Forget 1066, the kings featured here forged England during 100 years of Viking chaos 850-950. Vikings over-wintered in England for the first time in 850. Twelve years later Harald Fairhair is born to a regional Norwegian. Young Harald battles through all of Norway becoming its first king. Alfred the Great saves Wessex from Viking invaders. His son Edward the Elder pushes the Vikings back into northern England. Athelstan, Edward's son, becomes the first King of England in 927 and, routing Irish Vikings and Scots in England's bloodiest battle at Brunanburh in 937, his dominance is complete. Eric Bloodaxe succeeds his father becoming Norway's second king. However, Harald had fostered his youngest son Hakon with Athelstan who backs Hakon's challenge for Norway. Eric is overthrown and Hakon becomes third King of Norway. Eric flees to Britain where England's third king, Edred, allows him the throne in York. Eric soon loses that crown yet four years later he becomes King in York for a second time. In 954 Eric is slaughtered in an ambush in Cumbria. There will be no more kings in York. A 100-year Game of Thrones as kings rise and fall around the North Sea. AUTHOR: R. A. J. Waddingham is a retired consulting actuary and an Honorary Fellow of Royal Holloway, University of London. He was awarded a CBE in the Birthday Honours of 2012 for services to pensions. In 2019 he completed a Graduate Certificate in Historical Research, with merit, at Birkbeck, University of London. b/w illustrations
