BattlefieldsViking Raid on Tavistock
Early Medieval

Viking Raid on Tavistock

997
Devon, England
Also known as: Norse sack of Tavistock 997
Era
Early Medieval
Battle Type
Skirmish
Location
Devon, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Tavistock monastery
Forces
Tavistock monastery: monks & local garrison (c. 100–200).
VS
Victor
Vikings
Forces
Vikings: c. 5–10 ships (c. 500–1,000)
Outcome
Tavistock Abbey burned; great silver treasure taken
The Battle

History & Significance

Viking raiders burned Tavistock Abbey in 997, carrying off its treasures as part of a sustained campaign along the Devon and Cornish coasts.

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