BattlefieldsBattle of Basing
Early Medieval

Battle of Basing

871
Hampshire, England
Also known as: First Battle of Basing
Era
Early Medieval
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
Hampshire, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
West Saxons (Aethelred and Alfred)
Forces
c. 2,500–4,000 West Saxon fyrd.
VS
Victor
Great Heathen Army
Forces
c. 4,000–5,500 Great Heathen Army
Outcome
Danish victory; West Saxons withdraw
The Battle

History & Significance

Two weeks after Ashdown, the Danes defeated the West Saxons at Basing in Hampshire. The Chronicle is brief, simply noting the Danes won. Combined with a second defeat at Merton, the reverses after Ashdown show how costly the 871 campaign was for Wessex: even victories were pyrrhic, and the kingdom's capacity to resist was being ground down.

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

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