Battle of Benfleet facts for kids

The Battle of Benfleet happened in 894. It was a fight between the Vikings and the Anglo-Saxons. The Anglo-Saxon army was led by Edward the Elder and Æthelred, Lord of the Mercians. Edward was the son of Alfred the Great, and Æthelred was his son-in-law.

This battle was part of a larger Viking plan. Starting in 892, Vikings wanted to raid and take over lands in England. They had just been defeated in France. Vikings who had already settled in England also helped these new invaders. The Battle of Benfleet was a big win for the Anglo-Saxons. They captured many Viking women and children. They also took or destroyed the Viking ships.

After this defeat, the Vikings kept raiding England for a while. But by 895, they had to give up their camps and leave. The rest of King Alfred's time as ruler was peaceful. His son, Edward, became King of Wessex in 899. Later, Edward also became the ruler of Mercia, bringing the two kingdoms together.

Why the Battle Happened

England Before the Battle

England in 878, showing different kingdoms

After Alfred the Great won the Battle of Edington in 878, things changed in England. A Viking leader named Guthrum became King of East Anglia. His army settled there. This marked the end of the Great Heathen Army's main attacks. This was a large group of Vikings who first attacked England in 865.

Guthrum's kingdom included East Anglia, Essex, and part of south-east Mercia. Northumbria was split up. The richest part became the Viking Kingdom of York. The northern part stayed under a local ruler. Mercia was also divided. The western part was ruled by Aethelred, Alfred's son-in-law. The eastern part was controlled by Viking towns. These towns were known as the Five Boroughs.

The areas under Viking control were called the Danelaw. This name showed the strong Danish influence on the local laws. Alfred then made his kingdom stronger. He built fortified towns called burhs to protect important places. He also changed the fyrd, which was a group of men called up for military service. He made it a mobile fighting force. These changes helped Alfred's armies defend against attacks from many directions. This was very useful between 892 and 895.

Viking Attacks Begin

After the peace between Alfred and Guthrum, Wessex was mostly safe from Viking raids. But when Guthrum died in the 880s, war seemed possible again. This became more likely when Vikings in France lost many battles.

In 892, Vikings left France. They loaded their families, animals, and gear onto 250 boats. They landed near the Rother river in south-east England. These Vikings quickly took over Alfred's fortified town of Eorpeburnan. Then they moved to Appledore in Kent. There, they built a small fortified town.

At the same time, another Viking fleet arrived. This fleet was led by Haestan and had 800 men. They sailed up the Thames river and landed at Milton Regis. This was near the Isle of Sheppey. King Alfred could not fight both armies at once. So, he made a peace deal with Haestan. Haestan's two sons were baptized. Haestan agreed to leave Wessex in return for a large payment. After this, Haestan moved to Benfleet in Essex.

While Alfred was talking with Haestan, the Vikings from Appledore started raiding Wessex in spring 893. But Edward, Alfred's son, stopped them. He defeated them at the battle of Farnham. These Vikings then went back to Thorney Island and built defenses. Edward started to surround the island. But his supplies were low, and his men's service time was ending. So, he had to leave.

Alfred had planned to help Edward's army. But he heard that 100 Viking ships from the Danelaw were attacking Exeter. Another 40 ships were raiding the Devon coast. Alfred had to go fight the Vikings at Exeter. Edward was joined by Aethelred and men from London. They went back to Thorney Island. The Vikings were still there. After taking some hostages, Edward let the Vikings leave. They went to Benfleet to join Haestan's group.

The Battle of Benfleet

In 894, Edward and Aethelred followed the Vikings to Benfleet. Haestan was away on a raiding trip. The Anglo-Saxons broke into the Viking camp. They captured many women and children. This included Haestan's wife and two sons. Haestan's family was sent to Alfred. Alfred later returned them to Haestan as part of talks.

Most of the Viking ships were also captured. Many were sent to London or Rochester. The rest were broken up or burned. The Vikings who survived joined Haestan at Shoebury. There, they made a new camp. The Battle of Benfleet was one of the biggest victories against the Vikings in England up to that time.

Evidence of the battle was found in the 1800s. Workers building Benfleet railway station discovered human bones and burned wood. It is thought that the Anglo-Saxon dead might have been buried near Benfleet church.

What Happened Next

At Shoebury, the Vikings got more fighters from the Danelaw. Then they moved across England to Buttington. This was near the Welsh border. Haestan tried to get help from the Welsh princes. But they chose to stick with their alliance with Alfred. They saw him as their leader.

Aethelred and the Ealdormen (important leaders) of Somerset and Wiltshire gathered a large army. Men from North Wales also joined them. This force surrounded the Vikings. The Anglo-Saxons won a victory after the Vikings tried to break out because they were starving.

After this defeat, the surviving Vikings ran back to Shoebury. The Anglo-Saxon army chased them. They forced them to leave Wessex and go to the ruined city of Chester. Hunger and sickness made them leave Chester. They moved into North Wales, where they stole food. After nine months, the Vikings left Wales. They traveled through Viking-controlled lands in Northumbria and East Anglia. They finally reached Mersea Island in Essex.

After a short time on the island, they sailed up the Lea river. They set up a camp near London. Alfred forced them out of this camp in 895. The Vikings rode across England to make a new camp at Bridgnorth. While Bridgnorth was surrounded, a message was sent to the Vikings in Northumbria and East Anglia. This was to stop them from helping the invaders. Once this was done, the Vikings at Bridgnorth broke up their group.

Until Alfred died in 899, relations between the Anglo-Saxons and their neighbors were mostly peaceful. When Alfred died, Edward became King of Wessex. When Aethelred died in 911, his wife, Aethelflaed, became the ruler of the Mercians. Edward took control of Mercia himself after Aethelflaed died in 918. This united the two kingdoms.

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