BattlefieldsMercian Submission at Nottingham 868
Early Medieval

Mercian Submission at Nottingham 868

868
Nottinghamshire, England
Also known as: Siege of Nottingham 868 - second
Era
Early Medieval
Battle Type
Siege
Location
Nottinghamshire, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Mercia
Forces
Mercian forces c. 3,000–5,000.
VS
Victor
Great Heathen Army
Forces
Great Heathen Army c. 4,000–6,000
Outcome
Danish army held Nottingham; Mercians paid tribute for Danish withdrawal; no decisive battle; West Saxon force returned home
The Battle

History & Significance

After the Great Army wintered at Nottingham in 867-868, King Burgred appealed to his brother-in-law Aethelred of Wessex for military aid. A combined Mercian-West Saxon force besieged the Danes but could not breach the fortifications. Burgred was compelled to buy peace, paying the Danes to withdraw - an early example of Danegeld. The West Saxon force under Aethelred and Alfred returned south without engaging.

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Aubrey Research

Explore the landscape around Nottinghamshire

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 Nottinghamshire