Cultures of the 9th Century:

Of the three cultures presented the Anglo Saxons are the most hierarchical. The Anglo Saxons have no reluctance in acknowledging the supremacy of the Pope in spiritual affairs, the supremacy of the King in political affairs or the supremacy of males over females in day to day life. To the growing horror of many, the Vikings have, over the past several years, chosen to remain in Yorkshire and East Anglia over the winter. While they are not yet conquered the Anglo Saxons are facing the very real possibility of conquest. This possibility lays the foundation for a lot of conflict between these two cultures. In the face of this prospect the Anglo Saxons are willing to consider almost anything that might help prevent them from falling under the pagan yoke. Desperate times can provide opportunity to a man of vision. Unfortunately, opportunities seem to be limited to men. Women in England are as restricted as most other places in Christendom. Unless a woman both marries a man of means and manages to bend him to her will, or becomes an abbess she is unlikely to have any influence whatsoever. Of course, it may be that what the Anglo-Saxons really need is a Joan of Arc...

Celtic culture evolved differently than Anglo Saxon culture primarily due to the differences in the process of conversion to Christianity. The first Christian missionaries to Celtic lands encountered a fierce belief in the natural world, and the Gods of that world, which ultimately resulted in several centuries of a blended Druid Christianity, making the conversion of the Celts unlike any other. While it made the conversion of the Celts less violent it also left some significant legacies. First and foremost, it left a remnant of 'witches' who passed their knowledge of the craft they practiced. These 'witches' were not subject to any persecution until the Celtic Churches came increasingly under the control of the Roman Church. Finally it left a legacy of conflict, which was both political and religious. The Celtic religious pattern was dedicated more to the worship of the Gods themselves than the traditional Roman Catholic hierarchy, with the role of the clergy being of a more central importance. Woman and children in these cultures certainly enjoyed more freedom and rights than their Anglo-Saxon neighbors, with the lines of leadership being passed in some cases, through the female blood lines rather than the male and creating more opportunities for woman in politics and religious systems.

The Norse culture is perceived as barbarian, but this is an oversimplified view of the rights and rituals that bound this group of people together and violence was not always directed against foreigners. Many of the most famous men of this age achieved fame only after being outlawed (placed outside the protection of the law and declared 'fair game' for anyone seeking revenge). Strangely enough within this violent culture women enjoyed an unusually high status. While they weren't expected to fight, women could become priestesses and skalds. In fact the Norse religion seems to have reserved the right to preside over public religious observances exclusively to women. When contrasted to the status of women in Anglo Saxon lands it is clear that women enjoyed many more rights and privileges if they happened to be born Norse. Seeking death was also ingrained in this culture. Within the Nordic belief system, to die valiantly, showing a fearless courage was to earn a journey to Valhalla or heaven after death, which caused many Vikings to undertake what looked to be a loosing battle just to earn the trip!