by Peter Fox
Sognefjorden
The longest fjord in Norway (and second longest in the world), cutting 205 kilometres (127 miles) inland from the Atlantic Ocean. It is exceptionally deep for much of its length: at around 1,000 metres (3,300 ft). Anything lost overboard is definitely not going to be retrieved.
Tonetun
The Anglo-Saxon name for Taunton, in present-day Somerset. OE, meaning town on the River Tone.
Werham
Werham is the Saxon name for the settlement know known as Wareham on the Dorest coast. The name is derived from: wer (meaning ‘fish trap, a weir’) and hām (‘homestead’) or hamm (‘enclosure hemmed in by water’). OE.
Wiltun
Important Saxon monastic town on the River Wylye, modern name Wilton, Wiltshire. Wiltun Abbey was founded in AD 771 and quickly rose to prominence and prosperity.
Winburne
Important Saxon monastic town in Wessex, modern name Wimborne. The Minster is dedicated to Saint Cuthburga (who was sister to Ine, King of Wessex and wife of Aldfrith, King of Northumbria), who founded a Benedictine abbey of nuns at the site of the present-day minster in c.705.
Wintanceaster
Capital of the Saxon kingdom of Wessex (and later all of England). There has been a settlement on this site for millennia. It came to prominence during the Roman Era, when it was named Venta Belgarum. It was later renamed by the Saxon settlers to Wintanceaster, with the ‘ceaster’ suffix being the Saxon word for ‘former Roman fort’. The city has retained its Saxon name (with a minor spelling alteration) as present-day Winchester. OE.
Worgemynster
Old Saxon name for present-day Warminster, Wiltshire. Also recorded in some texts as Worgemynstre. OE.
Glossary of Terms
Warning: These notes contain information which may spoil the reader’s enjoyment of the books if read in advance of the story. You are advised to consult only those words in the glossary relevant to the passage you are currently reading. You will also find plenty of other information – including more background to the characters, the Viking Age, and the inspiration for this series – at: www.wolvesofdumnonia.com
ON = Old Norse. OE = Old English (Anglo-Saxon). L = Latin.
Name or term
Description
Aegir
The ill-tempered Lord of the Ocean, God of the sea. Married to the Goddess Ran and father to the Nine Daughters (who are in turn representations of different aspects of the sea). The bringer of storms and big seas, Aegir lives in an underwater hall and from time to time rises to the surface to wreck ships and drag their crews back down to the bottom. Captains and crews make offerings to Aegir prior to a voyage to ensure a safe passage. On some Viking raids, a human sacrifice in the form of a captive might be offered. As with so much of Norse Mythology, Aegir’s negative forces are balanced by another Sea God, Njord, the bringer of good weather and calm seas. ON.
Aesir
The collective name for many of the principal Norse gods and goddesses, including Odin, Thor, Frigg, Tyr, Loki, Baldur, Heimdall, Idun, and Bragi. The Aesir live in their heavenly domain, Asgard. ON.
Ætheling
Saxon title of nobility, meaning “crown prince” or heir to the throne. OE.
Althing
Also ‘Thing’. The annual assembly of free men in the fjordlands (and indeed all of Scandinavia), presided over by a Lawspeaker. One of the principal functions of the assembly was to provide a forum in which disputes of law could be aired and settled, political and commercial deals made, and where laws and rules themselves were created and amended by a majority vote of the freemen. It also tended to be the most important social event of the Norse calendar, when all the farmers, traders, craftsmen, storytellers and travellers of the region congregated at the ‘Thingvoll’ (the ‘assembly fields’). They usually ran for many days, and often included contests, games and sometimes quite punishing initiation ceremonies for boys who had declared themselves ready to make the passage into manhood. The Icelandic parliament, founded in 930AD, is still known as the Althing, and as such claims to be the oldest continuously functioning parliament in the world. ON.
Anglo-Saxon
See entry for ‘Saxon’ below.
