BattlefieldsBattle of Trent
Early Medieval

Battle of Trent

679
Nottinghamshire, England
Also known as: Battle of the River Trent 679
Era
Early Medieval
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
Nottinghamshire, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Northumbria (Ecgfrith)
Forces
c. 2,500–4,500 Northumbria
VS
Victor
Mercia (Aethelred)
Forces
c. 3,000–5,000 Mercia
Outcome
Mercian victory; Northumbrian expansion south halted; Aelfwine killed
The Battle

History & Significance

Northumbrian king Ecgfrith (who would die at Dunnichen six years later) was defeated on the Trent by Mercia. His brother Aelfwine was killed — the first recorded royal casualty in an inter-kingdom English battle. Archbishop Theodore of Canterbury successfully mediated the peace, showing the growing importance of the Church in secular politics.

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Aubrey Research

Explore the landscape around Nottinghamshire

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 Nottinghamshire