Conflict of Kings - Synopsis
Scene 1
Year 925. Coalition Council of War between the following: King Guthfrith of Dublin, who has brought his nephew, Olaf Sihtricsson to claim his dead father's throne of York; a second Olaf - Guthfrith's son; Owain II of Strathclyde and Constantine II of Scotland.
Scene 2
Year 927. The Convention of Eamont, near Penrith 12.07.927 Several kings pledge allegiance to Athelstan after the defeat of Guthfrith's coalition and the deportation of Guthfrith to Dublin. Present are: Owain II of Strathclyde, Constantine II of Scotland, Hywel Dda of Deheubarth, Powys & Gwent, Idwal Foel of Gwynedd and the Anglian king of Bernicia - Ealdred. Constantine and Owain renounce their support of the Norse Kings.
Scene 3
Year 937 The Battle of Brunanburh Athelstan's army defeats the Viking coalition, which includes Constantine and Owain, who have reneged on their agreement with Athelstan. In 934, Athelstan had waged a punitive war on the restive Scots and Constantine's decision is in part due to this. Constantine is wounded at Brunanburh and Owain is killed.
Scene 4
Year 940 A battle somewhere in the Midlands
Following
his ignominious defeat at Brunanburh, Olaf Guthfrithsson and his followers
have been licking their wounds in Ireland. Their cause receives an unexpected
boost when they hear the news of the untimely death of Athelstan and the
accession of his half-brother Edmund, an eighteen-year old lad. On Athelstan's
death, Olaf retakes York and invades Mercia, aided by Dunmail of Strathclyde.
His attack is devastating. Although checked at Northampton the Vikings sack
Tamworth and seize the Five Boroughs of Lincoln, Stamford, Nottingham, Derby
and Leicester. [This battle is representative of this period.]
(A peace accord, agreed at Leicester and brokered by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, cedes the Danelaw (including the Five Boroughs) to Olaf, although he and his Norse followers are hated by the Danish citizens of the region. The Peace lasts for just two years. Olaf dies in 941 and is succeeded by his cousin, Olaf Sihtricsson. A well-established Edmund now sallies North and defeats this second Olaf, who is a mere shadow of his predecessor, with ease; retaking all the possessions previously surrendered.)
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