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle is an ancient collection of annals written in Old English that recount the history of the Anglo-Saxons. The original manuscript of the Chronicle was created late in the 9th century, most probably in Wessex, during the reign of Alfred the Great (r. 871–899). The Chronicle is arguably one of the most important source documents for scholars studying the Anglo-Saxon and Viking periods in British history. It is especially important because (from Alfred’s time at least) it was a mostly contemporary account of the major political and religious events of the day.
Asgard
One of the nine Norse realms, Asgard is located in the highest, sunniest branches of the world-tree Yggdrasil. It is home to the Aesir community of Gods. Valhalla, the ‘hall of the slain’ is located here. It lies on a plane above Midgard (realm of the mortal humans), and the two are connected by a magical rainbow bridge called Bifrost. ON.
Bacraut
ON slang meaning ‘arsehole.’
Bairn
‘Baby.’ This is actually the Scottish spelling, from the original ON ‘barn.’
Baldur
(Also ‘Baldr’, ‘Balder’) Norse God of light, joy, purity, and the summer sun. Baldur is the son of the god Odin and goddess Frigg. He has numerous brothers, including Thor. He is known for his exceptional beauty in both spirit and body, being handsome, strong, gracious, cheerful and just. The perfect man, some might say. ON.
Bardisby
ON, literally ‘Bardi’s home.’ See ‘By’ below.
Beck
From Norse 'bekkr', meaning stream. ON.
Berserker
Berserkers (or Berserks) were much-feared champion Norse warriors who are said to have fought in a trance-like fury, a characteristic which later gave rise to the English word berserk. They would charge into battle with no armour (‘bare-chested’), sometimes wearing animal pelts (bear and wolf being common). There is therefore some debate about the literal Norse meaning: either ‘bare-skin’, ‘bare of shield’, or ‘bear-skin.’ ON.
Bićće
OE profanity: ‘bitch.’
Brazier
A container, usually fashioned from iron and often with legs, intended to hold a fire. Normally found in large spaces such as halls, they are designed to provide both heat and light. They were used by all peoples across Europe during the Viking age and beyond (you will find them in beer gardens even today) and come in a multitude of shapes and sizes.
The braziers used on Sigvald’s ship were about the size of a large bucket, made from iron and standing at about hip height on three legs. Being fashioned in such a way that heat could escape from the sides as well as the top, they were not particularly safe, as burning wood and embers could fall onto the floor or deck.
Breiddjame
ON profanity: ‘son of a whore.’
Burh / Burg
OE word meaning fortified place or fort. Also spelt ‘Burg’ in some sources. A modern town name that contains the element burg, burgh, bury or borough hints at a fortified past.
By / Byr
ON word meaning ‘farmstead,’ ‘hamlet,’ or ‘village,’ but can also be applied to larger settlements. In virtually all cases it appears as a suffix to a name, such as ‘Sigvaldsby,’ meaning: ‘Sigvald’s place.’ In England, there are thousands of place names ending in ‘by’ which indicates a Scandinavian origin or influence.
Byre
Not to be confused with the Norse word ‘byr’, a byre is a building in which farm animals are housed, particularly cattle. Strictly speaking it is actually a British term, meaning ‘cowshed.’ An equivalent Norse word is ‘hlaða,’ meaning barn.
Charcoal-eater
A disparaging term used by the Vikings to describe a person who prefers the sa
fety of home life rather than choosing the more glorious (and manly) path to raiding and fighting. The charcoal refers to the coals of the hearthfire to which the coward is unhealthily attached. A home-boy. ON.
Charlemagne
King of the Franks (born 742AD), ruler of the Carolingian Empire (769 to 814) and Light of the West, Charles the Great (or Charlemagne) was a high point in the otherwise bleak Dark Ages of Europe. He established the Holy Roman Empire and brought stability and learning to Europe. His Royal seat was in Aachen (present day Germany), and the kingdom extended across most of what is present day France (which takes its name from the Franks), Belgium and parts of Germany.
