Death of Kings

Last updated

Death of Kings
Death of Kings (Bernard Cornwell novel).jpg
First edition cover
Author Bernard Cornwell
Original titleDeath of Kings
LanguageEnglish
Series The Saxon Stories
Genre Historical novel
Published2011
Publisher HarperCollins
Publication placeUnited Kingdom
Media typePrint (hardback & paperback)
Pages335 (hardback)
ISBN 978-0-00-733179-6 (first edition, hardback)
Preceded by The Burning Land  
Followed by The Pagan Lord  

Death of Kings, published in 2011, is the sixth novel of Bernard Cornwell's Saxon Tales series. It continues the story of Saxon warlord Uhtred of Bebbanburg who resists a new Danish invasion of Wessex and Mercia.

Contents

Plot

It is 899 AD. Alfred the Great is dying. Rivals for his throne are poised to tear his kingdom apart. Uhtred, a Saxon who has been raised by a Danish warlord, wants more than anything else to go and reclaim his stolen Northumbrian inheritance. But he knows that if he deserts the king's cause, Alfred's dream — a single kingdom encompassing all English speakers ("Englaland") — might vanish.

Uhtred is attacked by bandits sent to assassinate him, but defeats them. Alfred then sends him to negotiate a treaty with the king of East Anglia. Uhtred is suspicious and takes precautions which save him from an ambush. He manages to face a much larger Danish force led by Sigurd, a powerful Danish jarl, at a narrow bridge over the River Use. Sigurd attacks across the bridge, which negates his numerical superiority. Uhtred's men inflict numerous casualties, before burning the bridge. Uhtred aborts his mission and goes home.

He travels to Ceaster, where Haesten is besieged by a Mercian force. Uhtred leaves some of his men under the command of his loyal follower Finan. He has heard of a prophetess named Aelfadell and is curious. Uhtred unwarily drinks a drugged potion she gives him. He awakes tied up, with vague memories of the previous night. Then three monks debate killing him, but Uhtred frees himself and slaughters them instead. He realizes that Aelfadell is being paid by Sigurd to make prophesies in the Dane's favour. Uhtred then borrows a ship from his son-in-law Sigurd and, masquerading as a Frisian who is going home, sneaks in and burns Sigurd's ships, keeping one to sail to Lundene.

Uhtred is summoned to Wintanceaster by a dying Alfred. Alfred gives Uhtred a rich estate in Mercia at Fagranforda, finally rewarding him for his many invaluable services, but presses Uhtred into swearing an oath of loyalty to his son and heir, Edward, before dying. Aethelflaed is kidnapped by Aethelwold, but Uhtred saves her. After Edward is crowned king, Uhtred expects an attack from the Danes, but Sigurd is sick, and his fellow jarl and friend, Cnut, is unwilling to invade without him; Cnut also has troublesome Scots to deal with.

Uhtred has three women impersonate a trio of Christian angels to provide prophecies of their own to counter the words of Aelfadell. Danish raiders kidnap two of the "angels" and learn the truth. The Danes finally invade, three years after Alfred's death, from Ceaster. Uhtred retreats to a rotten fort at Cracgelad only to be surrounded by a Danish force led by Haesten. Haesten does not attack, instead retreating in the night because his force was meant only to distract the Mercian army from the true threat. Uhtred, now reinforced by warriors led by Steapa and Aethelflaed, pursues the larger Danish force to find out where the main invasion is taking place.

Uhtred finds the main Danish army and makes a hit-and-run attack that stops the enemy. Uhtred begs King Edward to come and attack, but Edward instead commands Uhtred to bring his men to Lundene, where his army is gathering. Uhtred arrives at Lundene expecting to move quickly, but Edward has been convinced by his advisors to wait, in part to await Sigelf and his 700 Kentish warriors. Strangely, the Danes do not move either. Uhtred suspects it is because they have no single leader and are divided as to what to do.

