BattlefieldsBattle of Cynuit / Cynwit (878)
Early Medieval

Battle of Cynuit / Cynwit (878)

878
Devon, England
Also known as: Second tradition for Countisbury Hill
Era
Early Medieval
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
Devon, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Ubba Ragnarsson
Forces
Ubba c.1000–1500; pitched battle
VS
Victor
Devon fyrd
Forces
Devon fyrd c.1500–2500
Outcome
Ubba killed; raven banner captured; 1,200 Danes slain
The Battle

History & Significance

The Annals of Saint Neots and Asser both record the battle of Cynuit (alternatively Cynwit or Countisbury) where a Devon force besieged in a coastal fort made a desperate dawn sortie and routed the Danish force under Ubba. The capture of the Raven Banner — the sacred banner of the sons of Ragnar — was an enormous symbolic victory. Asser records 840 Danes killed, 40 captured. This variant entry captures the slightly different location tradition placing the battle inland from Countisbury.

Casualties & Losses

840 Danes killed according to Asser; Ubba killed

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

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