Dahut

by Poul Anderson

The lunar eclipse: For the date and hour of this, as well as for other astronomical information, we are indebted to Bing F. Quock of the Morrison Planetarium, San Francisco. He is not responsible for any mistakes we may have made in using it, such as in converting to the Julian calendar. Given modern knowledge and technology, prediction and postdiction of celestial events is fairly simple. The ancients were handicapped in several ways, including a shortage of data; only about half of all occurrences were ever visible to them, and surely bad weather hid many that might have been seen.

  Germanic Sea: Roman name (Oceanus Germanicus) for the North Sea.

  The foreign ship: Not much is known about Scandinavian shipbuilding prior to the viking era. We base this description primarily on two finds at Kvalsund, Norway, and a picture carved in a stone at Bro on Gotland (Sweden).

  The Jews: Although they had long been widespread in the Mediterranean countries, few if any had yet reached northern Europe. Budic’s ignorance is also due to the fact that early Christians made only limited use of the Old Testament.

  Germans in Britain: As mentioned in a previous note, there is reason to believe that some colonization had already begun.

  Scandia (or Scania): Now the southernmost part of Sweden, this territory was Danish until 1658 and may well have been the aboriginal home of the Danes, that people who made themselves supreme in the islands and eventually Jutland, thereby giving their name to the entire country. In our time they had not yet done so.

  Outlawry: Among the early Scandinavians, well into their Christian era a man whom the folkmoot found guilty of a serious offense was often condemned to outlawry—removal of any legal recourse for whatever somebody might do to him—for a specified time. If he could, he usually went abroad until the term was up.

  Finnaithae: This Roman word presumably refers either to Finns or Lapps.

  Anglic laeti: The Angli supplied many post-Roman migrants to Britain; the name “England” derives from them. Earlier they lived near the southern end of the Jutland peninsula.

  Icenian coast: Along Norfolk and Suffolk.

  XVI

  Treverian: Member of a German tribe occupying the area around.

  XVII

  Suebian Sea (Mare Suebicum): Roman name of the Baltic Sea.

  XVIII

  Danuvius: The River Danube.

  Cenabum: Orleans. In the fifth century its name was changed to Aurelianum, whence comes the modern version.

  Sequana: The River Seine.

  Lutetia Parisiorum: Paris. At this time it was of minor importance.

  Maedraeacum: Médréac, now a village not far from Rennes. Our reconstruction of the name is hypothetical. Where such communities have originated as latifundia, their names are often traceable to the names of the families who owned them, as recorded on Roman tax rolls. However, this one looks as if it has a more ancient origin, in the name of a Gallic god. Then in the course of generations, though the inhabitants were reduced to servitude under the Sicori, the traditional appellation persisted.

  Comet: For details of what is known about the comet of 400 we are indebted to David Levy, discoverer of more than one. He is not responsible for any mistakes in our use of the information. The comet is recorded between 19 March and 10 April (Gregorian dates). Apart from the obvious fact that it was visible to the naked eye, we can only guess at its appearance. However, there is reason to think that large, bright comets were commoner in the past than they are now. Each passage close to the sun diminishes such a body. Occasionally new ones are perturbed into the inner regions of the Solar System, but this does not appear to have happened very often for a historically long time.

  XIX

  Wind and wave: Although hurricane-force winds are much less frequent along the coasts of northern Europe than in certain other parts of the world, they do sometimes occur. One may or may not have struck in the spring of 400; the records are silent. However, some meteorologists find reason to believe that weather was more stormy, on the average, than now. (Reference is to the Petterson theory of climatic cycles.) In any case, such an event is possible. Tide tables for the Audierne area indicate that, unless conditions have changed considerably, there was a spring high tide in the Baie des Tréspassés shortly before moonset on the night of 26-27 March (Gregorian dates). With such weather at its back, it could well have been disastrous.

  GEOGRAPHICAL GLOSSARY

  These equivalents are for the most part only approximations. For further details, see the Notes.

  Abona: The River Avon in Somerset.

  Abonae: Sea Mills.

  Africa: North Africa, exclusive of Egypt and Ethiopia.

  Alba: Scotic name of what is now Scotland, sometimes including England and Wales.

  Aquae Sulis: Bath.

  Aquileia: Near present-day Trieste.

  Aquilo: Locmaria, now a district at the south end of Quimper.

  Aquitania: See Gallia Aquitania.

  Aregésla: Counties Monaghan, Cavan, and Leitrim in Ireland.

  Arelate: Aries.

  Armorica: Brittany.

  Asia: Asia Minor

  Audiarna: Audierne (hypothetical).

