The Battle of Maldon

We know a lot about the Battle of Maldon in 991 thanks to the survival of an epic poem commemorating it. Although the poem is not complete it does provide a good insight into the reasons for the battle, and the central characters who took part in it.

A Viking raiding party under Olaf Tryggvasson (figures of about 93 ship-companies are mentioned) had camped on Northey Island (a small island connected to the mainland by a causeway at low tide). When news was brought to the local lord (an experienced warrior by the name of Byrhtnoth) he raised his fyrd and marched to meet the raiders where the Vikings offered him peace in return for gold rings.

As the two armies confronted each other Byrhtnoth sent his best warrior Wulfstan to defend the causeway. As the Vikings tried to cross it they were cut down. Once they had asked for a parley Byrhtnoth told the Vikings to leave as there was nothing for them there. The Vikings responded with the worst threat they could, which was that Byrhtnoth should let them cross the causeway to fight or they would GO AWAY! This was a serious threat as the Vikings were in ships and would be able to move faster than the warriors on land, and would then land somewhere else.

Faced with this threat Byrhtnoth drew his army back so that the Vikings could cross and fight on the land. In the fierce battle that followed a Viking injured Byrhtnoth with a spear. In response Byrhtnoth killed the Viking with his own spear. Further fighting ensued in which another Viking threw a javelin that struck Byrhtnoth and badly wounded him. Wulfmaer (the son of Wulfstan) draws the Javelin from Byrhtnoth's side and throws it back at the Viking and kills him. Byrhtnoth was then struck down in the fight and most of his army flee the field. His hearth troop (bodyguard) form a protective circle round the body and fight until they are all killed.

We do not know what followed this as the rest of the poem has been lost

This battle marked the start of a period of increased Viking activity, and the defeat also saw the Saxons raise taxes to make a payment of money to the Danes (a practice which eventually became known as the Danegeld).