text: The Battle of Marton or Meretum took place on the 22nd March 871 in Marton, Wiltshire after Æthelred of Wessex, forced (along with his brother Alfred) into flight following their defeat by an army of Danish invaders at the Battle of Ashdown, had retreated to Basing (in Hampshire), where he was again defeated by the forces of Ivar the Boneless.