BattlefieldsSiege and Capture of Leicester (918)
Early Medieval

Siege and Capture of Leicester (918)

918
Leicestershire, England
Also known as: Taking of Leicester
Era
Early Medieval
Battle Type
Siege
Location
Leicestershire, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Danish garrison of Leicester
Forces
Leicester Danish garrison c.300–600.
VS
Victor
Aethelflaed of Mercia
Forces
Mercian c.2,000–3,500
Outcome
Leicester surrendered to Aethelflaed; Danish garrison submitted
The Battle

History & Significance

Aethelflaed's second major conquest of a Danish borough. The Chronicle notes that Leicester was won with God's help. Aethelflaed died shortly after this triumph in June 918. Her death cut short an extraordinary military career that had systematically dismantled Danish power in the East Midlands. Edward the Elder then annexed Mercia directly, bringing it under West Saxon rule.

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Aubrey Research

Explore the landscape around Leicestershire

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 Leicestershire