in his name and who were subject to his rule rather than the Norse thing council. The holdings would fall under the king’s direct legislation and taxation, but would in effect be governed through the underking at Mann’s main town, Baile Chaisleáin (Castletown). The twin should earn their own upkeep at these holdings, and should get an education at St. Mary’s Abbey on the isle. I told the king I would consider his lavish offer and he offered me and Hunwald a better room for the night. I find the king’s offer too suspicious, but I failed to think of any ulterior motives, or get a grip on that man in the first place. Hunwald said it might be best to play along however, as we don’t have much choice and offending the king might be a very bad idea.

January 17, 1067
I returned to Veisafjord, if only for a day. Tomorrow a ship leaves to Mann with Harold and me and Hunwald on it. Ulf’s health is still too weak to travel and he stays at Hjalmar until he might be better. I will say my farewell to Hjalmar tomorrow morning, of whom I’ve grown very fond, and who I shall surely meet once again. I also decided to ask him to bring a letter to Queen Aeldgyth on the next boat that would sail from Veisafjord to Mercia. I wonder what happens in England.​

January 22, 1067
Due to rough weather, the captain decided to seek shelter at the Norse city of Dubh Linn. King Dairmait’s son and heir, king Murdaich of Dubh Linn and Mann, insisted to meet me and King Harold’s heir. As he is the nominal lord of Mann, I couldn’t refuse. Although the man didn’t strike me as tyrannical as his reputation implied, his Latin was abominable and he left soon after.

KingMurdaich.jpg

January 26, 1067
We arrived in the town of Baile Chaisleáin – which I will simple call Castletown from now on as that’s what it means in English – as were received by the underking of Mann, a straw man of king Murdaich. Although the underking wasn’t too happy with us, he offered me a feast, and prepared arrangements for little Harold. After I swore to stay loyal to him, he loosened up, and actually turned out to be quite a pleasant man, though none to educated. Sir Fithael, for that was his name, promised to take us to the lands King Dairmait promised. He called the lands Langness (long peninsula) and Rosien, and claimed them to be the last holdings the old king had in his son’s lands, and some of the finest on the island.

January 27, 1067
Underking Fitheal brought us to Saint Mary, a small abbey overlooking a large bay. Here, in the nunnery, Harold will take be taken care off. Hunwald and I, as the boy’s caretakers, are to reside at the small homestead on the abbey ground. So we will never be far away, and we will also be close to Castletown. It seems strange to get settled once again, after such a long flight (over two and a half months, I reckoned), to have a place to call home.​
 
A nice out of the way place.
 
The old Irish king seems to be a rather bothersome person. Although, since their land's are the king's lands on his son's island, I wonder if the treatment of the Saxons will change when the old king dies.
 
Sunset04_1200.jpg
Sunset at Purt Chairn

January 29, 1067
Setting up the household takes much of my time. The abbey has arranged several peasants for us, who will do the cooking and cleaning. Although Hunwald has grown into a close friend these past months, he still acts as my bodyguard and caretaker. I wonder if he wants to make a living on this island. Now that I think about it, I don’t even know much about his time before the flight.

February 5, 1067
I travelled to Purt Chairn, the other large village in Harold’s lands together with Sir Fitheal’s youngest son Mayl and a small entourage. The inhabitants, mostly Norse and Manx, were quite happy to see Mayl, it seems. Unlike his old, soft, unwitty father, Mayl seems like a truly heroic, even chivalric type. In Purt Chairn I placed an order of thirty bearded axes that we will need to equip the huskarls. The small town had no less than three blacksmiths, and a fairly large iron mine, and thus lives up to his name – Iron Port.​

February 6, 1067
I make arrangements with Mayl to conscript a total of fifty huskarls for the men here on the island, in order to keep peace in our lands. Sir Fitheal doesn’t have official jurisdiction over Rosien and Langness. I think Hunwald will make a very good captain of the guard.

February 8, 1067
Mayl and I left Purt Chairn north along the coast, into the land of the Tynwald, the Norse ruling council. The Tynwald is supposed to be a ‘thing’, or an assembly of all able men, who govern is island together. Mob rule, as we called it in England, but it seems to be working very well in these remote Norse lands. The Tynwald is officially a subject to King Murdaich, but as in Veisafjord, the Norse live here autonomously. Mayl arranged a meeting with a chieftain called Rory.​

February 10, 1067
Instead of staying at the inn in Purt ny hInshey, waiting for the audience, I decided to take a walk along the coast. It’s still very cold and windy, so I went packed in fur. My father used to say that it’s easier to think with your head in the cold than with your head near the hearth.

