BattlefieldsHalfdan's Settlement of Yorkshire — Deira Land Share (876 AD)
Early Medieval

Halfdan's Settlement of Yorkshire — Deira Land Share (876 AD)

876
East Riding, England
Also known as: Viking settlement of Yorkshire · Halfdan land division
Era
Early Medieval
Battle Type
Skirmish
Location
East Riding, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Remaining Northumbrian nobility
Forces
Northumbrian nobles c. 300–800.
VS
Victor
Halfdan Ragnarsson
Forces
Halfdan c. 1,500–3,000 warriors
Outcome
Yorkshire divided among Viking settlers; longstanding Scandinavian settlement begun
The Battle

History & Significance

Halfdan, having returned from raiding Mercia and Northumbria, divided the Yorkshire farmland among his followers. This was the first large-scale Viking agricultural settlement in Yorkshire. The place names ending in -thorpe, -by, and -thwaite across Yorkshire are the direct legacy of this division. Halfdan became king of Jorvik but was killed the following year at the Battle of Strangford Lough.

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

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