Æthellan: A Tale of Kings

Vesimir: I can definitely include a section in the upcoming interim about the neighboring realms (Brittany, Normandy, Anjou, the Capets, a few others) and their current situations as of my alternate 1066. However, since I already have so much prepared for the interim on English politics, in order to do the subject justice I'll also need to do a separate interim devoted entirely to politics in the neighboring realms. Actually, I anticipate doing that after we see some interesting things pertaining to them in the next few updates.

Regarding the French situation at this point... all I can really say is that someone other than the English will be taking advantage of Normandy's weakened condition. The Capetians are still going to have some struggles to go through, although one very big obstacle is out of their way.

SplendidTuesday: Okay, okay, one more little hint about the future of France in Aethellan. Let's just say that William the Conqueror has left some very big historical shoes to fill, in more ways than one. I'm surprised there haven't been more comments on this particular matter. One tiny example: William has died early, so he will never father the future Henry I who, if memory serves, wasn't born until 1068. No Henry I means no Empress Matilda, which means no Henry II, no Richard I, John or anything associated with them. They're not just relegated to different roles like some other characters, they're completely expunged from history. Someone has to fill that void. And many others like it.

General Announcement: I was recently privileged to author a guest update for General_BT's fabulous epic Rome AARisen. You can check it out here. If for some reason you have not yet checked out his wonderful, well-written AAR, you should really do so. Right now.

General_BT: Thanks! Very astute observations about the Norman situation, though we'll have to wait and see what happens. I'll likely be doing a Norman vignette in one of the next two upcoming updates, featuring Robert Curthose and a few other persons of interest. I had to smile at the thought of Guiscard attaining the diadem -- I imagine having a dead William would indeed eventually result in a stronger Sicily-Apulia.

RGB: The more danico would have been more prevalent among those living in the region known as the Danelaw, though Danish customs became more popular in general after Cnut's takeover of England. It's also interesting to note that Harold himself was Anglo-Danish.

I'm not quite sure I understand what you mean when you say Edith has no place of her own when Harold is not around. Like any Saxon king's wife, she would have had her own estates and even would have had the responsibility of maintaining the royal household itself. The wives of Anglo-Saxon kings were always expected to run their households for them. Anyone with any sort of domestic request would have had to petition the queen, since she was the one with all the keys to the king's stuff, including the royal treasury! The dilemma here is likely who gets what, considering there are three Queen Ediths (both of Harold's wives as well as his sister, King Edward's widow).

As for Harold's stance on Normandy and Brittany... well, I'll include a bit of that in the upcoming interim.

Also, a minor announcement: If anyone is interested, I've updated the glossary and character index with new content from Chapter 3. Links can be found below in my signature.

Yet another announcement: Ye 1st Grand Enormous Interim Update is nearly ready and will hopefully be posted within the next 1-3 days.

In the year 1066, Ængland is still a relatively young nation, albeit one built on very ancient foundations.

When the Angles, Saxons and Jutes first settled the island of Britain in the 5th century, their warlords established numerous petty kingdoms, which were ultimately assimilated into seven larger realms known collectively as the Heptarchy. In later centuries however, the efforts of some of the stronger kings to consolidate their power reduced the Heptarchy to four major kingdoms: Westseaxe, Mierce, Northhymbraland and Eastængla. Each of these four regions fought continuously for dominance over the others, leading to a long period of rivalry and bloodshed.

Then in the 9th century the dreaded Vikings came, and only one man was able to resist them: Alfred the Great, King of Westseaxe. Through the efforts of Alfred and his heirs, Westseaxe was able not only to survive the Viking onslaught, but to actually grow stronger, eventually expelling the Vikings and retaking the whole country. All the Anglo-Saxon realms were now united under a single king for the first time in history.

King Alfred’s descendants were supported by dozens of prominent nobles called ealdormen, each of whom governed a single shire. These great men formed a great council called the Witenagemot, which was responsible for electing new kings when the old ones died. United under a strong dynasty and empowered by local nobles, the new Kingdom of Ængland began to prosper as a beacon of wealth and learning. However, Ænglish ascendancy was threatened in the late 10th Century by the notoriously poor leadership of King Æthelred II, also known as the Unready, whose reign ended in utter disaster: an invasion by the Danes.


