Battlefields›Ulfcytel Defeated at Ringmere Heath 1010
Early Medieval

Ulfcytel Defeated at Ringmere Heath 1010

1010
Norfolk, England
Era
Early Medieval
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
Norfolk, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Ulfcytel
Forces
Ulfcytel's East Anglian force c.2,000–3,500.
VS
Victor
Thorkell the Tall
Forces
Thorkell and Olaf c.3,000–5,000
Outcome
Catastrophic English defeat; East Anglian army destroyed; Ulfcytel survived but forces broken; Danes ravaged freely across central England for months
The Battle

History & Significance

At Ringmere Heath (near Thetford) in 1010, Ulfcytel met the Danish army under Thorkell the Tall and Olaf Haraldsson. After initial English success, the men of Cambridgeshire broke and fled first, and the rest of the English army was then destroyed. The Chronicle laments the failure of the English levies to stand firm. The Danish army then raided freely across East Anglia, Oxfordshire, and Cambridgeshire for three months.

Casualties & Losses

East Anglian army destroyed; numerous thegns killed including many named in the Chronicle

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Protected heritage nearby

Scheduled Monuments near Ulfcytel Defeated at Ringmere Heath 1010

Moated site at Stubbing's Entry
Scheduled monument · ~2.5 miles
Medieval ringwork in Burgate Wood
Scheduled monument · ~3 miles
Burgate Hall moated site
Scheduled monument · ~3.1 miles
Earthwork in Cromwell's Plantation
Scheduled monument · ~3.4 miles
Tower of All Saints' Church
Scheduled monument · ~3.7 miles
More from this era

Other Early Medieval Battles

Battle of Crecganford
456
Kent, England
Battle of Aylesford
455
Kent, England
Jutish Revolt — Battle at Aegelesthrep (Aylesford approach)
455
Kent, England
Anglian Assault on Roman York (c.450-500 AD)
450
Yorkshire, England
Aubrey Research

Explore the landscape around Norfolk

Aubrey generates in-depth historical research for any location in Britain — drawing on Domesday records, scheduled monuments, Victorian OS maps, geological data and archaeological archives to tell the full story of a place.

Research a location near Norfolk
All Battlefields