BattlefieldsDanish Fleet Besieges Rochester 884
Early Medieval

Danish Fleet Besieges Rochester 884

884
Kent, England
Era
Early Medieval
Battle Type
Siege
Location
Kent, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Danish besiegers
VS
Victor
Alfred (Anglo-Saxons)
Outcome
Rochester garrison held the city; the besieging Danes abandoned their siege-fortress and fled to their ships on Alfred's approach, later departing overseas. The same year Alfred's fleet, sent to East Anglia, defeated sixteen Danish ships at Stourmouth but was itself defeated by a larger Danish fleet on the return voyage, aided by East Anglian Danes who had broken their peace.
The Battle

History & Significance

A early medieval siege fought in 884 near Kent, England. Recorded strengths: not recorded (numbers of besiegers, garrison, and Alfred's relief force are not given in the surviving sources).

Confirmed battlefield location
Casualties & Losses

not recorded for the siege itself; the associated naval action at Stourmouth records that Alfred's fleet 'slew the men' of sixteen captured Danish ships, but no figures are given, and losses in the subsequent Danish naval victory are also not recorded

Forces Involved

not recorded (numbers of besiegers, garrison, and Alfred's relief force are not given in the surviving sources)

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