Chapter II
Part Four: The First Day of the Battle of the Heights of Brae: 12th June 944
The village of Thingvoll lay nestled to the North of the River Pheofharain (Peffery), which flowed through boggy flood plains, into the Moray Firth and to the South and East of the Heights of Brae. On the slopes above the river was a steep outcrop surrounded by a ditch and palisade walls. Inside the palisade were wooden halls and stables and at the eastern end of the compound stood a high motte crested with a wooden tower. Atop this tower now flew the standard of Alasdair I, King of Scots.
To the South of the Peffery, were grassy plains bordered to the East by the wetlands of the Moray Firth, to the East by dense woodlands and a horseshoe shaped hill and to the South by wider and deeper river, which is now known as Abhainn nam Braithrean.
Alasdair had ordered earthworks raised on the North Eastern banks of this river between the Firth and the dense woodlands. Earthworks had been constructed on the Northern banks of the Peffery also, from the boggy wetlands to the fortifications of the Thingvoll Fort.
His plan was to delay the enemy at all costs. Eilif had to be halted at the Abhainn nam Braithrean. Were Eilif able to position himself between the Peffery and the Abhainn nam Braithrean, he would be able to defend attacks from all directions even if Earl Cyneric did arrive as promised. If Eilif could be delayed long enough at the Abhainn nam Braithrean, however, he would be trapped between the forces of Earl Cyneric, the river and the Firth.
Therefore, the King’s half-brothers Malcolm, Earl of Eoforwic and Eadwin, Earl of Lanark were positioned with about 3,000 light infantrymen and 500 archers at the Abhainn nam Braithrean earthworks. Eadwin’s left flank met the firth, whilst Malcolm’s right flank was anchored in the thick trees. They were to delay the Norse so long as they could and force Eilif to expend his numbers trying to cross the river and surmount the earthworks.
On the horseshoe shaped hill to the Northeast of Eadwin and Malcolm, the King’s half-brother, Fearghas, Earl of Westoraland was stationed with the majority of the Scots cavalry, about 500 men. From here he could observe the approach of the Norse forces and could move swiftly to support Eadwin and Malcolm at need. Fearghas has positioned his men on the reverse slope so that they could not be seen from the Abhainn nam Braithrean.
The Brothers of the King - From Left to Right: Malcolm, Earl of Eoforwic - Fearghas, Earl of Westoraland - Eadwin, Earl of Lanark
Lord Cóelub of Dunottar, with 500 light infantry and about 100 horsemen, was placed to the North of Thingvoll, on the two highest peaks of the Heights of Brae. From here he could see most of the lands before Thingvoll.
The King and his sons, Princes Alasdair and Raibeart, with around 1,500 men, comprising light spearman as well as Huscarls and Gaelic noble warriors, were positioned on the Peffery earthworks, to mount a second defence if the Abhainn nam Braithrean defences were overcome. The King had with him no horsemen.
The Sons of the King - From Left to Right: Raibeart, Prince of Scotland - Alasdair, Prince of Scotland
Thus, it was that on the morning of 12th June 944, the 12,000 strong army commanded by Eilif of Groningen arrived before the Abhainn nam Braithrean, ready to give battle.
Eilif observed the earthworks at the banks of the wide river. He saw the bridge had been destroyed and the the Scots occupied a very strong defensive position. However, he knew well that to wait here could be fatal. Four days ago, he had received word that Cyneric, Earl of Lothian was approaching Calder. He had despatched 6,000 men from his army to meet Cyneric there and slow his advance, but Eilif could not rely on this.
Yet to assault the Scots' defensive position recklessly was folly – and Eilif was no fool. He had sent riders ahead to scout the position and ordered them to ride east along the river to see whether it could be crossed. When they had returned, they told him that while there was no ford, there was a narrowing of the river due to an islet splitting the stream. Therefore, he had ordered that trees be felled on the road from Inverness and hauled behind the horses. In secret, he had sent a detachment of 3,000 of his finest warriors under Jarl Geirr, with the trees to the narrowing of the river. This movement was entirely unobserved the Scots, obscured as it was by the thick woodland.
Whilst these men were secretly moving north along the river, Eilif ordered attacks on the positions of Malcolm and Eadwin near the destroyed bridge. He had to fix the Scots’ attention at that point of the field, and to pin their troops to a defence of that point. But his attacks were merely a display, confident enough to pin the Scots and tire them in the heat but not committed enough to inflict or take any serious loss. This skirmishing continued to several hours without any clear advantage to either side. But Eilif, with numbers of his side, was regularly replacing the men making the demonstrations, so that none of his warriors would become exhausted in the summer heat. He wanted to tire the Scots.
At around 2 O’clock a rider came to Jarl Eilif:
“Jarl Geirr has crossed the river in force. He intends to use the woodlands as cover and then to fall upon the enemy from the rear. As he attacks, he will blow his horn as you have ordered’.
Eilif smiled. “We must ensure that we are ready to launch a complete assault on the river as soon as the horn is heard”.