The Danes finally head for East Anglia to lure Edward into following. Their plan is to capture Lundene, once he is out of position. Sigelf is secretly in league with them. A hundred of Sigelf's men have been left behind at Lundene, supposedly because they have no horses, but in reality to seize and hold open a city gate. Sigelf and the rest of his warriors are to turn on Edward when the battle starts. Uhtred figures it out and attacks the turncoat Saxons at night, pretending to be Danish, killing Sigelf when he tries to stop the fighting with what he mistakenly believes are his Danish allies. Afterward, Uhtred convinces the turncoat Kentish men to fight for him. The real Danes attack, and a major battle between shield walls ensues. The Danes greatly outnumber and eventually surround Uhtred's force. Steapa arrives with reinforcements before Uhtred's men are overrun, and pushes the Danes back. There is no clear victor, but several of the invading leaders are dead and Sigurd is wounded. The Danes are forced to leave, as winter is coming and there is not enough food for their large army.

Title of the novel

The books gained its title because Alfred the Great dies, but also because King Eohric king of East Anglia, and Aethelwold pretender to the West Saxon throne die in the last battle.

Critical reception

A reviewer for National Public Radio said, "His characters are vividly drawn, betrayals lurk around every corner, the humor is as sharp as the swords, and the action is non-stop." [1] In The New York Times , a reviewer wrote that Cornwell "writes morally complicated and intricate stories, and he's won a following not just among readers but also among fellow writers." [2] A reviewer for The Guardian wrote, "There are moments of terror, including one particularly striking episode when Uhtred goes to visit a witch and is drugged, bound and gagged while the naked, shrivelled crone cackles madness. Cornwell's plot is enlivened by passages of clear beauty as he describes the natural world in which such horrors take place". [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wessex</span> Anglo-Saxon kingdom in the south of Great Britain

The Kingdom of the West Saxons, also known as the Kingdom of Wessex, was an Anglo-Saxon kingdom in the south of Great Britain, from around 519 until Alfred the Great declared himself as King of the Anglo-Saxons in 886.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edmund Ironside</span> King of England in 1016

Edmund Ironside was King of the English from 23 April to 30 November 1016. He was the son of King Æthelred the Unready and his first wife, Ælfgifu of York. Edmund's reign was marred by a war he had inherited from his father; his cognomen "Ironside" was given to him "because of his valour" in resisting the Danish invasion led by Cnut.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Æthelflæd</span> Ruler of Mercia in England from 911 to 918

Æthelflæd ruled as Lady of the Mercians in the English Midlands from 911 until her death in 918. She was the eldest child of Alfred the Great, king of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Wessex, and his wife Ealhswith.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danelaw</span> Part of England ruled by Danes (886–1066)

The Danelaw was the part of England in which the laws of the Danes held sway and dominated those of the Anglo-Saxons. The Danelaw contrasts with the West Saxon law and the Mercian law. The term is first recorded in the early 11th century as Dena lage. The areas that constituted the Danelaw lie in northern and eastern England, long occupied by Danes and other Norsemen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Æthelwold ætheling</span> Son of King of Wessex (died 902)

Æthelwold or Æthelwald was the younger of two known sons of Æthelred I, King of Wessex from 865 to 871. Æthelwold and his brother Æthelhelm were still infants when their father the king died while fighting a Danish Viking invasion. The throne passed to the king's younger brother Alfred the Great, who carried on the war against the Vikings and won a crucial victory at the Battle of Edington in 878.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Five Boroughs of the Danelaw</span> Five main towns of the Danelaw

The Five Boroughs or The Five Boroughs of the Danelaw were the five main towns of Danish Mercia under the Danelaw. These were Derby, Leicester, Lincoln, Nottingham and Stamford. The first four later became county towns.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hastein</span> Viking chieftain of the late 9th century

Hastein was a Viking chieftain of the late 9th century who made several raiding voyages.

<i>The Last Kingdom</i> 2004 book by Bernard Cornwell

The Last Kingdom is the first historical novel in The Saxon Stories by Bernard Cornwell, published in 2004. This story introduces Uhtred of Bebbanburg, a Saxon noble who is kidnapped by Danish Vikings as a young child and is assimilated into their culture, religion and language before a series of events lead him into the service of King Alfred of Wessex and his participation in multiple battles, including the notable Battle of Cynwit before the book's conclusion.

