Battle of Hatfield Chase facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Hatfield Chase |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
  Gwynedd, Mercia |
 Northumbria |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Cadwallon ap Cadfan Penda |
Edwin † Osfrith † Eadfrith (captured) |
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The Battle of Hatfield Chase was a major fight that happened on 12 October 633. It took place near Doncaster in what is now Yorkshire, England. In this battle, two kings, Penda of Mercia and Cadwallon ap Cadfan of Gwynedd, teamed up. They attacked the powerful kingdom of Northumbria.
King Edwin ruled Northumbria at the time. He met the attacking armies in the southern part of his kingdom. Sadly, King Edwin was killed during the battle. His army was completely defeated. After their victory, King Cadwallon caused a lot of damage in Northumbria. This battle temporarily ended Northumbria's strong influence over southern England.
Contents
Why the Battle Happened
Edwin's Power and Conquests
King Edwin of Northumbria ruled from 616 to 633. He was seen as the most powerful ruler in all of Britain. Edwin won many wars. He conquered the kingdom of Elmet, which is in western Yorkshire. He also forced Elmet's king, Cerdic, to leave. This victory gave Edwin's kingdom a path all the way to the Irish Sea. Elmet was one of the last kingdoms of the Britons, who were the native people of Britain.
The Alliance Against Edwin
After conquering Elmet, Edwin turned his attention to Wales. He invaded northern Wales and captured the island of Anglesey. He pushed King Cadwallon of Gwynedd to the very edge of the island. Edwin then surrounded Cadwallon at a place called Priestholme.
Because of Edwin's attacks, Cadwallon, who was a Christian king, decided to make an alliance. He teamed up with Penda, who was a pagan king of Mercia. Cadwallon wanted revenge on Edwin for invading his kingdom. Penda, on the other hand, was unhappy that Northumbria was becoming Christian. He also wanted to challenge Edwin's power over the other kingdoms in Britain.
What Happened in the Battle
The Battlefield and Edwin's Defeat
The location of the battle suggests that King Edwin and his army might have been in a difficult spot. They may have had to fight on ground that was not good for defense. It's possible they were trapped. To their north were grassy wetlands, and to their east was the River Don. The armies of Cadwallon and Penda attacked them from the west.
During the battle, one of Edwin's sons, Osfrid, was killed. Soon after, King Edwin himself was killed, and his army broke apart. Another of Edwin's sons, Eadfrith, was captured by King Penda. Edwin's queen managed to escape to Kent. She took two of her children, Osfrid's young son, and Bishop Paulinus with her.
Northumbria After the Battle
After their victory, Cadwallon and Penda caused a lot of destruction in Northumbria. They harmed many people and devastated the land. A historian named Bede wrote that Cadwallon, even though he was Christian, was more brutal than any pagan.
Northumbria then split into its two older kingdoms: Deira and Bernicia. However, this division did not last forever. Later, a new king named Oswald reunited Deira and Bernicia. As king, Oswald brought Northumbria back to the strong position it had under Edwin.
See also
In Spanish: Batalla de Hatfield Chase para niños