  Augusta Treverorum: Trier.

  Avela:Ávila

  Bay of Aquitania (Sinus Aquitanicus): Bay of Biscay.

  Boand’s River: The River Boyne.

  Bonna: Bonn

  Borcovicium: Housesteads, at Hadrian’s Wall.

  Bridge of Sena: Pont de Sein.

  Britannia: The Roman part of Britain, essentially England and Wales.

  Britannic Sea (Oceanus Britannicus): The English Channel.

  Burdigala: Bordeaux.

  Caesarodunum Turonum: Tours.

  Caledonia: Roman name of Scotland.

  Campania: A district of Italy including modern Capua and Naples.

  Cape Rack: Pointe du Raz (hypothetical).

  Cassel: Cashel.

  Castellum: Original form of “Cassel.”

  Cenabum: Orleans

  Cimbrian Chersonese, Cimbrian peninsula: Jutland.

  Clón Tarui: Clontarf, now a district of Dublin.

  Condacht: Connaught.

  Condate Redonum: Rennes.

  Condevincum: A small city, now part of Nantes.

  Confluentes: Quimper (hypothetical).

  Corbilo: St. Nazaire.

  Dacia: Romania.

  Dalmatia: A province occupying, approximately, what is now much of Yugoslavia.

  Dál Riata: A realm in Ulster, or its colony on the Argyll coast.

  Danastris: The River Dniester.

  Danuvius: The River Danube.

  Darioritum Venetorum: Vannes.

  Deva: Chester.

  Dochaldun: An Osismiic village (imaginary).

  Dubris: Dover.

  Dun Alinni: Near present-day Kildare.

  Duranius: The River Dordogne.

  Durocotorum: Reims.

  Eboracum: York.

  Emain Macha: Seat of the principal Ulster kings, near present-day Armagh.

  Erin: Early Gaelic name of Ireland.

  Etruria: Tuscany and northern Latium.

  Euxinus: The Black Sea.

  Falernia: An area in Campania, noted for wine.

  Fanum Martis: Corseul.

  Gallia: Gaul, including France and parts of Belgium, Germany, and Switzerland.

  Gallia Aquitania: A province of Gaul, bounded approximately by the Atlantic Ocean and the Garonne and Loire Rivers.

  Gallia Lugdunensis: A province of Gaul, comprising most of what is now northern and a fair portion of central France.

  Gallia Narbonensis: A province in southwestern France.

  Garomagus: A town at or near present-day Douarnenez (hypothetical).

  Garumna: The River Garonne.

  German Sea (Oceanus Germanicus): The North Sea.

  Gesocribate: A seaport at or near the site of Brest.

  Gesoriacum: Boulogne.

  Goana: The River Goyen (hypothetical).

  Goat Foreland: Cap de la Chêvre (hypothetica
l).

  Gobaean Promontory (Promontorium Gobaeum): Cap Sizun.

  Hispania Tarraconensis: A province in the northeast and east of Spain.

  Hispania: Spain and Portugal.

  Histria: The area around what is now Trieste.

  Hivernia: Roman name of Ireland.

  Icenia: Norfolk and Suffolk.

  Illyricum: A Roman diocese (major administrative division) occupying, approximately, Greece and much of Yugoslavia.

  Ingena: Avranches.

  Isca Silurum: Caerleon

  Islands of Crows: The Channel Islands (hypothetical nickname).

  Jecta: The River Jet (hypothetical).

  Juliomagus: Angers.

  Lemovicium: Limoges.

  Liger: The River Loire.

  Liguria: A region of Italy including Lombardy and present day Liguria.

  Londinium: London.

  Lugdunensis: See Gallia Lugdunensis.

  Lugdunensis Tertia: A Roman province comprising northwestern France.

  Lugdunum: Lyons.

  Lugovallium: Carlisle.

  Lutetia Parisiorum: Paris (in part).

  Maedraecum: Médréac (hypothetical).

  Mag Slecht: A pagan sanctuary in County Cavan, Ireland.

  Maia: Bowness.

  Massilia: Marseilles.

  Mauretania: Northern Morocco.

  Mediolanum: Milan.

  Mide: A kingdom occupying present-day Counties Meath, Westmeath, and Longford, with parts of Kildare and Offaly, Ireland.

  Moguntiacum: Mainz.

  Mons Ferruginus: Mont Frugy (hypothetical).

  Mosella: The River Moselle (or Mosel).

  Mumu: Munster.

  Namnetum: See Portus Namnetum.

  Narbonensis: See Gallia Narbonensis.

  Neapolis: Naples.

  Nemetacum: Arras.

