'It's the first state institution since Roman times,' the author told MailOnline. The community is now famous for producing the Lindisfarne Gospels, one of the most magnificent manuscripts in history, but Mr Adams insists that its significance, as the first religious institution set up by an English king, is much greater. However, Mr Adams claims that Oswald's greatest achievement was not political, but cultural - fulfilling his vow to St Columba, the king set up a new monastery, populated by Irish monks, on the island of Lindisfarne. He subsequently expanded his power, and was said by later Anglo-Saxons to have been the overlord of all England, as well as receiving tribute from the Scots and the Welsh. Oswald was successful in battle and finally became king of Northumbria at the age of 30. The story bears striking similarities to that of Oswald, an exile who won back his birthright - not to mention that of Aragorn's quest to become king of Gondor after helping lead the mission to destroy the all-powerful Ring. In Beowulf, the eponymous hero leaves his home, the land of the Geats, to fight on behalf of the Danes, before returning to claim the Geat throne. 'Tolkien thought there was a link between Oswald and Beowulf', Mr Adams told MailOnline - adding that the character of Aragorn might have been created as a composite of both men. Mr Adams says that he is not the first scholar to link the heroic king with the fictional warrior. It is not known when Beowulf was written, but the poem contains references to both Christianity and paganism, suggesting that it might date to the period of conversion when Oswald ruled. ![]() ![]() ![]() The epic poem is set in a great feasting hall, Heorot, which Mr Adams compares directly to the halls where Oswald held court. King Oswald of Northumbria was a crucial figure in early English politics, but author Max Adams believes that he is also linked to the Anglo-Saxons' greatest cultural achievement - Beowulf.
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