The use and abuse of hostages in later Anglo-Saxon England

This paper explores the use of hostages in political relations in Anglo-Saxon England, often between different ethnic groups. Although much of the evidence relates to the ninth century when hostages were used as a means of guaranteeing the peace agreements made between King Alfred and his Viking adversaries, consideration will be given here to the use of hostages in the broader context of the late Anglo-Saxon period. The paper discusses whether the significance of these arrangements lay in their projection of imperial power or in their practicality as a crude political tool whose effectiveness in maintaining an agreement lay in a tangible threat. Both of these aspects of Anglo-Saxon hostageship are examined, especially with regard to peacemaking, the extent to which it could be successful, and why.