At our next blot at the end of April, we will honour one of the last Anglo Saxon kings of England who refused to be converted by force to christianity. King Arwald. There is a Saint Arwalds Day on the 22nd April but we would never celebrate Arwald on that day for reasons to follow;
The last Odinist king in England ruled what is now the Isle of Wight, then called Wihtwara after Wihtgar also called Wihtland or in English The Isle of Spirits. King Arwald was a Jute - The Jutes had originally conquered the territory about two centuries earlier. He held to the old ways, and thus became an enemy of the new Christian kingdoms who had the majority of power in England. Wihtwara was particularly threatened by Mercia, the modern day Midlands and Wessex.
Mercia had, under King Wulfhere, invaded the island in 661. Mercia attempted to force the islanders to embrace Christianity, but as soon as the occupation force left the islanders reverted to their old ways. Therefore, the inhabitants of Wihtwara were not just heathens in the view of other Saxon kingdoms, but apostates as well.
King Cædwalla of Wessex sought to extinguish this remaining pagan kingdom, he wished to replace the inhabitants of Wihtwara. He planned to crown himself king and divide the land with himself and his own followers, promising a quarter of the profits to the Church as a price for absolution regarding the slaughter he is guilty of...........
It is recorded that King Arwald slain in battle in April 686.
Two of King Arwald's brothers fled the island, to The Forest of Yteneon on the mainland, now called the 'New Forest', but were betrayed to Cædwalla. Caedwalla, after much torture, told the two princes of the Isle of Wight that they would be saved if they converted to christianity and publicly renounced the old Gods. In the end both princes agreed but were put to death anyway. It seems that the term 'being saved' has a different meaning to a christian........
Many historians have suggested that King Arwald was captured rather than killed but refused to convert to chritiantiy as his two brothers did. It is suspected this is why Bede in his two books talks about the brothers being saved and going to heaven but fails to mention King Arwalds fate. Instead, Bede, rather curiously just stops talking about him halfway through the story. (He didn't want to remind people of Arwalds heroism)
Ironically, because the two prince's converted to christianity they were named saints though they used their brothers name. Saint Arwald's Day is on April the 22nd each year. Imagine creating a holiday to mark the torture of two noblemen and the slaughter of a whole island of folk? Disgusting.........
Arwald also had an unnamed sister, who survived and was 'forced' to marry the king of Kent, becoming an ancestor to Alfred the Great.
King Arwald presided over 300+ families, which may have been only around 1200 /1500 people. The pagan Jutes on the Island lived in clearings surrounded by forest, in small hamlets of several families in thatched and wooden-tiled homes. They ground corn by hand and wove their own clothing. They made everyday items from wood, clay and iron, and crafted sophisticated and beautiful jewellery.
They were connected to nature and worshipped Woden. Arwald was a descendant of Hengist and Woden, he was of the true royal line. It is recorded in the writings of Tacitus that the confederacy of seven tribes (the Jutes among them) honoured Nerthus in their rites and ceremonies. In fact, they “put down their iron in honour for Her”. It is noted that she loved her human family and appeared every year, from her secluded grove on an island in the big sea to travel in an ox-driven cart to meet with the people. The folk on the 'Isle of Spirits' were famous for their devotion to the Gods and their spirituality.
A poem written about the great King Arwald. A hero, never to be forgotten.
Tell me, where does Arwald lie? Is he in the Bloodstone Wood, Bending bluebells with a sigh, Buried in blackthorn and monks hood?
In bosky dells and gathered gloom – A whisper through the silent shade, Amongst the harts horn for his tomb, In the oak woods peaceful glade.
Or does he ride to gabrel hounds, High above the Shalcombe Downs, On thunderclouds upon the storm, By power of oak and ash and thorn.
When squirrels shiver in their fur Comes Arwald to Whitgarasburgh.
References; Bede The Anglo Saxon Chronicle The Canterbury Charm. Isle of Wight hidden heroes website.
Admin Gary
Fantastic poem! Who wrote it ?