Unless otherwise indicated, all quotations are from the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle.
c.429: ‘The Alleluia Battle’
Probably near Mold, Clwyd. Britons under St Germanus defeat ‘the Saxons’
c.437: Guoloph
Probably Wallop, near Andover, Hants, possibly at the hill-fort of Danebury. Fought between the adherents of Vortigern and Ambrosius, rival British rulers. Outcome unknown.
455. Aegelesthrep
Probably Aylesford, Kent. ‘Hengest and Horsa fought against king Vortigern ... and his brother Horsa was slain. And after that Hengest succeeded to the kingdom[of Kent] and Aesc, his son.’
456 or 457. Crecganford
Crayford, Kent. ‘Hengest and Aesc fought against the Britons ... and there slew four companies; and the Britons then forsook Kent and fled to London in great terror.’
465. Wippedesfleot
Possibly Ebbsfleet, Kent. ‘Hengest and Aesc fought against the Welsh [i.e. British] near Wippedesfleot and one of their thanes, whose name was Wipped, was slain there.’
473. Unknown
‘In this year Hengest and Aesc fought against the Welsh and captured innumerable spoils, and the Welsh fled from the English like fire.’
477. Cymenesora (Cymen’s Shore)
The Owers, south of Selsey Bill, West Sussex; battlefield now under the sea. Aelle and his sons Cymen, Wlencing and Cissa ‘slew many Welsh and drove some to flight into the wood called Andredesleag (the Sussex Weald)’.
485. Mearcraedesburna (Mercred’s stream)
Unknown, possibly by the River Cuckmere. ‘Aelle fought against the Welsh near the bank of Mearcraedesburna. Outcome unknown.
491. Andredescester
The Roman Saxon Shore fortress of Anderida, later called Pevensey Castle, East Sussex. ‘Aelle and Cissa besieged Anderedescester and slew all the inhabitants; there was not even one Briton left there.’
495. 1st Battle of Cerdicesora (Cerdic’s Shore)
Unknown, probably by the Solent or Southampton Water. ‘Cerdic and Cynric his son came to Britain with five ships (landing) at Cerdicesora, and the same day they fought against the Welsh.’ Outcome unknown.
c.496. Mons Badonicus (Badon Hill)
The most likely sites are Liddington Hill, near Swindon, Wilts, or Little Solsbury Hill, near Bath. A different tradition places it on Dumbarton Rock. Britons, probably led by Ambrosius Aurelianus (but remembered in later times as Arthur), defeated the Saxons, probably led by Aesc and Aelle.
501. Portesmutha (Portsmouth)
Portsmouth, Hants, at or near the harbour. ‘Port and his two sons, Bieda and Maegla, came with two ships to Britain at the place called Portesmutha and slew a young Briton, a very noble man.’
508. Natanleag
Probably Netley, near Hamble, Hants. ‘Cerdic and Cynric slew a Welsh king, whose name was Natanleod, and five thousand men with him.’
514. 2nd Battle of Cerdicesora
‘The West Saxons Stuf and Wihtgar came to Britain with three ships, landing at the place called Cerdicesora and fought the Britons and put them to flight.’
519. Cerdicesford (Cerdic’s Ford)
Possibly Charford, Hants. ‘Cerdic and Cynric fought against the Britons at a place now called Cerdicesford.’ Outcome unknown.
527. Cerdicesleag (Cerdic’s Wood)
Unknown location. ‘Cerdic and Cynric fought against the Britons at the place which is called Cerdicesleag.’
530. Wihtgaraesburh
Isle of Wight, possibly at Carisbrooke, near Newport. ‘Cerdic and Cynric obtained possession of the Isle of Wight and slew a few men at Wihtgaraesburh.’
c.537. Camlann
Possibly Birdoswald (Camboglanna) on River Irthing by Hadrian’s Wall. Traditionally at Camelford, Cornwall. ‘The strife ... in which Arthur and Medraut fell.’
552. Searoburh
Old Sarum, near Salisbury, Wilts. ‘Cynric fought against the Britons ... and put the Britons to flight.’
556. Beranburh
Barbury Castle, near Swindon, Wilts. ‘Cynric and Ceawlin fought against the Britons at Beranburh? Outcome unknown.
