Battlefields›Danes Seize Repton Royal Mausoleum 873
Early Medieval

Danes Seize Repton Royal Mausoleum 873

873
Derbyshire, England
Also known as: Great Army at Repton 873
Era
Early Medieval
Battle Type
Siege
Location
Derbyshire, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Mercia
Forces
c. 1,500–2,500 Mercian defenders at Repton.
VS
Victor
Great Heathen Army
Forces
c. 3,500–4,500 Great Heathen Army
Outcome
Repton monastery seized; Mercian royal mausoleum desecrated; King Burgred of Mercia fled; Mercia partitioned the following year
The Battle

History & Significance

The Great Army wintered at Repton in 873-874, seizing the Mercian royal monastery and burial place of Mercian kings. Archaeological excavations revealed a mass grave of some 250 individuals, mostly young males with battle injuries, consistent with Viking warriors. The Danes created a D-shaped defended camp using the church as a gatehouse. King Burgred fled to Rome and Mercia was partitioned.

Casualties & Losses

Archaeological evidence suggests mass burial of approximately 250 Viking warriors at Repton

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Protected heritage nearby

Scheduled Monuments near Danes Seize Repton Royal Mausoleum 873

Cursus and mini henges, of Neolithic date, round barrows of Neolithic/Early Bronze Age date, and settlements, enclosures and fields of late Iron Age/Romano-British date, immediately East of Willington either side of the A5132
Scheduled monument · ~1.1 miles
Twyford henge and Round Hill bowl barrow
Scheduled monument · ~2 miles
Monks Bridge See also DERBYSHIRE 15
Scheduled monument · ~2.2 miles
Monks Bridge See also STAFFORDSHIRE 261
Scheduled monument · ~2.2 miles
Bretby Castle fortified manor
Scheduled monument · ~2.5 miles
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