The Battle of Merton was fought on 22 March 871 amid the Viking invasions of England. The battle, which occurred shortly after the Danish victory at the Battle of Basing, was another Viking victory, and King Aethelred of Wessex was mortally wounded at Merton and died of his wounds a week after Easter; his brother Alfred Aetheling became the new King.
History[]
Two months after the West Saxon army was routed by the Danish Vikings at the Battle of Basing, King Halfdan Whiteshirt of Jorvik pressed the advantage and continued his advance on the West Saxon capital of Winchester. The armies of Wessex and Jorvik met in battle at ancient Merdon Castle near Winchester, with King Aethelred of Wessex commanding the Saxon army and Halfdan commanding the Danish army.
The Danish army was split in half, and a West Saxon attack nearly routed the divided Danes. However, the Danes held their ground against the pursuing West Saxons, and King Aethelred was mortally wounded in the ensuing action. After great slaughter, the Danes won the field, and King Aethelred died a week after Easter the next April. His younger brother Alfred went on to become King "Alfred the Great", who would turn the tide of the war with his victory over the Danes at the Battle of Edington in 878.