Maldon

10 August 991

Svein Forkbeard, the Danish King, had already raided Sandwich , Folkestone and Ipswich before his ships carrying an army of 4,000 Vikings landed on the Isle of Northey in Essex .
Opposing them on the mainland and separated by a causeway was a much smaller Saxon army led by the aging Ealdorman Brihtnoth who was easily distinguishable by his tall stature and white hair and beard. While the tide kept the warriors apart, they traded insults, taunting and mocking each other.
Though outnumbered, Brihtnoth had the advantage with only the causeway to defend but strangely, Brihtnoth allowed the Vikings to cross the causeway unmolested so they could give a more even battle on the mainland.
The Saxon linked their round wooden shield to create a ‘shield wall' but the Vikings countered this by attacking them in a tight-packed wedge formation and the battle commenced with Viking and Saxon warriors locked in vicious close-quarter combat.
The Saxons put up a brave fight and their leader, despite his old age, fought in the front rank with his men, receiving many wounds until he was eventually cut down by his enemies.
With Brihtnoth's death the remaining Saxon's lost heart and many left the battle field leaving only Brihtnoth's loyal guards, fighting to the death and taking many Vikings lives.
The Vikings were victorious but Forkbeard's army was so badly mauled that they could not carry on to sack Maldon and had to return home.