BattlefieldsSweyn Takes Wallingford and Advances on London 1013
Early Medieval

Sweyn Takes Wallingford and Advances on London 1013

1013
Oxfordshire, England
Era
Early Medieval
Battle Type
Skirmish
Location
Oxfordshire, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Wallingford garrison
Forces
Wallingford garrison c. 500–1,000.
VS
Victor
Sweyn Forkbeard
Forces
Sweyn c. 6,000–10,000
Outcome
Wallingford submitted to Sweyn; Thames crossed; London eventually submitted; Aethelred fled to Isle of Wight and then Normandy
The Battle

History & Significance

On his march south in 1013, Sweyn crossed the Thames at Wallingford, receiving its submission, before advancing on London. The Thames crossing at Wallingford bypassed London's bridge defences. The submission of Wallingford, a key burh in the network Alfred had built, demonstrated the collapse of organised English resistance. London held out initially but Aethelred's flight made further resistance pointless.

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