Protector Of Mercia

A deathbed oath leaves the lives of two infants hanging in the balance... Tamworth AD833 After successfully rescuing her husband Lord Coenwulf from the Isle of Sheppey, Icel hears the deathbed confession of Lady Cynehild which leaves him questioning what he knows about his past, as well as his future. In the unenviable position of being oath sworn to protect their two atheling sons when Lord Coenwulf is banished for his treason against the Mercian ruler, King Wiglaf, Icel is once more torn between his oaths and the life changing secret he now knows. When the two children are kidnapped, Icel, good to his word, and fearing for their safety, pursues their abductors into the dangerous Northern lands. He fears whose powerful and deadly royal gamesmanship is behind the audacious attempt on their young and innocent lives. Alone in the Northern lands, Icel finds himself facing his worse fears. Can he rescue the children from their captor, or will he fail and lose his own life in the process? Praise For MJ Porter 'MJ Porter recounts a sensitive, reluctant hero's coming-of-age within a Dark Age realm riven by chaos and conflict' - Matthew Harffy ‘Refreshing... I was reluctant to put the book down’ - Historical Novel Society 'No lover of Dark Age warfare is going to be disappointed. Personal, real, fascinating and satisfying.' - S.J.A. Turney 'If you love history, fiction, adventure and great stories - You won’t regret it!" - Eric Schumacher ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 'So real I felt I was there!... A page-turner' - **Reader Review ** ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 'Wonderful to read and hard to put down' - **Reader Review ** ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 'I found the pages flying by... A great book' - Reader Review

A deathbed oath leaves the lives of two infants hanging in the balance... Tamworth AD833 After successfully rescuing her husband Lord Coenwulf from the Isle of Sheppey, Icel hears the deathbed confession of Lady Cynehild which leaves him questioning what he knows about his past, as well as his future. In the unenviable position of being oath sworn to protect their two atheling sons when Lord Coenwulf is banished for his treason against the Mercian ruler, King Wiglaf, Icel is once more torn between his oaths and the life changing secret he now knows. When the two children are kidnapped, Icel, good to his word, and fearing for their safety, pursues their abductors into the dangerous Northern lands. He fears whose powerful and deadly royal gamesmanship is behind the audacious attempt on their young and innocent lives. Alone in the Northern lands, Icel finds himself facing his worse fears. Can he rescue the children from their captor, or will he fail and lose his own life in the process?

The start of a brand new series from bestselling author MJ Porter for fans of Bernard Cornwell and Matthew Harffy. 'Immediate and personal' Bestselling author Matthew Harffy 'No lover of Dark Age warfare is going to be disappointed. Son of Mercia is personal, real, fascinating and satisfying.' S.J.A. Turney 'If you love history, fiction, adventure and great stories, grab a copy of Son of Mercia. You won’t regret it!" Eric Schumacher Tamworth, Mercia AD825. The once-mighty kingdom of Mercia is in perilous danger. Their King, Beornwulf lies dead and years of bitter in-fighting between the nobles, and cross border wars have left Mercia exposed to her enemies. King Ecgberht of Wessex senses now is the time for his warriors to strike and exact his long-awaited bloody revenge on Mercia. King Wiglaf, has claimed his right to rule Mercia, but can he unite a disparate Kingdom against the might of Wessex who are braying for blood and land? Can King Wiglaf keep the dragons at bay or is Mercia doomed to disappear beneath the wings of the Wessex wyvern? Can anyone save Mercia from destruction? 'MJ Porter recounts a sensitive, reluctant hero's coming-of-age within a Dark Age realm riven by chaos and conflict' Bestselling author Matthew Harffy ‘Refreshing... I was reluctant to put the book down’ Historical Novel Society Readers are spell-bound by Son of Mercia!: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 'So real I felt I was there!... A page-turner' Reader review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 'Wonderful to read and hard to put down' Reader review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 'I found the pages flying by... A great book' Reader review

The true story of the Lady of the Mercians. At the end of the ninth century AD, a large part of what is now England was controlled by the Vikings – heathen warriors from Scandinavia who had been attacking the British Isles for more than a hundred years. Alfred the Great, king of Wessex, was determined to regain the conquered lands but his death in 899 meant that the task passed to his son Edward. In the early 900s, Edward led a great fightback against the Viking armies. He was assisted by the English rulers of Mercia: Lord Æthelred and his wife Æthelflæd (Edward's sister). After her husband's death, Æthelflæd ruled Mercia on her own, leading the army to war and working with her brother to achieve their father's aims. Known to history as the Lady of the Mercians, she earned a reputation as a competent general and was feared by her enemies. She helped to save England from the Vikings and is one of the most famous women of the Dark Ages. This book, published 1100 years after her death, tells her remarkable story.