Having seized Ængland from Æthelred in 1016, the Danish King Cnut ruled as a surprisingly strong and capable ruler. To rule more efficiently, Cnut divided the kingdom between a handful of powerful earls, each ruling an area equivalent to one of the old petty kingdoms. Nevertheless, despite Cnut’s great success, the reigns of his sons were brutish and cruel, and they destabilized the realm as they fought over the crown. When Cnut’s youngest son died in 1042, King Æthelred’s son Edward was able to return to Ængland and restore the rule of the House of Westseaxe.

After living in exile for so many years in Normandy, Edward the Confessor was not a particularly strong king. He imported many Norman and French favorites, and relied heavily on the earls empowered by Cnut to run the country. The greatest of these earls was Godwine of Westseaxe, who struggled through the tempestuous political climate to become the power behind the throne, even going so far as to have his daughter marry the aging king. Later, Harold Godwinson succeeded to his father’s position and became indispensable to King Edward, virtually ruling the entire kingdom on his behalf.

Then Ængland faced crisis yet again when Edward the Confessor died childless in 1066. A succession dispute was born, as several foreign princes claimed the right to inherit Edward’s kingdom. In response to these foreign threats, the Witan elected Harold Godwinson to be their king. Wise and strong, Harold managed to defeat the invasions of his rivals and secure the kingdom once again.

Having now emerged triumphant from the peril of numerous foreign invasions, 11th century Ængland is a peculiar fusion of native Saxon culture and imported Scandinavian and Norman elements. Yet whether the kingdom will continue to prosper under the new rule of the House of Godwine, despite what trials the future may bring, remains unknown. Let no man forget: fate is inexorable.

PART II: THE NOBLE HOUSES​

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Since the Anglo-Saxons first arrived, Ængland has always had many prominent noble families. At first, these noble houses were independent from each other, each ruling its own scrap of land. The more successful of these would eventually coalesce into the first Saxon royal families. Though the Vikings deposed a great many of these early kings, many of their descendants were kept on as ealdormen after the royal House of Westseaxe united all Ængland under their rule. However, when Cnut the Dane conquered Ængland, he purged the nobility of potential rivals and traitors, choosing instead to divide the kingdom into four powerful earldoms, roughly equivalent to the four old Anglo-Saxon sub-kingdoms. Each of these was ruled by an earl from a different noble house, with Westseaxe going to the aspiring young Godwine, Mierce to the crafty Leofric, and Northhymbraland and Eastængla going to two of Cnut’s loyal jarls. When the two jarls died, Northhymbraland went to the formidable Siward, and Eastængla was passed around between members of whichever of the other three houses was most in favor at the time. Political power is still centered in these major families even now, in 1066.



Named for the eponymous Godwine, Earl of Westseaxe (d. 1053), few houses have had a more meteoric rise than that which the House of Godwine has experienced in just a few short decades. Though they may have only recently come to power, the Godwines claim a noble heritage nonetheless. Earl Godwine was purportedly descended from King Æthelred I, elder brother to King Alfred, which gives the family a very strong claim to their power-base in Westseaxe. Godwine himself was a major supporter of Edmund Ironside in the war against the Danes, and must have been surprised when his erstwhile enemy Cnut rewarded his loyalty with an earldom. Godwine’s relationship with Edward the Confessor was not as amiable as the one he had enjoyed with Cnut, due to accusations leveled at the Earl concerning the murder of King Edward’s brother. This led to frequent disputes and, on one occasion, the whole Godwine clan was actually placed under a royal ban and exiled from the country! Nothing could deter Earl Godwine though, and the family returned with a vengeance, coercing the king into giving them even more lands than before. Now they hold the crown itself.

Active Members:

• Harold Godwinson: King of Ængland, formerly Earl of Westseaxe. Performed admirably as Earl of Eastængla in his youth. Succeeded his father Godwine as the strongest and most influential nobleman in the realm in 1053. Served as King Edward the Confessor’s right-hand man for many years, effectively running the kingdom during Edward’s long dotage. Defeated and deposed the Welsh King, Gruffydd ap Llywelyn in 1063, bringing northern Wales under Ænglish suzerainty as a vassal state. Married to two prominent noblewomen: Edith Swanneck and Edith Ravenhair. Elected as king by the Witan upon the Confessor’s death in 1066, in order to defend the realm against multiple threats of foreign invasion. Defeated both Harald Hardrada of Norway and William the Bastard of Normandy within a three week period. Currently enjoys the support of almost all of Ængland’s powerful earls through either kinship or marriage. Has earned considerable prestige at home and abroad for his many victories and magnanimous reputation.

