List of Characters
Book 2: A Thrall’s Crown
Characters are grouped firstly by the location with which the person is associated in the story, and then in alphabetical order by first name. Surnames were rare in the early medieval period, and instead people tended to be known for a notable physical characteristic (e.g. ‘ravenhair’ or ‘lame-legged’) or given a nickname (e.g. ‘troll-tamer’). This was especially common amongst the Norse, and nicknames were often amusing. A person might also be described by their role/profession or their place of residence (e.g. ‘Robert the smith’, or ‘Robert of Wilcote’). Alternatively, they might also be referred to as ‘son of...’ or ‘daughter of...’ The prefix ‘ap’ is Brythonic for ‘son of’, while ‘ferch’ means ‘daughter of.’ The Norse equivalent for daughter is ‘dóttir.’
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You can use the search function (Ctrl + F) on your browser to find a character by name in the lists below.
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DUMNONIA
CAER UISC / ESCANCEASTER (808 AD / 823-24 AD)
Aneurin ap Cadwyr (nickname ‘Nye’)
Cadwyr’s second son, prince of Dumnonia. Missing since the coup of 808 AD, presumed burned in the fires during the destruction of Dumnonia's capital, Caer Uisc.
Berec ap Gedyr
Nephew of Camus. Aneurin’s guardian in 808 AD, nicknamed ‘bear-bear’ by Aneurin. Accompanies the fleeing boys after the coup but is thrown from their boat in the collision with Thorvald's longship.
Bronnen ferch Hernam
Queen of Dumnonia, daughter of King Hernam of Cornubia (Kernow/Cornwall), mother of princes Aneurin and Caelin. Missing since the coup of 808 AD, presumed burned in the fires along with the two boys during the destruction of Dumnonia's capital, Caer Uisc, by Mael.
Cadwyr ap Caradoc
King of Dumnonia, father of princes Aneurin and Caelin. Murdered by his brother Mael in the coup of 808 AD.
Caelin ap Cadwyr
Cadwyr’s youngest son, one of the two 'lost princes' of Dumnonia. Missing since the coup of 808 AD, presumed burned in the fires during the destruction of Dumnonia's capital, Caer Uisc. Was in fact taken west to St Germanus by Camus and Berec only to stumble upon a Viking raid in progress at the abbey. Caelin was taken by the Vikings to Norvegr as a baby. Now known as Rathulf Thorvaldarsson.
Camus ap Truran
Cadwyr’s brother-in-law and fyrd leader, uncle and guardian to princes Aneurin and Caelin. Is leading the two surviving princes to safety in the west when he stumbles upon a Viking raid in progress at the abbey of St Germanus. He is left for dead by the Vikings.
Abbot Ceolburh of St Germanus
Former Lector of Caer Uisc Mynster, and tutor to the princes of Dumnonia before the coup. Now Abbot of Sanctus Germanus, succeeding Bishop Mewan.
Elowyn ferch Cadwyr
King Cadwyr’s daughter, princess of Dumnonia. Killed during Mael’s coup in 808 AD.
Archbishop Hendra
Formerly Abbot of St Germanus at the time of the coup in 808 AD. Now Archbishop of Dumnonia under King Mael. Occupies the cathedra in Caer Uisc.
Mael ap Caradoc, ‘The Usurper'
Cadwyr’s older brother, king of British Dumnonia and Frankish Domnonée. Also referred to as 'The Traitor'. Prefers to remain in his Frankish seat of Sanctus Briocus due to the better weather and more civilized surrounds.
Bishop Mewan
Bishop of Caer Uisc at the time of the coup. Found dead in the water near the abbey of St Germanus in 808 AD.
Owain ap Cadwyr
Cadwyr’s oldest son, crown prince (aetheling) of Dumnonia. Killed during Mael’s coup in 808 AD.
Talec ap Perran, ‘The Turncoat’
Earl under Cadwyr at the time of the coup, then Regent of Dumnonia under King Mael. Also King Mael’s Master-of-Coin. Aneurin and Caelin's princpal enemy. Knows the boys escaped the fires of Caer Uisc, but maintains the official version that they died in the fires alongside their mother.
Tegen ‘The Frail’
Cousin of Queen Bronnen, nursemaid to baby Caelin in 808 AD. Taken with Caelin to the heathen lands by Thorvald. Dies in Norvegr from an illness when Caelin is still only a small child.
