The Mark of the Horse Lord facts for kids
First edition
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| Author | Rosemary Sutcliff |
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| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's historical novel |
| Publisher | OUP |
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Publication date
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1965 |
| Media type | Print (hardback) |
The Mark of the Horse Lord is an exciting historical novel for children written by Rosemary Sutcliff. It was first published in 1965 and later won the first Phoenix Award in 1985. The story takes place in Roman Britain and follows a gladiator who gets involved with the Dal Riada people in Earra-Ghàidheal. Like many of Sutcliff's books, this story explores what it means to be a leader and the big responsibilities that come with it, especially the idea of a king making a great sacrifice for his people.
Contents
The Story of Red Phaedrus
The main character of the book is Red Phaedrus. He is a gladiator, a fighter who was once a slave in ancient Rome. Phaedrus is half Roman and half Celt, and he has bright red hair.
Freedom and a New Role
Phaedrus wins his freedom after a tough fight in the arena at Corstopitum. This town was the most northern Roman settlement. Soon after, people from the Dal Riada tribe approach him. They ask him to pretend to be their king, Midir. Their goal is to take back control of their tribe from a queen who has taken over.
Phaedrus agrees to this risky plan. The real Midir had his eyes put out by the queen, which meant he could not rule. To show his new role, Phaedrus gets a special tattoo on his forehead. This tattoo is the "Mark of the Horse Lord," which gives the book its name. Now, the stage is set for a big struggle. It's a fight between the new "King" and the Queen, between the Dal Riada and the Caledones, and between different ancient beliefs.
Learning to Be a King
Phaedrus spends time near the Northern Wall. Here, he learns how to act like Midir. He also learns about the culture and ways of the Celts. During this time, he hears about important historical events. These include discussions about the Pax Romana, which was a time of peace in the Roman Empire. He also learns about Roman generals and their battles against native tribes.
Taking Back the Kingdom
A revolt begins against the Queen. The Dal Riada manage to take back their main city, Dun Monaidh. However, the Queen escapes to her relatives among the Caledones. Phaedrus is crowned king in a special ceremony. He places his foot on a carved footprint that belonged to kings before him. He lives among the Dal Riada people. Some of them know he is not the real king, but most do not. He slowly earns their trust and understanding.
War and Sacrifice
A war breaks out between the Dal Riada and the Caledones, who are shown as Picts. The fighting happens around a mountain called Cruachan. The Dal Riada fight hard to protect their land.
Eventually, the Dal Riada win the war. The Caledones are scattered, but the Queen gets away. She finds safety in a Roman fort. The real Midir tries to kill the Queen, but both of them die in the attempt. Phaedrus is then captured by the Romans.
The Romans offer Phaedrus his freedom. But this freedom would come at a very high cost to the Dal Riada people. Thinking about his adopted people, Phaedrus chooses to sacrifice himself instead. This shows the strong idea of responsibility and a king giving up his life for his people, which is a key theme in the book.
Themes in the Novel
The book explores several important ideas. One main theme is about a person trying to find their true self and where they belong. This is similar to other Sutcliff novels like Outcast. The story also looks at what happens when different cultures meet and sometimes clash.
Another big theme is the duties and responsibilities of a king. Phaedrus learns what it means to lead and protect his people. This idea of a king's duty is seen in many of Sutcliff's books. The novel also shares some similarities with The Prisoner of Zenda, another story about someone pretending to be a prince. Both heroes even have red hair!
Awards and Recognition
The Mark of the Horse Lord won a special award in 1985. It was the first ever Phoenix Award from the Children's Literature Association. This award is given to the best English-language children's book that did not win a major award when it was first published twenty years earlier. The award is named after the mythical bird phoenix, which rises from its ashes. This name suggests that the book became famous again after being less known for a while.
