Scholarly Info
| Description |
The forces of Æthelred 15 and Alfred 8 engaged the pagans (Anonymi 34) at Ashdown and gained the victory. |
| Event Title |
Battle of Ashdown (871)/ |
| Year |
871 |
|
Primary Source Info
| Date from Source |
Four days after the Battle of Reading. |
|
Notes:
*Asser explains that the name Ashdown in Latin means 'mons fraxini' ['mount of the ash'].
Persons associated with this Event:
- Participant:
Æthelred 15
(King of the West Saxons, 865-871)
- Participant:
Anonymi 62
(Troops of Æthelred 15 at the Battle of Ashdown) : The Christians (Anonymi 61 and Anonymi 62) advanced against the army (Anonymi 34) at Ashdown. When the Christians saw that Anonymi 34 had been divided, the Christians were also divided into Anonymi 61 and Anonymi 62. The Christians were in a lower position than the pagans. The battle took place round a thorn tree. It was fierce and long. The pagans were unable to withstand for any longer the attack of the Christians and, after a very large part of their forces had been killed, they took to flight.
- Participant:
Alfred 8
(the Great, king of the Anglo-Saxons, 871-899) : Alfred 8 with Anonymi 61 came to the place of battle first. The Christians had decided that Æthelred 15 with Anonymi 62 should engage the two kings (Anonymi 58), while Alfred 8 with his men (Anonymi 61) would try the fortune of war against all the duces of the pagans (Anonymi 59). When Alfred 8 could not withstand the hostile line of battle any longer without retreating, at last directing the Christian forces [presumably Anonymi 62 as well as Anonymi 61] against the hostile armies [those divisions commanded by Anonymi 58 and Anonymi 59], ordering the shield wall to close up, he moved the standards against the enemy.
- Participant:
Anonymi 61
(Troops of Alfred 8 at the Battle of Ashdown) : The Christians (Anonymi 61 and Anonymi 62) advanced against the army (Anonymi 34) at Ashdown.
- Participant:
Anonymi 58
(Two kings among Anonymi 34 (including Bagsecg 1))
- Participant:
Anonymi 59
(Large number of jarls among Anonymi 34 (including Sidroc 1, Sidroc 2, Osbern 1, Fræna 2 and Harald 1))
- Participant:
Anonymi 34
(A great fleet of pagans from the Danube) : The pagans (Anonymi 34) were divided into squadrons, the core being assigned to the two kings (Anonymi 58) and the other part to the many comites (Anonymi 59). The whole army of pagans fled until they arrived at the citadel from which they had left.
Locations associated with this Event: