Battle of Tettenhall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Tettenhall |
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| Part of the Viking invasions of England | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
| Danelaw Vikings | Mercia Wessex |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Eowils † Halfdan † Ingwær † |
Not known | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Heavy, in the thousands | Unknown | ||||||
The Battle of Tettenhall was a big fight that happened on August 5, 910. It's also sometimes called the Battle of Wednesfield. This battle took place near a place called Tettenhall in England. In this battle, two strong English kingdoms, Mercia and Wessex, joined forces. They fought against an army of Vikings from Northumbria.
Background to the Battle
For a long time, Vikings from Denmark had been raiding England. They had taken control of large parts of northeastern England, especially an area once known as Northumbria. However, Alfred the Great, a famous king, had managed to stop many of their attacks in central England.
Alfred's son, King Edward of Wessex, continued his father's work. He was strong enough to start attacking the Vikings instead of just defending. King Edward had a powerful ally: the Mercians. They were led by his sister, Æthelflæd, who was a very capable leader. Together, their armies were very strong. In 909, these allies launched a five-week attack against the Danish Vikings in Northumbria.
The Battle of Tettenhall
The Vikings were not happy about the attacks on their lands. They wanted to get revenge. So, in 910, they planned a surprise attack. King Edward was in Kent at the time, waiting for his ships. The Vikings thought most of his soldiers were on those ships.
Believing the English army was weak, the Vikings invaded Mercia. They raided towns and villages, going as far as the Avon River near Bristol. Then, they moved along the Severn River, causing trouble until they reached the Bridgnorth area. After this, they started moving east.
However, the combined armies of Mercia and Wessex were following them. The English forces caught up with the Vikings near Tettenhall. The battle that followed was a huge defeat for the Vikings. Their army was completely destroyed. Three of their kings, Ingwær, Eowils and Halfdan, were killed during the fight.
What Happened Next
After the Battle of Tettenhall, the Viking threat from the north was greatly reduced. The English forces from Wessex and Mercia could then focus on fighting Vikings who had settled further south in England. For about a generation (around 20-30 years), there were no more major Viking attacks from the north. This battle was a very important victory for the English kingdoms.