568. Wibbandun
Possibly Whitmoor Common, Worplesdon, Surrey. ‘Ceawlin and Cutha fought against Aethelberht [king of Kent] and drove him into Kent; and they slew two princes, Oslac and Cnebba, at Wibbandun?
571. Biedcanford
Possibly Bedford. ‘Cutha fought against the Britons ...and captured four villages; and in the same year he passed away.’
573. Arfderydd (Arthuret)
Near Lockerbie, Dumfries, possibly by the Roman fort of Netherby. Rival British faction-fight between the sons of Eliffer and Gwenddolau son of Ceido. Gwenddolau was killed ‘and Merlin went mad’.
577. Argoed Llwyfain
Site unknown. Urien of Rheged and his son Owen defeated ‘a fourfold army’ of Angles led by Ffamddwn (‘firebrand’, probably local chief called Theodoric) and Ulph.
577. Deorham
Dyrham, Glos. Decisive battle in which West Saxons moved into the Severn valley. ‘Cuthwine and Ceawlin fought against the Britons and slew three kings, Coinmail, Farinmail and Condiddan ... and they captured three cities, Gloucester, Cirencester and Bath.’
584. Fethanleag
Probably Stoke Lyne, Oxon. ‘Ceawlin and Cutha fought against the Britons ... and Cutha was slain; and Ceawlin captured many villages and countless booty, and departed in anger to his own [country].’
592. Wodnesbeorh
Adam’s Grave on Pewsey Downs near Alton Priors, Wilts. ‘In this year there was great slaughter at Wodnesbeorh and Ceawlin was driven out.’ The victor was Ceol, possibly Ceawlin’s nephew, aided by the native British.
c.593. Catraeth
Catterick, North Yorks. Britons of Din Eidyn and Gododdin and their Welsh allies were defeated by ‘the Saxons’. Celebrated in the epic poem, The Gododdin.
603. Degsastan
Probably Dawston in Lidderdale, Borders. Aethelfrith of Northumbria decisively defeated an alliance of Britons, Scots and Irish led by Aedan of Dal Riata.
614. Beandun
Probably Bindon, near Axmouth, Devon. ‘Cynegils and Cwichelm [of Wessex] fought and slew two thousand and sixty-five Welsh.’
616Caerlegion (Chester)
Aethelfrith defeated the Welsh under Selyf ap Cynan and ‘slew a countless host’ including 200 priests.
617. River Idle
Near Bawtry, South Yorks. Raedwald, king of East Anglia defeated and killed Aethelfrith of Northumbria.
628. Cirencester
‘Cynegils and Cwichelm fought against Penda [king of Mercia] ... and they came to an agreement.’
633. Heathfelth
Hatfield, South Yorks, or more probably Cuckney, Notts. Penda and Caedwallon, king of Gwynedd, defeated and killed Edwin of Northumbria and his eldest son.
634 Hefnfelth or Denisesburna
‘Heavenfield’ by Hadrian’s Wall was probably the mustering point. The battle took place by Rowley Burn, south of Hexham, Northumberland. Oswald, king of Northumbria defeated and killed Caedwallon.
637. Mag Rath
Unknown site in Co. Down. The high-king Domnall son ofAed defeated Domnall Brecc ofDal Riata. As a result the Dal Riatan Scots lost control oftheir Irish homeland.
641(5August). Maserfelth or Maes Cogwy
Probably Oswestry, Salop. King Oswald defeated and killed by Penda.
642. Strathcarron
By the River Carron, Stirling. Owain of Strathclyde defeated and killed Domnall Brecc. ‘I saw an array, they came from Kintyre, and splendidly they bore themselves around the conlagration ... I saw great sturdy men, they came with dawn. And the head of Dyfnwal Frych [Domnall Brecc], ravens gnawed it.’
652. Bradenforda
Bradford-on-Avon, Wilts. ‘In this year Cenwalh [of Wessex] fought at Bradenforda’, probably against the Welsh.
655 (15 November). Winwead or Maes Gai
Probably Whin Moor near Leeds or River Went near Wragby, West Yorks. Oswy, king of Northumbria, decisively defeated Penda and his allies Aethelhere of East Anglia and Cadfael of Gwynedd.
