Portland

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle reports that three Danish ships appeared off the Dorset coast (probably at Portland) in the year 789. The reeve Beaduheard (the King's representative) tried to bring the raiders ashore to speak to the King as he believed them to be traders. The raiders killed him and his men and left.

According to the chronicles this was the first appearance of the Danes on the shores of England.

There is some uncertainty over the date given by the Chronicle as this section of the Chronicle was compiled approximately a century later in Alfred's reign. It is thought that this raid may have been moved before that on Lindisfarne (793) for political reasons (the patrons of the chronical being from Wessex).

Despite this controversy Portland was of sufficient importance to have been raided again in 840.