Chapter 63: Gambits

*The **Normans** are an ethnic group originating in the District of Normandy, originally one of the northern duchies of the Kingdom of Francia. Emerging initially from contact between the native Franks, Gallo-Romans and Norse Viking settlers in the 800s AD, the Normans gained political recognition and legitimacy under the Viking Rollo, by treaty with the King Charles III of Francia in AD 911, where Rollo was granted the lands settled by the Normans and recognition as a noble lord in exchange for protection against other Viking raiders…*

*In the centuries after their establishment, the Normans traveled and conquered widely, either as mercenaries in the employ of others or as their own feudal magnates, with conquered territories at the Straits of Jabal Ṭāriq, the Islas Canarias, the Islas Baleares, Cyprus, Southern Anatolia, Sicily, and the Maghreb…*

*…while the militaristic nature of the Norman culture is without question, they were also great patrons of the arts during the feudal era, and continue to have noted artistic contributions since. In addition, two common themes in Norman-controlled regions were a degree of meritocratic egalitarianism, regardless of ethnic or religious origin, and the integration of local arts, architecture and society. This emphasis on integration/syncretism created Norman-Arab, Norman-Byzantine, Norman-Moor, and other hybrid societies where they conquered and settled…*

*—Normans. (n.d.) In Wikikenna. Retrieved August 18, 1885*

## Chapter Overview

Viggo signals the Archbishop's Father Confessor to get his charge to call off the standoff at the Duke's castle. Later on, he pretends to be a scribe and writes down what Alvin and Delilah tell the Father Confessor. While Hiccup is off giving Duke William a dragon ride, the other William leads Heather and Astrid to the merchant Humbert, whom they hope to employ to run a Dragon Mail station. On the way there, they pass through the Jewish quarter, and William tells them a (very biased) account of who the Jews are.

Sigurd and the other dragon-riding Varangians arrive in Bari to reinforce the Roman forces there.

Back at the castle, Heather explains to the other Norse what she has discovered, and the next day she, Horsefeathers, and Gunvor go to the synagogue to meet the Jewish community. They explain the history of Dror ben Ezra, and offer freedom and sanctuary in the Berkian cities of Eire.

## Trivia

By the date of the *omer* that the Jews are counting, the date of this chapter is the 18th of Iyar, which would correspond approximately to May 17th in 1042 (however, this does not take into account the 10-day shift made by the Gregorian calendar reformation). This date is also Lag BaOmer, a Jewish holiday celebrating the end of a plague, and the day on which certain restrictions on celebration are lifted. This could be an allegory for how the Berkian offer of sanctuary is an "end" to the "plague" of Christian oppression, at least for those Jews who take them up on the offer. Lag BaOmer is also associated with fire, as are dragons.

## Characters

### Humans

* Viggo Grimborn
* Father Confessor Matthew
* Hiccup clan Haddock
* Heather
* William of Normandy
* William FitzOsbern
* Astrid Hákonsdóttir clan Haddock
* Wulfhild of Norway
* Snotlout clan Jorgenson
* Kekaumenos
* Gunnar Bræsisson
* Gudmund Hallvarsson
* Gyrgir/Georgios Maniakes
* Horsefeathers Hensteethsson
* Gunvor Dugaldsdóttir
* Rabbi Dovid ben Eliezer (first appearance)
* Stoick the Vast
* Big-Boobied Bertha
* Naoise Eysteinnsson
* Adalwin ua Imair
* Delilah
* Ryker Grimborn

### Dragons

* Toothless
* Stormfly
* Windshear
* Hookfang

## Analysis

### Foreshadowing

<spoiler> The epigraph's mention of Normans conquering the Straits of Jabal Ṭāriq foreshadows Viggo Grimborn's capture of Algeciras. </spoiler>

### Epigraph Tie-In

* The epigraph is all about the Norman ethnic group. The majority of the chapter takes place in Normandy, where the ethnic group originated from.