Battle of Chester facts for kids

The Battle of Chester was a big fight between the Anglo-Saxons and the native Britons. It happened near the city of Chester, England, in the early 600s. Æthelfrith of Northumbria, an Anglo-Saxon king, led his army to a major victory.

His forces defeated a combined army from the Welsh kingdoms of Powys and Rhôs. Rhôs was a smaller area, called a cantref, within the larger Kingdom of Gwynedd. Some historians think soldiers from Mercia might have also been involved. Important Welsh leaders like Selyf Sarffgadau of Powys and Cadwal Crysban of Rhôs died in the battle. It's also thought that King Iago of Gwynedd might have been killed. The exact date of the battle is debated, but it was likely around 615 or 616 AD.

What Happened at the Battle of Chester?

Monks and the Massacre

A famous story about the battle comes from an old writer named Bede. He wrote that many monks from a monastery at Bangor on Dee came to watch the fight. They were there to pray for the Welsh army to win.

King Æthelfrith of Northumbria found out about the monks. He told his warriors to attack them first. He said that even though the monks didn't carry weapons, their prayers were a form of fighting against him. About 1,200 monks were killed before the main battle even began.

Who Was Involved?

The main leaders were King Æthelfrith for the Northumbrians. On the Welsh side, there were leaders from Powys and Rhôs. It's also possible that Cearl of Mercia, an Anglo-Saxon king, was involved. His power in eastern Wales and Mercia seemed to end after this battle. This suggests he might have been on the losing side with the Britons.

When Did the Battle Happen?

Historians have different ideas about the exact year.

• Many believe it was around 615 or 616 AD.
• The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, an old record, mentions it happening in 605 or 606 AD.
• Another old Welsh text, Brut y Brenhinedd, calls it Perllan Fangor (Bangor Orchard). This name suggests the battle might have been closer to Bangor-on-Dee than to Chester.

Why Was This Battle Important?

The exact reasons for the battle are not fully known. Some historians suggest that King Æthelfrith might have been trying to attack Powys. The idea that he attacked the monks first could have been a trick. It might have been a way to confuse and weaken the Welsh defense.

For a long time, people thought this battle cut off the land connection between Wales and the "Old North." The Old North was a group of old British kingdoms in what is now northern England and southern Scotland. However, this idea is now considered outdated. There isn't much archaeological proof of Anglo-Saxon settlements in Cheshire or Lancashire from that time. Also, during this period, people mostly traveled and traded by sea.

Finding Clues: Archaeology

In 2004, archaeologists found something interesting near Chester. At a place called Heronbridge, they uncovered old graves from after the Roman times. These graves were found under a defensive earthwork near an old Roman settlement. It's believed that these graves contain the bodies of soldiers who died in the Battle of Chester. This helps us learn more about the battle.

See also

• History of Cheshire