BattlefieldsDanes First Winter in England 850
Early Medieval

Danes First Winter in England 850

850
Kent, England
Also known as: Danish overwintering on Thanet 850 · First Viking winter camp in England
Era
Early Medieval
Battle Type
Skirmish
Location
Kent, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Kent
Forces
Kent
VS
Victor
Danes
Forces
Danish fleet army
Outcome
Danes established first winter camp on Thanet; Danish strategy shifted from raiding to occupation
The Battle

History & Significance

In 850-851 a Danish army wintered on the Isle of Thanet for the first time. This marks the critical shift in Viking strategy from hit-and-run raiding to permanent encampment. The following year they sacked Canterbury and London before being defeated at Acleah. The pattern of overwintering would culminate in the Great Heathen Army of 865.

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Aubrey Research

Explore the landscape around Kent

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 Kent