Battle of Meretun

The Battle of Meretun (or Merton) between the Saxon army of Wessex and the Danish Great Heathen Army took place on 22 March 871 at an unknown location in Wessex, probably in one of the modern counties of Dorset, Hampshire, or Wiltshire.

Battle of Meretun
Part of the Viking invasions of England
Date22 March 871
Location
Wessex
Result Viking victory
Belligerents
Wessex Vikings
Commanders and leaders
King Æthelred
Alfred ætheling		 Halfdan Ragnarsson

The Battle

According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, the battle took place "about two months" after a prior loss to the Danes at the Battle of Basing. It is known that it occurred in 871 before Easter, which fell on 15 April in that year, as Heahmund, the Bishop of Sherborne, died in the fighting, and his death is listed in the English calendar of saints as 22 March 871.[1]

King Æthelred of Wessex and Prince Alfred fought against the Danes, who were possibly under the leadership of King Halfdan Ragnarsson, as he had commanded many of the earlier battles that year. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle states that the forces were split in two and that the Danes were initially put to flight, but at the end of the day and after "much slaughter" the Danes retained the field after a Saxon retreat.

Location

Various names and spellings similar to Marton or Meretun have been used for the site of the engagement.[2] The location is currently unknown, but there are two possibilities based on the location names used in the original text sources. One is in the vicinity of ancient Merdon Castle, which is in Hursley parish near Winchester, which was arguably the capital of Wessex at the time.[3] The other is the village of Marten in Wiltshire,[4] although there is a similarly named village called Marden, also in Wiltshire.[5] Æthelred died around 23 April 871, about a week after Easter.[6] He was buried at Wimborne Minster in Dorset.[7]

References
  1. Beaven, Murray (July 1918). "The Beginning of the Year in the Alfredian Calendar (866–887)". English Historical Review. 33 (131): 334.
  2. Beaven, Murray (July 1918). "The Beginning of the Year in the Alfredian Calendar (866–887)". English Historical Review. 33 (131): 334.
  3. "Parishes: Hursley". British History Online. Victoria County History – Hampshire. University of London. 2019 [1908]. pp. 417–422. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  4. "Great Bedwyn". British History Online. Victoria County History – Wiltshire. University of London. 2019 [1999]. pp. 8–49. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  5. Aethelred I at the Encyclopædia Britannica
  6. Keynes & Lapidge, p. 80.
  7. Stephen, p. 27.

Bibliography

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