Battlefields›Battle of Thetford (Great Heathen Army 869)
Early Medieval

Battle of Thetford (Great Heathen Army 869)

869
Norfolk, England
Also known as: Danish sack of Thetford 869 · Viking attack on Thetford
Era
Early Medieval
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
Norfolk, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
East Anglians (King Edmund)
Forces
East Anglian forces c. 2,000–3,000.
VS
Victor
Danes (Ivar the Boneless / Ubba)
Forces
Great Heathen Army c. 4,000–6,000
Outcome
East Anglians defeated; King Edmund captured; Danish army wintered at Thetford
The Battle

History & Significance

The Great Heathen Army under Ivar and Ubba returned to East Anglia in 869, overwintering at Thetford. King Edmund gave battle and was defeated. The town was sacked. Edmund was captured and subsequently executed, becoming the martyr-king whose cult centred on Bury St Edmunds. The battle ended the Kingdom of East Anglia as an independent entity.

Casualties & Losses

Heavy East Anglian casualties

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Protected heritage nearby

Scheduled Monuments near Battle of Thetford (Great Heathen Army 869)

Blackfriars
Scheduled monument · ~0 miles
Priory of the Canons of the Holy Sepulchre and part of Saxon town
Scheduled monument · ~0.1 miles
Site of Saxon town: car park to N of Anchor Hotel
Scheduled monument · ~0.1 miles
Site of Saxon town including site of St John's churchyard on playing fields
Scheduled monument · ~0.2 miles
Thetford Cluniac priory including a World War II ‘Blacker Bombard’ spigot mortar emplacement
Scheduled monument · ~0.2 miles
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