658. Peonnan
Penselwood, Somerset. ‘Cenwalh [king of Wessex] fought at Peonnan against the Welsh and drove them in light as far as the Parret.’
661. Posentesburh
Probably Posbury, Devon. ‘At Easter, Cenwalh fought at Posentesburh; and Wulfhere, son of Penda ravaged as far as Ashdown.’
665. Wirtgernesburh
Probably Bradford-on-Avon, Wilts. West Saxons defeat Welsh in alliance with men of Mercia. This may be the same battle as a 2nd Battle of Mons Badonicus fought between the Saxons and Welsh the same year.
c.671. ‘The Two Rivers’
Unknown location but possibly on the River Tay. Ecgfrith, king of Northumbria, ‘slew an enormous number of [Pictish] people ... and reduced them to servitude’.
675. Biedanheafod (‘Beda’s Head’)
Unknown, possibly near Marlborough, Wilts. ‘Wulfhere, son of Penda, and Aescwine [of Wessex] fought at Biedanheafod, and the same year Wulfhere passed away.’
679. River Trent
Unknown, possibly near Marton, Lincs. Aethelred, king of Mercia decisively defeated Ecgfrith and slew his brother Aelfwine.
685 (20 May). Dunnichen or Nechtanesmere
On or near Dunnichen Hill, Angus. Bridei, king of the Picts defeated and killed Ecgfrith of Northumbria and a great part of his army. The beginning of the end of Northumbrian hegemony, according to Bede.
710. Haefe and Caere
‘In this year ealdorman Beorhtfrith fought against the Picts between Haefe [River Avon?] and Caere [probably River Carron].’
The same year, Ine, king of Wessex and his kinsman, Nunna, fought against Geraint, king of the Britons of Cornwall, at an unknown location.
711. Manaw
Plain of the Forth, possibly near Clackmannan. The Northumbrians slaughtered the Picts ‘in the Plain of Manaw’.
715. 2nd Battle of Wodnesburh
Adam’s Grave (Alton Priors, Wilts). Ine of Wessex and Ceolred of Mercia fought at Adam’s Grave. Outcome unknown.
725. Unknown
‘Ine fought against the South Saxons and there slew Ealdberht.’
733. Sumurtun
Somerton, Somerset. ‘In this year Aethelbald [king of Mercia] captured Somerton: and all circle of the sun was become like a black shield.’
752. Beorgfeord
Possibly Burford, Oxon. ‘Cuthred [of Wesex] fought [and probably won] against Aethelbald at Beorgfeord.’
776. Ottanford
Otford, Kent. Mercians fought Kentishmen ‘and strange adders were seen in Sussex’. Outcome unrecorded.
779. Bensington
Benson, Oxon. ‘In this year Cynewulf [of Wessex] and Offa contended around Benson, and Offa took the village.’
786. Merantun
Unknown, possibly Martin, Hants, or Marden, Wilts. Assassination of Cynewulf, king of Wessex by his kinsman Cyneheard, followed by the slaughter oftheir respective retinues.
802. Cynemaeresford
Kempsford, Glos. ‘Ealdorman Aethelmund rode from the Hwicce over [the Thames] at Cynemaeresford and was met by ealdorman Weohstan with the men of Wiltshire. There was a great battle, and both the ealdormen were slain there, and the men of Wiltshire won the victory.’
c.820. Cherrenhul
Near Abingdon, Oxon. Ecgbert, king of Wessex, defeated Ceolwulf, king of Mercia.
825. Gafalford
Galford Down, near Lydford, Devon. ‘In this year there was a battle at Gafalford between the Britons [of Cornwall] and the men of Devon.’
825. Ellandun
Ellingdon, now Wroughton, Wilts. Ecgbert, king of Wessex, decisively defeated Beornwulf, king of Mercia, ‘and great slaughter was made there’.
836. Carrum
Carhampton, Somerset. ‘Ecgbert fought against 25 ship’s companies at Carrum; and great slaughter was made, and the Danes had possession of the place of slaughter.’
838 Hengestdun
Hingston Down near Callington, Cornwall. Ecgbert made an expedition against ‘a great pirate host’ united with the Britons of Cornwall, ‘fought against them... and there put to flight both Britons and Danes’.