• Edith Godwinsdatter: Dowager Queen of Ængland. Widow of King Edward the Confessor and younger sister of King Harold. Bitter about being used as a political tool by her father and married to an old man. Harbors a grudge against Harold for the death of her favorite brother Tostig, who was recently slain in rebellion at Stængfordesbrycg. Resides at Wintanceaster, where she persists in her role as châtelaine of the royal treasury and guardian of King Edward’s remaining family heirs. Not to be confused with either of Harold’s wives, who are both also named Edith.

• Gyrth Godwinson: Earl of Eastængla. Younger brother of King Harold. Appointed as Earl of Eastængla sometime after 1055, further solidifying the House of Godwine’s hold on Ængland. Considered an able leader of men, if somewhat taciturn. Fiercely loyal to his brothers, for whom he would lay down his life if necessary. Renowned as a tough warrior, at times he can be courageous to a fault.

• Leofwine Godwinson: Earl of Cantware. Younger brother of King Harold. Granted a hodgepodge earldom of several smaller shires to strengthen the Godwine family position. Many consider him to be almost excessively jocular, but nonetheless a skilled and loyal man.

• Wulfnoth Godwinson: Earl of Suthseaxe. Youngest brother of King Harold. Given as a hostage to King Edward in 1051 as an assurance of his father’s good behavior. Kidnapped by a Norman archbishop fleeing Edward’s displeasure, and given over to Duke William of Normandy for use as a political pawn against the House of Godwine. Released after William’s death by Duchess Matilda to show King Harold her sincerity. Newly appointed as High-reeve (or lesser Earl) of Suthseaxe, specifically to defend the southern coast from any further invasion. Rather skittish after so many years in captivity.

• Hakon Swegnson: Earl of Hereford. Bastard son of Harold’s infamous eldest brother Swegn, following the latter’s rape of the Abbess of Leominster. Given as a hostage to King Edward and later abducted to Normandy along with his uncle Wulfnoth. Rescued from captivity in 1064 by his uncle Harold, whom he idolizes. Recently appointed to succeed to his late father’s position of Earl of Hereford.

• Godwine Haroldson: Eldest son of King Harold and Edith Swanneck. Considered to be the most prominent Ætheling in the kingdom. Brave, jovial, friendly and clever, he possesses his father’s confidence but not his temperance. If his star continues to rise, many expect him to succeed his father in the kingship.

• Edmund Haroldson: Second son of King Harold and Edith Swanneck. Feels inadequate compared to his father and brother, though some fear he has inherited his uncle Tostig’s dour disposition. Dislikes hunting and battles, preferring books and poetry. Expected by some to pursue a career in the clergy.

• Magnus Haroldson: Third son of King Harold and Edith Swanneck. Excitable, impetuous and athletic. Loves hunting and falconry to the exclusion of all other pursuits. Essentially the opposite of his brother Edmund, whom he is always trying to liven up.




The House of Leofric is the family of Leofric, Earl of Mierce (d. 1057). Their immediate ancestors were ealdormen in Hwicce, but the House of Leofric also claims distant descent from the old royal family of Mierce. When Cnut conquered Ængland in 1016, Leofric was one of very few of the great old Anglo-Saxon nobles to survive his purges. A shrewd politician, Leofric was surpassed in his scheming only by his rival, Godwine of Westseaxe. Leofric is also remembered as the husband of the famous Lady Godiva. The old earl’s considerable accomplishments were nearly lost by his son, the irascible and foolhardy Earl Ælfgar, who made an alliance with the hated Welsh, got himself exiled, and ravaged Hereford in 1055. However, since Ælfgar’s death in 1062, Ængland’s political climate has changed again, with the formerly competing Houses of Godwine and Leofric now united by a marriage alliance and sharing the realm between them.

Active Members:

• Edith Ravenhair: Queen of Ængland, formerly Queen of Wales. Daughter of Earl Ælfgar. Married when still quite young to King Gruffydd of Wales, whom she disliked immensely, considering him a coward. Abandoned when her husband fled from Harold Godwinson’s successful invasion of Wales. Widowed when Gruffydd was killed by his own men. Married Harold soon thereafter. Has three children from her first husband, also recently gave birth to a son of Harold. Known to possess a sharp wit and a fiery temperament. Not to be confused with Edith Swanneck, Harold's other wife.