<i>The Pale Horseman</i> 2005 historical novel by Bernard Cornwell

The Pale Horseman is the second historical novel in the Saxon Stories by Bernard Cornwell, published in 2005. It is set in 9th century Wessex and Cornwall.

<i>The Lords of the North</i> 2006 historical novel by Bernard Cornwell

The Lords of the North is the third historical novel in the Saxon Stories by Bernard Cornwell published in 2006. The story is set in the 9th century Anglo-Saxon kingdoms Wessex and Northumbria. Uhtred wants revenge against his uncle, and falls in love. He fights for both the Danes and for Alfred.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edward the Elder</span> King of the Anglo-Saxons from 899 to 924

Edward the Elder was King of the Anglo-Saxons from 899 until his death in 924. He was the elder son of Alfred the Great and his wife Ealhswith. When Edward succeeded to the throne, he had to defeat a challenge from his cousin Æthelwold, who had a strong claim to the throne as the son of Alfred's elder brother and predecessor, Æthelred I.

<i>Sword Song</i> (Cornwell novel) 2007 historical novel by Bernard Cornwell

Sword Song is the fourth historical novel in The Saxon Stories by Bernard Cornwell, published in 2007. Uhtred leads battles against the Danes, as King Alfred strengthens the defences of his kingdom of Wessex.

<i>The Burning Land</i> 2009 historical novel by Bernard Cornwell

The Burning Land is the fifth historical novel in The Saxon Stories by Bernard Cornwell, published in 2009. The story is set in the 9th-century Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of Wessex, Northumbria and Mercia. The first half of season 3 of the British television series The Last Kingdom is based on this novel.

<i>The Pagan Lord</i> 2013 historical novel by Bernard Cornwell

The Pagan Lord is the seventh historical novel in the Saxon Stories by Bernard Cornwell, first published in 2013. The story is set in the early 10th century in Anglo-Saxon Mercia and Northumbria.

<i>The Empty Throne</i> 2014 historical novel by Bernard Cornwell

The Empty Throne is the eighth historical novel in The Saxon Stories series by Bernard Cornwell, first published in October 2014. It is set in 10th-century Mercia and Dyfed.

<i>The Last Kingdom</i> (TV series) British television series

The Last Kingdom is a British historical drama television series created and developed for television by Stephen Butchard, based on The Saxon Stories series of novels by Bernard Cornwell. The series premiered on 10 October 2015 on BBC Two. After co-producing the second series, Netflix acquired the series in 2018. The series concluded on 9 March 2022 after five series for a total of 46 episodes. A feature-length sequel that concluded the series story, titled Seven Kings Must Die, premiered on 14 April 2023 on Netflix.

<i>Warriors of the Storm</i> 2015 historical novel by Bernard Cornwell

Warriors of the Storm is the ninth historical novel in The Saxon Stories series by Bernard Cornwell, first published in October 2015. It is set in 10th-century Mercia, Northumbria and Northern Ireland and continues to follow the fortunes of the fictional Uhtred of Bebbanburg.

<i>The Flame Bearer</i> 2016 historical novel in The Saxon Stories series by Bernard Cornwell

The Flame Bearer is the tenth historical novel in The Saxon Stories series aka The Last Kingdom series by Bernard Cornwell, first published in October 2016. It is set in 10th-century England and continues to follow the fortunes of the fictional Uhtred of Bebbanburg. In this novel Uhtred sets out to finally regain his childhood home, Bebbanburg, which is now held by his cousin.

<i>War of the Wolf</i> 2018 historical novel in The Saxon Stories series by Bernard Cornwell

War of the Wolf is the eleventh historical novel in The Saxon Stories series by Bernard Cornwell. It was first published in October 2018.

<i>Sword of Kings</i> 2019 book by Bernard Cornwell

Sword of Kings is the twelfth historical novel in The Saxon Stories series by Bernard Cornwell. It was first published in October 2019.

References