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Dear {{{firstname}}}
Welcome to September's edition of 'The Viking Chronicle'.
In this month's edition we have more news from the Viking era. A not to be missed feature on Regia Anglorum. The saga of Ulric 'Hagbard' Ericsen. Some of the pictures sent in last month for the Gallery. An extract from Rebecca Wilson's short story 'The Old Ways Never Die'. The results of last month's Free Prize Draw and Competition. Your chance to win either a family pass to the JORVIK Viking Centre or a Kings Table set, known as hnefatafl to the Vikings, and a list of Viking and Anglo-Saxon events.
If you know someone who you think would like a FREE subscription to 'The Viking Chronicle' please forward this email to them.
If someone has forwarded this email to you please visit www.dismorphia.com and sign up to 'The Viking Chronicle' to enter the monthly Free Prize Draw and receive next month's edition.
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News from the Viking era.By Sigwulf Silver-Tongue Sigwulfsson (aka Neil Tattersall)
FRANKISH TRADERS RETURN TO JORVIK
New shipments of axe heads and blades of all kinds from Francia are available again from the Frankish Traders, who have graced the banks of the Ouse once more. You will not find a better blade around these parts for love nor money, than the weapons the Franks sell. FRIGGA OFFERS CURE
A sickness has been making its way around Jorvik laying people up from all quarters. This cannot be the work of a runic curse as far too many people appear to be dropping with it and no one has spotted a Rune Stave anywhere outside the city walls. If you can afford her services call upon Frigga the local Cunning Woman, she may be able to help with a cure. FISHERMEN FEARED LOST AT SEA
Sadly the wreckage of Eldgrim Ubbasen's fishing boat has been spotted drifting around the Ouse closest to Riccall. It can only be assumed that the missing fishermen Sigfuss Leobasson and Halfdan Bollasson, along with Eldgrim, have perished in the waters around the Humber during a recent bout of storms. They will be sorely missed around the staithes. FIGHTING TALK!
Ulric 'Hagbard' Ericsen has offered Odd Skallasson the chance to prove his words in a duel after he publicly stated that Ulric, Skald to Jarl Sigwulf, could not possibly hold his own in a fight, stating "A man that wrestles with words couldn't even wrestle a lamb to the ground!" This said, as a matter of honour, Ulric immediately challenged Odd to the duel; to be held at days-break two weeks from the day at the meeting place of the King's Square and Guthrum's Gata. If you have a news story from the Viking era that you would like to see featured in The Viking Chronicle please contact us via the Dismorphia | Viking York website: www.dismorphia.com
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Regia AnglorumBy Michael Crampton
Regia Anglorum is a Living History Society that attempts to recreate a cross section of English life around the turn of the first millennium and from what I have seen they do this amazingly well.
I recently visited some of the members of Regia Anglorum at Wychurst where they are constructing a fortified manor house from the late Anglo-Saxon period, pictured above, and maintain their replica Viking long ships.
The members are incredibly friendly and approach the Viking Era with such enjoyment and enthusiasm that you can't help joining in. Many of the members knowledge of the Era is encyclopaedic however they gently introduce you to their world in a very easy going manner. They have appeared in several film and television shows and perform at many Viking Era events, including the York Viking Festival, but the thing they most enjoy doing is spending time together living a thousand years in the past.
What I will remember forever is the moment late at night while sitting around the fire pit in the long hall, listening to stories against a background of crackling flames and spitting logs, when the wolves started howling, and I do mean real wolves. It's then you understand why the members of Regia Anglorum are so passionate about recreating the Viking Era and why I've applied to become a member.
To learn more about Regia Anglorum please visit their website: http://www.regia.org/
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The Saga of Ulric 'Hagbard' Ericsen | Chapter 1By Marc Astles
It is believed that Ulric's mother, Rhiannon was from the North of Wales. Born into the prominent trading family, descended from Gwain 'The Red' ab Owain. A name linked with infamy and ruthless monopoly on trade in the kingdom of Gwynedd. She did not take well to a life at home and insisted on joining her father on voyages to Dublin.
It was on such a voyage in 950 that she met Ulric's father, Eric a trades-person and entrepreneur of a small port in Denmark. The second born son of Olaf Thorfinsen, Eric was not landed (all land went to his older brother 'Olaf' upon their father's death). He had bartered and bargained his way into the lucrative trading routes between Scandinavia, the British Isles and the frozen North.
Eric was in Dublin to sell a shipment of whetstones from Sweden when he spied the sorry form of a woman washed up on the pebble shore. Rhiannon is believed to have been the only survivor of a ship containing wool and lead bound for the city, which was struck by an unseasonal storm and smashed to pieces. She awoke on the shore and found Eric holding her, carefully picking flotsam from her hair and smiling warmly.
Many miles from home and without parents to object, the two were married and lived a semi-nomadic life trading from port to port. In fear of familial disapproval neither Eric nor Rhiannon returned to their childhood homes.
On the 11th of September 951, Ulric Ericsen was brought into the world. His lungs were tested immediately as he complained loudly about the manner of his inception into Midgard. Far out to sea on his father's trade, his reception was cold, damp and unsteady; but this uncertainty was steadied by the loving embrace of his mother.
Ulric's early years were happy ones and had he not known anything of those who lived on land, his language would surely have been song! Both Rhiannon and Eric adored singing and the beauty found in language and some say Ulric was singing before he could walk.
We will feature more of Ulric's saga in future editions and we will add the complete saga to the Viking Forums when they are switched on.
