BattlefieldsViking Sack of Peterborough
Early Medieval

Viking Sack of Peterborough

870
Cambridgeshire, England
Also known as: Danish Raid on Medeshamstede 870
Era
Early Medieval
Battle Type
Skirmish
Location
Cambridgeshire, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Peterborough monastery
Forces
Monastery garrison c.50–150.
VS
Victor
Danes (Great Heathen Army)
Forces
Great Heathen Army c.500–1,500
Outcome
Monastery burned; all monks killed; treasure looted
The Battle

History & Significance

The Great Heathen Army, fresh from destroying East Anglia and killing King Edmund, sacked Peterborough (then Medeshamstede). The entire monastic community was killed and the ancient monastery burned. The site was one of the oldest and richest monasteries in England. It was not re-established for over a century. The sack was part of the systematic destruction of English monastic culture by the Great Army.

Questions & Answers

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