TheBattle of Meretun (orMerton) between aWest Saxon army led by KingÆthelred and his brother, the future KingAlfred the Great, and aViking army took place on 22 March 871 at an unknown location in Wessex, probably in one of the modern counties ofDorset,Hampshire, orWiltshire.
King Æthelred and his brother Alfred fought against the army at Basing, and there the Vikings had the victory. And two months later, King Æthelred and his brother Alfred fought against the army atMeretun, and they were in two divisions; and they put both to flight and were victorious far on into the day; and there was a great slaughter on both sides; and the Danes had possession of the battlefield. And BishopHeahmund was killed there and many important men. And after this battle a great summer army came to Reading. And afterwards, at Easter, King Æthelred died.[1]
The battle is dated by the death of Heahmund,Bishop of Sherborne. His feast day is listed in the English calendar of saints as 22 March, indicating that he died on that date.[2]
Various names and spellings similar to Marton or Meretun have been used for the site of the engagement.[2] The location is unknown, but there are two possibilities based on the location names used in the original text sources. One is in the vicinity of ancient Merdon Castle, which is inHursley parish nearWinchester.[3] The other is the village ofMarten inWiltshire,[4] although there is a similarly named village calledMarden, also in Wiltshire.[5]
^Whitelock, Dorothy, ed. (1979) [1st edition 1955].English Historical Documents, Volume 1, c. 500–1042 (2nd ed.). London, UK: Routledge. p. 193.ISBN978-0-415-14366-0.
^abBeaven, Murray L. R. (July 1918). "The Beginning of the Year in the Alfredian Calendar (866–887)".English Historical Review.33 (131): 334.JSTOR551018.
^"Parishes: Hursley".British History Online. Victoria County History – Hampshire. University of London. 2019 [1908]. pp. 417–422. Retrieved9 December 2019.
^"Great Bedwyn".British History Online. Victoria County History – Wiltshire. University of London. 2019 [1999]. pp. 8–49. Retrieved9 December 2019.
