Battle of Meretun: Difference between revisions
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{{Era|Timeline}} | {{Era|Timeline}}{{WP-REAL}} | ||
{{WP-REAL}} | {{Battle Infobox | ||
The '''Battle of Meretun''' was a military engagement between the [[Saxons]] and the [[Great Heathen Army]], during the [[Viking expansion|Viking conquest]] of [[England]]. | |prev = [[Battle of Bedwyn]] | ||
|next = [[Assault on Kjotve's Fortress]] | |||
|image = Wiki noimage.jpg | |||
|date = 22 March 871 | |||
|place = Meretun, [[Wessex]] | |||
|conflict = [[Viking expansion|Viking invasions of England]] | |||
|result = Viking victory | |||
|side1 = [[Wessex|Kingdom of Wessex]] | |||
|side2 = [[Vikings]] | |||
|commanders1 = [[Alfred the Great|Alfred]] of Wessex | |||
|commanders2 = [[Halfdan Ragnarsson]] | |||
}} | |||
The '''Battle of Meretun''' was a military engagement in 871 between the [[Anglo-Saxons]] and the [[Great Heathen Army]], during the [[Viking expansion|Viking conquest]] of [[England]]. | |||
== | ==Prelude== | ||
Upon receiving the news that [[Æthelred I, King of Wessex|Æthelred I]] had died following the [[battle of Bedwyn]], the Danes began to plan a final attack against | Upon receiving the news that King [[Æthelred I, King of Wessex|Æthelred I]] of [[Wessex]] had died following the [[battle of Bedwyn|battle]] of [[Bedwyn]], the Danes began to plan a final attack against Wessex, expecting a state of weakness, since Æthelred's brother and successor [[Alfred the Great|Alfred]] was inexperienced as a king. [[Guthrum]]'s company marched south of [[Reading|Readingum]], reaching an abandoned [[fort]]ress called [[Searesbyrig]], near the city of [[Wiltun]]. Guthrum and [[Halfdan Ragnarsson]] decided to join armies and take Searesbyrig, because of its small distance to Alfred's camp in [[Winchester|Wintanceastre]].<ref name = "Chapter 17">''[[Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Geirmund's Saga]]'' – Chapter 17</ref> | ||
When they reached Searesbyrig, they found Alfred and the Saxon army waiting for them atop a hill above Wiltun. The commanders and ''jarls'' | ==Battle== | ||
When they reached Searesbyrig, they found Alfred and the Saxon army waiting for them atop a hill above Wiltun. The commanders and ''jarls'' met with Halfdan and Guthrum to discuss a plan, ultimately deciding to reuse the tactic that had won them Bedwyn:<ref name = "Chapter 16">''Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Geirmund's Saga'' – Chapter 16</ref> Guthrum would attack them from the north and Halfdan from the east, flanking the enemy. The Saxons, however, had a new tactic; instead of separating and meeting the [[Vikings]] for an open field battle, they stayed atop the hill. Like in Bedwyn,<ref name = "Chapter 16"/> Guthrum made use of [[Hnituðr]] and crossed the enemy's defense line unscathed.<ref name = "Chapter 17"/> | |||
The Saxons employed | The Saxons employed [[archer]]s, but Guthrum's company defended themselves with [[shield]]s until the barrage of arrows weakened, upon which they pressed on. Reaching the top of the hill, they saw their enemies fleeing west, with Halfdan's [[Great Heathen Army|army]] approaching from the east. Guthrum then rejoined Geirmund and said that the sight of him standing alone behind enemy lines had prompted Alfred to try and negotiate peace.<ref name = "Chapter 17"/> | ||
==Appearances== | ==Appearances== | ||
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' {{ | *''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' {{1stm}} {{Mdat}} | ||
*''[[Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Geirmund's Saga]]'' {{1st}} | *''[[Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Geirmund's Saga]]'' {{1st}} | ||
*''[[The World of Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Journey to the North – Logs and Files of a Hidden One]]'' {{Mo}} | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
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[[Category:Timeline]] | [[Category:Timeline]] | ||
[[Category:Battles]] | [[Category:Battles]] | ||
[[Category:Viking expansion]] | |||
Latest revision as of 04:51, 4 May 2026
The Battle of Meretun was a military engagement in 871 between the Anglo-Saxons and the Great Heathen Army, during the Viking conquest of England.
Prelude[edit | edit source]
Upon receiving the news that King Æthelred I of Wessex had died following the battle of Bedwyn, the Danes began to plan a final attack against Wessex, expecting a state of weakness, since Æthelred's brother and successor Alfred was inexperienced as a king. Guthrum's company marched south of Readingum, reaching an abandoned fortress called Searesbyrig, near the city of Wiltun. Guthrum and Halfdan Ragnarsson decided to join armies and take Searesbyrig, because of its small distance to Alfred's camp in Wintanceastre.[1]
Battle[edit | edit source]
When they reached Searesbyrig, they found Alfred and the Saxon army waiting for them atop a hill above Wiltun. The commanders and jarls met with Halfdan and Guthrum to discuss a plan, ultimately deciding to reuse the tactic that had won them Bedwyn:[2] Guthrum would attack them from the north and Halfdan from the east, flanking the enemy. The Saxons, however, had a new tactic; instead of separating and meeting the Vikings for an open field battle, they stayed atop the hill. Like in Bedwyn,[2] Guthrum made use of Hnituðr and crossed the enemy's defense line unscathed.[1]
The Saxons employed archers, but Guthrum's company defended themselves with shields until the barrage of arrows weakened, upon which they pressed on. Reaching the top of the hill, they saw their enemies fleeing west, with Halfdan's army approaching from the east. Guthrum then rejoined Geirmund and said that the sight of him standing alone behind enemy lines had prompted Alfred to try and negotiate peace.[1]
Appearances[edit | edit source]
- Assassin's Creed: Valhalla (first mentioned) (mentioned in Database entry only)
- Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Geirmund's Saga (first appearance)
- The World of Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Journey to the North – Logs and Files of a Hidden One (mentioned only)
References[edit | edit source]
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