Why a funny-looking dragon has everything to do with Alfred the Great

 

Hi friends! Today’s post is a guest article by my friend Amy Ullrich, author of the Heroes of Wessex series! Enjoy!

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Have you ever read any of G.A. Henty’s books?

He was a prolific historical fiction author who wrote especially for boys. But there are many girls (like me!) who have enjoyed his books.

Of course, one of my favourites is his The Dragon and the Raven which is set during the reign of Alfred the Great.

It was Henty who first introduced me to the concept of King Alfred’s dragon flag.

While working on the final book in my Heroes of Wessex trilogy, I have done some extra research into this flag.

I mean, wouldn’t it be amazing to know exactly what King Alfred’s standard looked like?

Unfortunately, we don’t know exactly how it would have looked, but we do know that it would have featured an unusual, two-legged dragon called a “wyvern.”

Historical sources suggest that the wyvern was the symbol of Wessex since at least a century before King Alfred.

The wyvern is even depicted in the Bayeux Tapestry as the standard of King Harold.

The wyvern derives its name from the Old French word for “viper,” and symbolizes strength, valour, and protection.

In the 1950s, William Crampton designed a flag based on his research of the ancient flag and it became the official flag of Wessex:

You may have noticed that this flag is featured on the cover of my upcoming book, Among the Valiant. Although it probably isn’t 100% historically accurate to the time, it at least gives us an idea of what King Alfred’s standard would have looked like.

I have been so intrigued by the wyvern, the history of the Wessex banner, and its connection with England’s greatest king, that I’ve decided to include the Wessex wyvern on the covers of the new Heroes of Wessex special editions.

These editions have just launched on Kickstarter!

These editions include:

• Gold foil on the cover and dust jacket

• Ribbon bookmark

• Full colour title page featuring the artwork from the original cover

• Premium paper

Here’s a sneak preview of how they look:

The Heroes of Wessex Kickstarter campaign celebrates the “grand finale” of my medieval adventure trilogy set during the reign of Alfred the Great.

Do any of these sound familiar?

• You want stories that entertain, but that don’t rely on graphic content to do it.

• Your teen enjoys adventure and action…but you want something that also teaches and inspires them.

• You’d love a book that sparks real conversations about perseverance, courage, and truth.

That’s exactly why I wrote Heroes of Wessex.

Check out the campaign here!

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About the guest writer:

Amy Ullrich is the award-winning author of the Heroes of Wessex trilogy. Her historical fiction combines fast-paced plots with relatable characters, offering family-friendly storytelling free from graphic violence and overt romance. Amy decided to focus on historical fiction so that she could unite her love for storytelling with her passion for history – the story written by God, the greatest Author of all. Besides writing, Amy loves painting, teaching, and engaging in exceedingly deep conversations. Find out more about her at https://amyullrich.com.