The Battle of Badon Hill.

Badon Hill (516)

In 516, the Battle of Badon Hill was fought between the Britons under Arthur and the Saxons under Cheldric during the Wars of King Arthur.

Why did it happen? 

After the Romans abandoned Britain in 410, the island was invaded by waves of Picts and Saxons. According to Geoffrey of Monmouth, upon Ambrosius Aurelianus's death, the British leadership passed to his younger brother, Uther Pendragon, who married Igraine and had two children, Arthur and Anna, in 497. Following Uther’s death at the Battle of St. Albans in 512, Arthur succeeded to the throne of Britain and continued the war against the Saxons. Between 512 and 516, Arthur won eleven battles against the Saxons, culminating in the Battle of Agned. Upon defeating the Saxons, Arthur allowed them to depart for Germany in return for paying an annual tribute. However, the Saxons soon changed their minds and sailed to Devon, ravaging the countryside and laying siege to Bath. Furious, Arthur marched south and confronted the Saxon army at Badon Hill.

Who was involved? 

The British army at Badon Hill numbered 200 cavalry, chiefly Sarmatian mercenaries and cataphracts in the style of the Byzantine army, who were under the command of Arthur and Cador. In his description of the prelude to the battle, Geoffrey of Monmouth wrote that Arthur, “set upon his head a helm of gold graven with the semblance of a dragon. Upon his shoulders, moreover, did he bear the shield that was named Pridwen, wherein, upon the inner side, was painted the image of holy Mary, Mother of God” (Geoffrey of Monmouth, 1963, p.188). The Saxon army at Badon Hill numbered 1,000 infantry. Of this number, 500 were arrayed behind the Avon River opposite King Arthur’s forces, while the remaining 500 infantry were positioned on Badon Hill. Cheldric commanded the forces on Badon Hill while Baldulf and Colgrim led the forces arrayed behind the Avon River.

What happened? 

After Archbishop Dubricius prayed, the British cavalry under Arthur and Cador charged across the Avon River against the Saxon forces stationed there. By sunset, having suffered moderate casualties in the centre and left wing, the Saxon forces withdrew to Badon Hill, confident that their superior numbers and defensive position would prevail. At dawn the following day, the British cavalry charged up the hill with Arthur at the head of the assault. Despite suffering casualties and Saxon counterattacks, the Britons inflicted 470 casualties on the Saxons. After Colgrim and Baldulf were killed in the fighting, Cheldric admitted defeat and retreated, only to be pursued by Cador, who killed 490 Saxons in the rout. In all, 960 Saxons were killed during the battle.

What changed as a result? 

The Battle of Badon Hill was a British victory. Following the battle, Arthur returned to York and married Guenevere before building a fleet to invade Ireland in 517. His victories in England and Ireland instigated the Pax Arthuriana, which lasted for twenty years. As explained by Mike Ashley, “The fact remains that Badon was the decisive battle which forced back the Saxons, resulting in a period of comparative peace in Britain” (Ashley, 2010, p.161-62). However, following a nine-year campaign in Gaul against the Franks, Arthur returned to England in 537 to challenge the usurper Mordred, who had had an affair with Queen Guenevere. At the Battle of Camlann, Mordred was decisively defeated, although Arthur himself was mortally wounded during the battle and passed on the crown to Constantine, son of Cador. In the following centuries, Arthur’s legend would grow and be retold in Medieval Europe's chivalric and grail romances.

Bibliography

Anonymous. The Annals of Wales. Translated by James Ingram. London, Everyman Press, 1912.

Ashley, Mike. A Brief History of King Arthur: The Man and the Legend Revealed. London, Robinson, 2010.

Creative Assembly. Rome: Total War Barbarian Invasion. Sega. PC. 2005.

Geoffrey of Monmouth. History of the Kings of Britain. Translated by Sebastian Evans. London, Everyman’s Library, 1963.