First Battle of Alton

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The First Battle of Alton was a skirmish in 1001 between the English and the Danes. It took place at Alton in the English county of Hampshire.

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[edit] Causes

Between 991 and 1005 Danish attacks on England escalated from small isolated raids to massed attacks by larger forces. The Danes ravaged the countryside, demanding huge tributes (Danegeld) from the Anglo-Saxon king. However, the attacks continued and their plunder and pillage tactics, combined with a rapid march strategy brought them as far as Alton.

[edit] The Attack

At Alton the men of Hampshire united to fight against them. Anglo-Saxon annals cite the total English losses as 81 compared to 'a much greater number' lost by the Danes. However, the Danes managed to win the field and advance further west, while the Anglo-Saxons retreated to Winchester.

[edit] Consequences

The First Battle of Alton failed to stop the Danish Army. They attacked Devon, burning many towns such as Teignton, until the area surrendered. The advance continued towards Exmouth, until they reached Pin-hoo, where the high-steward of the king, Cole, and Edsy, the reve of the king once again raised an army against them. Again the Danes prevailed and burned 'many goodly towns that we cannot name'. Here they turned eastwards and reached the Isle of Wight, until the people there made peace with them.

In the year 1006, the king was forced to make a permanent peace with the hostile force, and gave them a tribute of 30,000 pounds. In 1008, he gave the order to build ships, triggering a huge naval force to be made. By 1009, this fleet was ready, and was sent to Sandwich to defend the land against attacking forces.

[edit] Location

Extract from the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, Winchester Manuscript , AD 1001 :

Here in this year there was great hostility in the land of the English race through the raiding ship-army; and they raided and burned almost everywhere so that in a single journey they moved up until they came to Aethlings' Valley. And then Hampshire came against them there and fought with them....

Aethlings' Valley has also been identified as Aethelingadene, being East or West Dean near the Sussex border with Hampshire, not Alton[citation needed].

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