BattlefieldsViking Raid on Portland 840
Early Medieval

Viking Raid on Portland 840

840
England
Era
Early Medieval
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Dorset forces under Ealdorman Wulfheard
Forces
Dorset ealdorman Wulfheard forces
VS
Victor
Danish raiders
Forces
Danish raiding fleet
Outcome
Ealdorman Wulfheard killed; Dorset force defeated; raiders plunder and depart
The Battle

History & Significance

Danish raiders struck Portland again in 840, killing Ealdorman Wulfheard and inflicting another defeat on the Dorset defenders; the repeated successful attacks on Portland in this decade reflect the inability of Wessex to defend its coastline against seaborne assault during the first great wave of Viking activity.

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