Customer Reviews

Battle of Dunnichen 685

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a straitforward introduction to the battle of Nechtansmere, also referred to as Dunnichen, where the Picts defeated Nechtan and his Anglian army. The events leading up the battle, including the mysterious relationship between the Anglian leader and the Pictish leader, are well explained.

The book is divided up into several chapters, chronologically, analysing (or attempting to) every possible thing that ever related to the battle. But instead of turning out comprehensive, most chapters turn out useless.

For instance, one of the chapters is something like "On the Trail to Dunnichen", which describes how Nechtan went to the middle of Scotland where the battle takes place. Except that we don't really know that. So the author traces 2 imaginary trails, that "could have happened", wasting a good 1/3 of the book on musings.

And what would seem the most important part of the book, the analysis of the consequenses of the Battle, is scarcely 5 pages long.

The only thing I found truly useful in the book was the Appendix, which had excerps from all the sources needed in writing a book like this: Stephen, Bede, the Anglo Saxon Chronicle, etc. But those are readily found on the internet.

Overall this book offered me no information I couldn't easily find elsewhere, and it bogged me down with all of its "could have beens".

On May 20 of 685, a very important battle was fought at Dunnichen. This battle was important because it checked the rising power of the kingdom of the Northumbrian Angles, allowing Scottish history to develop independently of that of England, and laying the foundation of medieval Scotland. In this fascinating book, Canadian historian and Picticist, James Earle Fraser ties all of the historical records together (and there are few!), and presents a unified and easily-understood history of the battle. As an added bonus, the seven appendices contain excerpts from the histories that reference the Battle of Dunnichen.

Overall, I found this to be a fascinating and highly informative book. It covers a great deal of ground, and does a wonderful job of suggesting just how the battle might have unfolded. My one complaint is that I do wish that the author had spent more time on an introduction to the Picts. The author assumes that the reader is already quite familiar with the Picts, launching straight into a lead-up to the battle.

But, that said, I do think that this is a very good book, one that is sure to please any reader that is interested in the Picts and this important battle. I highly recommend this book!

Better know as the Battle of Nechtanesmere, this engagement fought in northeastern Scotland on Saturday, May 20, 685 has been heralded as a a turning point in Scottish history. The battle is perhaps the most well documented event in Pictish history because of the stunning defeat they inflicted on the Northumbrian Angles.

This short book reviews the circumstances of the events leading to the battle, considers various theories on the location of the battle, and the impact of the Pictish victory and Northumbrian defeat. It considers the question of the criticality of the battle in ending Anglo-Saxon hegemony over the Picts and its effect on subsequent events in the North. Did King Ecgfrith's defeat and death at the hands of the Bridei, Pictish king of Fortriu, mark the end of the golden age of Northumbria? Did the Picts' victory set the foundations for the what would become the medieval kingdom of Scotland?

A quick and interesting read about the battle and its consequences