The ⚔️Battle of Brunanburh

[Rivendell_librarian]

I'm reading a fascinating history of Anglo-Saxon England and it included part of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle: a work I'm sure JRRT would have known well

In this year, King Æthelstan, lord of earls,
ring-giver of warriors, and his brother as well,
Eadmund ætheling achieved everlasting glory
in battle, with the edges of swords
near Brunanburh. They cleaved the massed shields,
hewed the battle-wood, the relics of hammers,
of the heir of Eadweard, as it suited
their heritage, so that they often in battle
defended their lands, treasures, and homesteads
against every one of the hateful

from Battle of Brunanburh (ASC)
I haven't found out what giving rings meant to Athelstan beyond the obvious one of demonstrating his wealth and power to his ealdormen.

Also, is it reasonable to think that Rohan has an Anglo-Saxon character and Gondor a Norman character, based on the personal names?

Another fascinating thing is that historians don't know where the battle took place even though it is hugely significant in British history.

 

[Olorgando]

Also, is it reasonable to think that Rohan has an Anglo-Saxon character and Gondor a Norman character, based on the personal names?

The names of the Rohirrim may be their strongest link to the Anglo-Saxons; there are others. For other aspects, JRRT did some borrowing from Beowulf, in the name of Theoden's mead-hall Meduseld. If I recall Shippey correctly, the description of the hall recalls that of Hrothgar's hall Heorot, while the name itself is that of Beowulf's own hall in Geatland. For the one thing the Anglo-Saxons were not famous for, cavalry, I've read a suggestion that one needs to add the Goths to the mixture. JRRT was fascinated by the Gothic language, giving Gothic names to the Northmen allies (and ancestors of the Rohirrim) of Gondor.

I'm not nearly familiar enough with specifically Norman names to make a judgement on that topic. But given JRRT's decidedly unsympathetic views on the Norman invasion of 1066 and its consequences, I doubt he'd bring in things Norman into his depiction of Gondor. Perhaps the Corsairs of Umbar, specifically their Black Númenórean leadership, have a faint echo of the Normans. At various times (mainly in his letters) he attributed Ancient Egyptian or Byzantine characteristics (as he understood them) to the Gondorians - Byzantine not meant as a compliment, by the way. First and foremost, the Gondorians were JRRT's "Atlanteans" - the remnant in exile, to be sure. He always took suggestions from mythologies, legends, and history, and then adjusted these bits and pieces to fit into his own legendarium of Middle-earth.

 

[Eldacar]

I haven't found out what giving rings meant to Athelstan beyond the obvious one of demonstrating his wealth and power to his ealdormen.

"In conclusion, it is clear that the numbers of rings, both inscribed and uninscribed, that remain from Anglo-Saxon England is not large. This does not accord well with the frequent references in Old English poetry to rings and ring-giving. These poetic references to the giving of rings may then be primarily a literary convention, rather than a description of actual Anglo-Saxon practice." Source

But even as a poetic reference it seems to indicate generosity, wealth and power. So the obvious one, seems to be the right one in this case.

 

[TrackerOrc]

I'm reading a fascinating history of Anglo-Saxon England and it included part of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle: a work I'm sure JRRT would have known well


from Battle of Brunanburh (ASC)
I haven't found out what giving rings meant to Athelstan beyond the obvious one of demonstrating his wealth and power to his ealdormen.

Also, is it reasonable to think that Rohan has an Anglo-Saxon character and Gondor a Norman character, based on the personal names?

Another fascinating thing is that historians don't know where the battle took place even though it is hugely significant in British history.

The village of Bromborough in the Wirral peninsula (north west UK, just over the river Mersey from Liverpool) always claims to be the site of the battle, presumably on the basis of the name similarity; I don't think any actual evidence of the battle site has ever been found though.