The vernacular Anglo-Saxon Chronicles cover the centuries which saw the making of England and its conquest by Scandinavians and Normans. After Alfred traces their development from their genesis at the court of King Alfred to the last surviving chronicle produced at the Fenland monastery of Peterborough. These texts have long been part of the English national story. Pauline Stafford considers the impact of this on their study and editing since the sixteenth century, addressing all surviving manuscript chronicles, identifying key lost ones, and reconsidering these annalistic texts in the light of wider European scholarship on medieval historiography. The study stresses the plural 'chronicles', whilst also identifying a tradition of writing vernacular history which links them. It argues that that tradition was an expression of the ideology of a southern elite engaged in the conquest and assimilation of old kingdoms north of the Thames, Trent, and Humber. Vernacular chronicling is seen, not as propaganda, but as engaged history-writing closely connected to the court, whose networks and personnel were central to the production and continuation of these chronicles. In particular, After Alfred connects many chronicles to bishops and especially to the Archbishops of York and Canterbury. The disappearance of the English-speaking elite after the Norman Conquest had profound impacts on these texts. It repositioned their authors in relation to the court and royal power, and ultimately resulted in the end of this tradition of vernacular chronicling.

The next bloody and thrilling instalment in MJ Porter's The Brunanburh Series.Can the Norse and the Scots exact their revenge over the mighty King Athelstan of the English? AD937 After the slaughter field of Brunanburh, a defeated Olaf Gothfrithson of the Dublin Norse and Constantin of the Scots narrowly escaped with their lives. In their kingdoms, failure has left them demoralised and weak. Olaf licks his wounds in Dublin, whilst Constantin and the Welsh kingdoms who defied King Athelstan, are once more forced to bend the knee. As Athelstan’s reputation grows stronger day by day, their need to exact revenge on the overmighty and triumphant Athelstan has never been greater. Olaf sets his sights on reclaiming the lost kingdom of Jorvik only for tragedy to strike at the heart of England and a reluctant new King, Edmund steps in the fray. While England mourns the death of their warrior King, her enemies gather on her borders and England stands alone against the might of the Norse, Welsh and Scots. Can the new King be victorious and banish her enemies once and for all or will England, and its king lose all that’s been gained and succumb to a new pretender? An epic tale of kinsmanship, greed and power, perfect for the fans of Bernard Cornwell's The Last Kingdom series. Praise for The Brunanburh Series. 'An epic tale of the birth of a nation. Truly mesmerising. Game of Thrones meets The Last Kingdom' - Gordon Doherty 'MJ effortlessly draws you into early Medieval England with this fascinating tale.' - Donovan Cook 'A very good read and MJ Porter is at her best bringing flesh to the facts and giving the main players personalities. Great way to read about the history of this time. Enjoy.' - Goodreads 'Another of this author’s brilliant books. A good read and excellent characterisation of the men involved.now onto the next book.' - Reader Review 'Completely compelling read set out to combine all the main characters stories in an free flowing style. Interesting how the character of each character is developed through the novel.' - Reader Review 'Another brilliant tale of old England. M.J.Porter tells an intreguing tale of kings and warriors, when age old rivalries are temporarily settled. I presume that the tale of old England will continue.I hope so' - Reader Review

The final, thrilling instalment in MJ Porter's The Brunanburh Series.Can King Edmund of the English banish the Norse invaders from England one final time? AD942 In the wake of the agreement reached at Lincoln between Edmund and Anlaf Sihtricson of the Norse, Edmund returns to Wessex to reflect and rebuild, impatient to reverse his losses at Lincoln. But this is the winter of discontent. In Jorvik and the kingdom of the Scots, those who’ve waited too long to become kings in their own right grow restless. As the enemies of the English turn on themselves, Edmund senses the opportunity to reclaim all his brother, the victor of Brunanburh, managed to gain before his untimely death plunged England back into war with her many foes. With his sights set firmly on York, can he recreate the England his brother built, or will the enemies of England realise the error of their ways and once more unite to drive Edmund back to Wessex, leaving York in the hands of the Norse. A thrilling conclusion to MJ Porter's epic retelling of the consequences of the battle of Brunanburh. Praise for The Brunanburh Series. 'An epic tale of the birth of a nation. Truly mesmerising. Game of Thrones meets The Last Kingdom' - Gordon Doherty 'MJ effortlessly draws you into early Medieval England with this fascinating tale.' - Donovan Cook 'A very good read and MJ Porter is at her best bringing flesh to the facts and giving the main players personalities. Great way to read about the history of this time. Enjoy.' - Goodreads 'Another of this author’s brilliant books. A good read and excellent characterisation of the men involved.now onto the next book.' - Reader Review 'Completely compelling read set out to combine all the main characters stories in an free flowing style. Interesting how the character of each character is developed through the novel.' - Reader Review 'Another brilliant tale of old England. M.J.Porter tells an intreguing tale of kings and warriors, when age old rivalries are temporarily settled. I presume that the tale of old England will continue.I hope so' - Reader Review