BattlefieldsNorse Reconquest of York — Olaf Guthfrithson (939 AD)
Early Medieval

Norse Reconquest of York — Olaf Guthfrithson (939 AD)

939
West Riding, England
Also known as: Olaf takes York 939 · Norse-Irish reconquest
Era
Early Medieval
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
West Riding, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
English
Forces
English: c. 2,000–4,000. York reconquest.
VS
Victor
Olaf Guthfrithson (Norse-Irish)
Forces
Olaf: c. 3,000–6,000
Outcome
York recaptured by Norse-Irish; Yorkshire again under Viking rule
The Battle

History & Significance

After Athelstan's death in 939, Olaf Guthfrithson seized York and raided deep into Mercia. Yorkshire reverted to Viking control. The cycle of English-Viking contests for York continued through the reigns of multiple Olaf's and Eric Bloodaxe. Yorkshire was the prize in the central contest of mid-tenth century English politics.

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