839. Unknown
Unnamed battle in which the Vikings slaughtered the men of Fortriu (i.e. central lowlands of Scotland) ‘beyond counting’, including several members of the royal house of Fergus. The battle left the way clear for Kenneth mac Alpin to unite the kingdoms of Picts and Scots.
840. Hamwic
Southampton, Hants. ‘Ealdorman Wulfheard fought at Hamwic against 33 ship’s companies and made great slaughter there and won the victory.’
840. Port
Portland, Dorset. ‘Ealdorman Aethelhelm fought against the Danes at Port with the men of Dorset, and the ealdorman was slain, and the Danes had possession of the place of slaughter.’
843. 2nd Battle of Carrum
Carhampton, Somerset. ‘King Aethelwulf fought at Carrum against 35 ship’s companies, and the Danes had possession of the place of slaughter.’
848. River Parret
‘Ealdorman Eanwulf with the men of Somerset and bishop Ealhstan and ealdorman Osric with the men of Dorset fought against a Danish host at the mouth of the Parret (Padride), and made great slaughter there and won the victory.’
850. Wicgeanbeorg
Possibly Wigborough, Somerset. ‘Ealdorman Ceorl with the men of Devon fought against the heathen ... and made great slaughter and won the victory.’
851. Aclea
Possibly Ockley, Surrey, or East Oakley, near Basingstoke, Hants. Aethelwulf and his son Aethelbald with the West Saxon levies fought and defeated the Danes ‘with the greatest slaughter of a heathen host that we have ever heard tell of’.
851. Sandwic
Sandwich, Kent. ‘Athelstan and ealdorman Ealhhere fought in ships and destroyed a great [Danish] host at Sandwic, and captured nine ships and drove off the rest.’
853. Tenet (Thanet)
Isle of Thanet, Kent. ‘Ealhhere with the Kentishmen and Huda with the men of Surrey fought in Thanet against a heathen host, and at first were victorious, and there many men were slain and drowned on either side, and the ealdormen both dead.’
860. Wintanceaster (Winchester)
Outside the walls of Winchester, Hants. ‘A great pirate host landed and stormed Winchester. And against the host fought ealdorman Osric with the men of Hampshire and ealdorman Aethelwulf with the men of Berkshire, and [they] put the host to flight...’
867 (21 March). York
The Danes led by Ivar and Halfdan besieged the city of York in November 866 and stormed the walls on 21 March the following year. ‘And some of them got inside; and immense slaughter was made of the Northumbrians there, some inside, some outside, and both the kings [of Northumbria] were slain, and the remnant made peace with the host.’
869. (20 November). Unknown site
Possibly Hoxne, Sufolk, more probably Hellesdun, Bradford St Clare, Sufolk. Ivar and the Danes defeated and killed Edmund, last king of East Anglia.
870–1. Alt Cluith (Dumbarton)
The Danish host under Olaf and Ivar attacked the Britons on Dumbarton Rock, and stormed and sacked the town after a four-month siege.
870 (31 December). Englafeld
Englefield, near Reading, Berks. Ealdorman Aethelwulf and the men of Berkshire fought against the Danes, killed one of their leaders and won the victory.
871(4January). Readingum (Reading)
Probably King’s Meadow, by the Thames. ‘King Aethelred and Alfred his brother led great levies there and fought against the host... and ealdorman Aethelwulf was slain, and the Danes had possession of the place of slaughter.’
871(8January). Aescesdun (Ashdown)
Probably on the Berkshire Downs between Lowbury Hill and Starveall Farm. Aethelred and Alfred fought the Danish host, and killed their king, Bagsecg, and five jarls. ‘Both their hosts were put to flight, and there were many thousands slain; and the ighting went on till nightfall.’
871. Basengum (Basing)
Probably at the site of Basing House, Old Basing. ‘And a fortnight later king Aethelred and Alfred fought against the host camped at Basing, and there the Danes won the victory.’
871. Meretun or Maeredun
Possibly Martin, Hants, or Marten, Wilts. ‘And two months later Aethelred and Alfred fought against the host at Maeredun, and ... for a long time were victorious; and there was great slaughter on either side, but the Danes had possession of the place of slaughter.’
