THE BATTLE OF THE STANDARD – THE ANARCHY 22nd August 1138 SUMMARY This was a battle fought between David I of Scotland and an English army raised by Archbishop Thurstan of York. The battle was named because the English fought round a wagon bearing the banners of the northern saints. —-oOo—- BACKGROUND After the death of Henry […]
THE SIEGE OF EXETER Autumn 1068 SUMMARY Harold Godwinson’s mother, Gytha had enlisted the support of the people of Exeter and they vowed to resist the rule of William I —-oOo—- BACKGROUND William Duke of Normandy had conquered England in 1066, winning the Battle of Hastings and killing King Harold II (Godwinson) and been crowned King […]
THE BATTLE OF STAMFORD BRIDGE – VIKING INVASION 25th September 1066 SUMMARY The forces of Harold Godwinson defeated the forces of Harald Hardrada and Tostig Godwinson. —-oOo—- BACKGROUND In 1066 Edward the Confessor had died childless. Harold Godwinson had been crowned King but Harald Hardrada and William of Normandy both thought they should be King. Hardrada […]
THE BATTLE OF VAL ES DUNES 10th August 1047 SUMMARY This was a decisive battle fought between the combined forces of William Duke of Normandy and Henry I of France against Guy of Burgundy. —-oOo—- BACKGROUND William, the bastard son of Robert Duke of Normandy, had inherited his father’s title. Guy of Burgundy, one of William’s kinsmen, felt […]
THE BATTLE OF STIKLESTAD 29th July 1030 SUMMARY This was a battle fought between the forces of Olaf Haraldsson and a peasant army of men loyal to Cnut —-oOo—- BACKGROUND The Norwegian Olaf Haraldsson had been displaced and forced to flee following the battle of Helgea in 1026. In 1030, following the death of regent Hakon, Olaf returned to […]
THE BATTLE OF HELGEA unknown date 1026 SUMMARY This was a naval battle fought between Cnut of England and Denmark and a combined Swedish and Norwegian force —-oOo—- BACKGROUND Cnut had taken the English throne in 1016 becoming ruler of both England and Denmark. While Cnut was in England the Swedes and Norwegians had launched a series of […]
THE BATTLE OF BRENTFORD 9th May 1016 SUMMARY This was a decisive battle fought the Danish Vikings and the Anglo Saxons —-oOo—- BACKGROUND In 1013 Sweyn Forkbeard had conquered much of England and had proclaimed himself King of the land. When he died in 1014 he nominated his son Cnut to be King but the Anglo-Saxons chose to […]
THE BATTLE OF MALDON – VIKING INVASION 10th August 991 SUMMARY This was a battle fought between the forces of Earl Bryhtnoth and the Vikings —-oOo—- BACKGROUND There had been on-going battles between the Anglo Saxons and the Vikings. The Vikings had a strong presence in Essex and wanted to maintain that presence. —-oOo—- LOCATION by the River […]
THE BATTLE OF BRUNANBURH – VIKING INVASION October 937 SUMMARY This was a battle fought between Aethelstan of England and the allied armies of Constantine II of Scotland, Owain of Strathclyde and Olaf Guthfrithson of Dublin —-oOo—- BACKGROUND Aethelstan had taken York from the Vikings in 927 and received the submission of Ealdred of Bamburgh, Constantine of […]
THE BATTLE OF CORBRIDGE – VIKING INVASION unknown date in 918 SUMMARY This was a battle fought between the Vikings led by Ragnall and the combined forces of Constantine II of Scotland and Ealdred of Bamburgh —-oOo—- BACKGROUND The Viking Ragnall had previously driven Ealdred out of Bamburgh. He had allied with Constantine II of Scotland to try to […]
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