Battle Of London 886 |
| Hob Uid: 1554095 | |
Location :
Greater London Authority
City and County of the City of London
Non Civil Parish
|
| Grid Ref : TQ3271081145 |
| Summary : The site of the Battle of London is considered by some to be located in the Bank area of the City of London. The battle was fought in 886 AD between Alfred the Great and an invading Viking force. After a prolonged and successful invasion of England by the Vikings, Alfred re-captured London after defeating a Danish garrison. London was however in the control of the Kingdom of Mercia to which Alfred handed the city back. |
More information : The site of the Battle of London is considered by some to be located in the Bank area of the City of London. The battle was fought in 886 AD between Alfred the Great and an invading Viking force. After a prolonged and successful invasion of England by the Vikings, Alfred re-captured London after defeating a Danish garrison. London was however in the control of the Kingdom of Mercia to which Alfred handed the city back. (1)
According to English Heritage’s Corporate GIS the site of the battle lies in a Conservation Area. The National Grid Reference for the site is: TQ3271081145 (2)
The battle was fought in 887 when King Alfred occupied London and all the English people who weren’t under Danish control submitted to him. Alfred then gave the borough to Ealdorman Ethelred to control. In an associated footnote it states Asser’s addition made it clear that Alfred gained control of London by warfare ‘after the burning of cities and the massacre of people’. A lost source possibly implied by Florence of Worcester states that Alfred recovered London in order to completely expel the army of Danes from his kingdom after Ceolwulf’s death. (3)
In 886 Alfred rebuilt the city of London after its destruction by fire and the killing of inhabitants. He gave it to Ethered, who was the Earl of Mercia and his son-in-law. (4) |