BattlefieldsNorse Sack of St Davids 1012
Early Medieval

Norse Sack of St Davids 1012

1012
Wales
Era
Early Medieval
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
Wales
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
St Davids
Forces
St Davids community
VS
Victor
Norse raiders
Forces
Norse raiders
Outcome
St Davids sacked for the fifth time; community survived but greatly reduced
The Battle

History & Significance

St Davids suffered yet another Norse raid in 1012, with Bishop Morgeneu dead in 988, another bishop killed since, and now a further raid destroying much of what remained of the monastic buildings. The repeated Viking attacks on St Davids prompted the cathedral to be built in a hollow to hide it from sea raiders, and its distinctive low-lying position today reflects this defensive necessity. The cathedral was sacked at least five times between 820 and 1091.

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Aubrey Research

Explore the landscape around this battlefield

Aubrey generates in-depth historical research for any location in Britain — drawing on Domesday records, scheduled monuments, Victorian OS maps, geological data and archaeological archives to tell the full story of a place.

Research a location near this battlefield