Battlefields›Norse Fleet off Strathclyde 870
Early Medieval

Norse Fleet off Strathclyde 870

870
West Dunbartonshire, Scotland
Also known as: Vikings besiege Dumbarton Rock 870 · Norse sack Alt Clut 870
Era
Early Medieval
Battle Type
Siege
Location
West Dunbartonshire, Scotland
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Kingdom of Strathclyde
Forces
Strathclyde forces c.500–1,500.
VS
Victor
Ivar the Boneless and Olaf the White
Forces
Norse fleet c.1,000–2,000
Outcome
Dumbarton Rock besieged for four months; fell after water supply failed; massive slave haul taken to Dublin
The Battle

History & Significance

The four-month Norse siege and fall of Alt Clut (Dumbarton Rock) in 870-871 was the most spectacular Viking military achievement in Scotland, destroying the capital of Strathclyde and yielding an enormous slave cargo.

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Protected heritage nearby

Scheduled Monuments near Norse Fleet off Strathclyde 870

Fornet Cottage, crannog 290m N of
Scheduled monument · Iron Age–Medieval · ~0.4 miles
Dumbarton Castle
Scheduled monument · ~0.5 miles
St Serfs Church, Dumbarton
Scheduled monument · ~0.9 miles
Langbank, crannog 180m ENE of Clydeview
Scheduled monument · Iron Age–Medieval · ~1.3 miles
Whitemoss Roman Fort, 175m SW of Rosarymount
Scheduled monument · ~1.4 miles
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