Battlefields›Thetford Viking Sack 1004
Early Medieval

Thetford Viking Sack 1004

1004
Norfolk, England
Also known as: Swein sacks Thetford 1004 · Danish destruction Thetford 1004
Era
Early Medieval
Battle Type
Skirmish
Location
Norfolk, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Thetford
Forces
Thetford: c.300–500.
VS
Victor
Swein Forkbeard
Forces
Swein Forkbeard: c.2,000–3,000
Outcome
Town sacked and burned; Ulfcytel Snillingr struck back and inflicted losses
The Battle

History & Significance

Thetford sack in 1004 prompted a fierce counterattack by Ulfcytel Snillingr who inflicted heavy losses on Swein retreat, making this the most costly Norse raid of the Second Viking Age for the attackers.

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Protected heritage nearby

Scheduled Monuments near Thetford Viking Sack 1004

Site of town ditch: Icknield Way allotments
Scheduled monument · ~0 miles
Site of Saxon town including site of St John's churchyard on playing fields
Scheduled monument · ~0.1 miles
Site of Saxon town: primary school grounds, Hilary Road
Scheduled monument · ~0.2 miles
Bank and ditch NE of London Road
Scheduled monument · ~0.2 miles
Priory of the Canons of the Holy Sepulchre and part of Saxon town
Scheduled monument · ~0.2 miles
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