Beocca

Beocca (died 910) was the Court Chaplain of Wessex from 871 to 899, serving under King Alfred the Great. He was the priest and teacher of Uhtred of Bebbanburg during the latter's childhood, forming a lifelong friendship which saw Beocca get Uhtred out of trouble (especially with Alfred) on several occasions.

Biography[]

Beocca was born in Bebbanburg, Northumbria, and he became a Catholic priest and the court chaplain to Ealdorman Uhtred of Bebbanburg. He played a major part in the education of the young Osbert, the Ealdorman's second son, who was initially studying to become a priest, and whom Beocca sought to teach to write (as well as to forget about England's pagan past). In 866, he rebaptized Osbert as "Uhtred" after his older brother Uhtred was beheaded by invading Vikings, making him the official heir to Bebbanburg. Beocca then accompanied his lord into battle against the Danes at the Siege of York, surviving the battle. In 867, he attended a meeting with the Vikings to ransom Uhtred, and Beocca quietly warned Uhtred that he could not return to Bebbanburg, as his uncle Alferic would have him killed in order to become a King of Northumbria. Ultimately, Ragnar purchased Uhtred, preventing Alferic from buying him. He later became the Court Chaplain of Wessex in Winchester, serving Kings Aethelred of Wessex and Alfred the Great; in this position, he vouched for Uhtred when he came to their court, allowing for Uhtred to become an ally of Alfred. He took part in several missions for Alfred in both Wessex and Northumbria, and he fought alongside Uhtred at the Battle of Dunholm in 880. He soon fell in love with Uhtred's adoptive sister Thyra Ragnarsdottir, whom he had consoled after her rescue from Kjartan, and they decided to marry in 884.

Married life[]

Beocca and Thyra lived in a modest home in Winchester, and Thyra was baptized a Christian. Beocca continued to serve as Alfred's trusted advisor, and he set up several meetings between him and Uhtred, resulting in Alfred's pardoning of Uhtred after Uhtred made countless pig-headed and rash decisions.

899 was a tragic year for Beocca: King Alfred passed away in October, and Beocca was relieved of his duties as Court Chaplain by Queen Ealhswith due to his "bonding with heathens", although he was allowed to say a few words at Alfred's funeral before formally departing. While Beocca was presiding over the funeral, his wife was killed by Aethelwold Aetheling's henchman Tidman in a xenophobic attack which resulted in the burning down of Beocca's home. Beocca, incensed, went into battle alongside Uhtred and his companions in the Battle of the Holme in 902, avenging Thyra's death by assisting in the defeat of the Danish army, which included the death of Aethelwold at Uhtred's hands.

Later years[]

After Thyra's death, Beocca retired to Hild's nunnery and administered the sacraments to the nuns, and he also began writing the biography of Saint Cuthbert. In 910, Uhtred visited his old friends and attempted to convince them to join him as he reclaimed Bebbanburg from his uncle, but Hild said that her fighting days were over, and Beocca said that he was an old man who was now devoted to writing. However, he promised to join Uhtred at Bebbanburg once the hard work was done. However, Ealhswith's continued animosity towards Beocca led to Beocca leaving Winchester, and, upon discovering that Uhtred had kidnapped back his son "Young Uhtred" (who had been raised a priest), Beocca decided to join Uhtred in going to Bebbanburg. Beocca befriended Young Uhtred, convincing him that his uncle Aelfric had sold a young Christian boy in exchange for wooden walls, and that Uhtred was avenging a great wrong done to him. Young Uhtred expressed a hope that helping his father might help him become a pious Christian man, and Beocca - despite knowing Uhtred better than that - agreed.

Death[]

Beocca later took part in the infiltration of Bebbanburg, but the party soon found themselves surrounded by a garrison which was larger than they expected. He then watched as Wihtgar shot his own father Aelfric in the eye with a crossbow, and Wihtgar then threatened to kill Uhtred. Beocca tried to intercede, arguing that Aelfric's death could lead to Uhtred and Wihtgar having a fresh start, and suggested that they ally against the Scots. However, Wihtgar said that the northerners had no desire for peace, and said that there could only be one rightful heir. He then told Uhtred that he would kill his son first, and he aimed the crossbow at Young Uhtred. However, when the bolt was fired, Beocca stepped into its path and was struck, sacrificing himself. Uhtred was enraged and went into a violent frenzy, but Finan forced him to leave Beocca behind and save the lives of himself and his men. Uhtred later mourned that Beocca would be left with thieves and criminals instead of being buried next to Thyra, where he could be mourned by friends.