The Lords of the North is a novel based in 9th Century Anglo-Saxon kingdoms Wessex and Northumbria. The book starts where The Pale Horseman left off. It is the third book in Bernard Cornwell's Saxon Stories.

Plot summary

878 - 881: Uhtred of Bebbanburg makes his way back to his native Northumbria seeking revenge against his uncle Ælfric and childhood enemies Sven the One-Eyed and Kjartan the Cruel. He travels by ship with his friend and lover, Hild. They make landfall near Eoferwic (York) to find the region in disarray. Lord Ivarr Ivarsson and his army are engaged with the Scotts in the north. The formerly Danish held Eoferwic has been conquered by Saxons. The central lands of Dunholm are ravaged by Kjartan and Sven and Bebbanburg remains under the control of Ælfric. Uhtred is hired to escort a Danish merchant's family north, through Dunholm, to safety.

As they travel and attempt to avoid the Dunholm fortress and Kjartan's troops, they are unsuccessful and are led into a slave trading camp led by Sven. Uhtred disguises himself as Thorguild the Leper, Dark Swordsman of Niffelheim and convinces Sven he is sent from the dead to haunt him. He frees Danish King Guthred of Cumbraland from the slave pens.

In Cumbraland, Uhtred becomes the commander of Guthred's household troops and adviser. He trains a band of 30 new warriors and stops an attempt by Kjartan to capture him and Guthred. Uhtred supports Guthred's bid for power against the rival factions of Northumbria, including his uncle Aelfric who now rules Bebbanburg. He falls in love with Gisela, Guthred's sister, before being betrayed by Guhtred and cast into slavery.

During two years spent chained to the oar of a Danish trading ship, Uhtred befriends Finan the Agile, a former warrior. Uhtred is rescued by Steapa and Ragnar who pursued their trading ship in the Red Ship on the orders of King Alfred. Uhtred returns to Wessex to learn that it was Hild who convinced Alfred to send Steapa and Ragnar to his rescue. Hild promises to Alfred that she will use Uhtred's hoard of silver to build an abbey and recommit herself to Christ. In return Alfred agreed to rescue Uhtred.

Uhtred and Ragnar return to Northumbria where they enact brutal vengeance upon their enemies Kjartan the Cruel and Sven. The novel ends with Uthred's duel against the Danish earl Ivarr Ivarsson in order to secure Guthred's claim to the throne of Northumbria.

Characters in "Lords of the North"

• Uhtred - the Protagonist, narrator, dispossessed Ealdorman of Bebbanburg
• King Alfred of Wessex - The King of Wessex
• Guthrum/King Aethelstan - Danish and Christian King of East Anglia
• Guthred - Danish slave rescued by Uhtred and proclaimed King of Northumbria
• Gisela - Danish woman, sister of Guthred
• Hild - Saxon woman, a former nun who becomes Uhtred's companion
• Ragnar Ragnarsson - Danish Warlord, son of Earl Ragnar, and Uhtred's foster brother and close friend
• Ælfric - Uhtred's uncle and usurper of the throne of Bebbanburg
• Father Beocca - Alfred's priest and Uhtred's family friend
• Kjartan the Cruel - Master of Dunholm, killer of Earl Ragnar the Fearless
• Sven the One-Eyed - One-eyed son of Kjartan, enemy of Uhtred
• Thyra Ragnarsdottir - Sister of Ragnar, kidnapped by Sven
• Ivar Ivarsson - Danish Warlord, son of Ivar the Boneless
• Rypere - Saxon boy Uhtred trains
• Clapa - Danish boy Uhtred trains
• Sihtric Kjartansson - Kjartan's illegitimate son sworn to Uhtred
• Jænberht and Ida - Monks in the employ of Ælfric
• Abbot Eadred - Guthred's chief supporter and possessor of Saint Cuthbert's corpse
• Father Hrothweard - Priest in Eoferwic
• Tekil - Warrior employed by Kjartan
• Sverri Ravnsson - Danish trader from Jutland who buys Uhtred as a slave from
• Hakka - Sverri's Frisian right-hand man
• Finan the Agile - Irish slave and warrior Uhtred befriends

Publication details

• 2006, UK, HarperCollins ISBN 0-00-714992-1, Pub date 22 May 2006, hardback