On 8 January 871, the Battle of Ashdown was fought between the Vikings under Halfdan and Bagsecg against the Anglo-Saxons under Aethelred I and Alfred during the Viking Raids.
Why did it happen?
In 865, an international coalition of Vikings from Norway, Sweden, and Denmark invaded England with the intention of conquest and settlement. By 870, the Viking army had conquered the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of Northumbria and East Anglia and set their sights on conquering Mercia and Wessex. On 28 December 870, a Viking army under Halfdan and Bagsecg captured Reading and sent out foraging parties to harry the local populace and gather food. On 31 December, a Viking foraging party was defeated at the Battle of Englefield, which denied the Vikings their supplies and emboldened the Anglo-Saxons. Under King Aethelred I and his brother Alfred, the Anglo-Saxons marched on Reading, only to be defeated on 4 January 871. Aethelred and Alfred retreated northwest to Ashdown Ridge, with the Viking army under Halfdan and Bagsecg following three days later.
Who was involved?
The Viking army at Ashdown numbered 1,000 warriors. It was divided into two wings of 500 warriors each: Halfdan commanded the left wing, while Bagsecg commanded the right wing. Both wings sought to advance onto the Ashdown Ridge to gain a tactical advantage over the Anglo-Saxon force. The Anglo-Saxon army at Ashdown numbered 1,500 infantry. Like the Viking army, the Anglo-Saxon force comprised two wings of 750 men each: Aethelred commanded the left wing, while Alfred commanded the right wing. However, Aethelred kept his forces back to pray for divine favour while Alfred led the right wing onto the battlefield.
What happened?
As Alfred moved the Anglo-Saxon right wing onto the battlefield, Aethelred stayed in his tent to pray and hear mass with his priests. Seeing the Viking army advance up onto the higher ground, Alfred formed a shield wall and led the Anglo-Saxon right wing in a charge uphill to attack the Viking left wing. Not realising that Alfred’s forces only represented half the Anglo-Saxon army, Bagsecg attacked the Anglo-Saxon force in the flank, where heavy fighting continued for several hours. After finishing his prayers, Aethelred led the Anglo-Saxon left wing against the Viking right wing, killing Bagsecg, five earls, and 300 Viking warriors, with the remainder routed.
What changed as a result?
The Battle of Ashdown was an Anglo-Saxon victory. Despite being a major victory, the campaign against the Vikings continued until 22 March, when they were finally defeated at the Battle of Meretun. King Aethelred was mortally wounded during the battle and died on 15 April, with Alfred chosen to rule in his place. As stated by David Young, “Neither of Ethered’s [sic] sons was chosen as the need was to select a king who would lead his Army in war” (Young, 2023). Under Alfred, the Anglo-Saxons continued to fight the Vikings with mixed success, and in 872, Alfred paid the Viking army to leave Reading and settle in London. It wasn’t until 878 that Alfred achieved a decisive victory over the Vikings at the Battle of Edington, which secured the independence of Wessex and Mercia and led the Vikings to settle in East Anglia.
Bibliography
Asser, John. Life of King Alfred. Translated by Albert S. Cook. Boston, Ginn & Company, 1906.
Ingram, James. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. New Haven, The Avalon Project, 2008.
Kings and Generals. “Vikings: Great Heathen Army - Battle of Ashdown 871 DOCUMENTARY.” YouTube video, 12:03. March 19, 2018. www.youtube.com/watch?v=dS569FQq8ww
Tuck, Dave. “A Cold Wind to Valhalla: The Ashdown Campaign for Viking Steel!” Tabletop Gaming. Last revised April 1, 2021. www.tabletopgaming.co.uk/features/a-cold-wind-to-valhalla-the-ashdown-campaign-for-viking-steel/
Williams, Gareth. Viking Warrior versus Anglo-Saxon Warrior: England 865-1066. Oxford, Osprey Publishing, 2017.
Young, David. “Battle of Ashdown.” British Battles. Accessed September 30, 2023. www.britishbattles.com/danish-wars/battle-of-ashdown/