BattlefieldsBattle of Bensington
Early Medieval

Battle of Bensington

779
Oxfordshire, England
Also known as: Battle of Benson
Era
Early Medieval
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
Oxfordshire, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Cynewulf of Wessex
Forces
Cynewulf: c. 2,000–3,500 per side; Mercian West Saxon hegemony.
VS
Victor
Offa of Mercia
Forces
Offa
Outcome
Mercia took the upper Thames region from Wessex
The Battle

History & Significance

Offa's defeat of Cynewulf of Wessex at Bensington (modern Benson, Oxfordshire) gave Mercia control of the middle Thames valley and substantially reduced West Saxon territory. It represents the height of Mercian power under Offa and pushed Wessex back from lands it had controlled since Ceawlin's time in the sixth century.

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