Battle of Deorham facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Deorham
Part of the Anglo-Saxon settlement of Britain
Earthworks around Hinton Hill just north of Dyrham
Date 577 Location Hinton Hill near Dyrham, South Gloucestershire, England Result Saxon victory, permanently dividing Wales from the Celtic south-west of England
Belligerents
West Saxons	Britons
Commanders and leaders
Ceawlin Cuthwine	Conmail  † Condidan  † Farinmail  †

The Battle of Deorham (also called Dyrham) was a very important battle in 577 AD. It was fought between the West Saxons and the Britons who lived in the West Country of England.

This battle was a big win for the West Saxons. Their leaders were King Ceawlin and his son, Cuthwine. After the battle, the Saxons took control of three important British cities. These cities were Gloucester, Cirencester, and Bath.

The victory also had a lasting effect on the people. It separated the Britons in Dumnonia (which is now Cornwall and Devon) from those in Wales. This created a permanent cultural and ethnic division.

What We Know About the Battle

The main information we have about the Battle of Deorham comes from an old book. This book is called the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. The oldest existing copy of this book was written around 892 AD.

The Chronicle says:

"577: Here Cuthwine and Ceawlin fought against the Britons, and they killed 3 kings, Coinmail, Condidan and Farinmail, in the place which is called Deorham, and took 3 cities: Gloucester and Cirencester and Bath"

Most historians believe that "Deorham" is the village of Dyrham. This village is in South Gloucestershire, near Bath. It sits on the edge of the Cotswolds hills.

It's important to remember that the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle was written about 300 years after the battle. Because of this, some experts wonder if all the details are perfectly accurate. For example, some think the names of the British kings might have been added later.

How the Battle Might Have Happened

The Severn Valley has always been a key area in Britain for armies. Many important battles were fought to control it. In 577, King Ceawlin of Wessex wanted to take over this area. He moved his army from the Thames Valley across the Cotswolds. His goal was to weaken the Britons' power near the River Severn.

Some historians think the Saxons launched a surprise attack. They might have captured a hill fort at Hinton Hill Camp (Dyrham Camp). This fort was important because it controlled the Avon Valley. Taking it would cut off communication between Bath, Gloucester, and Cirencester.

Once the Saxons held the fort, the Britons from the three cities had to act. They likely joined forces to try and get the fort back. However, their attempt failed. The three British kings were killed during the battle. Their armies were defeated and pushed back.

Another idea suggests a simpler plan. King Ceawlin might have been steadily moving towards the Severn River. The three British armies then gathered to stop him. They might have set up their forces along ridges, with Hinton Hill Camp behind them. This camp could have been used to store their supplies.

If the Saxons pushed the Britons back, they would have been in a difficult spot. They might have been forced into the fort for a final stand. This could explain why none of the three British leaders managed to escape the battle.

What Happened After the Battle

The Battle of Deorham was a huge win for the early Kingdom of Wessex. It was a big loss for the Romano-British people. They lost three major cities:

• Cirencester (called Corinium by the Romans) was once a capital city during the Roman period.
• Gloucester (called Glevum by the Romans) was a former Roman settlement for retired soldiers.
• Bath (called Aquae Sulis by the Romans) was famous for its hot springs and religious sites.

However, old ruins show that these towns were mostly empty by the late 500s. They were already in ruins before the battle. Eventually, this area became part of a smaller Anglo-Saxon kingdom called Hwicce.

Some experts believe this battle also marked a turning point for languages. It might be when Welsh and Cornish started to become separate languages. The Germanic-speaking Saxons now controlled the land between the Celtic people in South West England and those in Wales.