The Battle of Selesat was a battle which was fought between the Northumbrian Danes and the Anglo-Saxons of Westmoringas near Ripon, North Yorkshire in 881 AD. The Danes crushed the Westmorlander army of Cyneweard, enabling the Northumbrians to conquer Westmoringas.
Background[]
Following the 878 Battle of Hripum, the Anglo-Saxon rump kingdom of Westmoringas required some time to rebuild its army, commanded by its new king, Cyneweard. King Guthred of Northymbre defeated two invasions of his territory by the Saxons of Northumbria in 879, but this gave time for the Westmorlanders to gather their strength. Cyneweard's army moved out from Otergimele (Southport) to invade Northymbre; while Prince Siefredus of Northumbria captured Otergimele in Cyneweard's absence, Cyneweard's army marched on the vulnerable Danish town of Hripum (Ripon), necessitating Guthred's march south from the recently-captured Saxon town of Hagustaldes (Hexham) to deal with the invaders. He intercepted the Westmorlanders at Selesat (Selside), just west of Ripon.
Battle[]
The Danish army positioned itself in a multi-front position, with the Danish right and left wings forming angles on the flanks of the main army. This enabled the Danes to outflank the attacking Westmorlanders, whose fyrd levies lacked combat experience. The experienced Vikings and their Saxon allies charged into battle, cutting the Westmorlanders to ribbons. The numerically-superior Westmorlanders were able to inflict significant casualties on the Danes due to the bravery of King Cyneweard's bodyguards, but Cyneweard himself was surrounded and killed alongside most of his bodyguards. His general Chad escaped with the remnants of his army, continuing to pose a threat to the Danes as the Danes attempted to conquer Westmoringas and acquire land along the Irish Sea coast.