Dale
From Norse 'dalr', meaning valley. ON.
Daufi
ON slang meaning ‘stupid.’
Drakkar
ON meaning ‘dragon ship’ (a posh longship).
Draug
ON name for a monster of the night; an undead creature possessing superhuman strength, often guarding a treasure hoard. Plural = draugar.
Drittsekk
Old Norse slang, literally meaning ‘bag of shit.’ Our equivalent is ‘scumbag.’
Ealdorman
Anglo-Saxon term. An Ealdorman was a high-status individual in Saxon times, appointed by the king as his representative. They were originally drawn mostly from ancient and powerful families and commanded armies on behalf of the king. Thegns (a lower rank) served the Ealdormen.
Easter heresy
Also known these days by the less-divisive term ‘Easter Controversy,’ this refers to the ever-moving event that is Easter Sunday. This important day in the Christian Calendar generally falls on a different date every year, and in the case of some branches of Christianity, even a different date in the same year. I won’t go into detail here, other than to say that arguments between different Christian denominations about how to calculate the date of Easter Sunday have been ongoing for more than 1,700 years and remain unresolved to this day. In the context of the Wolves saga, the Celtic Church (followed by the Dumnonians) disagrees with their Saxon (Roman) Church counterparts on the setting of the date, and the West Saxons (who of course believe they are right) claim that their British counterparts are therefore heretics. These are sufficient grounds for war and invasion.
Equerry
An officer of the household of a prince or noble who has charge over the stables. Actually a medieval French term, probably derived from Latin ‘Equus’ (horse).
Ergi
Norse word (definitely a slur) describing the recipient of a homosexual act. Homosexuality was at best frowned upon in Scandinavian culture during the Viking Age, but one thing we do know from the writings preserved in the sagas is that being the recipient of a homosexual act was a cause for severe derision; not because it was seen as perverted, but because it was regarded as the ultimate act of submission. That Viking raiders earned a reputation in history for raping and pillaging was for good reason: according to the sagas it was perfectly acceptable for a Viking man to rape both women and men during a raid, as this was considered a powerful demonstration to their victims that they had been well and truly vanquished. (A number of coarse phrases still used today are derived from this act). Such sexual humiliation of enemies was one of the less pleasant characteristics of Norse culture, so any man who chose to be humiliated in such a way by another man was seen as cowardly, submissive, unfit to be a leader, and likely to be easily subverted by an enemy. However, it does appear to have been acceptable or at least tolerable for a gay Viking to have kept male slaves for sexual gratification, provided two requirements were met: (1) the slaves were the recipients of their master’s bidding (and not the other way around); and (2) the man nevertheless married and had children; the latter being very important in Norse society.
Fæn ta deg
ON profanity, literally meaning ‘the devil take you!’, or more crudely, ‘f*ck you!’ ON.
Færing
ON word for an open rowing boat with two pairs of oars, sometimes carrying a removable mast and sail. (ON = ‘Four-oared’).
Feilan
Wolf cub. ON.
Fell
Norse word for ‘mountain.’ Still used today by Cumbrians to describe the mountains in the English Lake District. From ON ‘fjall’.
Fenrir
The most fearsome of the Norse wolven monsters, father of the wolves Sköll and Hati. He is the ‘great devourer,’ who, at the commencement of Ragnarök, breaks free of his bonds and runs throughout the world with his lower jaw against the ground and his upper jaw in the sky, consuming everything in his path. He kills the god Odin before finally being killed himself by one of Odin’s avenging sons, Víðarr. ON = “Fen-dweller.”
Fjándinn
ON word meaning ‘foe’, or ‘the enemy’.