• Edwin Ælfgarson: Earl of Mierce. Elder son of Earl Ælfgar. Succeeded his father as Earl in 1062. Something of a schemer, though he lacks both his grandfather’s cunning and his father’s treachery. Soundly defeated in 1066 by Harald Hardrada at the Battle of Fulfordgeat, narrowly escaped with his life. Now allied to King Harold as his brother-in-law.

• Morcar Ælfgarson: Earl of Northhymbraland. Younger son of Earl Ælfgar. Chosen by the Northumbrians to be their earl after their rebellion against the oppression of Tostig in 1065. More willful than his brother but somewhat less clever. Also a better fighter than Edwin, but defeated alongside him at Fulfordgeat notwithstanding his skill. Also brother-in-law to King Harold.



Before they ever came to govern Northhymbraland, the family later known as the the House of Uhtred served as High-reeves of Beornice, the land their ancestors once ruled as kings in days of yore. After the unification of Ængland by the Cerdingas, the House of Uhtred served as ealdormen in the northernmost shires. Uhtred (d. 1016), their most prominent scion, was actually the last Ealdorman of Northhymbraland prior to his murder by order of Cnut. When the Danish Earl Siward (d. 1055) was appointed by Cnut to take over the rule of Northhymbraland, he married one of Uhtred’s daughters to better secure his position. Siward was a bold, independent earl--growing his power and lands over the years and even intervening in the politics of neighboring Scotland on occasion. His death caused a large political power shift, with Northhymbraland going first to the House of Godwine and then the House of Leofric. Now the once great House of Uhtred is divided between old Saxon claimants and the heirs of Siward.

Active Members:

• Osulf of Bebbanburh: Earl of Beornice. Last surviving heir of Uhtred in the male line. Appointed by Morcar to be High-reeve of his old family lands in Beornice as a conciliatory gesture, after the former became Earl of Northhymbraland. Hates the descendants of Siward as blood-traitors.

• Waltheof Siwardson: Earl of Huntadun and Northhamtun. The exuberant teenage son of Earl Siward, also his last surviving male heir. Being too young to succeed his father in Northhymbraland, King Edward granted the boy a small earldom of his own in token of his father’s long and illustrious career. Generous and friendly, he seems unaware of his elder cousin Osulf’s ardent rivalry.

• Gospatric of Lothene: One of very few surviving heirs of Uhtred. Also kin to the King of Scotland through his father’s line and a descendant of Æthelred the Unready through his maternal grandmother. Recently exiled from Ængland as one of the chief lieutenants of the infamous Earl Tostig. He is being watched carefully from afar.




The House of Cerdic has a truly ancient heritage, claiming descent from the legendary Cerdic (d. 534), the first King of the early West Saxon tribe known as the Gewisse to settle in Britain. The old Kings of Westseaxe stemmed from these early beginnings, and the House of Cerdic rose from being the last Anglo-Saxon kings independent of Viking control to eventually unite all of Ængland. Having ruled for nearly two centuries, the descendants of King Alfred the Great have remained the most prominent of the Cerdingas, although among others, the Godwines also claim descent from Cerdic through Alfred’s elder brother. The surviving heirs of Alfred’s line were forced to flee after King Æthelred lost his kingdom to Cnut the Dane, but a few were able to return to Ængland in subsequent years--most notably King Edward the Confessor and his nephew Edward the Exile (though the latter died shortly thereafter). Although their lineage has been greatly weakened in the past several decades by the incompetence of Æthelred the Unready and the impotence of Edward the Confessor, the few remaining heirs of Alfred’s old royal line are fast becoming persons of considerable influence.

Active Members:

• Edgar Ætheling: Only son of Edward the Exile, nephew of Edward the Confessor. The very last surviving heir of Alfred the Great in the direct patrilinear line. Raised in far away Hungary and brought back in recent years as his great-uncle’s prospective heir. Passed over by the Witan in favor of Harold Godwinson due to his inexperience. Awkward and shy, raised at the court of his aunt, Dowager Queen Edith.

• Margaret of Wintanceaster: Elder daughter of Edward the Exile. Raised on the continent during her father’s exile, where she picked up rather prim fashions and manners. Very devoted to her faith. Beautiful and demure, considered by many to be the most eligible young woman in all of Britain.

