Battle of Derby

Battle of Derby
Part of the Viking invasions of England
Derby shown within Derbyshire and England
Date July 917 AD Location Derby, England Result Anglo-Saxon victory
Belligerents
Anglo-Saxons	Danelaw
Commanders and leaders
Aethelflaed	Unknown
Strength
Unknown	Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Unknown

In July 917, Æthelflæd launched her first offensive foray and selected the fortress at Derby as her target. At that time the local ruler had probably joined with the armies from Northampton and Leicester in a number of raids to attack Mercia.^{[1][page needed]} Aethelfled took advantage of the weakened burh and successfully assaulted the town in July 917; the whole region subsequently being annexed into English Mercia.

The Anglo-Saxon Chronical says that in 917 "Aethelflaed Lady of the Mercians, with God's help, before Lammas obtained the borough that is called Derby. With all that belonged to it. There were also killed four thegns who were dear to her inside the gates" ^[2]

The Danes may well have established their military headquarters on the former Roman fort of Derventio.^[3] This 6-acre (24,000 m²)^[4] rectangular fort would have given the burh the equivalent of c. 500 hides. The Vikings had camped at nearby Repton in 874, and had abandoned it a year later after suffering significantly from disease during their stay (leading to the discovery of a grave containing 245 bodies).^{[5][page needed]}

References[]

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