Battlefields›St Brice Day Massacre Pretext Raids 1003
Early Medieval

St Brice Day Massacre Pretext Raids 1003

1003
Oxfordshire, England
Also known as: Swein revenge campaign 1003 · Danish retaliation raids 1003
Era
Early Medieval
Battle Type
Skirmish
Location
Oxfordshire, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
English Midlands and south
Forces
English Midlands and south: c.2,000–4,000.
VS
Victor
Swein Forkbeard
Forces
Swein Forkbeard: c.4,000–6,000
Outcome
Swein conducted punitive raids explicitly in response to the 1002 massacre of Danes in England
The Battle

History & Significance

Swein Forkbeard stated purpose of avenging the St Brice Day Massacre gave the 1003 and 1004 campaigns a political legitimacy that distinguished them from mere plundering and helped consolidate Danish popular support for conquest.

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Protected heritage nearby

Scheduled Monuments near St Brice Day Massacre Pretext Raids 1003

Bourton Bridge Roman settlement
Scheduled monument · ~0.4 miles
Settlement site and barrows
Scheduled monument · ~1 miles
Cold Aston long barrow 200yds (180m) E of Camp Farm
Scheduled monument · ~1 miles
Iron Age fortified enclosure known as Salmonsbury Camp
Scheduled monument · ~1 miles
Wins Barrow: bowl barrow 160m south east of Bourton Hill Farm
Scheduled monument · ~1.1 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 Oxfordshire

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 Oxfordshire
All Battlefields