Battlefields›Danes Seize Wareham 875
Early Medieval

Danes Seize Wareham 875

875
Dorset, England
Also known as: Danish capture of Wareham 875 · Alfred besieges Wareham 875
Era
Early Medieval
Battle Type
Siege
Location
Dorset, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Wessex / Alfred
Forces
Wessex garrison c. 300–800.
VS
Victor
Danes (initial seizure); negotiated withdrawal
Forces
Danish force c. 1,500–3,000
Outcome
Danes seized the fortified town; Alfred blockaded then accepted oaths; Danes broke oaths and slipped away
The Battle

History & Significance

The Danish occupation and subsequent treacherous withdrawal from Wareham in 875 exemplified the difficulty Alfred faced in binding Norse forces by oaths and led directly to their seizure of Exeter.

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Protected heritage nearby

Scheduled Monuments near Danes Seize Wareham 875

Cross dyke on Knowle Hill, 470m SSE of East Creech Farm
Scheduled monument · ~3.5 miles
Cross dyke on Knowle Hill, 430m south of East Creech Farm
Scheduled monument · ~3.5 miles
Hilltop enclosure and a pillow mound on Knowle Hill
Scheduled monument · ~3.5 miles
Group of six pillow mounds 470m north west of Barnston Farm
Scheduled monument · ~3.6 miles
Oval barrow at the western end of Stonehill Down, 800m south west of East Creech Farm
Scheduled monument · ~3.6 miles
More from this era

Other Early Medieval Battles

Battle of Crecganford
456
Kent, England
Battle of Aylesford
455
Kent, England
Jutish Revolt — Battle at Aegelesthrep (Aylesford approach)
455
Kent, England
Anglian Assault on Roman York (c.450-500 AD)
450
Yorkshire, England
Aubrey Research

Explore the landscape around Dorset

Aubrey generates in-depth historical research for any location in Britain — drawing on Domesday records, scheduled monuments, Victorian OS maps, geological data and archaeological archives to tell the full story of a place.

Research a location near Dorset
All Battlefields