THE BATTLE OF BRUNANBURH 937 AD
Sihtric, Pagan King of Northumbria (921-926) was baptised and married sister of Athelstan, Christian King of Wessex (924-937), but renounced Christianity and put away his wife. Athelstan marched north to exact revenge but Sihtric died and Athelstan became King of Northumbria, "the first King of all England"
Anlaf, Sihric's son, fled to Ireland and became leader of the Danes. Anlaf married the daughter of Constantine 11, King of Scotland, and persuaded his father-in-law to help him regain Northumbria. Anlaf was also assisted by Welsh, Cumbrians and Vikings.
Anlaf sailed from Dublin and after pciking up allies entered the Humber in 937 AD. 615 ships, "the largest and finest fleet that ever floated in British waters" Army consisted of some 60,000 men. Sailing up the R. Hull they left the fleet at Copse Landing, Emmotland and marched to Elmswell to camp.
Athelstan approached from the South and camped at Southburn. The battle took place along a front from Kirkburn, through Battleburn to Eastburn.
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle account of the battle: Athelstan, king, lord of eorls, ring-giver to men, and his brother also, the atheling Edmund, lifelong glory struck in battle with sword's edge at Brunnanburh, broke the shieldwall, split shields with swords. Edward's sons, as they were noble-born, accustomed to battle, often on campaign had defended their land from each foe, hoard and home; the hated ones were crushed, people of the Scots, men of the ships, fated fell. The field was slick with men's blood, from when the burning sun in the morning time, mighty star glided up overground, God's bright candle, the eternal Lord's, till the noble work sank to its setting, many a man lay wrecked by spears, northern warrior shot over shield. So Scots also were sated with war; West-Saxons went forth all the day long on the enemy's tracks, hewing the fleeing forces from behind with blades new-sharpened. No stroke did the Mercians refuse to pay in the hard hand-play to any who Anlaf over sea's swell in the ship's lap sought land, fated to fall; five lay dead on the field, young kings put to sleep with the sword; so also seven of Anlaf's eorls, and numberless slain among shipment and Scots....Nor was more slaughter on this island ever yet, so many folk felled, before this fight with sword's edge, as say the books, the old wise men, since from the east Angle and Saxon arrived together over broad sea seeking Britain, who overcame the Welsh, eager for glory, and gained a land.