Varangian (Aelfraed) (36 page)
Read Varangian (Aelfraed) Online
Authors: Griff Hosker
Historical note
Edgar the Aetheling did invite Sweyn II of Denmark to invade England; they captured York and then ravaged the countryside.
When William came north he bought off Sweyn with the money he had raised through taxes and then punished the people of the north by slaughtering them! Sweyn then returned to Denmark. By 1080 Sweyn’s son Canute was king of the Danes and then he was killed by his brother Harald who then became king. Sweyn had many illegitimate sons. I used Eric as one.
Alexios was a strategos and he did pursue Roussel who is a really interesting character.
He did refuse to fight at Manzikert but was then forgiven and given command which is when he decided to become a ruler himself and rebelled. Alexios pursued him to Amasya where the people loved him and Alexios used a ploy to make them give him up. Aelfraed’s clandestine operation is my version. Amazingly when Roussel was captured and imprisoned he was still allowed to lead men against Nicephorus Botaniantes who rebelled. He joined the enemy again! This time when the Seljuk’s captured him he was executed, having used most of his nine lives.
The Battle of Kalavrye took place almost as described in the book.
Alexios was given command of the army and he tried to ambush Bryennios. The two wings collapsed and Alexios barely escaped with his own retinue. He regrouped his scattered troops and assaulted again. Meanwhile the Pechengs had decided to loot their ally’s camp and the Byzantines defeated the larger army by feigning a retreat. Bryennios was captured and the rebellion quashed. Nikephoros Basilakes did rebel and Alexios defeated him through a night attack.
The war of Alexios and Robert was fought pretty much as described.
The Varangians were massacred in the first battle and it ended the way it was described. As far as I know there were no renegade Varangians with the Normans- this is a story after all. Alexios did bribe the Holy Roman Emperor to invade Italy and when Guiscard was away Alexios did recapture, from Bohemund, all the territory he had lost. When the Normans returned to Corfu they were faced by Alexios. The site of their battle is not known and the consensus of opinion was that it was a draw but Robert and five hundred knights did die of a fever and the Normans did not return until after Alexios was dead at the time of the First Crusade. Alexios was the only enemy Robert did not defeat. Alexios’ daughter wrote a history of this time and most of the events I have used were written by her. History is always written by the victors.
My story is really about a Briton and in Aelfraed I see the archers of Crecy, Poitiers and Agincourt.
The cavalry at Blenheim, the courageous riflemen of the Peninsular and the Guards at Waterloo; the 24
th
Foot at Rorke’s Drift right up to the Cockleshell heroes who sailed up a river to complete a mission against all odds and who can forget the magnificent Paras at Arnhem. All of these are what I like to think of as the warriors who came from the Housecarls of Harold. Men like Ridley and Osbert, Branton and Edward. Honest men who did their duty without fuss and without complaint and were then forgotten when they returned home. Those men who fought and sacrificed for their country as comrades and long may we honour them.
Griff Hosker
January 2013
Griff Hosker
If you enjoyed reading this book then why not read another one by the author?
The Sword of Cartimandua Series
(Germania and Britannia 50A.D. – 128 A.D.)
Ulpius Felix- Roman Warrior
Book 1 The Sword of Cartimandua
Book 2
The Horse Warriors
Book 3
Invasion Caledonia
Book 4
Roman Retreat
Book 5
Revolt of the Red Witch
Book 6
Druid’s Gold
Book
7 Trajan’s Hunters
Book 8
The Last Frontier
Book 9
Hero of Rome
Book 10
Roman Hawk
Book 11
Roman Treachery
They are all available in the Kindle format.
The Aelfraed Series
(Britain and Byzantium 1050 A.D.- 1085 A.D.)
Book 1
Housecarl
Book 2
Outlaw
Book 3
Varangian
These are available in the Kindle format.
The Wolf Warrior series
(Britain in the late 6
th
Century)
Book 1
Saxon Dawn
Book 2
Saxon Revenge
Book 3
Saxon England
Book 4
Saxon Blood
Book 5
Saxon Slayer
Also available in paperback and Kindle is the book aimed at 12-15 years olds,
Great Granny’s Ghost
Carnage at Cannes
is a modern thriller and is available in the Kindle format
.
Travel
Adventure at 63-Backpacking to Istanbul
The Lucky Jack Civil War series
Book 1 The Rebel Raider
Book 2 Confederate Raider
For more information on all of the books then please visit the author’s web site at
http://www.griffhosker.com
where there is a link to contact him.
All the books are now published by Sword Books Ltd.
Griff Hosker
June 2013
Griff Hosker
If you enjoyed reading this book then why not read another one by the author?
The
Sword of Cartimandua Series
(Germania and Britannia 50A.D. – 128 A.D.)
Ulpius Felix- Roman Warrior
Book 1 The Sword of Cartimandua
Book 2
The Horse Warriors
Book 3
Invasion Caledonia
Book 4
Roman Retreat
Book 5
Revolt of the Red Witch
Book 6
Druid’s Gold
Book 7
Trajan’s Hunters
Book 8
The Last Frontier
Book 9
Hero of Rome
Book 10
Roman Hawk
Book 11
Roman Treachery
They are all available in the Kindle format.
The Aelfraed Series
(Britain and Byzantium 1050 A.D.- 1085 A.D.)
Book 1
Housecarl
Book 2
Outlaw
Book 3
Varangian
These are available in the Kindle format.
The Wolf Warrior series
(Britain in the late 6
th
Century)
Book 1
Saxon Dawn
Book 2
Saxon Revenge
Book 3
Saxon England
Also available in paperback and Kindle is the book aimed at 12-15 years olds,
Great Granny’s Ghost
Carnage at Cannes
is a modern thriller and is available in the Kindle format
.
Travel
Adventure at 63-Backpacking to Istanbul
Coming in Autumn 2013
The Irishman in the grey - a trilogy set in the American Civil War
For more information
on all of the books then please visit the author’s web site at
http://www.griffhosker.com
where there is a link to contact him.