• Christina of Wintanceaster: Younger daughter of Edward the Exile. Even more pious than her sister, if such a thing is possible. Disgusted at the thought of being married off for political purposes, she wants only to enter a convent so that she can offer her devotions to God without interruption. Her highest ambition is to one day become an abbess.

• Harold of Ewyas: Only child of Ralf of Mantes, Earl of Hereford and Edward the Confessor’s sister’s son. Born the same year his father died, the youthful Harold was raised by his father’s kin, the Norman landholders of Hereford, from whom he has inherited French customs and mannerisms. Though unlikely to ever succeed to the throne, the youthful Harold has an expectation of one day succeeding to his father’s Earldom of Hereford.

PART III: FOREIGN RELATIONS​

Foreign dignitaries appearing before an Anglo-Saxon King and the Witenagemot.​

• Gwynedd: Only two years have elapsed since Harold Godwinson broke the power of Gruffydd ap Llywelyn, King of All Wales. The dead king’s half-brothers, the Teyrns Bleddyn and Rhiwallon ap Cynfyn, now hold Gwynedd and Powys as vassal states of King Harold. Whether their loyalty will endure remains unproven. Should Bleddyn decide to throw off the Ænglish yoke, Rhiwallon would almost certainly follow.

• Deheubarth: The sudden fall of King Gruffydd allowed Teyrn Maredudd ap Owain to seize southwest Wales for himself. Harold Godwinson has permitted this so far, as Maredudd’s control of Deheubarth maintains the Welsh balance of power. Maredudd will likely remain a loyal collaborator as long as it is within his interests.

• Leinster: King Diarmait mac Maíl na mBó has long been an ally of the Godwine family, even sheltering them when they were banished by Edward the Confessor. Diarmait has ambitions of his own, however. He and his son are preparing to claim the coveted title of Ard Rí (High King of Ireland) from their base in Dubh Linn.

• Alba: King Malcolm Cenn Mór is by no means a friend to King Harold, having recently sheltered the rebellious Earl Tostig. The well-known Scottish raids into Northhymbraland continue to occur on a yearly basis. Nevertheless, at the moment Malcolm is more interested in subjugating his unruly neighbors in Muirebh and Ystrad Clud than meddling in the affairs of Ængland.

• Normandy: The death of Duke William has left Normandy in utter disarray. His eldest son Robert Curthose has claimed the title of Duke, but the powerful Norman barons are not likely to recognize the authority of a weak-willed teenager. If Robert is to maintain his hold on the duchy, he will need to deal with multiple threats from without--and within.

• Brittany: Duke Conan was ever a rival of William of Normandy, but his relations with Harold Godwinson had been polite until Harold joined William on campaign against Brittany in 1064. When William announced to his neighbors that he would be invading Ængland to press his claim to the throne, the recalcitrant Conan promised to exploit William’s absence by invading Normandy. William swore in his wrath to have Conan killed, but he died in battle before he could make good on his threat. Conan, in the meantime, has been true to his word--his troops have already crossed the frontier into Normandy.

• Anjou: The Counts of Anjou usually take very little notice of events transpiring across the Channel. However, the death of William the Bastard has most certainly caught their attention. Anjou could exploit Normandy’s weakness if they were stable enough, but Count Geoffrey the Bearded has recently developed a fierce rival in the person of his younger brother, Fulk the Surly.

• France: Before claiming the throne, the Capetians were mere Dukes of France, and little seems to have changed since then. The French king amounts to little more than the first among many great regional nobles. Only fourteen, King Philippe has just barely managed to assert himself and throw off the hold of his regents. At this point in his life, Philippe seems to be more interested in fair damsels than skilled soldiers. However, a very significant obstacle has been removed in the person of William the Bastard, which Philippe may be able to exploit, provided he can keep his raging hormones in check.

• Flanders: One might surmise that Count Baldwin would be the enemy of King Harold, considering that his sister is the widow of Earl Tostig and his daughter the widow of Duke William. However, the prosperous Flemish textiles trade is completely dependent on a steady supply of Ænglish wool, so relations with Flanders have remained civil, if not amiable.

• Holy Roman Empire: Having just turned sixteen, King Heinrich IV of the Germans has taken it upon himself to assert his reign and get married, though he has yet to be crowned Emperor by the Pope. Nevertheless, all is not well in his Empire, for Heinrich is troubled by many potential rivals in the forms of strong regional nobles and clergymen. Like most teenagers, Heinrich can be quite impetuous, though he could develop into a worthy ally for Ængland should both parties prove amenable to the idea.

