BattlefieldsStainmore Ambush and Death of Eirik Bloodaxe 954
Early Medieval

Stainmore Ambush and Death of Eirik Bloodaxe 954

954
County Durham, England
Also known as: Death of Eirik Bloodaxe 954 · Battle of Stainmore 954
Era
Early Medieval
Battle Type
Skirmish
Location
County Durham, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Eirik Bloodaxe
Forces
Eirik Bloodaxe with Norse retinue
VS
Victor
English (under Oswulf of Bamburgh)
Forces
English and Northumbrian forces
Outcome
Eirik Bloodaxe killed at Stainmore; his sons and Aethelstan Maccus killed with him; Northumbria permanently English
The Battle

History & Significance

Eirik Bloodaxe was killed at Stainmore in the Pennines in 954, almost certainly betrayed and ambushed by Maccus, son of Anlaf, possibly in collusion with the English. Symeon of Durham and the saga tradition record his sons and the Mercian thegn Maccus died with him. His death ended Norse kingship in York permanently. Eadred took direct control of Northumbria, which remained English territory from 954 onwards. It was the final act of the reconquest that Alfred had begun.

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