871. Wilton
Probably at the site ofWilton House, near Salisbury. ‘King Alfred fought with a small force against the entire host ... and for a long time drove them of, and the Danes had possession ofthe place of slaughter.’
875. Dollar
The Danes under Halfdan defeated and massacred the Picts and Scots, possibly led by King Constantine I, possibly at Dollar, near Clackmannan. ‘It was on that occasion that the earth burst open under the men of Scotland’ (Irish Annals).
877. Strangford Lough
Naval battle in which Halfdan, in a bid for the kingship of Dublin, was defeated and slain by a larger fleet led by Bardr Eysteinsson of Dublin.
878. Cynwit
Countisbury, near Lynton, or Cannington Park, near Cambwick, both in Devon. The men of Devon fought Jarl Ubbe, slew 800 of his men and captured the Raven banner.
878 (11 May). Ethandun
Edington, Wilts. The decisive battle in which King Alfred, with the men of Somerset, Wiltshire and Hampshire, fought the Danes, put them to light and pursued them ‘up to the fortification’.
885. Stourmouth
At the mouth of the Stour estuary. ‘Alfred sent a naval force into East Anglia and as soon as they came to the mouth of the Stour they met sixteen ships of pirates, and fought against them, and captured all the ships, and slew all the crews ... on their way home they met a great fleet of pirates, and fought against them ... and the Danes were victorious.’
893. Fearnhamm (Farnham)
Farnham, Surrey. Alfred’s levies intercepted the Danes under Haesten, ‘fought against them and recovered the plunder; and they fled’.
893. Bleamfleote (Benfleet)
South Benfleet, Essex, in the vicinity of Hadleigh Castle Country Park. The English put the Danes under Haesten to flight, ‘stormed their fort and seized everything inside it, both property and women and also children, and conveyed them all up to London: and all the ships they either broke up or burned, or brought up to London or Rochester’. Human bones and charred timbers were found near South Benleet railway station in the nineteenth century.
893. Buttingtun
Probably Buttington-on-Severn, near Welshpool, Powys. A large force from the west under ealdormen Aethelred, Aethelhelmand Aethelnoth and the king’s thanes besieged the Danes in their fortress by the river. Eventually, having eaten most of their horses, ‘they sallied forth against the men encamped on the east side of the river and fought against them, and the Christians had the victory’. ‘These things done at Buttington are still proclaimed by old men’ (Chron. Aethelweard). Probable grave-pits found near the church in 1838.
896. Uncertain
Sheltered water on south coast, possibly Poole Harbour. After blockading the harbour with nine ships, the English seized two of the six Danish ships and slew their crew. At low tide the crews fought a battle in which sixty-two English and their Frisian allies were killed and 120 Danes. Four of the Danish ships escaped, but two were later captured and their crews hanged.
904. The Holm
Probably near Holme, Cambs. A holm is a large flood-meadow. ‘In (this) year was fought that battle at the Holm’ between the Kentishmen allied to King Edward the Elder and East Anglian Danes allied to his rebellious cousin Aethelwold. The Danes sufered greater losses, including their king, Eohric, but drove the Kentishmen from the field.
910 (6 August). Teotanhaele (Tettenhall)
Tettenhall, Stafs. Mercians and West Saxons led by King Edward the Elder fought against the (Danish) host under Halfdan and Eowils near Tettanhall, and were victorious.
914. 1st Battle of Corbridge (Corebricg)
Corbridge, Northumberland. Ragnall (or Raegnald), Danish king of York, defeated the Bernicians and their Scottish allies.
916. Brecenanmere
Probably Langorse Lake, near Brecon, Powys. Aethellaed, ‘Lady of the Mercians’, led an army into Wales and stormed Brecenanmere, capturing the Welsh king’s wife ‘and 33 other persons’.
917. Ircingafeld (Archenfield)
Archenield, Herefords. The men of Herefordshire and Gloucestershire fought a Danish raiding party and slew one of their leaders, Hraold, ‘and a great part of his host’. The rest were driven into an enclosure where they surrendered hostages and promised to depart.
917. Deoraby (Derby)
Derby. ‘In this year before Lammas (August), Aethellaed won the borough called Derby with God’s help ... four of her thanes who were very dear to her were slain there within the gates.’
