BattlefieldsUlfcytel Defends East Anglia from Danes 1004
Early Medieval

Ulfcytel Defends East Anglia from Danes 1004

1004
Norfolk, England
Era
Early Medieval
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
Norfolk, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Ulfcytel
Forces
Ulfcytel: c.2,000–4,000.
VS
Victor
Sweyn Forkbeard (tactical)
Forces
Sweyn Forkbeard: c.3,000–5,000
Outcome
East Anglian army defeated but Danes suffered heavy casualties; Ulfcytel recognised by the Danes as their most formidable English opponent
The Battle

History & Significance

Ealdorman Ulfcytel of East Anglia, later called Ulfcytel Snillingr (the Bold), organised the most effective English resistance of the Second Viking Age. In 1004 Sweyn Forkbeard raided East Anglia, sacking Norwich and Thetford. Ulfcytel met the Danes in the field and inflicted significant casualties before being driven back. The Danes reportedly said they had never met harder hand-play in England than Ulfcytel gave them.

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