BattlefieldsViking raid on Hamwic (Southampton)
Early Medieval

Viking raid on Hamwic (Southampton)

840
Hampshire, England
Also known as: Danish sack of Hamwic · Viking attack on Southampton 840
Era
Early Medieval
Battle Type
Skirmish
Location
Hampshire, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Hamwic townspeople
VS
Victor
Danish Vikings
Outcome
The trading emporium of Hamwic sacked and destroyed; never recovered as a major port
The Battle

History & Significance

Hamwic (modern St Mary's, Southampton) was one of the largest trading emporia in Anglo-Saxon England, comparable to Lundenwic and Eoforwic. Danish raiders sacked and burned it around 840, causing devastation from which the settlement never recovered as a trading port. The modern city of Southampton was subsequently established on a different, more defensible site. This raid marked the end of Hamwic as an economic centre.

Forces Involved

Danish Vikings: c. 500-1,500 (5-15 ships). Hamwic defenders: c. 200-400.

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

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