• Norway: With the flower of Norse nobility dead alongside Harald Hardrada, Norway has seen better days. In the land that had once been the terror of Europe, Hardrada’s sons now squabble over the succession. Though severely destabilized by their defeat at Stængfordesbrycg, the Norse may be able to rely on their inhospitable climate for protection. Even in their weakened state, these Vikings won’t go down without a fight.

• Denmark: Being the nephew of King Cnut on his mother’s side and Harold Godwinson’s cousin on his father’s, King Svein Estridsen definitely has blood ties to the Ænglish crown. There was some concern in 1066 that he might choose to press his claim alongside Hardrada and William. However, with his old enemy Hardrada dead and Norway severely weakened, Svein might choose to turn his gaze to the north.

Thanks everyone for your comments!

Kurt_Steiner: It certainly seems that way, doesn't it? Still, a lot can happen in a few short years, as the real life events of 1066 can attest.

Woody Man: I would imagine that such things would be quite pleasing to you, considering that you're something of an English Patriot yourself. Glad you're enjoying the story so far.

Enewald: That's certainly a possibility, although I would just add that Ængland has also been weakened by the events of 1066. They've fought three epic battles and suffered huge casualties, despite coming out victorious in the end.

Rabid Bogling: Very good points you make.

Regarding Lady Godiva, it's really a coin toss. It is very possible that Earl Leofric was married more than once, like his contemporaries Siward and Godwine. Godiva would then very likely be his second wife. Ælfgar's parentage is thus predicated on when Leofric married Godiva. In comparison, Earl Godwine's first wife died young and all his children were borne by his second, so that's certainly a possibility for Leofric as well. But since we don't even have a name for his first wife, if he had one, and since Godiva might appear once in this story, elderly and fully-clothed, I thought I'd just let the issue of Ælfgar's true mother slide.

Thanks very much for the link to the thegns site - that will be very useful for pulling up the occasional lesser nobleman. However, I don't know how much I'll touch upon issues of bookland or sake and soke, considering how dizzying issues of Anglo-Saxon landholding could be. One of my reference books has a map of lands held by Harold Godwinson in terms of hides, and it's absolutely staggering. He held huge estates all over the country as the inheritor of the two richest men in the kingdom: Earl Godwine and King Edward (as well as being a prominent landholder in his own right). After all, just because a given man was the Earl of a certain region did not mean that the King, other Earls, and prominent thegns didn't own most of the land there.

RGB: Thank you very much! Yes, it is interesting how the balance of power shifts with just one butterfly. Of course historically nothing came of the King of Leinster's ambitions, but that might have just as much to do with the fall of the Godwines, his strongest allies. As for Norway, despite being badly mauled, they're not down for the count just yet.

Alfredian: Welcome to the story, and thank you so much for your compliments! It's always good to know that one's efforts are appreciated. Is it fair to assume by your name that you are an Anglo-Saxon enthusiast? Or just a fan of Tennyson?

Kurt_Steiner: Unfortunately my graduate school labor load is getting rather heavy at the moment, so my Anglo-Saxon fiction will have to wait until I can complete my Anglo-Saxon non-fiction. So we're looking to sometime in late December at best for the next update. In the meantime, everyone's most welcome to discuss the story or the time period here on this thread, of course.

Alfredian: Very nice. You raise a good point about the Anglo-Saxon elements that have survived the conquest. It's rather a lot, actually, which in some respects is surprising. Of course, given the premise of this particular story, one needn't worry too much about whether any Anglo-Saxon elements will be surviving here.

AllmyJames: I'm very glad you did! Thanks for the compliments too. Don't worry about young Edgar, I have something special planned for him.

Regarding the alternate history threads you mentioned, that's the great thing about this particular scenario. I think I may have mentioned elsewhere that the only thing I'm actually changing in the timeline is the outcome of the Battle of Hastings. Yet that is such a tremendous butterfly that its repercussions are felt everywhere. It's absolutely staggering.

And yes, there are quite a few teenagers running amok, aren't there? With William's sons, Hardrada's sons, the King of France and the Holy Roman Emperor all under the age of 25, it seems like Harold Godwinson is Europe's only major grown-up. Of course there's also King Svein in Denmark, and grouchy old Pope Alexander in Rome, and a few others.