Life in the time
of
King Aldfrith of Northumbria…
By Jayne Castel
My Historical
Romance novel LORD OF THE NORTH WIND (release date 10 October 2018) is
centered around the real historical figure Aldfrith of Northumbria. He ruled
Northumbria from 685–704/705 AD and was known as ‘The Philosopher King’.
Who was Aldfrith?
Aldfrith (whose
Irish name was Flann Fína mac Oswiu) was Ecgfrith of Northumbria’s half-brother
and King Oswiu’s bastard son. As a young man, Oswiu was exiled to Ireland,
where he was said to have fallen in love with an Irish princess. However, when
things settled down at home, Oswiu left her to return to Northumbria and take
up the crown, and he presently married. Oswiu actually married twice and fathered
seven children in total. He was succeeded by his son, Ecgfrith.
Aldfrith grew up
far from Northumbria and lived a hermit’s life upon the island of Iona until,
with Ecgfrith’s death against the Picts at the Battle of Dun Nechtain in 685
AD, he was called back to rule. His was supposed to have been a peaceful reign,
marred only by a tempestuous relationship with Bishop Wilfrid—a religious
figure who had already been exiled previously by Ecgfrith. Aldfrith married
Princess Cuthburh of Wessex, who eventually left him to take up the veil.
 |
| Iona, Scotland. |
Aldfrith also had
contact with Prior Cuthbert of Lindisfarne. Cuthbert played a pivotal role in
Northumbria’s history, having tried to dissuade Aldfrith’s brother Ecgfrith
from going to war against the Picts. Cuthbert, who became one England’s most
famous saints after his death in 687 AD, lived upon the Farne Islands as a
hermit. Many miracles were attributed to him.
Aldfrith was not
just a king but a poet. He is described by early writers such as Bede, Alcuin
and Stephen of Ripon as a man of great learning. He
wrote a number of maxims, and some of his works and letters survive today.
Aldfrith’s Northumbria
Aldfrith’s reign
was relatively peaceful. He ruled during what has been called Northumbria’s ‘golden
age’, which began toward the end of the 7th Century. Previously the
Kingdom of the East Angles, and then the Kingdom of Mercia, had held dominance
in Britannia.
Bernicia and Deira
made up Aldfrith’s kingdom. He ruled as far north as the Anglo-Scottish border,
while his kingdom’s southern border with Mercia ran across England, from the
Humber in the east, following the River Ouse and the River Don, to the Mersey
in the west. In Aldfrith’s time Lindisfarne, Hexham, Bamburgh, Yeavering, York,
Catterick, Ripon, and Whitby being important religious and royal centres.
 |
| Bishoprics (underlined), monasteries (italicised) and other locations in the north central British Isles in the time of Aldfrith. |
Merging fact and fiction
Despite that
Aldfrith’s reign was relatively well documented, there are still many gaps in
history, and so I have let my imagination fill them in! Historians don’t
actually know who he actually remarried after his first wife left him to become
a nun, although there are records of children (his son succeeded him).
As such, I
introduced Aldfrith to Osana—an ealdorman’s widow and his perfect match.
History is also similarly foggy about what actually caused him to fall out with
Bishop Wilfrid in the end and to exile the bishop to Mercia. There were rumors
that Wilfrid’s constant attempts to expand his interests and dominance and his
disdain for the northern, Celtic, style of Christianity may have caused a rift
between them. In my novel, I give their relationship a twist of my own.
Aldfrith is a
little different to my other heroes. He’s not a warrior but a philosopher, although
others learn that they underestimate him at their peril. I saw him as a
complex, passionate man who had spent far too long hiding from his true nature.
In order to break from his past he needs Osana—a woman of quiet indomitable
strength.
History remembers
Aldfrith of Northumbria as a fair-minded ruler and a man of culture and
learning. I’d like to think my story honours his memory while bringing the man
himself to life.
Lord of the North Wind
(Book #3: The Kingdom of the Northumbria)
A king who has forsaken passion for
reason—and the widow who tempts him.
Aldfrith never wanted to be king. The bastard son of King Oswiu of
Northumbria, he lives as a scholar upon the remote island of Iona. But his life
changes forever the day he discovers his half-brother is dead. Aldfrith is next
in line for the throne. Back at the royal fort of Bebbanburg, he begins his new
life as ruler of Northumbria. And that includes wedding a suitable queen.
Osana, the wife of one of Aldfrith’s ealdormen, meets the new king at
his wedding. Unhappily married, she fights her instant attraction to him.
Likewise, Aldfrith is disarmed by Osana's warmth and directness—so unlike his
cold bride. A union between Aldfrith and Osana is impossible … yet fate has
much in store for them both. When Aldfrith’s marriage fails two years later,
and Osana is widowed, they meet once more.
The attraction between them is even stronger than ever, but love and
passion are the last things on Aldfrith’s mind. He’s determined never to let
lust override good sense and moral judgement … yet with every day he spends
with Osana he fights a losing battle. This alluring widow could very well be
his undoing.
Jayne Castel
Award-winning
author Jayne Castel writes Historical Romance set in Dark Ages Britain and
Scotland, and Epic Fantasy Romance. Her vibrant characters, richly researched
historical settings, and action-packed adventure romance transport readers to
forgotten times and imaginary worlds.
Jayne lives in New
Zealand's South Island, although you can frequently find her in Europe and the
UK researching her books! When she’s not writing, Jayne is reading (and
re-reading) her favorite authors, learning French, cooking Italian, and taking
her dog, Juno, for walks.
An interesting character! Loved that he wrote poetry. Some to the love of his life, I hope!
ReplyDeleteI know... that's why I had to write a story about him. He seemed like a fascinating man! 😊
DeleteSuch an interesting era. I went to Lindisfarne many moons ago. Of course, my husband read the tide times wrong and we ended up staying on the island a little longer than planned, but I wasn't too cross, as it is a beautiful place. Your book sounds wonderful by the way.
ReplyDeleteIvy, we did exactly the same, only it was me that read the tide times wrong! It is a beautiful place. I did not mind being stranded at all.
DeleteSuch a wonderful post, Jayne. Do you know why Oswiu was exiled to Irland in the first place?
ReplyDelete