Vikings of Middle England

As seen in Skirmish magazine

On a brilliantly sunny May Bank Holiday weekend, old stagers Vikings of Middle England - otherwise known as Tÿrslið - unveiled their rolling scenario for 2004 - "The Revenge of Ivarr the Boneless". The setting for this, the group's first major event of the new season was Tutbury Castle in Staffordshire. VME have become familiar performers at the castle, which was originally built in the 1070's for one of William the Conqueror's Barons. Their last visit was in November when they staged the terrifying Holmganga, reported in Skirmish No.28.

Guesting with VME were members of Peterborough-based group - Clan Wulfhar and maintaining contact from Essex came a lone member of the Colchester Historical Enactment Society (CHES).

The foundations of the 11th Century chapel made a fine setting and a natural amphitheatre for the opening two scenes of the day's presentation. Once again utilising the tried-and-tested format of a rolling scenario, Tÿrslið brought to life the mysterious tale of Ragnar Lothbrock and his vengeance-seeking sons. As the Narrator informed an enthralled audience of -"a time in the Dark Ages where myth becomes legend, and the legend becomes History" the opening scene commences with the capture of Danish King Ragnar Lothbrock. Struggling he is brought before Ælle, usurping King of Northumbria. Ragnar receives short shrift and is consigned to Ælle's snake pit. As he is led away, Ragnar shouts back at Ælle, "The young pigs would be grunting if they knew of the old boar's fate!" On advice from Fr. Edwin, Ælle's counsellor, the king reconsiders, preferring to keep Ragnar as a bargaining chip. He is, however, too late to prevent the death of the Viking leader.

We are then transported, via music and the narrator's link, to the second scene - a time of celebration at the home of Ragnar's family in Denmark, although with painstaking attention to accuracy, the name "Denmark" is not used, as it did not come into use until after the period being portrayed. The narrator sets the scene, introducing each of the characters, and we meet such personalities as Halfdan of the "Wide Embrace", Sigurd "Snake-in-the-Eye", Bjorn "Ironside" - clad of course in ring-mail - and of course the eponymous central figure - Ivarr "he Boneless" The whole scene provides a tableau of Viking festivity; games of dice, hnefetafl, arm-wrestling, axe-holding and general socialising. The celebrations are interrupted by a messenger hotfoot from the quayside. Pushing past the guards, the envoy drops to one knee and breathlessly gasps out the awful news of Ragnar's death. There is instant uproar at this news and the scene records the various filial reactions as documented in the sagas. Halfdan, who had been pairing his nails, cuts his thumb to the bone; Sigurd drives a spear into his foot ; Ubbi crushes a hnefetafl piece so that the dust runs through his fingers. Only Ivarr remains impassive and composed. He calls for silence and commands that the festivities continue. Played in the round, with the audience on three sides, the central characters (i.e. the sons of Ragnar) take centre stage, whilst the supporting cast melt into tableau on the periphery. This device worked most effectively. The brothers make plans for a punitive expedition to England. The scene closes with a discussion of their preparations and whether theirs should be a swift response or not. Avenging the death of his father was but one aspect of a more far-reaching agenda on the part of Ivarr The Boneless. He had set his sights on an altogether more ambitious project. The narrator informs us that History records the invasion of 866 as the greatest Viking force ever to be assembled. It is known as The Great Army.

The use of radio mics meant that the not inconsiderable crowd could follow every detail, thus adding to the professionalism of the performance.

The Tutbury venue is an ideal setting for re-enactments of various periods, for whilst the ruined battlements and earthworks date from the 1400s, the whole ambience of the castle and grounds lends a unique atmosphere to all things historical. Although being the main attraction, VME, unlike their August Bank Holiday spectacular at Rockingham Castle, were supported by others from falconry to ferret-racing! Visitors not patronising these supporting acts, wandered freely around the Living History encampment of about thirty tents, where all the usual crafts were on display. The village was a hive of activity; children ran and played and dogs barked. Other villagers played board games or cooked, the smell of their cooking mingling with the heady aroma of incense wafting from the Saxon chapel. The forge-master was busy manufacturing small Viking pendants in pewter, and the armoury was awash with enthusiastic visitors, eager to learn about Dark-Age weaponry. Behind the encampment the 'Have-a-Go Archery' stall proved to be extremely popular and elsewhere in the village people could strike their own Viking or Saxon coin. As always, members of Tÿrslið were at pains to inform and educate, fielding questions from all angles.

The backdrop for the final two scenes in the unfolding saga of Ivarr The Boneless, was the earthworks surmounted by rampart, which runs from the North Tower to the South Tower, this latter structure forming the gateway to the City of York. As a grim reminder of the fate of Ivarr's father, the rotted corpse of Ragnar Lothbrog still hangs from the battlements of York. The crowd, safely ensconced behind the safety barrier, wait in hushed anticipation as three of Ælle's guards loaf in the gateway, leaning on their spears.

The Tÿrslið introductory music - from 'The Lion in Winter', signals a movement at the far end of the arena, which attracts the guards' attention. Five Vikings are approaching. With their spears at the ready the guards advance and challenge the intruders, who turn out to be Ivarr, his standard bearer and three of his brothers. The guards suspect that these strangers are the very same who stole horses in the region recently. At this point, the lookout atop of the South Tower shouts a warning that the King is approaching. Ælle emerges from York with the bulk of his army in support. He insults the brothers echoing Ragnar's reference to 'little pigs' and referring to the story found in the sagas, that the great leader had disguised himself as a woman to get close to Ubbi's mother. Ubbi is outraged by the taunt, but Ælle believes his superior numbers makes him invincible. However, Ivarr, that master tactician nods to his brother and on Ubbi's command the main Viking army materialises through the crowd to surround the Northumbrians. Two of Ælle's men die in the early clashes, their tunics stained with their blood. Ælle's force is cut to ribbons and although the invaders suffer some casualties, the Northumbrians are utterly routed. Those who are able flee to join Ælle's rival, Osberht. As foe Ælle himself, some sources say that Ivarr had him blood-eagled, but evidence for 'blood-eagling' is scant to say the least, and many scholars doubt if this form of torture actually existed. The jury is still out on this one. However, Tÿrslið dealt with the fate of the hapless usurper in a most adept and impressive way. As the last survivors are put to flight, the luckless king is dragged forward and thrust to his knees. His tunic is ripped open to expose his bare flesh. Each brother then steps forward, identifies himself to the rapt spectators with a suitable epigram, and delivers one or more cuts to the unfortunate king. As he sees his life blood drain from him with every cut he screams horribly. Cut after cut is delivered including, hamstrings. Ælle's body is criss-crossed with bleeding slashes until eventually Ivarr finishes the gruesome task by cutting the throat of his father's killer. The narrator concludes the scene by saying "Such were the wounds left on the body of Ælle, that his flesh looked as if it had been ripped by the talons of Eagles."

This was not a scene for the faint-hearted and might have had the politically-correct lobby hopping up and down in protest, as certain elements try to re-write history to portray the Vikings as altogether more 'cuddly' and not at all vicious, ruthless and barbaric. The truth is more prosaic of course. They were all these things - as well as being farmers, traders, settlers etc., etc.,

Once more, the visitors drifted away from the arena to the various sideshows. The strains of Ned, the Folk Singer and the smell of burgers and hot-dogs gave the flavour of the fun-fair and for a while the spectators were able to return to the 21st century whilst still musing on the outcome of the events still to be played.