IDLE RIVER - v1.0
616
by Chris Jackson
SYMBOL SET REQUIRED: Master 1


HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

In 615 Aethelfrith won a notable victory over the Britons at Chester, thus
reaching the Irish Channel and cutting the Welsh Britons off from those in
the northwest. He threatened to invade East Anglia for harbouring the exiled
Edwin, son of the king of Deira from before it was united within Northumbria,
as a refugee. East Angle King Raedwald decided to launch a pre-emptive attack 
by raising a large force and attacking before Aethelfrith could field his 
full army.

The battle was fought near the Idle River, and although the exact battle site
is not known, it might have been beside a crossing point near a ruined Roman fort 
opposite Bawtry (east of Sheffield). Why Aethelfrith fought so far south of his
core territory is not known, but he lost the battle and his own life as well.
His sons fled  Northumbria as Edwin was installed as the new king there, and 
Raedwald became the first "overking" of Britain, as southern rulers sought
protection under him.


SOURCES


Alcock, Leslie. "Economy, Society, and Warfare Among the Britons and Saxons".
    Cardiff: University of Wales Press, 1987.

Higham, N.J. "An English Empire: Bede and the Early Anglo-Saxon Kings".
     New York: Manchester University Press, 1995.


BATTLE NOTES

Not a whole lot to say about this battle. The East Angles have the advantage in
numbers and both sides are armed about the same.

Chris Jackson, April 13, 2000
chrisbjackson@hotmail.com

