Battle of Brentford (1016)
Who Fought
Kingdom of Denmark: 8,000–12,000
History & Significance
The Battle of Brentford was fought in 1016 between invading forces of the Kingdom of Denmark under Cnut and the defending forces of the Kingdom of England led by Edmund Ironside. The battle was fought as part of a campaign by Cnut to conquer England. The battle was a victory for the English, who nevertheless lost a large number of men.
Cnut's invasion continued after the battle and a peace was made after Edmund lost the Battle of Assandun (in Essex) later in the year. Under these terms Cnut gained Mercia and payment for his army, while Edmund held Wessex. Cnut would gain the whole of England after Edmund's death on 30 November 1016.
After a respite from raids that lasted for about the years 900-980, the Vikings began raiding England again. The Danish king Svein raided England in 994, unsuccessfully attempting to besiege London. He returned in 1003 after the St Brice's Day massacre in 1002, when Æthelred, king of England, had many Danes living outside the Danelaw killed. The Viking presence in England continued and in 1013 Svein, accompanied by his younger son Cnut, was accepted as king. Æthelred was forced to flee to Normandy. When Svein died in 1014 he was succeeded by his son Harald as king of Denmark, but his army in England accepted Cnut as king. Æthelred was invited by the English to return and Cnut was driven out of his base at Gainsborough after an English attack found him unprepared.
During this time Eadric Streona, the ealdorman of Mercia, is recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle as having hindered the efforts of the English to resist the Danish invaders. In 1015 Eadric killed Sigeferth and Morcar, the chief thanes of the Five Boroughs, for unknown reasons, but it would seem that this prompted Edmund Ironside, Æthelred's eldest surviving son, to act to counter Eadric's growing influence. In 1015 Edmund married Sigeferth's widow against the king's wishes, and took possession of the estates of Sigeferth and Morcar in the east midlands.
Cnut, possibly now claiming the title king of Denmark, appeared at Sandwich in September 1015 and ravaged Dorset, Wiltshire and Somerset. With Æthelred sick, and Edmund at loggerheads with Eadric, Cnut faced little opposition, and by Christmas the people of Wessex had recognised Cnut as king and given him hostages. Edmund had raised an army late in 1015 but withdrew after learning Eadric intended to betray him to the invaders. According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle Eadric took 40 ships from the king and defected to Cnut. The first army raised by Edmund in 1016 disbanded after Æthelred did not appear to lead it and the second army failed to achieve much of note. Edmund was then joined by his brother in law, Earl Uhtred of Northumbria, and attacked towns which according to Anglo-Norman chronicler William of Malmesbury, had sided with Cnut. Uhtred was forced to return north when Cnut began raiding his lands around Bamburgh, and was killed after submitting to Cnut. Edmund returned to London where Æthelred died on 23 April. The citizens and the national councillors present chose Edmund as their king, but a larger number of nobles present at Southampton declared support for Cnut. Edmund would then travel to Wessex where the people submitted to him. While the Danes were besieging London, they learned of the army being levied in Wessex and quickly marched south. The two armies met at Penselwood and then at the two day Battle of Sherston. Edmund stayed in Wessex to raise further troops while the Danes returned to besiege London, only for the siege to be raised by Edmund.
The ground they fought on
The site of Battle of Brentford (1016) lies on Thames Group, bedrock that formed in the Eocene. The rock here is clay, silt, sand and gravel.
- Kingdom of England: Heavy losses
Frequently Asked Questions
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- Battle of Brentford · Wikidata
- Battle of Brentford (1016) · Wikipedia