BattlefieldsNorse Recapture York Under Eirik Bloodaxe 947
Early Medieval

Norse Recapture York Under Eirik Bloodaxe 947

947
North Yorkshire, England
Also known as: Eirik Bloodaxe at York 947 · Norse Return to York 947
Era
Early Medieval
Battle Type
Siege
Location
North Yorkshire, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Eadred I
Forces
Northumbrian Danish population
VS
Victor
Eirik Bloodaxe
Forces
Eirik Bloodaxe with Norse followers
Outcome
Northumbrians accept Eirik Bloodaxe as king; English control of York lost again
The Battle

History & Significance

After Edmund assassination in 946, his brother Eadred became king and initially received Northumbrian submission. But in 947 Eirik Bloodaxe — the expelled former king of Norway — arrived in Northumbria and was accepted as king. The Northumbrians expelled him the following year under pressure from Eadred, then readmitted him in 952. This repeated pattern of acceptance and expulsion illustrated the instability of Northumbrian politics.

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