The Battle of Maldon

by Anonymous, Bill Griffiths

Text and translation of the Anglo-Saxon poem.

Genres: Poetry, Medieval, Classics, History, British Literature, War, Anglo Saxon

89 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1090

About the author

Books can be attributed to "Anonymous" for several reasons:

* They are officially published under that name
* They are traditional stories not attributed to a specific author
* They are religious texts not generally attributed to a specific author

Books whose authorship is merely uncertain should be attributed to Unknown.

See also: Anonymous

Reviews

[Markus · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Battle of Maldon
Composed in approx. 1100 AD

This narrative poetry right away made me think of « The Song of Roland.»

Taking my copy off the shelve, I went to compare the dates of these historical events that became legendary-related poetry.

The battle in which Roland died took place in the Pyrenees Mountains on 15th August 778 AD
The action of Maldon in which Byrhtnoth died, took place on the 10th or 11th of August 991 AD.

The text relating to Roland’s legend was composed in the Anglo-Norman language in approx. 1080
The book of The Battle of Maldon was written in Old English in the time from 991 to approx. 1100

The style in both stories is a surprisingly straightforward narrative, in a vivid and realistic verse, recreating the ‘action before your eyes.'

The main subject in both stories is the death in the battle of the commanders and the undaunted suicidal courage of the bodyguards.

The background of the battles and the characters of the heroes are different.

Roland died because one of Charlemagne's barons had betrayed him. He fell, but his bodyguard stayed with the hero until the last one was brought down next to him.


Byrhtnoth died because he had employed a wrong battle strategy, for reasons that can be understood as pride, overconfidence, or arrogance.

In the geographic situation before the battle, the two armies were face to face but separated by a wet marchland with a narrow passable wood path in low tide.

The Vikings could not attack unless they could pass the water. And not in a broad front.
It seems that the Vikings succeeded in provoking Byrhtnoth’s pride to allow them to cross the water to fight a noble battle.

Byrhtnoth's army was now outnumbered, and disaster followed. Half of his troops fled from the field.
When the commander was slain only his bodyguard stayed with his body and died to the last one.

Historical battles have been fought in great numbers, but only the battles turned into legends by ancient bards have reached our time.

The Battle of Maldon (mein Resümée auf Deutsch)
Die Schlacht von Maldon ist ein episches Gedicht, das ungefähr im Jahr 1100 n. Chr. verfasst wurde. Es erinnerte mich sofort an "Das Rolandslied" ("The Song of Roland").
Ich nahm mein Exemplar aus dem Regal und verglich die Daten dieser historischen Ereignisse, die zu legendären Dichtungen wurden.
Die Schlacht, in der Roland starb, fand am 15. August 778 n. Chr. in den Pyrenäen statt. Die Schlacht von Maldon, in der Byrhtnoth starb, fand am 10. oder 11. August 991 n. Chr. statt.
Der Text über die Legende von Roland wurde in der anglo-normannischen Sprache um 1080 verfasst. Das Buch zur Schlacht von Maldon wurde im Altenglischen zwischen 991 und ungefähr 1100 geschrieben.
Der Stil in beiden Geschichten ist überraschend geradlinig und erzählt in lebendiger und realistischer Verseform, um die "Aktion vor den Augen" des Lesers lebendig werden zu lassen.
Das Hauptthema in beiden Geschichten ist der Tod der Anführer im Kampf und der unbeugsame, selbstmörderische Mut ihrer Leibwachen.
Der Hintergrund der Schlachten und die Charaktere der Helden unterscheiden sich jedoch.
Roland starb, weil einer von Karl dem Großen's Baronen ihn verraten hatte. Er fiel, aber seine Leibwache blieb beim Helden, bis der letzte von ihnen neben ihm niedergestreckt wurde.
Byrhtnoth starb, weil er eine falsche Schlachtstrategie angewendet hatte, aus Gründen, die als Stolz, Überheblichkeit oder Arroganz interpretiert werden können.
Vor der Schlacht standen sich die beiden Armeen gegenüber, getrennt durch ein sumpfiges Marschland mit einem schmalen, passierbaren Holzweg bei Ebbe.
Die Wikinger konnten nicht angreifen, es sei denn, sie konnten das Wasser überqueren, und das nicht in einer breiten Front. Es scheint, dass es den Wikingern gelungen ist, Byrhtnoths Stolz zu provozieren und sie dazu zu bringen, das Wasser zu überqueren, um einen edlen Kampf zu führen.
Byrhtnoths Armee war nun in der Unterzahl, und es folgte eine Katastrophe. Die Hälfte seiner Truppen floh vom Schlachtfeld. Als der Kommandant getötet wurde, blieb nur seine Leibwache bei seinem Körper und starb bis zum letzten Mann.
Historische Schlachten wurden in großer Zahl geschlagen, aber nur die Schlachten, die von antiken Barden zu Legenden wurden, haben unsere Zeit erreicht.

