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Battle of Woden's Burg (715) facts for kids

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Battle of Woden's Burg (715)
Date 715
Location
Result Unknown
Belligerents
West Saxons Unknown

The Battle of Woden's Burg was a fight that happened in the year 715. It took place at a spot called Woden's Burg, which is now known as Adam's Grave. This area is near Marlborough, Wiltshire, in England.

This battle is mentioned in an old book called the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. This book recorded important events in early English history. The chronicle simply says: "There Ine and Ceolred fought at Woden's hill."

Who Fought at Woden's Burg?

Kings Ine and Ceolred

The main people involved in this battle were two powerful kings from Anglo-Saxon England. Ine was the king of Wessex, a kingdom in the south of England. Ceolred was the king of Mercia, a kingdom in the middle of England.

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle doesn't tell us who their enemies were in this battle. It only mentions that these two kings fought each other. Historians are still not sure why they fought or who won.

Why Was Woden's Burg Important?

An Ancient Battleground

Woden's Burg, or Adam's Grave, was an important place even before this battle. It's actually a very old burial mound, built by people thousands of years ago. It's called a long barrow because of its long, narrow shape.

Strategic Location

The area around Woden's Burg was very important for travel and defense. It was located near where two ancient pathways crossed. One was The Ridgeway, a very old road that ran along a ridge. The other was Wansdyke, a large earth wall built for defense.

Because of these important routes, the area was a good place to control movement and protect land. This made it a strategic spot for battles. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle even mentions an earlier battle that happened at the same site in the year 592.

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