Ælla of Northumbria
Ælla (c.815 – 867) was King of Northumbria from 866 until his death in 867. He was a member of the Order of the Ancients, and was in line to become the new Grand Maegester of the Order in England by the mid-860s.
Biography
Circa 865, ealdorman Ælla captured the famed Viking leader Ragnar Lothbrok and had him executed by throwing him into a pit of snakes.[2] As retaliation, two of Ragnar's sons, Ivarr the Boneless and Ubba Ragnarsson, sought revenge and invaded England leading the Great Heathen Army.[3]
On 1 November 866, following the deposition and murder of his predecessor Osberht by Ivarr,[4] Ælla was crowned King of Northumbria in the York Minster by the Archbishop Wulfhere. After which the kingdom celebrated the All Saint's Day Feast. The day also marked the beginning of the Battle of York led by Ivarr.[5]
During Ælla's reign, Louis the Younger gave him a unique axe from Europe as a gift.[6]
By March 867, the sons of Ragnar captured Ælla and ritually executed him by way of the blood eagle.[3] After Ælla's death, the title he would have assumed was instead bestowed upon Æthelred, the son of King Æthelwulf of Wessex.[7]
Appearances
- Assassin's Creed: Valhalla (mentioned only)
- Echoes of Valhalla (voice only)
- Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Blood Brothers (first appearance)
References
- ↑
Ælla of Northumbria on Wikipedia
- ↑ Echoes of Valhalla – Episode 2: Dragon of the Seas
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Database: Ivarr and Ubba
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – King Killer
- ↑ Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Blood Brothers – Chapter 3
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Valhalla
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – The Poor Fellow-Soldier