BattlefieldsLondon Bridge Skirmish 851
Early Medieval

London Bridge Skirmish 851

851
Greater London, England
Era
Early Medieval
Battle Type
Skirmish
Location
Greater London, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Mercian garrison
Forces
Mercian garrison c. 200-400.
VS
Victor
Danish raiders
Forces
Danish raiders c. 1,000-2,000
Outcome
Danish forces overcame London bridge defences and sacked the city; Mercian garrison overwhelmed or driven off
The Battle

History & Significance

When the Danish fleet sacked London in 851, fighting occurred at the Thames crossing as the Danes forced entry. London was then a Mercian dependency and a garrison was present. The bridge crossing was contested before the city fell. This was among the first major Danish assaults on London and prefigured later sieges.

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