The history of the Vikings is fascinating and complicated. Vikings came from the Scandinavian countries of Norway, Sweden and Denmark. They traveled to and settled in many parts of the world from Russia to North America. The first Viking attack in England was in 793 ad and history accepts that by the end of 1066, the Viking Age in England was essentially over.
Swedish Vikings settled farther east in Russia. Viking Danes and Norsemen settled in England, Scotland, Ireland, Greenland, Iceland, Normandy and Sicily. In England, they became merchants, craftsmen and farmers, but there were still those who waged war and raided for trade goods, gold and slaves. Vikings traveled widely over the known world and created trade routes. Warrior Vikings were greatly feared and frequently were paid vast sums of money to leave places in peace.
In 1066, there was a rebellion close to York, in Northumbria, not too far from Catla’s village. The previous year, northern lords had ousted Tostig, brother to the King of England, from his position as Earl of Northumbria. In his anger, Tostig conspired against his brother by inviting the King of Norway to invade England and claim England’s throne. The Norse king had already created trouble by proclaiming he was the legitimate heir to the throne.
That autumn, hundreds of Norse ships crossed the North Sea. Some of them sailed up the River Humber to York, where three great battles were fought. The invaders won the first two, but the English king won the third one, at Stamford Bridge, just outside of the city of York.
Catla’s world had been settled and prosperous for the past few decades before her story begins a few days after the battle at Stamford Bridge. I’ve recreated the social setting as closely as possible, but Catla, the villagers, the locations of the villages, the circle of standing stones and the hill fort are all fiction. Nevertheless, I have strived for historical accuracy as much as possible. For example, Halley’s Comet did appear in April of 1066 and was recorded worldwide. People called it the hairy-tailed star and considered it an omen.
Village people traveled by cart or walked with a pack, as did Olav the peddler. Some footpaths were worn so deeply into the ground they are still visible today. Peddlers were the early merchants. They walked many miles and traded or bought goods with coins. In the villages, most trade was bartered.
Only the wealthy kept horses. Oxen pulled the plows. Sheep and goats were milked and village people grew their food, fished and hunted. Captured people were sold at slave markets in Ireland, Paris and other places. While slavery was in common practice worldwide, not everyone kept slaves.
Although Catla’s world was very different from ours, some things never change: greed, envy, thirst for power, compassion, love and truth. Catla’s desire to find her own way in the world is a desire we all share.