  Odita: The River Odet (hypothetical).

  Osismia: The country of the Osismii, in western Britanny.

  Osismiis: Later name of Vorgium (q.v.)

  Ossanuba: Faro, Portugal.

  Ossraige: A realm occupying the western part of Counties Laoighis and Kilkenny, Ireland.

  Pannonia: A Roman province occupying parts of Hungary, Austria, and Yugoslavia.

  Pergamum: A former kingdom in western Anatolia, eventually assimilated by Rome.

  Pictavum: Poitiers.

  Point Vanis: Pointe du Van (hypothetical).

  Portus Namnetum: Nantes (in part).

  Pyrenaei Mountains: The Pyrenees.

  Qóiqet Lagini: Leinster (in part).

  Qóiqet nUlat: Ulster.

  Race of Sena: Raz de Sein.

  Raetia (or Rhaetia): A Roman province occupying the eastern Alps and western Tyrol.

  Redonia: The country of the Redones, in eastern Brittany.

  Redonum: See Condate Redonum.

  Rhenus: The River Rhine.

  Rhodanus: The River Rhone.

  Roman Bay: Baie de Douarnenez (hypothetical).

  Rotomagus: Rouen.

  Ruirthech: The River Liffey.

  Sabrina: The River Severn.

  Samarobriva: Amiens.

  Savus: The River Drava.

  Scandia: The southern part of the Scandinavian peninsula.

  Scot’s Landing: A fisher hamlet near Ys (imaginary).

  Sena:Île de Sein.

  Sequana: The River Seine.

  Sinand: The River Shannon.

  Stag Run: An Osismiic village (imaginary).

  Stegir: The River Steir (hypothetical).

  Suebian Sea (Mare Suebicum): The Baltic Sea.

  Tallten: Teltown, in County Meath, Ireland.

  Tamesis: The River Thames.

  Tarraconensis: See Hispania Tarraconensis.

  Temir: Tara.

  Teutoburg Forest: Scene of a Roman military disaster at German hands in the reign of Augustus Caesar.

  Thracia: Thrace, occupying approximately the northeastern end of Greece, the northwestern end of Turkey, and a part of Bulgaria.

  Treverorum: See Augusta Treverorum.

  Turnacum: Tournay.

  Turonum: See Caesarodunum Turonum.

  Venetorum: See Darioritum Venetorum.

  Vienna: Vienne.

  Vindolanda: Chesterholm, at Hadrian’s Wall.

  Vindoval: An Osismiic village (imaginary).

  Vindovaria: A village in Britain (imaginary).

  Vorgium: Carhaix.

  Whalestrand: A fisher hamlet in western Britanny (imaginary).

  Ys: City-state at the far western end of Brittany (legendary).

  DRAMATIS PERSONAE

  Where characters are fictional or legendary, their names are in Roman lower case; where historical (in the opinion of most authorities), in Roman capitals; where of doubtful or debatable historicity, in italics. When a full name has not appeared in the text, it is generally not here either, for it was of no great importance even to the bearer.

  Adminius: A legionary from Londinium in Britannia, second in command (deputy) of Gratillonius’s detachment in Ys.

  Adruval Tyri: Sea Lord of Ys, head of the navy and marines.

  Aébell: A daughter of Cellach.

  Aed: A tuathal king in Munster.

  AETHBE: A wife of Niall (name conjectural).

  ALARIC: King of the Visigoths.

  Allil: A half-brother of Niall.

  Amair: A daughter of Fennalis by Hoel.

  AMBROSIUS: Bishop of Milan, today known as St. Ambrose.

  Amend: Second wife of Conual Corcc.

  Amreth Taniti: Commander of the surviving Ysan marines.

  Anmureg maqq Cerballi: A sea rover from Mide.

  Antonia: (1) A sister of Gratillonis; (2) Second daughter of Guilvilis and Gratillonius.

  Apuleius Vero: A senator in Aquilo and a tribune of the city.

  Arator: A Gallo-Roman prelate.

  Arban Cartagi: An Ysan Suffete, husband of Talavair, father of Korai.

  ARBOGAST: A Frankish general in the Roman army.

  ARCADIUS, FLAVIUS: A son of Theodosius and his successor as Augustus of the East.

  Ardens, Septimius Cornelius: Praetorian prefect of Gallia, Hispania, and Britannia.

  Arel: Father of Donnerch.

  Artorius: The former steward of the Gratillonius estate.

  Aryagalatis maqq Irgalato: King of Dál Riata in Alba.

  Audrenius: A Gallo-Roman dealer in fuel.

  Audris: Dauther of Innilis by Hoel.