[Adam McPhee · Rating 3 out of 5]

The son of Ecglaf, his name was Æscferth:
Ne'er wavered hé in that play of war,
But he hastened forth many a dart;
At times shot on shield, at times killed a chief,
Ever and anon inflicted some wound,
The while that he weapon was able to wield.
Then still in front stood Edward the long,
Ready and eager; boastingly said
That hé would not flee a foot-breadth of land,
Backwards withdraw, when his better lay dead:
Broke he the shield-wall and fought 'gainst the warriors,
Till hé his ring-giver upón the seamen
Worthily avenged, ere he lay on the field.

[Zadignose]

An interesting little snippet. I didn't read 96 pages. I read four or five, or whatever the length of the actual poem is... in translation of course.

Brave Anglo-Saxon Dude makes the mistake of allowing the Danes to cross a river so they can join in battle, Earl bravely dies, some cowards run away and create chaos (one rode the Earl's horse to flee, and some soldiers believed the Earl himself to be fleeing), while the bravest commit themselves to die in the effort to avenge their fallen hero.

Stop.

[The beginning and ending of the poem don't exist anymore, so we have a somewhat exciting and intriguing bit of heroic verse in which heroes always remember to proclaim their philosophy, urge one another to battle, or otherwise turn their actions into poignant meaning as they soon suffer the shattering of their soul-houses.]

Apparently the most quoted line is: "Thought must be the harder, heart be the keener,
mind must be the greater, while our strength lessens," spoken by Byrhtwold before he hewed and humbled the Vikings on his own way to death.

The most debated point about the poem and the translation is about the degree to which the poem is critical of the Earl's decision to allow the Danes to cross the river. J.R.R. Tolkien apparently said that when the Earl "left too much land" to a hostile people, this of course meant that any amount of land was too much, and that sounds like a fair argument.

[Ismael Lazreg M · Rating 2 out of 5]

el año pasado me pareció una mierda

este año también

[Geneviève Flanagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, 5 stars for the great Anglo-Saxon vocab lesson ( and for calling Vikings “Sea-Men”)

[Les Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot justify how anybody can give a negative rating for a poem that has survived over 1000 years, or even having the audacity to review it.

[mar ⭐️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

fighting blood death arggghhh

[Jordy Alava · Rating 5 out of 5]

This poem (particularly translated by Jonathan A. Gleen, 1982) is so vivid and sharp due to the specificity in every verse. I'm so in love with how much a poem can make you feel that I want to take a course, or something similar, in order to understand this in a more academic manner.

[Cecilie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve 100% found a new love for the battle of maldon since being at UCD, the apocalyptic way of looking at this work got me even more excited about it. That, and the fact that the vikings are in there… even if they’re the bad guys.

[Bettie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Title: Elene; Judith; Athelstan, or the Fight at Brunanburh; Byrhtnoth, or the Fight at Maldon; and the Dream of the Rood
Anglo-Saxon Poems

Author: Anonymous

Translator: James M. Garnett

Release Date: May 23, 2005 [EBook #15879]

Language: English

Read here: http://www.gutenberg.org/catalog/worl...

ELENE.

I. Constantine sees the vision of the rood 1

II. Constantine is victorious, the sign is explained, and he is
baptized 4

III. Helena sets out on her journey in search of the cross, and
arrives at Jerusalem 7

IV. Helena summons an assembly of the Jews learned in the law,
and addresses them 10

V. The Jews consult apart, and Judas states the object of the
Empress 13

VI. Judas gives the Jews the information derived from his
father and grandfather 16

VII. The Jews at first refuse to act, but finally deliver up
Judas to the Empress 19

VIII. Judas stubbornly denies all knowledge of the matter, but
after imprisonment without food consents to speak 21

IX. They proceed to Calvary, and Judas offers a prayer for
guidance 24

X. A smoke arises, Judas digs and finds three crosses. Test of
the true cross 27

XI. The fiend laments that he is overcome. Judas replies to him 30

XII. Helena announces the discovery to Constantine, who orders a
church to be built on the spot. Judas is baptized 32

XIII. Judas is ordained bishop of Jerusalem, and his name is
changed to Cyriacus. Helena longs to recover the nails.
Judas prays, digs, and finds them 35

XIV. The nails are made into a bit for Constantine's horse.
Helena admonishes all to obey Cyriacus and returns home 38

XV. The writer reflects on his work, records his name; and
refers to the future judgment 41

IX. Holofernes prepares a banquet 44

X. Holofernes and his guests carouse. Judith is brought to his
tent. Holofernes enters and falls on his bed in a drunken
sleep. Judith prays for help, and cuts off the head of
Holofernes 45

XI. Judith returns with the head of Holofernes to Bethulia. The
people meet her in crowds. She exhorts the warriors to
sally forth at dawn. They fall upon the Assyrians 49

XII. The Assyrians discover the death of Holofernes and become
panic-stricken. The Hebrews pursue them in flight, plunder
the slain, and bestow upon Judith the arms and treasure of
Holofernes 53

ATHELSTAN, OR THE FIGHT AT BRUNANBURH.