918. 2nd Battle of Corbridge
Bernicians and the Scots led by King Constantine II and his ‘great steward’ (mormaer) fought four divisions of Norsemen, slaying two of their leaders, Ottar and Crowfoot. At dusk, Ragnall turned the tables by ambushing the pusuing Scots. Both sides claimed victory.
918. Temesanford (Tempsford)
Near Wednesfield (Uodnesfelda campo), three miles east of Tempsford, Beds. ‘In this summer a great force ... marched to Tempsford and besieged the fortress: they attacked it until they took it by storm, and slew the [Danish] king, and jarl Toglos, and his son, jarl Manna, and his brother, and all the garrison who put up a resistance.’
921. Maeldun (Maldon)
Maldon, Essex. A great host of Danes, ‘to avenge the reverses they had sufered, went to Maldon, surrounded the fortress and attacked it until reinforcements came from without to their relief ... the garrison sallied out in pursuit of the Danes ... and slew many hundreds of them, both pirates and others’.
937. Brunanburh
Possibly Bromborough in the Wirral or near Brinsworth in South Yorkshire. The great battle between Saxon England under Athelstan and the Celtic north and west led by Olaf of Dublin and Constantine, king of Scots. ‘With the help of Christ [Athelstan and his brother Edmund] had the victory and there slew five kings and eight jarls.’
943. Tameworthig (Tamworth)
Tamworth, Staffs. ‘In this year Anlaf [Olaf] stormed Tamworth and there was great slaughter on both sides: the Danes had the victory and carried great booty away with them.’
948. Castleford
Castleford, Yorks. The (Viking) host of York under Eric Bloodaxe ‘overtook king [Eadred’s] rearguard at Castleford and there was great slaughter’.
950. Nant Carno
Near Carno, mid-Wales, south-east of Llanbrynmair. Sons of Hywel Dda clashed with the sons ofIdwal over the inheritance of Gwynedd. Idwal’s sons won, and went on ‘to lay waste to Dyfed, twice’.
954. Stainmoor
‘A stony waste’ in the Pennines, possibly at Rey Cross, ten miles west ofBarnard’s Castle, Co. Durham. Eric Bloodaxe, the last Viking ruler of York, was ‘betrayed’ by earl Oswulf of Bernicia and slain by Northumbrian forces along with other Viking leaders.
954. Gwrgystu or Conwy Hirfawr
Llanrwst in the Vale of Conwy, Gwynedd. ‘A great slaughter’ between the sons of Hywel and sons of Idwal. Outcome not recorded, but afterwards ‘Ceredigion was ravaged by the sons of Idwal’.
991 (10 or 11 August). Maldon
By Northey Island near Maldon, Essex. A force of Danes probably led by Olaf Tryggvason defeated the men of East Anglia led by ealdorman Byrhtnoth in a famous battle.
999. Rochester
Rochester, Kent. ‘In this year the [Danish] host came up the Medway to Rochester. They were opposed by the Kentish levies and a sharp encounter took place: but alas! All too quickly they turned and fled because they did not get the support they should have had.’
1001. Aethelingadene
Probably Alton, Hants, or between West and East Dean, West Sussex. Small encounter battle in which the Danes were opposed by the men of Hampshire led by the king’s high-reeves, Leofric and Aethelweard. ‘The Danish casualties were heavier but they had possession of the place of slaughter.’
1001. Peonho (Pinhoe)
Pinhoe, near Exeter, Devon. The Danes, aided by the English traitor Pallig, pillaged their way to Pinhow were they were opposed by the high-reeves Kola and Eadsige ‘with such levies as could be mobilized’. The Danes put them to light, and burnt down the manor of Pinhoe ‘and other goodly manors’.
1004. Thetford
Probably Wretham Heath, north of Thetford. The Danish raiders led by Sweyn were opposed by ealdorman Ulfcytel and the men of East Anglia. The Danes drove them from the field but ‘they never met with worse hand-play among the English than Ulfcytel brought to them’.
1006. Kennet
East Kennet, on the downs near Marlborough, Wilts. ‘The levies were mustered there ... and they joined battle, but the Danes soon put that force to flight.’
