10 AUG 991

Now the Vikings claimed a decisive victory over one of the great Anglo-saxon leaders

01 Viking raids of 991

In July and August of 991, a fleet of 93 Viking Longships ravaged Hampshire, Kent and Ipswich before heading up the River Blackwater to the Island of Northey, near Maldon. This location offered a safe harbour for their ships, protected from the mainland by a tidal causeway.

02 Byrhtnoth responds

The Ealdorman of Essex, Byrhtnoth, must have had advance warning of the Vikings approach and so had time to call the muster, the fyrd, of the manpower of Essex. This required that a certain number of men per area (hide) of land, served in the army for a time. These men will have been told to gather at Maldon to face the Viking threat.

03 Fight, wait or pay

Byrhtnoth did have the option of not fighting the Vikings. Soon after the battle they would be paid off with gold, the danegeld, to leave England’s shores unmolested. If he did not fight, however, Byrhtnoth would need to shadow the fleet in their further travels.

04 Here we stand

Byrhtnoth decided to fight. He drew his men up on the southern shore facing the Vikings of Northey Island. The Vikings, perhaps incredulous, faced him and demanded payment. This was refused.

05 Fight on the bridge

The tidal causeway could only allow three men abreast to cross. Once the tide allowed, the Vikings attempted to cross but were prevented by three of Byrhtnoth’s warriors: Alfhere, Maccus and Wulfstan.

06 Trick or plan

Thwarted in their crossing, the Vikings demanded that Byrhtnoth allow them to cross unmolested so that they could fight a fair fight together. Byrhtnoth consents to this (an action for which he is much criticised). The Anglo-saxons must have withdrawn their line from the water’s edge to allow the Vikings to cross and draw up their battleline (they did not take advantage and attack the undeployed Viking line).

10 A victory of sorts

The battle lasted several hours and it may have been close to dark by the end. The Vikings did not pursue the Anglo-saxons who had fled back to Maldon. It is possible that the Vikings had sustained too many casualties to pursue and so returned to their ships. First, perhaps out of spite, they decapitated the body of Byrhtnoth.

Soon after, the Vikings again demanded payment to leave England’s shores. They were given £10,000 to depart.

09 Hearts must be harder

The remainder of the Anglosaxon army were now vastly outnumbered by the Vikings. Nonetheless, they maintained their formation and withstood the Viking attacks. We are told of the resolve of the Anglosaxons who remained to stand and fight to avenge the death of their lord or to lay down their lives for him. Despite their bravery, the Anglo-saxons are whittled down until none remain alive.

08 Fight or flight

The majority of the Anglo-saxon army witness someone fleeing on Byrhtnoth’s horse and assume that it is Byrhtnoth. A rout of the Anglo-saxon army follows as most men flee the battlefield. All those who are left are either Byrhtnoth’s Huscarl bodyguard or those who saw him fall and know he did not flee.

07 Battle is joined

The two sides clashed and in the initial part of the fighting, the combat seems to have been even. After a time, the shieldwalls separated and a series of challenges for single combat were issued and accepted. Byrhtnoth himself engaged in a single-combat and was slain. As soon as he fell, some men jumped on to his horse (kept just behind the Anglo-saxon lines) and fled.