If you have a saga you would like to see featured in The Viking Chronicle please contact us via the Dismorphia | Viking York website: www.dismorphia.com
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The Gallery
This month we have a picture of me [Michael Crampton | Editor] trying to show an angry face, and not someone in desperate need of the loo. Rebecca Wilson being hauled away by a Viking at this years York Viking Festival and a group of re-enactment actors practising their shield wall at St Mary's ruins in York Museum Gardens.
Do you have a photo of yourself dressed as a Viking or have you created a Viking or Anglo-Saxon themed picture you would like to share with others? If you do then please contact us via the Dismorphia | Viking York website and your photos and pictures could be displayed in our online gallery and may even be featured in 'The Viking Chronicle'.
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The Old Ways Never DieBy Rebecca Wilson
My work took me to the old Viking city of the north, York. I had been there many times before and each time I always struggled to decide whether it was better or worse. Yet in the sunshine of August my mind didn't have time to dwell on such decisions. I sipped my hot cappuccino in Starbucks and crossed off another name on my quota. I heard the radio in the corner announce that a serious car crash had occurred on the A64, east of York and the road would be closed for at least four hours. I wondered which of my colleagues had performed well this time.
I gazed out through the open door and into the street. I watched curiously as tourists, teenagers and families, who passed by going left, carried no bags but the necessaries. The rest of the crowd, going right, held several bags from a variety of stores. York was always good at selling. It was a renowned trading centre in the old days and I am pleased it still was. A shadow came over me as Kate joined me for our first coffee break of the day. A silver torque bracelet, the trade mark of our group, dangled around her slender right wrist. She took off her large yet oddly stylish hat as she sat down, revealing her always shimmering corn blonde hair.
"Mine is on the second floor where is yours?" Kate asked after checking her own quota. "On the fourth floor. Wait for me here when you are done, I don't know how long I am going to be with this one." With a final nod to each other we strode back round the corner, across the car park and into the building. No one gave us a glance as we walked around the motionless people inside.
"Who...who are you? What are you doing? What do you want?" He managed to ask his voice trembling. He was frightened; they always were at this stage. His eyes kept flickering upon his female visitor who remained still and silent.
"Welcome to the next life David." I answered with a soothing tone in my voice and sat at the end of his bed, trying to show I meant him no harm by keeping a distance between us but near enough so I could grab him if he tried to flee. It was inevitable that he wouldn't believe me.
To read the full story please visit Rebecca's blog 'Wilson's Words' using this link:
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Monthly Free Prize DrawWin a family pass to the JORVIK Viking Centre which can be used when ever you want during the next 12 months.
 Once a month all of the subscribers to The Viking Chronicle are automatically entered into our Free Prize Draw. July's Free Prize Draw winners are:
September's Free Prize Draw, which will take place on the 25th of September, is brought to you by the JORVIK Viking Centre. One lucky subscriber will win a family pass for the JORVIK Viking Centre which can be used when ever they want during the next 12 months. The winner will be announced in the October edition of The Viking Chronicle.
If you would like to sponsor our Monthly Free Prize Draw please contact us via the Dismorphia | Viking York website: www.dismorphia.com
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Monthly CompetitionWin your very own Kings Table set, known as hnefatafl to the Vikings, by solving our riddle.
I travel along the road
never leaving my corner People talk of how I spoke though I never utter a word What am I? Please CLICK HERE to go to the Dismorphia | contact us | Viking Chronicle competition web page and answer the riddle for a chance to win your very own Kings Table set.
You can also go to the Dismorphia website, click on the 'contact us' button and select Viking Chronicle competition from the message type list to enter the competition.
The answer and winner will be announced in the October edition of The Viking Chronicle. The answers to August's competition are:
August's competition was won by Ms M. Archbold
If you would like to suggest or sponsor a competition please contact us via the Dismorphia | Viking York website: www.dismorphia.com
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EventsSt Wilfrid - Public Lecture | York Archaeological Trust | York | UK
9th September | 7:30pm | £5. The St Wilfred 1300th Anniversary conference will be preceded by a Public Lecture (St Wilfrid - a European Anglo-Saxon) by Professor Richard Bailey (Emeritus Professor of Anglo-Saxon Civilization, University of Newcastle) in York Minster. St Wilfrid - 1300th Anniversary Conference | York Archaeological Trust | York | UK 10th & 11th September | 9am - 5pm | £50. The Conference, will be held in St William's College, York. For more details please go to: http://www.yorkarchaeology.co.uk/involved/stwilfrid.htm St Wilfrid - Excursion | York Archaeological Trust | York | UK
12th September | 8:30 am - 6 pm | £20. The conference will be followed by a coach excursion to Wilfrid's foundations at Ripon and Hexham, and also to Escomb church, leaving York Memorial Gardens coach park at 8.30 am and aiming to return by 6 pm Expert guides will be on hand to introduce and comment on features of particular interest. Participants to provide their own snacks/provisions! Halloween for Creepy Kids | JORVIK Viking Centre | York | UK
31st October | 7pm | Adults £5, Children £9. PRE-BOOKING ESSENTIAL. Call 01904 615505 Late night spooky tour, including scary stories, gruesome ghouls, goody bags and refreshments. Creepy Kids in 2009 promises to be JORVIK's spookiest event ever! The spirits of JORVIK's past return once more to haunt its galleries and corridors. Dangerous Vikings lurk at every turn of the JORVIK ride, waiting to ambush the unsuspecting children as they pass! If you have an event you would like to see featured in The Viking Chronicle please contact us via the Dismorphia | Viking York website: www.dismorphia.com
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