Spellings of Brunanburh Revisited

The article considers the question whether spellings of name Brunanburh and Brunnanburh in texts relating to King Athelstan’s battle 937 indicate existence two different places with very similar names, as proposed by Michael Wood. It argues that claims made for are based on mistaken assumptions about manuscripts their sources, difference is best explained orthographic variation. An alternative offered first element may be a hypocorism. Theories might have prompted ‘two places’ hypothesis examined it demonstrated Alistair Campbell, editor Old English poem Battle Brunanburh, conflated grammatically types omitted crucial lexical manuscript evidence from his consideration question. presented clarified. Uncritical adoption Campbell’s linguistic arguments support Burghwallis site analysed shown mistaken. assumption Scandinavian brunnr present Brunnaburh referred its spring undermined. overall conclusion Brun(n)anburh regarded variants.