"Brunanburh was a decisive clash between the West Saxon king Athelstan and a coalition force led by King Anlaf of Dublin, King Constantine of Alba, and King Owain of Strathclyde. After a day-long and exceptionally bloody battle, Athelstan's army emerged victorious. The defeated Hiberno-Norse forces retreated by sea to Dublin, while the northern British armies returned home. For Athelstan, the victory was the crowning moment of his reign, supporting his claim to be the "ruler of all Britain"."
"More than 50 medieval writers recorded it in chronicles, poems, and historical narratives, yet none clearly identified where it was fought. Over the last hundred years, scholars have proposed numerous locations, often based on superficial similarities in place-names. Suggested sites have ranged widely across England, including Bourne, Burghwallis, Brinsworth, the River Browney, Burnley, Bromswold and Brumby. Cavill and Harding argue that the key to resolving the problem lies in understanding the name Brunanburh itself."
The Battle of Brunanburh in 937 was a decisive clash between West Saxon king Athelstan and a coalition led by Anlaf of Dublin, Constantine of Alba, and Owain of Strathclyde. After a day-long and exceptionally bloody fight, Athelstan's forces won, the Hiberno-Norse retreating to Dublin and the northern British armies going home. The victory strengthened Athelstan's claim as ruler of all Britain. Medieval sources recorded the battle widely but did not specify a location, prompting many speculative site proposals across England. Linguistic analysis of the place-name Brunanburh, recognizing Bruna as a personal name and burh as a fortification, points to Bromborough on the Wirral.
Read at Medievalists.net
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