Battlefields›Canterbury Viking Sack and Capture of Alphege 1011
Early Medieval

Canterbury Viking Sack and Capture of Alphege 1011

1011
Kent, England
Also known as: Danes capture Canterbury 1011 · Sack of Canterbury 1011 · Capture of Archbishop Alphege
Era
Early Medieval
Battle Type
Siege
Location
Kent, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Canterbury
Forces
Canterbury garrison c. 1,000–2,000.
VS
Victor
Danish army (Thorkell the Tall)
Forces
Danish army c. 5,000–8,000
Outcome
Cathedral city taken after siege; Archbishop Alphege captured and later martyred
The Battle

History & Significance

The Danish capture of Canterbury and seizure of Archbishop Alphege in 1011 was the most dramatic episode of the Second Viking Age; Alphege refusal to be ransomed and his subsequent martyrdom made him a saint.

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Protected heritage nearby

Scheduled Monuments near Canterbury Viking Sack and Capture of Alphege 1011

The Guildhall
Scheduled monument · ~0 miles
Roman site, Butchery Lane
Scheduled monument · ~0.1 miles
Christchurch Priory and Archbishop's Palace
Scheduled monument · ~0.1 miles
Blackfriars
Scheduled monument · ~0.1 miles
Roman remains on Marlowe car park
Scheduled monument · ~0.2 miles
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