Athelstan and Edmund, with their West-Saxons and Mercians,
slaughter the Scots and Northmen. Constantine and his Scots flee
to their homes in the North. Anlaf and his Northmen flee across
the sea to Dublin. Athelstan and Edmund return home in triumph,
and leave the corpses to the raven, the eagle, and the wolf 57



BYRHTNOTH, OR THE FIGHT AT MALDON.

Byrhtnoth and his East-Saxons are drawn up on the bank of the
Panta. The wikings' herald demands tribute. Byrhtnoth angrily
offers arms for tribute. Wulfstan defends the bridge. Byrhtnoth
proudly permits the wikings to cross. The fight rages. Byrhtnoth
is wounded. He slays the foe. He is wounded again. He prays to
God to receive his soul, and is hewn down by the heathen men.
Godric flees on Byrhtnoth's horse. His brothers follow him.
Ælfwine encourages the men to avenge the death of their lord. So
does Offa, who curses Godric. Leofsunu will avenge his lord or
perish. Dunnere also. Others follow their example. Offa is slain
and many warriors. The fight still rages. The aged Byrhtwold
exhorts them to be the braver as they become the fewer. So does
another Godric, not he who fled. 60

THE DREAM OF THE ROOD.

In the middle of the night the writer beholds the vision of a
cross decked with gold and jewels, but soiled with blood.
Presently the cross speaks and tells how it was hewn and set up
on a mount. Almighty God ascended it to redeem mankind. It bent
not, but the nails made grievous wounds, and it was moistened
with blood. All creation wept. The corse was placed in a
sepulchre of brightest stone. The crosses were buried, but the
thanes of the Lord raised it begirt with gold and silver, and it
should receive honor from all mankind. The Lord of Glory honored
it, who arose for help to men, and shall come again with His
angels to judge each one of men. Then they will fear and know not
what to say, but no one need fear who bears in his heart the best
of beacons. The writer is ready for his journey, and directs his
prayer to the rood. His friends now dwell in glory, and the rood
of the Lord will bring him there where he may partake of joy with
the saints. The Lord redeemed us, His Son was victorious, and
with a band of spirits entered His heavenly home 71

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This poem is entirely worth the effort of acquiring a bit of Anglo-Saxon to get more of the flavor of the original text. There are (or what feel like) a million synonyms for spear, sword, shield and Viking. The good news is that modern English has more in common with Anglo-Saxon that you might think.

The excellent Cambridge Old English Reader by R. Marsden has an exceptionally well done version of the poem for Anglo-Saxon noobies buried in it. (And I am definitely a noobie.)

[Didier "Dirac Ghost" Gaulin · Rating 3 out of 5]

At the very border between reality and myth, this text echoes the struggles of a people against the Vikings, a tale of courage and virtue, which seems more fictitious as time goes by, since, in modernity, we seem to have lost, to some degree, some of the brightness of a flame that used to reside in the people of old. The end of this poem is sadly lost to the vicissitudes of time, man seems to care to preserve when it has become too late.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice light read to start the year with. I'm not going to do an exhaustive review. I always find it difficult to review these early works. I will say that enjoyed it a lot. I looked at a couple of different translations (including Tolkien's version) to compare the language, etc. It's probably not everyone's cup of tea, but if you like poetry about Vikings battling Saxons, this is for you.

[Lucas De Mec · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es impresionante que, a pesar de que el principio y el final no nos llegue, el texto comience y termine de manera tan potente. El reconocimiento de la lealtad y la declaración de la cobardía, en una composición en anillo fallida y lograda al mismo tiempo.

[Ginny Darke · Rating 3 out of 5]

some sweet kennings idk what else :0

[Emma]

Note to self: a translated version was read, not the original old English.

[Almudena_am · Rating 3 out of 5]

3'8⭐

[Luke Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspiring but tragic

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Great poem on courage. Will definitely save it for our Anglo-Saxon curriculum in the future.

[Lisa of Troy]

Old English Literature Recommended Reading List by Benjamin McEvoy in How to Get an Oxford Education from Free: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1Q2J...

[Ludovica 💌]

That last line is so badass

[Angela Randall]

We have this as part of an anthology by Kevin Crossley-Holland: The Anglo-Saxon World: An Anthology.

[Kayla]

loved it

[Cynthia Roman · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was short but very good!

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to read this as part of a class, but I found the poem more enjoyable than I thought it would be. It's interesting from a language perspective and an enjoyable read.

[Care · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this piece. The themes of loyalty to one's lord and to your fellow warriors were great. This was a great historical account that supplements my class learning.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's sad that this old English epic poem exists only as a fragment, having been damaged in a fire in 1731...too bad the owner did not have the foresight to have it copied.

[Lulu]

c. 991 - late 11th (more likely)

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in my Brit Lit class (best class ever) and we recreated it. Good times