| Abstrakt: |
The location of the battle of Brunanburh in 937 remains a source of disagreement among investigators. In recent years many places have been identified as Brunanburh. This article interrogates the claims of Andrew Breeze, in several works, to have securely located the battle at Lanchester in County Durham. The methods by which Breeze reaches his conclusion are analyzed, and the arguments he cites for it are examined. Breeze's main proposals are discussed: that Brunanburh refers to the River Browney in County Durham; that the name We(o)ndun recorded by Symeon of Durham refers to a wen-shaped hill; and that dinges- in the Old English poem on the battle should be emended to dingles-. Alternative interpretations of the material are given, some based on hitherto unexamined evidence, including a new suggestion for the etymology of Dingley in Northamptonshire. It is argued that the Lanchester hypothesis does not stand linguistic and critical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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