Battlefields›Battle of the River Parrett 845
Early Medieval

Battle of the River Parrett 845

845
Somerset, England
Also known as: Aethelwulf versus Danes on the Parrett · Somerset fyrd versus Danes 845
Era
Early Medieval
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
Somerset, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Danes
Forces
Danish raiding party
VS
Victor
Wessex (Ealdorman Eanwulf and Bishop Ealhhstan)
Forces
Somerset fyrd led by ealdorman and bishop
Outcome
Danish raiding force defeated in Somerset
The Battle

History & Significance

The men of Somerset under Ealdorman Eanwulf of Somerset and Bishop Ealhhstan of Sherborne defeated a Danish raiding party on the River Parrett. This early resistance to Danish raiding showed that local English forces could be effective against Viking incursions, foreshadowing the more organised resistance of Alfred era.

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Protected heritage nearby

Scheduled Monuments near Battle of the River Parrett 845

Duck decoy 250m north west of Moredon House
Scheduled monument · ~2.1 miles
Anglo-Saxon occupation site and site of Athelney Abbey on Athelney Hill
Scheduled monument · ~2.1 miles
Balt Moor Wall
Scheduled monument · ~2.2 miles
Anglo-Saxon burh at East Lyng
Scheduled monument · ~2.3 miles
Burrow Mump: a motte castle, later chapel and associated earthworks
Scheduled monument · ~2.8 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