Fjord
ON word describing a long, deep, narrow seawater inlet with steep sides or cliffs, originally created by a glacier scouring a pathway through the landscape to the sea. When the ice melted and the glaciers retreated, the gouges filled with seawater to create the fjords. The entire west coast of Norway is deeply cut by fjords (many of which pierce scores of kilometres inland), resulting in a unique and spectacular landscape. Sognefjorden, where Rathulf and the main players in this book live, is exceedingly deep at 1,308m (4,291 feet), and stretches just over 200 kilometres inland from its mouth. On the other side of the world, the South Island of New Zealand also boasts a smaller number of similarly impressive fjords, as does Chile.
Fjordlands
In this series of novels, the area that comprises the southwestern edge of Norway, stretching from modern-day Stavanger north up to Trondheim. In Rathulf’s day, anything beyond Trondheim was so cold, remote and full of monsters that no one with any sense would venture there.
Fletching
The feathers on the tail of an arrow.
Fostri / Fostra
ON word for Foster-father and foster-mother respectively. Fostering of teenagers was very common in the Viking Age.
Fyrd
An early Anglo-Saxon term, describing an army that was mobilised by the local Lord from amongst his freemen to defend their estate or shire in times of trouble or war. The Saxon Kings had their own fyrd too, who were select representatives from the higher levels of Saxon society and who would join him on royal expeditions.
Garth / garð
ON word meaning a fenced yard or clearing, often enclosing a dwelling.
Geck
ON word meaning ‘fool’, ‘idiot’, ‘imbecile’.
Geri and Freki
Two wolven companions of the great Norse God Odin. (ON, meaning ‘greedy one’ and ‘ravenous one’ respectively). Generally good omens, and called upon in battle to lend a Viking warrior strength and vigour.
Göll
One of the Valkyries, whose name means “Tumult” or “battle noise”. ON.
Grisskítr
ON profanity, meaning ‘hogshit.’ ON.
Gryphon
Also spelt Griffin or Griffon. A mythical beast: half-lion, half eagle. Commonly seen in medieval coats of arms, including Sherborne’s.
Hávamál
ON word meaning “sayings of the high one.” Attributed to Odin, the Hávamál is a collection of Norse poems from Viking Age Iceland. They are effectively Norse proverbs, providing advice about good living, proper conduct and other general wisdom about how to be a good Viking.
Heimskingi
ON word meaning ‘idiot’ or ‘simpleton.’
Hel
The Goddess of death who presides over a realm of the same name; the place where people who die of old age and sickness go. Her face and upper body are those of a living woman’s, but her thighs and legs are those of a corpse’s, mottled and mouldering or rotting away. Hence the curse ‘may you rot between Hel’s thighs.’ ON.
Hestkuk
ON slur literally meaning ‘horse cock.’
Hnefatafl
Probably the most popular Viking board
game of Rathulf’s time, ‘hnefatafl,’ or just ‘tafl,’ was a strategy game played on a latticed board which featured two opposing armies of warriors, in which the king and his guard start in the centre of the board, and the opposing army–who outnumber his force by 2 to 1–surround him. The king’s objective is to escape to one of the board’s corners, whilst the surrounding army’s aim is to capture him. The name ‘hnefatafl’ possibly derives from “board game of the fist”, from hnefi (“fist”) + tafl (“board game”) where “fist” refers to the central king-piece. ON.
Hodr / Hod
The blind God of Winter. ON.
Huglausi
Cowardly. ON.
Jævela
ON profanity: ‘f**king.’
Járnsaxa
A particularly fearsome Jötunn giantess, who seduces the God Thor. ON.
Jötunheim
ON, literally meaning “land of the giants”.
Jörmungand
ON, literally meaning “huge monster”, Jörmungand is a giant sea-serpent, the most feared of all sea-monsters, who in Norse mythology is so large that he encircles the earth and grasps his tail in his mouth. It is said that when he releases his tail, Ragnarök (the great battle at the end of everything) will begin. Jörmungand is an arch-enemy of the God Thor.
