The Battle of Maldon

The Battle of Maldon took place in 991 AD in England. Maldon refers to a place where
Scandinavian raiders met the English defense force on the estuary of the Blackwater
River, near Maldon in Essex. The battle itself is not a strategic or important one.
However, the survival of the heroic poem means that this battle ranks as one of the
best known Anglo-Saxon battles. The survival of the poem is fortunate.
This poem was part of the Cotton Library where it was nearly completely destroyed by
the fire of 1731. Our knowledge of the poem is due to a copy that happed to be made
by John Elphinston four year prior. The poem that remains was itself a fragment
consisting of 325 lines. The beginning and end was already missing which is estimated
to be 50 lines each or 100 lines in totality.

The Battle of Maldon may be described as the only heroic poem extant in Old English,
and is comparable to Old Norse heroic poems. A great deal of the poem is concerned
with how the faithful retainers of Byrhtnoth honor their obligations under
the comitatus. The comitatus is the Germanic bond of loyalty between the retainer and
his lord.

Under the comitatus, the lord promises to offer his protection to his thane which
includes food and housing, and rewards for deeds. In return, the thane promises to
fight for his lord, if necessary to the death to avenge the lord. It is considered a great
dishonor to flee from the battle.

The poem uses a number of synonyms for lord that reflects the comitatus bond. For
example the synonym ring giver, gold giver, treasure giver all reflect the obligations of
the comitatus lord to reward his thanes with gifts for services rendered.
In 991, Byrhtnoth was the most active ealdorman in England. Most likely he was the
leader of the defense for the East Coast of England. The Vikings established camp on
the island of Northey, and the British were acrossed the estuary bridge on mainland. At
low tide, Byrhtnoth allowed the Vikings to cross the bridge. The poet describes that
decision as an error of "overconfidence." It may have been considered a prideful error,
or sin of hubris.

Byrhtnoth commanded his retainers to leave his horse, and drive it away. He placed his
men at their stations. From the island, the Vikings request tribute to be paid, but
Byrhtnoth would have no part in paying a tribute. At low tied, the Vikings' crossed the
river. Wulfstan was to hold the estuary bridge, and pierced with his sword Viking
invaders crossing.

Byrhtnoth in his overconfidence gave too much ground and taunted the Vikings a
crossed. Byrhtnoth ordered his men to form a war-hedge, a wall of shields. It is a
common defensive formation. On both sides warriors fell. A war-hard Viking advanced
towards Byrhtnoth. The Viking was a resolute churl, a common soldier. The churl with
his southern-made spear pierced Byrhtnoth. Byrhtnoth was wounded, but not down.
Byrhtnoth responds with a stab to the churl in the neck, and stabbed another.
Byrhtnoth was wounded again by another Viking. Then the heathen Vikings slewed
Byrhtnoth and both who stood by his side. The Vikings decapitated Byrhtnoth, but left
his golden sword by his side.

The decapitation of Byrhtnoth has been substantiated. In 1769, James Bentham

opened Byrhtnoth's tomb. The tomb was moved with a number of other tombs from
the north wall of the choir to Bishop West's chapel. In a letter read before the society
of Antiquaries in 1772, it states: "I apprised those who attended on that occasion, May
18, 1769, that if my surmises were well founded no head would be found in the cell
which contained the bones of Byrhtnoth, Duke of Northumberland. In the tomb, there
were no remains of a head. We searched diligently, and found most, if not all his other
bones. It was observed that the collar-bone had been nearly cut through, as though by
a battle-axe, or two handed sword."

In an act of shame, the Anglo-Saxon warrior Godric took Byrhtnoth's horse, and fled.
Shortly behind Godric, were his two brothers Godwine and Godwig who fled the scene
as well. The other Anglo-Saxon warrior spoke words of nobility to stay and fight to the
death in defense of their lord, Byrhtnoth. The hostage began to help the Anglo-Saxon
warriors. Among Germanic people, hostages of high rank generally fought on the side
of the warriors who held them in hostage.

An old retainer, Byrhtwold shook his ash spear and boldly he exhorted the men:
"Purpose shall be the firmer, heart the keener; courage shall be the more, as our might
lessens. Here lies our lord all hewn down, good man on ground. Ever may he lament
who now thinks to turn from war-play. I am old of life, but from here I will not turn
from my lord's side. By the lord I loved, I intend to lie."