KERNOW / CORNUBIA
Hopkin
ap Hernam
Abbess Delwen's nephew and King of Kernow in this saga. Real historical figure, who may have been a king or at the very least chieftain of some or all of Kernow in the mid 9th century.
​NORVEGR (NORWAY)
AURLANDSFJORDEN (THORVALDSBY)
Rathulf
‘Wolf-born’ Thorvaldarsson
Thorvald’s adopted son, taken in their raid on St Germanus abbey in 808 AD. Shepherd and apprentice carpenter. His petname is ‘Ra’. Is in fact one of the lost princes of Dumnonia, aka Caelin ap Cadwyr.
Thorvald ‘Wayfarer’
Rathulf’s adoptive father, Sigvald’s best friend, former Viking, master of the Sea Swift longship. Gave up raiding after his ill-fated raid on St Germanus in 808 AD.
LÆRDALSFJORDEN (SIGVALDSBY)
Astrid Ottarsdóttir
Ottar’s eldest daughter and Alrik’s girlfriend.
Freda Sigvaldsdóttir
​Sigvald’s third of four daughters.
Gormond
Slave, chief huskarl to Sigvald’s household. Originally from Northumbria.
Grinir Hrafnsson
Ottar’s brother. Viking raider. Leatherworker.
Gudrod
Viking, crewmember of the Vixen longship on the original raid of 808 AD.
Hallkel
Viking, crewmember of the Vixen longship on the original raid of 808 AD.
Helga ‘Troll-tamer’ Thorleifsdóttir
Sigvald’s wife. Bardi’s sister. Rathulf’s foster-mother. Wealthy in her own right and owner of the Vixen longship. Also an occasional Völur (sorceress).
Ingrith Sigvaldsdóttir
Sigvald’s oldest daughter and Rathulf’s first girlfriend. Alrik’s cousin. Is betrothed to Gunnar Eiriksson (much to her distaste).
Kettil
Viking, crewmember of the Vixen longship on the original raid of 808 AD.
Myran
Slave from Byzantium. Sigvald’s horse-master, originally hailing from Baghdad in the Abbasid Caliphate. Was a nobleman and cavalry general in the Abbasid armies.
Ottar ‘the Doughty’ Hrafnsson
Sigvald’s master shipwright, trader, and master of the Storm Beater knarr (trader).
Ragnar
Viking, crewmember of the Vixen longship on the original raid of 808 AD.
Sigrid Sigvaldsdóttir
Sigvald’s second of four daughters.
Sigvald ‘Jötunn-slayer’ Sigurdsson
Jarl of Lærdalsfjorden. Helga’s husband. Thorvald’s best friend. Rathulf’s foster-father. Trader, ship-builder and former Viking raider.
Tariq
Nisean (Persian) warhorse, from Byzantium. Rathulf’s extravagant coming of age gift from Sigvald.
Thora Sigvaldsdóttir
Sigvald’s fourth (youngest) of four daughters.
The Lady Valgerd
Völur (sorceress) and Mistress of Freya. Oracle of upper Sognefjorden.
SOGNEFJORDEN (BARDISBY)
Alrik Bardisson
Rathulf’s best friend and companion. Ingrith’s cousin. Owner of the Wave Skimmer longship.
Arni Bardisson
Alrik’s younger brother.
Bardi ‘Longshanks’ Thorleifsson
Alrik’s father. Helga’s brother. Wealthy and successful Viking raider and trader. The principal shipbuilder of upper Sognefjorden, in partnership with Sigvald. Master of the Osprey longship. A Jarl of upper Sognefjorden.
Thorkel
Viking, crewmember of the Osprey longship.
Thorleif the Fair
Bardi and Helga’s father. Lawspeaker and master of the upper Sognefjorden Althing (assembly of freemen).
LUSTRAFJORDEN (EIRIKSBY & HORIKSBY)
Eirik ‘Ravenhair’ / ‘The Black’ Haraldsson
Jarl of Lustrafjorden. Gunnar’s father. Ruthless Viking raider and trader. Owner and master of the Sea Dragon longship. Wielder of the Neckbiter sword. Swore a blood-oath with Thorvald, Sigvald and Bardi to protect and defend Rathulf, and support the Briton if he should decide to reclaim his birthright. A Machiavellian character who is motivated first and foremost by the advancement of his own power and wealth. He sees in Rathulf a route to greater wealth and prosperity.
