BattlefieldsGreat Heathen Army Arrives East Anglia (865 AD)
Early Medieval

Great Heathen Army Arrives East Anglia (865 AD)

865
Norfolk, England
Also known as: Danish Great Army landing East Anglia 865 · micel here 865
Era
Early Medieval
Battle Type
Skirmish
Location
Norfolk, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
East Anglians (King Edmund)
Forces
East Anglians: c.1,000–2,000.
VS
Victor
Danes (Halfdan / Ivar the Boneless)
Forces
Great Heathen Army: c.3,000–6,000
Outcome
East Anglians provided horses and tribute to the Danish army; no major battle; Danes wintered in East Anglia
The Battle

History & Significance

The arrival of the Great Heathen Army (micel here) in East Anglia in 865 marked the beginning of the Danish conquest of England. The army was the largest Scandinavian force to have invaded Britain. Rather than fight, King Edmund of East Anglia provided horses and supplies in exchange for peace — a fateful decision that gave the Danes a mobile cavalry force to conquer Northumbria and then return. The landing point was probably on the Norfolk coast.

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