The word “History” may not be the best choice of word as it implies the basic concepts of consecutive and successive events exist. Many have noted the seeming incongruity between the time-lines of Brighton Above and Brighton Below, but it is quite clear that the progression do not follow the same laws of time. For instance Lady Palmeira apparently was born in the late 1800’s sometime yet was present at the death of Alfred which was thought to have been around 1840 AD in World Above time. It is also know that Lord Preston was born in the late 16th Century yet he still has the appearance of a man in his 30’s despite the World Above now being in the early 21st century.
Those who have attempted to reconcile these facts can only conclude that time itself does not operate in the same ways within Brighton Below, and that on occasion the seemingly impossible does happen. The events below are an attempt to note in chronological order some of the main events in the history of Brighton Below

 

Circa 500 AD – The Rule of Bjorn
The earliest records of Brighton Below speak of men who came from overseas and spoke in a foreign tongue. These verbal records which were passed down through the centuries tell that the one of these outsiders was banished from his community in the World Above and found himself an outcast amongst his own people. It was he that founded Brighton Below (though it was called Beorthelmstun at the time). His name was Bjorn Lundin

Bjorn settled the differences between the few inhabitants of the Underside at that time. Mostly they were drunks and heretics, but Bjorn led them to work together and to survive on what they could scavenge, steal or make themselves. Bjorn’s leadership inspired them to forge their own community living outside but alongside the World Above

Circa 850AD – The Rule of Fildlas
In time Bjorn died, and his body was buried somewhere in the Underside. Records do not note the exact locations and the ever-changing geography of Brighton Below means that the location may not even exist. His sword was taken as a token of authority and a symbol of Bjorn’s great leadership. A series of rulers took over, many performing their duty as best they could, others exploiting the power that it gave them for their own purposes.

Bjorn’s successor was Fildlas, a violent drunkard who asserted his authority as he was the largest and strongest of the residents of Brighton Below. At this time the town Above had only a few hundred residents, mostly farmers and fishermen and the residents Below numbered only a 20 or so. Fildlas used the rest of those in the World Below as his personal retinue forcing them to bring him food and alcohol. Fildlas was a drunkard and an aggressor though his greed served the city well in that he protected his interests and those who made any hostile action against any of the other residents were quickly taught a lesson. The people knew that they had nothing to fear from any outsider

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Circa 1200AD – The Rule of Edward
Edward was a small landowner who “fell” from the Brighthelmstone Above (as it was now called) following an encounter with Fildlas. The brutish ruler of the Undersider encountered Edward late one evening and demanded money from him (presumably to purchase alcohol). When Edward refused Fidlas resorted to what he knew best, namely violence and in the resulting struggle, Edward slew Fildlas. He merely wished to beat his attacker off with his walking staff, but somehow struck a fatal blow
Being a man of good standing he went to find the beadle and explain the situation, but he found that the Beadle pretty much ignored him and didn’t want to listen to him, claiming that he’d never heard of Fildlas at all. Edward went back to collect the body of Fildlas to show to the Beadle but found that it had already been removed (and his tankard taken as a symbol of the strength of Fildlas)
When Edward returned to speak to the Beadle the next day, he found that no-one paid any attention to him at all. He soon found himself lost to the rest of the World Above, and welcomed into the Underside

Edward is often referred to as “The Reluctant Lord”. His reign was somewhat unusual in that he never wanted the position and never once declared himself to be the ruler. The role was imposed by his killing of Fildlas, and though he helped preside over disputes and arguments between the other Undersiders, he did so as a counsellor and advisor rather than as a Lord. People would bring their troubles and gripes to him and he would resolve these amicably with words and arrangements.
Edward took a surprisingly pacifist outlook to his leadership, which some say followed his arrival into Brighton Below. Many believe that Edward saw his loss of his life in the World Above was a punishment for the killing of Fildlas. Being a devout Catholic, Edward saw parallels between his “descent” into the Underside and the fall of man into eternal damnation.

Edward was considered to be the most compassionate and understanding of the rulers of Brighton Below and his staff was taken as his token of compassion and empathy

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Circa 1400 AD – The Rule of Elspeth
Elspeth was believed to be one of the first true Undersiders, born in Brighton Below to parents from the Underside. It was this heritage that propelled her into the position as Lady of the Underside; that and her ability to make deals with the right people. Elspeth for many years was a small time trader but then she established a regular stall within the Underside

Her abilities in trade and negotiation made her in some ways the perfect choice for the ruler of the Underside. By this time the World Above was becoming more developed and Brighton Above too had its own regular markets where trade was booming. Elspeth ordered those who were not wholly lost to the Underside to go to the markets Above and bring back items which were needed in the World Below. With her teams of scavengers and thieves operating in this manner, she managed to greatly improve the living conditions of those in the Underside.
Others quickly joined into the idea and they too set up stalls by Elspeths. Each time she began to trade more and more people came to join her until the Market was a regular event

In time she practically dominated all transactions in the Underside. For some time people started to refer to the Market as “Elspeth’s” as she ran almost every stall herself. (After her death the Market took the name of the Floating Market)

Her efforts were recognised by the other residents in the city (especially by those who owed her favours) and she was named as the first Queen of Brighton Below. Her rule developed further the economic strengths of the Underside, food was stockpiled for winter periods, communal habitations were established, and a network of craftsmen were established to ensure that nothing was ever thrown away.

Elspeth was the shortest ruler in Brighton Below, but one of the most successful. Her double-headed coin was taken as a symbol of her powers of negotiation and business acumen.

 

Circa 1540AD – The Rule of Alfred

It’s estimated that in the 16th century “King” Alfred took the “throne” in Brighton Below. He was one of the youngest of the Bravo’s in the city but had already demonstrated his skill and courage in battle, as well as his skills of leadership and acumen and also that he held compassion for those he was charged with ruling over.
Alfred is generally thought to be the first (and only) ruler of Brighton Below who sought to use the title of “King”, even to the extent that he requested the craftsmen make him a crown. Whilst his predecessors were satisfied with the title of Lord or Lady, Alfred believed that a more regal title implied greater authority and greater respect
With the Bjorn’s sword at his side and the other relics of the former rulers of the city, Alfred led Brighton Below for three hundred years and saw some great changes through. Disasters of Brighton Above often affect disasters of Brighton Below, and as well as half the town being washed away by the influx of sea, there were numerous attacks by the French, civil wars and disease. Alfred saw the Undersiders through all of these disasters and saw that Brighton Below survived.

Circa 1840AD – The Battle of The Red Hill
Alfred’s end came following what is now referred to as the Battle of The Red Hill. For a number of decades, Lord Lewes had been attempting to assert some authority in Brighton Below, claiming that he was entitled to some territories or access rights there. Lord Lewes was a prominent figure in Brighton though his residence was located some way out. He believed that he was a genuine contender to the “throne” and that he should have been given the title rather than Alfred.

The argument escalated to such an extent that “war” broke out between those who were loyal to Lord Lewes, and those who were loyal to Alfred. Alfred’s retinue consisted primarily of the Bravo’s and others who had fought alongside him in the past and his own household. Lord Lewes recruited from far and wide, using Birdspeakers to ensure that the call to arms was heard throughout the country. The message that Lord Lewes sent was one of treachery and deceit on the part of Alfred, and garnered a good degree of support.

The two “armies” (though they number less than 100 men in all) met on the land that is now known as the Red Hill, and battle ensued. Both sides took heavy losses but the Birdspeakers of Lord Peregrine heard that the birds enlisted by Lord Lewes had been given false information. They spread this information as quickly as they could to those who had allied themselves to Lord Lewes, and though this did cause a break up of the combat, the battle was almost over.

Lord Lewes was captured by his own men and was brought before Alfred to surrender, or beg for his own life. Alfred was to offer him the choice of banishment or imprisonment, but before he could speak Lewes drew a dagger from a hidden sheath and struck Alfred.

It is said that Whitehawk struck the blow that beheaded Lewes

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The Four Noble Households

As Alfred’s lay upon his death bed he summoned his servants and told them to gather together the Heads of the four most powerful families in Brighton Below. These being the Prestons, the Kemps, the Palmeira’s and the Dials.

The Dials never made it to this gathering. Lord Dial and his wife were slain in their beds by an unknown assassin, and with no discernable centre of power, the family effectively was written out of their legacy. The seven children were too young at that time to claim any kind of real power, so the family servants took them into their care until such time as they were old enough to move away.

The next most powerful family in the city was that of Severinus Roe, a new member to the World Below but the head of the fifth largest household. The Roes took the place of the Dials, which caused a degree of speculation as to the identity of the Dial’s murderers.

Alfred explained his decision for the meeting. He had sent that the organisation of the Underside as it stood was dangerous and fragile and that a single person holding the sole position of authority in the Underside we a temptation for those greedy for power. The Battle at The Red Hill showed that this temptation was too great for many to handle. Lord Lewes was essentially a good man, but believed that he should be the rightful ruler, and that he should assume power. His jealousy for the authority of another lead to the deaths of many.

The reliance on a single ruler also meant that in the event of the death of that ruler there would inevitably be a struggle for power.

King Alfred in his wisdom decided that there would no longer be a King of Brighton Below, but that the lands would be split between the four family households, and that each should be declared Nobles and rulers over their own lands.

The Preston Household was gifted the lands to the North and North-west of the city to rule as their own. All those living in that section of the city were bound by the laws of the Prestons. They were then given the sword of Bjorn as their symbol of authority, a fitting gift for a regimented household

The Kemps were given the lands to the East of the city, to do with as they pleased. They too were gifted one of the former ruler’s possessions, in the form of the tankard which belonged to Fildlas, a gift which lord Kemp found most fitting

The Palmeira’s were given the lands to the West of the city, and the staff of Edward the Reluctant Lord. As the Palmeira’s were known for their forgiveness, compassion and influence over others, it seemed to be the most appropriate of items

The Roes were given the lands to the North and North East of the city, and they too given the last of the four tokens of power, namely the coin of Elspeth. Some say this was an appropriate gift as the Roe’s were rich and powerful in the World Above; others state it was given to the Roes as like all coins they have two faces.
(The irony to the two “faces” of all members of House Roe has not gone un-noticed)

The centre of the city was to be given to the surviving members of the fifth Household, the Dials.
Whilst Lord and Lady Dial were slain, their children were still heirs and rightful heirs to their legacy. The Household was effectively dormant, the children having been taken away for their safety or having left in grief or fear. However their lands would still remain until such point as they wished to reclaim them.

Alfred stated that one of his possessions would be the new token of his rule, and when the Dial children returned they would know where to find this. They could then take their rightful place as the final piece of the city.

Alfred was buried the next day, and his wished were complete

There were no more Kings of Brighton Below