BattlefieldsDanish Army Enters Mercia — Nottingham 867
Early Medieval

Danish Army Enters Mercia — Nottingham 867

867
Nottinghamshire, England
Also known as: Great Heathen Army at Nottingham First Winter · Danes Advance from York to Nottingham
Era
Early Medieval
Battle Type
Siege
Location
Nottinghamshire, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Mercia
Forces
English: Mercian and West Saxon combined forces
VS
Victor
Danes (Great Heathen Army)
Forces
Danish: Great Heathen Army
Outcome
Danes fortified Nottingham; Mercians and West Saxons could not dislodge them
The Battle

History & Significance

After destroying the Northumbrian kingdom and killing two kings at York in 867, the Great Heathen Army moved south into Mercia and fortified Nottingham. King Burgred of Mercia appealed to Wessex — the future King Alfred, then a teenage prince, came north with his brother King Aethelred. But the combined force could not dislodge the Danes from their fortified position. A humiliating peace was made. The Danes overwintered and returned to York. It was their first demonstration that Mercia was vulnerable.

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