Battle of Tettenhall

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Tettenhall


caption=
partof=
date=5 August, 910
place=Tettenhall or Wednesfield, Mercia, (modern day Wolverhampton)
result=Decisive Anglo-Saxon victory
combatant1=Danelaw Vikings
combatant2=Mercia
Wessex
commander1=King Eowils
King Halfdan
commander2=Earl Aethelred of Mercia,
King Edward of Wessex
strength1=Unknown
strength2=Unknown
casualties1=Heavy, in the thousands
King Eowils
King Halfdan
casualties2=Unknown
Earl Aethelred of Mercia, possibly died a year later from battle wounds

The Battle of Tettenhall (sometimes referred to as the Battle of Wednesfield) took place on the 5 August 910. The allied forces of Mercia and Wessex met an army of Northumbrian Vikings in Mercia. The allied army scored a great victory over the Viking force, the last major army sent by the Danes to ravage England.

Background

After successful raids by Danish Vikings, significant parts of North-Eastern England, formerly Northumbria, were under their control. Danish attacks into central England had been resisted and effectively reduced by Alfred the Great, to the point where his son, King Edward of Wessex, could launch offensive attacks against the foreigners. Edward formed an alliance with Aethelred of Mercia, and their combined forces were formidable. The allies launched a five-week campaign against Lindsey in 909, and successfully captured the relics of Saint Oswald of Northumbria.

The battle

The Vikings quickly sought retaliation for the Northern excursion. In 910, the Danelaw Kings assembled a fleet and transported a Danish army, via the River Severn, directly into the heart of Mercia. There they ravaged the land and collected large amounts of valuable plunder, but quickly sought to return North rather than be trapped in hostile territory. They knew King Edward was away, massing a fleet of ships in Kent. However, to the surprise of the Danes, the King met with his Mercian Earl and moved to surround the raiders. The Vikings' found their way to Bridgnorth was blocked by the allied army. Unable to reach their exit route to the sea, and pursued through hostile land by Edward and Aethelred's forces, they were forced to choose battle.

While little is known of the exact maneuvers employed at the battle, it is obvious the allies trapped their Viking opponents and inflicted heavy casualties on them. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle states that "many thousands of men" were killed, referring to the Danes. Seemingly unable to retreat, the Kings leading the Viking raid were both killed by the allied troops. Aethelred of Mercia, fighting alongside his troops, possibly received wounds which led to his death a year later, although he survived the battle itself.

Consequences

With the Northern Danes subdued, the forces of Wessex and Mercia could be focused against those who had settled further South. It was also the defeat of the last great raiding army from Denmark to ravage England. With allied strength rising, England was soon united under one domestic monarch, and Danish expansion was quelled permanently. However, a power vacuum was created in the North. Vikings in Ireland saw their chance to occupy Northern England and did so.

References

* [http://www.englishmonarchs.co.uk/saxon_7.htm English Kings - Edward the Elder]
* [http://www.anglo-saxons.net/hwaet/?do=get&type=person&id=EdwardtheElder Anglo-Saxon Monarchs - Edward the Elder]
* [http://www.philbateman.com/content/cm002223.htm Councillor Phil Bateman online]
* [http://www.anglo-saxons.net/hwaet/?do=get&type=day&id=08050910 Anglo-Saxons Online]