1010(18May).Ringmere
Probably Rymer, south of Thetford. The men of Cambridgeshire and East Anglia under Ulfcytel fought the Danes led by Thorkell the Tall. After a fierce struggle, in which ‘countless numbers’ died, the Danes won, ‘got horses for themselves and ... harried and burnt that land’.
1014 (Good Friday, 23 April). Clontarf
Between the Rivers Tolka and Lifey opposite the island ofClontarfnear Dublin. Epic battle between the forces ofBrian Boru, high-king ofIreland and Sihtric ‘Silky-beard’, king ofDublin, limiting, if not ending, Danish power in Ireland. Pyrrhic victory for Brian Boru, who lost his life, as did his enemy Sigurd the Stout of Orkney. Perhaps the best documented battle of the Dark Ages.
1016. aet Peonnum
Penselwood, near Gillingham, Dorset. Indecisive battle in which men of Wessex led by Edmund Ironside fought the Danes.
1016. Scearstan
Sherston, near Malmesbury, Wilts. Edmund Ironside fought the Danes under Canute ‘after midsummer’ ‘and there was great slaughter on both sides, and it was not [the leaders] but the armies themselves who broke off the fight’.
1016. Brentford
Brentford, west London. ‘The king [Edmund] crossed the river at Brentford, and fought against the [Danish] host and put it to light; and a great number of the English were drowned through their own negligence ...’
1016. Ottanford
Otford, Kent. ‘King Edmund called up all the people of England ... and went into Kent, and the host fled before him with their horses into Sheppey, and the king slew as many of them as he could overtake.’
1016 (18 October). Assandun or Assingdun
Probably Ashdon or Ashingdon, both in Essex. Decisive battle in which Canute defeated the men of Wessex and Mercia under Edmund Ironside and ealdorman Eadric Streona. ‘Canute was victorious and won all England by his victory.’ Among the dead: three ealdormen, an abbot ‘and all the lower of England’.
1018. aet Carrun
Carham-on-Tweed, near Wark, Northumberland. Decisive victory of the Scots under King MalcolmII and Owen, king of Strathclyde, over the men of Northumbria under their earl, Eadulf Cudel. As a result Lothian was ceded permanently to Scotland and the border established on the Tweed.
1022. Abergwili
Abergwili, near Carmarthen. ‘In this year an Irishman claimed to be Rhain ap Maredudd [the local king]. He was accepted by the men of the south, and he led then against [Llywelyn ap Seissyl of] Gwynedd. And the men of Gwynedd defeated him at Abergwili with great slaughter on both sides. And he was never seen again. And then the men of Gwynedd ravaged the whole land.’ (Chron. Ystrad Fflur). The battle is described in some detail in the Brut y Twysogion.
1039. Rhyd y Groes
Rhyd y Groes, near Forden, six miles south-east of Welshpool. Grufydd ap Llywelyn ambushed and defeated the English, killing Edwin, brother of Leofric, earl of Mercia, ‘and very many other good men’.
1052. Portloca
Porlock, Somerset. Earl Harold fought ‘the men of Devonshire and Somerset gathered to oppose him, and he put them to flight and slew there more than thirty good thanes besides other men’.
1054 (27 July). Dunsinan
Probably Dinsinane Hill near Perth, Tayside. ‘In this year earl Siward [of Northumbria] invaded Scotland with a great host both by land and sea, and fought against the Scots. He put to light their king Macbeth, and slew the noblest in the land, carrying off much plunder ... but his son Osbern and numbers of his housecarls as well as those of the king [Edward the Confessor] were slain there on the Festival of Seven Sleepers.’
1055. Hereford
Probably at Glasbury-on-Wye near Hereford. Aelfgar, the exiled earl of East Anglia, supported by the Welsh under Grufydd ap Llywelyn, fought against earl Ralph the timid and put him to flight, ‘and many were slain in that rout’ (Anglo-Saxon Chronicle). ‘And Gruffydd pursued them to within the walls of Hereford, and there he massacred them and destroyed the walls and burnt the town. And with vast spoil he returned home eminently worthy.’ The defeat was attributed to the ineptness of the English mounted troops, fighting ‘contrary to their custom’ (Chron. Ystrad Fflur).