Gunnar Eiriksson
Eirik’s only son, and Rathulf’s rival. Is jealous of Rathulf for the Briton's good looks, popularity and the fact that he is a prince. Yet Gunnar is more capable that Rathulf in most physical pursuits, including swordsmanship, sailing, wrestling and archery. Deep down, what he wants most is his father's approval, and to win Rathulf's friendship.
Gunnhild
Eirik’s wife. Gunnar’s mother. Known to be uncompromising in negotiations.
Horik Haraldsson
Eirik’s brother. Leif's father. Viking raider. Rathulf’s sworn enemy. Rathulf hates Horik for the man's brutal treatment of his son, Leif. Horik blames Leif for his wife's death (she dies in childbirth).
Leif Horiksson
Horik’s only son and Rathulf’s second best friend. Has suffered abuse from his father for years. Rathulf is angry that he is powerless to protect Leif from Horik's cruel brutality.
Marta
Horik’s second wife and Leif’s step-mother. She is equally cruel to Leif.
Snorri Egilsson
Viking warrior. Eirik’s blood-brother, shield-bearer and bodyguard. Brother-in-law to Ivar Bloodtrader. Was crewmember on the original Viking raid in 808 AD, and as such, is bound by the blood-oath made by his jarl, Eirik.
GAUPNEFJORDEN (IVARSBY)
Ivar ‘Blood-trader’
Slave-trader. Jarl of Gaupnefjorden. One of Eirik’s men. Alrik’s nemesis. The most sucessful of the slavers of upper Sogneforden. Ruthless and uncompromising, and especially cruel to those of his slaves he keeps for himself. Has a particular and unwelcome interest in Rathulf and Alrik.
​WESTSEAXNA RĪCE (KINGDOM OF WESSEX)
WILCOTE (Thegn Baldwyn's burh)
Thegn Baldwyn
Saxon thegn of Wilcote Burh, Wessex. Sugu’s ultimate master.
Eanswith ('Eanie')
Thegn Baldwyn’s daughter. Sugu’s abuser and nemesis.
Edward
Thegn Baldwyn’s eldest son, and another of Sugu’s abusers.
Hunlaf
Local lord in service to Thegn Baldwyn.
Sugu
The name, meaning 'sow' in Saxon, given to crown prince Aneurin ap Cadwyr by his slave masters at Wilcote Burh, Wessex. Following his escape, he goes by the Saxon name of Saeric instead.
SCIRBURNE
Beornoth
Twin son of Heremund and Carwyn. His name means 'brave warrior.'
Beornwald
Twin son of Heremund and Carwyn. His name means 'powerful warrior.'
Carwyn (Cara)
Heremund’s wife. Dumnonian-born noblewoman. Known for crafting fine jewellery and other fine metalwork.
Father Donagh
Librarian of Scirburne Mynster. Expert in Dumnonian history.
Thegn Dunstan
Heremund’s younger brother. Thegn of Scirburne. Resides in the family's fortified hall.
Eadwald
Ealdorman, Lord of the Dumnonian Marches. Master-at-arms to King Ecgberht. Commander of Wessex’s borderlands army. Heremund’s former second-in-command. Saeric’s mentor in military strategy and nobility.
Bishop Ealhstan
Newly-appointed Bishop of Scirburne Mynster. A real historical figure, who held enormous political power, being archbishop of the whole of the Southwest, including much of Dumnonia and Cornubia (Kernow) and much of Wessex.
Gerard
Semi-retired soldier of the Sceaptesburh fyrd. Friend of Heremund and Eadwald. Serves Dunstan as leader of the burh's guard. Bodyguard to Leofwynn.
Heremund ‘Iron-fist’ of Scirburne
Earl of Scirburne, Wessex, and Overlord of Dumnonia. Dunstan's older brother. Saeric’s new master. Retired general and former master-at-arms to King Ecgberht. Led the rout of Kernow in 815. Blacksmithing is his chosen retirement hobby. Despite his rank, chooses to live outside the town's defensive palisade in a modest house; having given the hall (and responsibility for the defense and wellbeing of the town) to his younger brother.
Leofwynn (Leo)
Daughter of Dunstan, niece of Heremund. Befriends Saeric.
​Saeric
Escaped slave from Wilcote, Wessex.