Old English Song: The English Varangians - A New England | The Skaldic Bard

Here is another song I wrote and performed in Old English, this time about the Anglo Saxon warriors who were forced to leave England after the Norman Conquest in 1066 and seek their fortunes abroad. The events are based off the Icelandic saga Játvarðar Saga. The Englishmen sailed down through the Straits of Gibraltar and onward to the Mediterranean, retaking lands for Christendom as they went. They came to Constantinople which was under siege by foreign foes and vowed to aid Emperor Alexios. This was the start of the Anglo-Saxon branch of the Varangian Guard. As time went on, some decided to find a place to start a new colony, which they deemed Nova Anglia, or New England, somewhere in modern day Crimea. Emperor Alexios said that if they could reconquer those lands, they could keep it - and that they did. They named their cities London and York, among others, and maintained their English traditions and language for centuries. This is my attempt at sharing their story. The melody for t