February 11, 1067
Today, Mayl and I met with three of the leading Norse chieftains on the isle, in the wooden fortress overlooking Purt ny hInshey. They were redundant to accept an infant as lord of Langness and Rosien. After the talk with these grumpy Norse, we left unfulfilled. Without the support of the Tynwald, who effectively controlled most of the island, there was little either Mayl or his father could do.​

February 16, 1067
Back in Saint Mary, I found that the weapons and men had found their way to the homestead. Hunwald had claimed a large barn just outside the village, and now a dozen men were changing it into a garrison.

February 18, 1067
It has been a hundred days since we left Lunden. It seems like a lifetime. We drink to the future.​

February 22, 1067
A message came from Dubh Linn, a letter from Caelin in Veisafjord. He wrote that ‘men from Mercia’ came and took Ulf away. He thinks it might have been Queen Aeldgyth, who wanted her child near her again. Could Mercia be safe? In any case, he and Hjalmar had been wounded in the fight, and he also worries for Ulf’s health. The boy was still somewhat ill. Furthermore, he writes that after the attack, King Dairmait’s army has camped outside the town, and might use the opportunity to seize it. He fears war, and wishes to come to Mann with Helena, and possibly the rest of Hjalmar’s household as well.

February 24, 1067
A ship arrived in Castletown, bearing two women and half a dozen huskarls, who I recognised as Queen Aeldgyth’s handmaiden. They claim to have been send by Aeldgyth to bring Harold to his mother in Mercia. I denied them access to the village, and ordered Hunwald and his men to keep on the lookout. This is exactly what I had feared after Caelin’s letter.​

February 25, 1067
I meet with the handmaiden Elfwynn and Eadhild at the inn in Castletown, and tell them that I will not allow them to take Harold away from here. He is safe here, I told them, and he will have wealth and power of his own when he grows up. The women mocked this barren island as I thought they would, but eventually gave in. The fact that my men outnumber their bodyguards four to one might have helped.

February 28, 1067
When I learned the Mercian ship didn’t leave yet, I again hasted back to Castletown, this time backed with Hunwald’s guard and my young friend Mayl. The two women came forth and told us their task was to look over Harold, and they would not leave unless forced. I offered them into the household, and the huskarls into the guard. This would be beneficial for both sides, although we might have to extend the homestead if we are to accommodate these women.​

March 1, 1067
Hunwald seems to be pleased to have more Saxon huskarls around. Most of them were part of Queen Aeldgyth’s entourage when we left Lunden. Most of them are Norse by birth.

March 3, 1067
I wrote a letter to Queen Aeldgyth, telling me of my choice to stay on the island, and inquiring her about the matters in England. The handmaiden told me that the queen lives in one of her brother’s burh’s now, in the town of Legacaestir.​

March 9, 1067
Sir Fitheal presented us with wood and stone we need to extend and renovate the homestead and the garrison. Saint Mary looks quite a construction site these days, with three dozen huskarls and a sixty peasants working in the area. The weather is quite pleasant, in fact. Good weather to build. Eadhild hired a few peasant girls to take care of the livestock.


mann1067.jpg

Mann with the Saxon holdings in red
 
Mmm, if these men hold loyalty to the Queen, who might not be acting in her children's best interests, is it wise to invite them in?
 
Intriguing. Is that queen really to be trusted? If it turns out that she is, he should invite her over to Mann, seems like a pleasant enough place.
 
Enewald - Yes, in the end all of the isle will be reigned by the Saxons... maybe. It will be the first of many islands to come, at least. Would the title Ruler of Man be too much of a premenition? :D

Stnylan, Snuggie
- I think the queen acts in the best interrest of the boys, but also of the rest of the Saxon people. She is one of the remaining high nobles still out of William's hands ofcourse. And she's also a child of the house of Leofric, which seem to be the last Saxon house able with withstand the Normans. But more on her and her brothers in the next chapter ;)
 
Hm, very interesting. I wonder how the Queen will react to this decision.