  Augustina: Daughter of Vindilis and Gratillonius.

  AUSONIUS, DECIMUS MAGNUS: Gallo-Roman poet, scholar, teacher, and sometime Imperial officer.

  Avonis: Sister of Herun, eventually wife of Adminius.

  Bacca, Quintus Domitius: Procurator of Lugdunensis Tertia.

  Bannon: Headman of Dochaldun.

  Barak Tyri: A young man of Ys.

  Belcar: A legendary Ysan hero.

  Betha: Wife of Maeloch.

  Blodvin: Osismiic maidservant of Fennalis.

  Bodilis: A Queen of Ys; daughter of Tambilis by Wulfgar.

  Boia: A daughter of Lanarvilis by Hoel.

  Bolce Ben-bretnach: Mother of Conual Corcc.

  Bomatin Kusuri: A Suffete of Ys, a sea captain and Mariner delegate to the Council.

  Borsus: An Ysan.

  Bran maqq Anmerech: A hostelkeeper in Mide.

  Breccan maqq Nélli: Eldest son of Niall, killed in battle at Ys.

  Breifa: A female servant of Bodilis.

  Brennilis: Leader of the Gallicenae at the time of Julius and Augustus Caesar, responsible for the building of the sea wall and gate.

  Bresslan: A man of Carpre’s.

  BRICIUS: Successor of Martinus; known today as St. Brice.

  Briga: Osismiic maidservant of Forsquilis.

  Brión: A half-brother of Niall.

  Budic: A legionary in Gratillonius’s detachment at Ys, of the Coritanean tribe in Britain; killed by Gratillonius in combat at the Wood of the King.

  Cadoc Himilco: A young Ysan of Suffete fa
mily.

  Cael maqq Eriai: An ollam poet at Niall’s court.

  Calloch: A Gaul, former King of Ys, father of Fennalis and Morvanalis.

  CALVINUS: An agent of Maximus’s secret police.

  CALPURNIUS: Father of Sucat.

  Camilla: (1) A sister of Gratillonius; (2) Third daughter of Guilvilis and Gratillonius.

  Carenn: Mother of Niall.

  Carpre maqq Nélli: A son of Niall.

  Carsa, Aulus Metellus: A young Gallo-Roman seaman from Burdigala, stationed in Ys; killed by Gratillonius in combat at the Wood of the King.

  Carsa, Tiberius Metellus: A Gallo-Roman sea captain, father of the above.

  Cata: A female worker at the Apuleius manor house.

  Catellan: A Ysan.

  Cathual: Charioteer to Niall.

  Catto: A fisherman from Whalestrand.

  Catualorig: A former Bacauda.

  Cellach maqq Blathmaic: The hostelkeeper at Clón Tarui.

  Cernach maqq Durthact: A merchant skipper of Munster.

  Childeric: A son of Merowech.

  Chramn: A Frankish warrior.

  Cian: A name used by Dahut.

  Claudia: A woman mentioned by Eucherius.

  Clothair: A Frank settled in the Redonic canton; father of Chramn.

  Colconor: A Gaul, King of Ys at the time of Gratillonius’s arrival; slain by Gratillonius.

  Commius: A Romano-Brittanic senator.

  CONCHESSA: Niece of Martinus and mother of Sucat.

  CONSTANTINUS, CONSTANS: Elder son of Flavius Claudius Constantinus.

  CONSTANTINUS, FLAVIUS CLAUDIUS: A Roman army officer in Britannia, later a usurper known as CONSTANTINUS III.

  CONSTANTINUS, JULIANUS: Younger son of Flavius Claudius Constantinus.

  CONUAL CORCC MAQQ LUGTHACI: Principal king in Mumu, founder of the kingdom at Cashel.

  Conual Gulban maqq Nélli: A son of Niall.

  Corbmaqq (later Cormac): An ancestor of Niall, remembered to this day as having reigned gloriously.

  Corentinus: A holy man, chorepiscopus at Ys, later bishop of Confluentes and Aquilo, known today as St. Corentin.

  Coriran: A swineherd in Munster.

  Cothortin Rosmertai: Lord of Works in Ys, head of civil service.

  Cotta: A Mithraist in Vienne.

  Craumthan maqq Fidaci: Brother of Mongflnd, successor to King Eochaid maqq Muredach.

  CUNEDAG: A leader of the Votadini, settled in Western Britannia to be an ally of Rome.

  Cynan: (1)A legionary in Gratillonius’s detachment at Ys, of the Demetic tribe in Britain, and a convert to Mithraisim; (2) A centurion in Constantinus’s army.