BattlefieldsViking assault on Canterbury (851)
Early Medieval

Viking assault on Canterbury (851)

851
Kent, England
Also known as: Sack of Canterbury 851
Era
Early Medieval
Battle Type
Siege
Location
Kent, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Canterbury defenders
Forces
c. 3,000–6,000 Canterbury defenders.
VS
Victor
Danish Vikings
Forces
c. 8,000–15,000 Danish raiders (350-ship fleet)
Outcome
Canterbury stormed and sacked by 350 Danish ships' crews
The Battle

History & Significance

The Chronicle records that in 851 a Danish fleet of 350 ships attacked Canterbury, stormed and sacked it. This was part of the largest Viking raid on southern England to that date — the same campaign that sacked London and was eventually defeated at Ockley (Acleah) by Aethelwulf. The scale (350 ships would represent perhaps 15,000 warriors) shows the growing ambition of Danish operations.

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