Battlefields›Iona Massacre
Early Medieval

Iona Massacre

806
Scotland
Also known as: Martyrdom of the Iona Monks 806 · Martyrs Bay Massacre
Era
Early Medieval
Battle Type
Skirmish
Location
Scotland
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Iona monastic community
Forces
Iona monks: c. 68 murdered at Martyrs Bay in the bloodiest attack.
VS
Victor
Norse raiders
Forces
Norse raiders: c. 60–150 warriors
Outcome
68 monks killed; community evacuated
The Battle

History & Significance

The slaughter of 68 monks at Martyrs Bay was the single bloodiest Norse attack on Iona and directly prompted the permanent transfer of the community to Kells.

Casualties & Losses

68 monks killed

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Protected heritage nearby

Scheduled Monuments near Iona Massacre

Iona Nunnery
Scheduled monument · ~0.2 miles
Iona, McLean's Cross
Scheduled monument · ~0.3 miles
St Mary's Abbey, Iona, monastic settlement
Scheduled monument · ~0.5 miles
Iona,Cladh an Diseart,chapel
Scheduled monument · Medieval · ~0.7 miles
Dun Cul Bhuirg, fort 770m NW of Culbuirg, Iona
Scheduled monument · Iron Age · ~1.1 miles
More from this era

Other Early Medieval Battles

Battle of Crecganford
456
Kent, England
Battle of Aylesford
455
Kent, England
Jutish Revolt — Battle at Aegelesthrep (Aylesford approach)
455
Kent, England
Anglian Assault on Roman York (c.450-500 AD)
450
Yorkshire, England
Aubrey Research

Explore the landscape around this battlefield

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 this battlefield
All Battlefields