- Battle of Merton
The Battle of Merton was fought in April
871 . It was one of eight known to be fought that year by KingEthelred of Wessex inEngland , who was defending his kingdom against an army of Danish invaders.The Danish invaders defeated King Ethelred's forces, with the King himself amongst the dead. Whether he died in battle, or as a result of wounds suffered in battle is unclear. The site of the battle is unknown. Suggestions include the borders of the
London Borough of Merton , Merton inOxfordshire , Marden inWiltshire or Martin inDorset . The more westerly locations tend to be favoured because King Ethelred was buried in Wimborne Minster inDorset shortly afterwards.A further and more likely location for the battle is Merriton, on the banks of the River Stour, a few miles downstream of Wimborne, thus providing a simple journey by barge with the body of King Ethelred. The medieval manor of Merriton (also referred to as Funktown) was situated on what is now the southern perimeter of Bournemouth (Hurn) Airport.
References
*cite web | title=A Brief History of Merton by John Precedo: Part 1 - Romans to the Norman Conquest | work=Tooting Website - History | url=http://pages.britishlibrary.net/rhavy/heugont.html | accessmonthday=May 17 | accessyear=2005
*cite web | title=Why was Alfred called Great by his contemporaries (and us)? | work=Message to Classics-L mailing list,6 May 2000 from Christopher Robbins | url=http://omega.cohums.ohio-state.edu/mailing_lists/CLA-L/2000/06/0136.php | accessmonthday=May 17 | accessyear=2005
*cite web | title=Untitled Normal Page | work=Parker and Related Families Section Four | url=http://kykinfolks.tripod.com/parker/four.htm | accessmonthday=May 17 | accessyear=2005
*cite web | title= Ethelred - 866-871 | work=Royalty.Info Website - History | url=http://www.royalty.info/british/Ethelred/ | accessmonthday=May 17 | accessyear=2005
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