Battlefields›Battle of Hereford
Early Medieval

Battle of Hereford

1055
Herefordshire, England
Also known as: Battle of Hereford 1055
Era
Early Medieval
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
Herefordshire, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
England (Ralph the Timid)
Forces
Ralph & English: c.1,000–1,500. Battle at Hereford.
VS
Victor
Wales (Gruffudd ap Llywelyn / Irish-Norse)
Forces
Gruffudd & allies: c.1,000–1,500
Outcome
Welsh victory; Hereford sacked; Earl Ralph humiliated
The Battle

History & Significance

Gruffudd ap Llywelyn with Irish-Norse allies defeated the English Earl Ralph and sacked Hereford — burning the cathedral. Ralph's attempt to make his English troops fight on horseback failed disastrously. Harold Godwinson had to be sent to restore order. "Ralph the Timid" earned his nickname here.

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Protected heritage nearby

Scheduled Monuments near Battle of Hereford

Blackfriars Friary, preaching cross and cemetery, and hospital and chapel of St John in Hereford
Scheduled monument · ~0.1 miles
Hereford city walls, ramparts and ditch
Scheduled monument · ~0.4 miles
Hereford Castle
Scheduled monument · ~0.5 miles
Wye Bridge
Scheduled monument · ~0.6 miles
Row Ditch (entrenchment)
Scheduled monument · ~0.7 miles
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Battle of Aylesford
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455
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Anglian Assault on Roman York (c.450-500 AD)
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