Battlefields›Battle of Countisbury Hill
Early Medieval

Battle of Countisbury Hill

878
Somerset, England
Also known as: Battle of Cynwit · Battle at Countisbury
Era
Early Medieval
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
Somerset, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Danish army (Ubba)
Forces
Ubba's Danes c.1000–1500
VS
Victor
West Saxons (Devon fyrd)
Forces
Devon fyrd c.1500–2500
Outcome
Danish jarl Ubba killed; Danish raven banner captured
The Battle

History & Significance

While Guthrum's surprise attack had driven Alfred into hiding in the Somerset marshes, a Danish army under Ubba (brother of Ivar and Halfdan) raided from Wales into Devon. The Devon fyrd, sheltering in the hillfort at Countisbury, made a desperate dawn sally and utterly routed the Danes, killing Ubba and capturing the legendary Raven Banner. This morale-boosting victory in the darkest period of the Viking wars enabled Alfred's recovery.

Casualties & Losses

Ubba killed; 840 Danes slain by the Devon account

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Protected heritage nearby

Scheduled Monuments near Battle of Countisbury Hill

Round barrow 800yds (730m) SW of Dunkery Beacon
Scheduled monument · ~1 miles
Cairn 850m north east of Dunkery Bridge
Scheduled monument · ~1.1 miles
Dunkery Beacon and adjacent mounds
Scheduled monument · ~1.2 miles
Enclosure and associated outworks on Staddon Hill
Scheduled monument · ~1.4 miles
Group of four barrows and cairns known as 'Rowbarrows' including Great Rowbarrow and Little Rowbarrow
Scheduled monument · ~1.5 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 Somerset

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 Somerset
All Battlefields