Hundbeorht's deceased body
Hundbeorht (died c. 875) was the ealdorman of Lincolnscire during the 870s when Mercia came under the rule of the Great Heathen Army. He was a descendant of the last rulers of the Kingdom of Lindsey, and had a son named Hunwald.
Biography[]
Ealdorman of Lincolnscire[]
Possibly reigning since the reign of the former King Burgred of Mercia into the reign of King Ceolwulf, Hundbeorht and his son Hunwald were descendants of the last rulers of Kingdom of Lindsey prior to its annexation by the Kingdom of Mercia. As ealdorman, Hundbeorht was served by his loyal associates, the loyal household helper Raeganhere, the abbess Acha, bishop Herefrith, the thegn Aelfgar, and the healer Galwyna, all of whom befriended his son.[1]
By the 870s, Hundbeorht's had weakened, to the point he greatly feared for the safety and wellbeing of his son. Circa 875, nearing the end of his life, Hundbeorht arranged for his death and burial to be kept a secret from the Lincolnshire citizens and his son. He paid bandits in the Old Lincoln Sewers under the leadership of Lucian to secretly smuggle him out of the city to the Bolingbroc Castle, where he intended to spend his final time.[2] Hundbeorht also arranged for Hunwald to be "exiled" from Lincoln in order to safeguard his wellbeing, fearing he would be targeted after his death.[3]
Death and aftermath[]
Hundbeorht's body discovered by Eivor
With his plans in place and after being given his last rites by a priest arranged by Acha, Hundbeorht secretly departed from the city hospice, travelling through the sewers connected to the old Roman bathhouse while being escorted by the shire nobles and Galwyna. After exiting the tunnels to the Roaring Meg's Spring, Hundbeorht's entourage was betrayed by the bandits after they refused to pay bandits' demands of double payment. During the fight the ensued, Hundbeorht was fatally wounded by a spear wound, but nevertheless managed to be escorted out of the cave by his guards. By the time he arrived at Bolingbroc Castle however, Hundbeorht succumbed to his wounds and was brought to an underground chamber beneath the castle, awaiting his burial.[2]
In the aftermath of Hundbeorht's death, Galwyna remained by his side and made attempts to preserve his appearance through the use of various herbs. The circumstances surrounding Hundbeorht's fate was eventually discovered by the Viking Eivor Varinsdottir, who was sought out by Hunwald to investigate the ealdorman's whereabouts. Eivor then recovered Hundbeorht's clan hooch, returning to and reporting his fate to Hunwald and the rest of the Lincoln nobles.[2] Later, Aelfgar would gift his bow to Eivor,[4] and Hunwald would allow her to keep it, finding her better suited to wielding it than himself.[5]
Behind the scenes[]
Hundbeorht is possibly based on Hereberht, a Lincoln ealdorman mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle who was killed around 840 in a Viking raid.
Appearances[]
- Assassin's Creed: Valhalla (first appearance)
- The World of Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Journey to the North – Logs and Files of a Hidden One (mentioned only)
References[]
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Valhalla
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – In the Absence of an Ealdorman
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Homecoming
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Valhalla - The Thegn of Lincoln
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Valhalla - Salve for a Fresh Wound