Jarl Eilif of Gronignen, Marshal to Halsten Bjornson, King of Swiorice (Sweden)
From his position atop the Heights of Brae, Lord Cóelub of Dunottar stared through the haze. The day was punishingly hot and there was no shade upon the hills. But a glinting to the far South had caught his attention. He though he saw something catching the light at the edges of the forest below. And as he looked, he perceived movement in the trees. To the east, he could see the earthworks under Malcolm and Eadwin holding steady, but he could see nobody guarding the woodland flank.
“My God”, Cóelub whispered, “they are being flanked”. Quickly he called for three of his horsemen. “Ride to Earl Malcolm, Earl Eadwin and Earl Fearghas. Tell them that…”
In the valley a horn call rang out. Cóelub watched as thousands of Norse warriors streamed out of the woodlands and charged into the rear of Malcolm and Eadwin’s forces. At the same time a cry rose in the distance and the Norse attack on the river intensified with thousands more falling upon the river and earthworks.
Earl Cóelub stared unblinking for a moment - the three riders stared with him. “Ride to the King at once and inform him that the southern river defences have been flanked”.
Earl Eadwin heard the horn in the valley. He heard the Norsemen cry as they charged from the woodlands and as they came up against the river earthworks. He heard his men panic. He heard the clash of shields and axes as the Norsemen impacted his forces. He watched as his brother Malcolm’s standard fell and as the Scots forces collapsed in on him.
As soon as Earl Fearghas of Westoraland, the Kings brother, heard the horn of Jarl Geirr, and saw the Norsemen emerge from the woods, he raised himself in his stirrups, hurled his skin of mead to the ground, raised high his sword and called to his men. “There is devilry abroad! Follow me. Follow me now for God and Valour! Charge!” His horsemen hurtled down the slopes, taking the Norse attackers by surprise and inflicted heavy casualties as they cleaved a wedge through the Norse warriors.
But it was too late. The remaining soldiers of Malcolm and Eadwin were already routing in all directions and the Norse were now crossing the river in larger numbers. Fearghas looked for his brothers’ standards – for the banners of Eoforwic and Lanark. The Standard of Eoforwic could not be seen. But his eyes did find the standard of Lanark. It fluttered proudly on a small raise of ground before the river. Fearghas wheeled his horsemen towards it, but even as he turned, he saw the flood of Norsemen falling upon the raise - as unstoppable as the tide. By the standard, helm shining in the sunlight stood Earl Eadwin. The young man, barely 20 years of age, now alone and adrift amongst the heathens, strode boldly towards them his sword held aloft. He was lost from view as the Lanark standard fell.
"Brother..." cried Earl Fearghas.
“My Lord”, cried one of Fearghas’ retainers. And as Fearghas turned to reply he saw the man riding towards him, leading a second horse by its reins. On its back lay a bloodied body, crudely tied to the saddle. In the man's hand was the ripped and tattered standard of Eoforwic. “Earl Malcolm is grievously wounded, My Lord”.
“Brother?” shouted Fearghas. There was no response from the bleeding lump of flesh splayed atop the panicked beast. But there was no doubt that it was Malcolm. Fearghas felt a rise of fury in his heart and lifted his sword high, ready to spur his horse and fly into the melee. By now, the Norsemen were now in control of the river crossing and were swiftly moving north towards Fearghas’ position.
"My Lord", Fearghas's retainer stopped him. "The King will need you for what is to come...".
Fearghas gritted his teeth, looked at the advancing hordes and then spoke, "take Earl Malcolm to the King at once!”
With that, Earl Fearghas called his cavalry to follow him, and rose back towards to the Peffery and into Thingvoll, with the armies of Jarl Eilif in hot pursuit.
But they were now losing the light. that evening, Jarl Eilif set up a defensive position between the Peffery and the Abhainn nam Braitrean, conscious that Earl Cyneric's forces could arrive at any time. He posted men to man the earthworks which had been defended by Malcolm and Eadwin, and others to defend the point at which his men had crossed the river to at the islet. In the morning, the King of Scots would be his!
As the sun set on the 12th June, a rider from Jarl Eilif approached the Peffery bridge. He dropped what looked like a red sack and rode back towards the Norse camp, now positioned between the Peffery and the Abhainn nam Braithrean. The King sent out riders to retrieve the ‘sack’. But it was no sack. Wrapped in the bloodied standard of Lanark was the severed head of Eadwin, Earl of Lanark, the Kings brother. Its eyes were gouged out and in its mouth was a parcel containing parts of the Earl cruelly chosen to inflame the King’s rage.
And rage would come for Alasdair- but the old king faltered at the sight, lost his footing, and was steadied by his sons before he could fall. His 63 years seemed at once to have caught up with him. He sank into his chair as his sons led him to it. Earl Fearghas knelt before him, clasped the Kings's shaking hands hands and wept. The King seemed not to notice for a moment, and then he gently squeezed his brother's hand - "Where is my nephew? Where is Earl Cyneric?"
The Norsemen had crossed the river and destroyed half of Alasdair’s army. Earl Eadwin was dead and Malcolm, Earl of Eoforwic and Marshall of Scotland was mortally wounded. In years to come the river where they fell was named the Abhainn nam Braithrean - the River of the Brothers.
As night fell, there was still no word from Earl Cyneric.
The First Day of the Battle of the Heights of Brae
TOMORROW - The Second (and Final) Day of the Battle of the Heights of Brae
