Battlefields›Danish Fleet Destroyed off Swanage 877
Early Medieval

Danish Fleet Destroyed off Swanage 877

877
Dorset, England
Also known as: Norse fleet wrecked Swanage 877 · Storm destroys Danish relief fleet 877
Era
Early Medieval
Battle Type
Naval Engagement
Location
Dorset, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Danish relief fleet
Forces
Wessex naval forces c. 500–1,500.
VS
Victor
Wessex / storm
Forces
Danish fleet c. 4,000–6,000
Outcome
120 Danish ships wrecked in storm off Peveril Point; Exeter relieved
The Battle

History & Significance

The destruction of 120 Danish ships in a storm off Swanage was perhaps the single most damaging naval loss suffered by the Danes in England and effectively ended hopes of reinforcing Guthrum at Exeter.

Casualties & Losses

120 ships lost with crews

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Protected heritage nearby

Scheduled Monuments near Danish Fleet Destroyed off Swanage 877

The old prison and pump
Scheduled monument · ~0.1 miles
The Ulwell Barrow 400m N of Sheperds Farm
Scheduled monument · ~1.5 miles
Group of three round barrows on Ballard Down
Scheduled monument · ~1.6 miles
Bowl barrow on Godlingston Hill
Scheduled monument · ~1.7 miles
Bowl barrow at the eastern end of Ballard Down
Scheduled monument · ~1.7 miles
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