River Avon
The River Avon, also known as the Afon River, is a river that flows around Hampshire to the south of Gloucestershire.
History[edit | edit source]
Viking Age[edit | edit source]
In 872, the Vikings' leaders Halfdan Ragnarsson and Guthrum met with King Alfred of Wessex to discuss a truce after the Battle of Meretun. The peace stipulated that the Great Heathen Army would be given silver and gold in return for the assurance that no Dane would cross the Avon to invade.[1]
Within six years, the army returned led solely by Guthrum but bolstered by the Raven Clan's jarlskona Eivor Varinsdottir, her allies, and the last Son of Ragnar, Ubba Ragnarsson. However, Ubba and his men were ambushed and killed near the Avon's blockade, a fact that Alfred was informed of and subsequently boasted about to Guthrum and Eivor during a new round of peace talks in Wareham.[2] To confirm the truth, Eivor investigated the area and found her friend's corpse and orders from Alfred and Reeve Goodwin for ealdorman Odda to ensure Ubba's demise.[3]
Behind the scenes[edit | edit source]
There are several River Avons in the United Kingdom. The name is a tautology, meaning its two different components are synonymous, with avon being the Proto-Brythonic word meaning "river" (Welsh afon).
In Assassin's Creed: Valhalla, the Afon River is based on both the Bristol Avon and the Hampshire Avon, two separate rivers merged for the purposes of convenient longship travel. It resembles the Bristol Avon to the north, where it begins in Gloucestershire and flows by Chippenham, while it resembles the Hampshire Avon to the south, where it flows by Runcwuda Abbey (Ringwood) and enters the English Channel.
Appearances[edit | edit source]
- Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Geirmund's Saga (first mentioned)
- Assassin's Creed: Valhalla (first appearance)