Battle of Basing
51°16′13″N 1°02′50″W / 51.2704°N 1.0473°W
Battle of Basing | |||||||
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Part of the Viking invasions of England | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
West Saxons | Vikings | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Æthelred and Alfred |
The Battle of Basing was a victory of a Viking army over the West Saxons at the royal estate of Basing in Hampshire on about 22 January 871.[1]
In late December 870 the Vikings invaded Wessex and occupied
The Battle of Basing can be dated because Bishop Heahmund of Sherborne died in the Battle of Meretun, and it is known that he died on 22 March 871. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records that the Battle of Basing was two months earlier, dating it to 22 January, Ashdown fourteen days before that on 8 January, Reading four days earlier on 4 January, Englefield another four days earlier on 31 December 870 and the arrival of the Vikings in Reading three days earlier on 28 December. However, as the two month interval between Meretun and Basing is probably not exact, the earlier dates are approximate.[3]
References
- ISBN 0-582-04047-7.
- ^ Abels, pp. 124–134
- ^ Beaven, Murray (July 1918). "The Beginning of the Year in the Alfredian Calendar (866–87)". English Historical Review. 33 (131): 334.