Hunwald of Lincolnshire (died 878) was the Mercian ealdorman of Lincolnshire from 875 to 878 AD, succeeding Hundbeorht and preceding Aelfgar.
Biography[]
Hunwald was born in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, Mercia, the son of Ealdorman Hundbeorht of Lincolnshire. When his father fell ill in 875 AD, his treacherous advisors ordered that Hunwald be exiled (claiming that Hunwald desired to usurp his birthright while his father was still alive), and they assumed all real power after Hundbeorht died; they covered up the Ealdorman's disappearance and death to justify their continued monopoly on control. Hunwald was forced to flee to Boston, and he then travelled to Ravensthorpe, Northamptonshire in 875 AD to enlist the help of the acting Jarl of Ravensthorpe, Eivor, in helping him return to Lincoln and overthrow the sinister powers dominating the city's affairs. Hunwald caroused with Randvi's scouts Norvid and Svanhildr before meeting Eivor, who agreed to meet him at Boston and help him return to Lincoln.
Return to Lincoln[]
Hunwald and Eivor confronting Bishop Herefrith of Lincoln
Eivor and Hunwald's friend Aelfgar of Gainsborough met Hunwald at Boston, and, after foiling an assassination attempt on Hunwald, Eivor rowed Hunwald up the River Witham to Lincoln. There, they met with Hunwald's old servant Raeganhere, who told Hunwald that his father had disappeared (having been accompanied by soldiers, men of the cloth, and the healer Galwyna), and that Bishop Herefrith of Lincoln had taken over the administration of the city from the town hall. Eivor investigated the matter, finding that Hundbeorht had died, neglected, at Bolingbroke Castle, and that his death had been covered up. He brought back Hundbeorht's seal to Hunwald to prove that his father had died, and a despondent Hunwald yelled at Bishop Herefrith and Abbess Acha for lying to him and went to his father's hunting spot at Ealdorman's Overlook to drink his sorrows away. Eivor joined him there and accompanied him as he decided to ride to Grimsby to visit his Danish love, Swanburrow, saving him from another assassination attempt at Spitalgate along the way. Eivor then told Hunwald to remain in Grimsby until the shiremoot (election for the ealdormanship) could be held back in Lincoln, upon which Hunwald joined the moot and stood for election against Aelfgar and Herefrith.
Herefrith's rebellion[]
Hunwald embracing Eivor
Eivor cast the tie-breaking vote in Hunwald's favor, leading to Herefrith revealing his true colors by sending soldiers into the hall to massacre the nobles and his political opponents. Eivor killed all of the assailants, and he then encouraged the newly-elected ealdorman Hunwald to raise a fyrd and crush Herefrith's rebellion. The Lincolnshire fyrd assembled at Wynmere Lake and then assaulted Herefrith's rebel stronghold at Ancaster, with Hunwald suffering a few wounds in the batttle. After killing Herefrith, Eivor congratulated Hunwald on his first battle and on becoming Ealdorman, and Hunwald hugged Eivor and thanked him for his help, saying that he was bad at goodbyes. Before Eivor left, Hunwald secured Eivor's permission to send Swanburrow to live with the Raven Clan until the situation in Lincolnshire could calm down.
Battles in the south[]
Hunwald talking with Eivor at Portchester
Later that same year, Eivor called in his favor with Hunwald to help him rescue his captive brother Sigurd Styrbjornson from Fulke's fortress at Portchester. Hunwald brought with him Lincolnshire's best archers, and he took part in the Siege of Portchester, with his men playing a critical role in the successful storming of the walls and Sigurd's rescue. After the battle, Eivor sent Hunwald Swanburrow's regards and thanked him for bringing his archers, saying that he might need them again someday. Hunwald was visibly confused, having thought that he would only have to aid Eivor once, but he then capitulated.
Death[]
Hunwald's body
In 878, Hunwald again answered Eivor's call for what was anticipated to be the final battle for control of England, the Battle of Chippenham, against King Alfred the Great of Wessex. He befriended the son of the Ealdorman of Essex, Eluric, who volunteered to serve as his bodyguard. Hunwald and Eluric were sent to serve as the Danish army's scouts during the battle, but Eluric was wounded and Hunwald was mortally wounded. Eivor found Hunwald wounded, and he and Eluric took Hunwald to safety inside a nearby hut. There, Hunwald died after thanking Eivor for being his truest friend, causing Eivor and Eluric to grieve for the loss of their innocent friend. Hunwald, Jarlskona Soma, and Hjorr Halfsson were cremated side-by-side on a hill overlooking Chippenham after the battle's end.