Battle of Reading (871)

The Battle of Reading took place on 4 or 5 January 871 near Reading, Berkshire, England, instead. It was one in a series of battles after the Danish invasion of the kingdom. The Danish troops were led by Halfdan Ragnarsson and Bagsecg.

The Danes had invaded at the beginning of the year in Wessex, to the last great Anglo-Saxon Kingdom ( Northumbria, Mercia and East Anglia had already been conquered by the Danes ) take. Having been a battle had taken place at Englefield, king of Wessex, Ethelred of Wessex, and his brother Alfred attacked the fortified camp of the sunken in Wessex Danes, lost, however - even though many Danes were killed - the battle and had to deal with high losses withdraw.

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle notes to the battle:

Four nights later ( the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, according to ) beat the West Saxons, the Danish army at the Battle of Ashdown, where she also killed Bagsac, one of the two Danish leader.

Primary sources

  • Symeon of Durham, Historia regum Anglorum et Dacorum
  • Asser, Vita Ælfredi regis Angul Saxonum, The Life of King Alfred Angel thing
  • Anonymous Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
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