When I finish reading a historical novel, I always want to know what parts
of the story are documented history, what the author made up to fill in gaps,
and what (if anything) the author changed from documented facts. If anyone
else shares this interest, this note is for you.
The novel is first and foremost a work of the imagination. My rule throughout
has been that where I could find a solid fact, I would not change it. But
solid facts are rare indeed in seventh-century Britain, and most of the story
in Paths of Exile is my invention.
The primary source for seventh-century English history is the Ecclesiastical
History of the English People, written in 731 AD by Bede, a monk at the
monastery of Jarrow in modern Northumberland. I work from the modern English
translation published by Penguin Classics. Other sources for the period include
the Historia Brittonum believed to have been written (possibly by a
monk called Nennius) in the ninth century, the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle,
genealogies of medieval Welsh kings, Welsh poetry, the Annales Cambriae,
the Welsh Triads, various medieval chroniclers, and a few stories in Geoffrey
of Monmouth's History of the Kings of Britain. All of these were written
down very much later than Bede's history, though they may well preserve kernels
of older tradition. Where the sources conflict, I generally give Bede primacy
because of the early date of his account.
Eadwine existed. Bede tells us he was the son of Aelle, and that he was driven
out of Deira by Aethelferth. The later part of Eadwine's career is described
by Bede (Ecclesiastical History Book 2, chapters 9-20), so anyone who
wants to know how the story worked out in the end is welcome to look it up.
Bede tells us very little of Eadwine's early life, saying only 'When Aethelferth
was persecuting him, Eadwine wandered as an unknown fugitive for many years
through many lands and kingdoms'. From Bede's information on the date of Eadwine's
death and his age at death, it can be deduced that he was born some time around
585 AD. From information on Aethelferth's reign length in Deira and Bernicia
given in Bede and Historia Brittonum, it can be deduced that Aethelferth
annexed Deira around 605 AD, and therefore Eadwine was about twenty when he
was driven into exile. Something of Eadwine's character can be gleaned from
Bede's account, though Bede was a Northumbrian and may have given Eadwine
an excessively good press out of patriotism. It is also fair to say that he
was writing a century after the events and may have had an unduly rosy view
of the 'good old days'. Medieval Welsh poems such as the Moliant Cadwallon,
and the medieval Welsh Triads give a less favourable picture of Eadwine's
character. It is my intention in this and subsequent novels to show both sides.
There is some evidence from the Welsh Triads that Eadwine spent some time
in Gwynedd (North Wales), and slight evidence from Bede that he knew of and
admired Britain's Roman heritage. If the timber amphitheatre discovered in
archaeological excavations at Yeavering is attributable to Eadwine's reign
it would also be consistent with knowledge of and respect for Roman ways.
Everything else in the story concerning Eadwine is my invention.
King Aelle of Deira existed, and ruled some time in the late sixth century
as implied by Bede's account of Pope Gregory's encounter with Anglian slave
boys in Rome some time before 597 AD. It is not known when Aelle became King
of Deira or when and how he died.
King Aethelferth of Bernicia existed, and ruled Bernicia from 593 AD. Bede
tells us that he was a very powerful and ambitious king who conquered large
areas of British-controlled territory and who beat the King of Dal Riada (modern
Argyll in West Scotland) in a decisive battle in 603 AD. Bede also tells us
that he never gave up pursuing Eadwine, though the reason why is not known.
He was indeed married to Eadwine's sister Acha, and from the dates given in
Bede it is possible to work out that their son Oswald was born in 604 AD and
therefore that Aethelferth and Acha must have been married at latest by early
that year. Historia Brittonum says that Aethelferth was king of Bernicia
for twelve years before he also became king of Deira, which places the date
of the annexation around 605 AD. The method of Aethelferth's annexation of
Deira is not known, but given Aethelferth's undoubted prowess as a warlord
and the fact of his hostile relations with Eadwine, it seems very likely that
it was by military force. Aethelferth's nickname 'Flesaurs', usually translated
into modern English as 'The Artful' or 'The Twister', is recorded in Historia
Brittonum.
Hereric existed and was Eadwine's nephew. It is not known whether Hereric
was the son of a sister of Eadwine or of a brother, and his date of birth
is not known. Bede tells us that Hereric fathered two daughters, one of whom
was born in 614 AD, and therefore a minimum age can be conjectured. Bede also
tells us that Hereric lived in Elmet during Aethelferth's reign in Deira.
Everything else concerning Hereric is my invention.
King Ceretic of Elmet existed, and was king of Elmet during part or all of
Aethelferth's reign in Deira, though the date of his accession is not known.
Osric of Deira, son of Eadwine's uncle Aelfric and therefore Eadwine's cousin,
existed, though it is not known what happened to him during Aethelferth's
reign in Deira.
Aethelric of Deira - there is confusion here. Bede does not mention him, but
other sources preserve a tradition that there was a king called Aethelric
in Deira who ruled briefly sometime between Aelle and Aethelferth, with a
reign length of five years cited by some sources. If this Aethelric existed,
his relationship to Aelle and Eadwine is not known. If he existed, he may
have been confused with Aethelferth's father, Aethelric of Bernicia. Such
a confusion could be the source of the assertion in some sources, often repeated
in modern discussions, that Eadwine was driven into exile in 588 AD aged about
three. I decided to make Aethelric of Deira a separate individual from Aethelferth's
father, and to make him a cousin of Eadwine and a client king ruling as Aethelferth's
puppet. This could account for his absence from Bede but also explain his
appearance elsewhere.
Lilla existed, and Bede tells us that he was Eadwine's thane and best friend
and describes the date and manner of his death. Nothing else is known.
A thane called Fordhere also existed and is mentioned in Bede, but all we
are told is the date and manner of his death.
King Caedbaed of Lindsey is mentioned in the genealogy of the kings of Lindsey
and his position in the list puts him in approximately the early seventh century.
Nothing is known of him.
King Aethelbert of Kent, according to Bede, was overlord of all the English
kingdoms of southern Britain in 604 AD, and died in 616 AD.
King Iago of Gwynedd is mentioned in medieval Welsh genealogies and in the
Welsh Triads and the traditions associated with him date him to the
early seventh century.
All the other people and events in the story are my invention.
At the end of Paths of Exile we have reached early spring in 606 AD. There are still nearly eleven years to go before Bede takes up the story, so Eadwine and his friends will fight again.
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