BattlefieldsViking Raid on Watchet 988
Early Medieval

Viking Raid on Watchet 988

988
England
Era
Early Medieval
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
English defenders
Forces
local Devon and Somerset defenders
VS
Victor
Norse raiders
Forces
Norse raiding fleet
Outcome
Watchet burned; Goda the thane killed; population scattered
The Battle

History & Significance

A major Norse raid struck Watchet in 988, burning the town and killing Goda the Devon thane who attempted to resist; the raid was part of the renewed Scandinavian offensive against southern England that characterised the early years of Ethelred II.

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