battle fought alliance king dublin constantine king scotland following large scale invasion scotland possibly launched peace treaty violation constantine apparent defeated allied force enemies led constantine owen alliance august army crossed join forces constantine owen invaders routed subsequent battle poem recounted people killed sword edge east angles came broad sea victory prevented dissolution england unity historian writing said fields britain consolidated peace abundance things battle called greatest single battle anglo saxon history hastings site battle unknown scholars proposed possible locations background defeated york king constantine scotland king king owen morgan accepted near peace invaded scotland large force ground naval motivation invasion uncertain john worcester stated cause constantine violation peace treaty evidently travelled army harassed scots navy force engaged following invasion scotland apparent defeated allied force enemies leader alliance king dublin members king scotland according john worcester constantine father law enemies living memory historian points agreed set aside political cultural historical religious differences order achieve common purpose destroy august crossed army join forces constantine owen opinion suggests battle occurred early october year according invading armies raided obtained saxon troops travelled north meet notes source mentions intrusion john worcester wrote invaders entered chronicle writer mention lack sources supporting claim issues argues john statement true according durham ships number likely exaggerated invading armies entered england waves constantine owen coming north possibly engaging skirmishes forces followed roman road lancashire plains manchester forces joining way possible speculates battle site chosen agreement fight victor went england battle surviving documents mention battle include accounts writings anglo norman historian william annals saga mercenary served trusted warrior battle appears forms early sources chronicle john worcester accounts derived accounts derived william accounts derived scottish traditions traditions annals saga main source information battle praise poem travelling north brother combined saxon army met invading armies attacked battle lasted day fought invaders finally forced break flee probably prolonged period hard fighting invaders finally defeated according poem split shield wall battle shields remnants lay warrior spears destroyed northern men shot shield likewise scottish weary war wood states large battles described manner description poem unique invaders attempted refuge trenches fortified timber overran army pursued invaders end day great numbers enemy troops poem states pursued hostile people ing fugitive swords sharp grinding fled sailed dublin remnants army constantine escaped scotland owen fate mentioned poem states nailed ships sought dublin deep water leaving mere return ireland ashamed spirit contrast poem records returned stating brothers king prince sought home land battle universally agreed scholars invaders routed according chronicle countless army died battle people killed sword edge east angles came broad sea annals describe battle great horrible record thousands fell casualties kings seven army poem records constantine lost friends family members battle including son largest list killed battle contained annals names kings princes large number died battle including cousins aftermath decisive victory prevented dissolution england unity foot writes importance victory difficult wrote battle moment came age significant battles long history england british isles battle called greatest single battle anglo saxon history hastings states consequences reign describes victory campaign ended stalemate power appears declined died resistance england unified time died norse lost remaining territory york died writing late said battle called great battle common people fields britain consolidated peace abundance things location location battle unknown according case location wide support current historians charters suggest town originally named mean fort essay place debate listed steps transition occurred evidence suggests scandinavian settlements area starting late town situated near commonly route sailing ireland additionally chronicle states invaders escaped interpreted mere thing word thing reference assembly old english mere refers body water specific type body varies depending context cases refers wetland large wetland present area article propose reference wetland near viking thing describes battle taking place numerous locations near proposed including parish sites suggested historian identified thirty possibilities published article suggesting yorkshire location durham argues southern scotland locations southern scotland northern england battle site given logistical capacity kingdoms possibilities include south yorkshire civil parish recorded book likely roman fort situated near place great north road street met road site overlooked hill called bar past flows suggested site noting similarity south yorkshire suggests near possible site battle notes hill nearby white hill observes surrounding landscape similar description battlefield contained ancient roman temple white hill wood states durham place battle means hill pagan roman sanctuary temple according wood believed piece evidence help finding location battle roman fort nearby means fortified place old english wood suggests fort according original form fit variants master published paper suggesting battle occurred noting town stands work subsequently referenced expanded number local authors situated near southern scotland hill metres tall site roman military camps fortifications initially suggested site battle leading theory early 1900s having obtained support historians argues different forms authors naming battle site associate hill fortifications poem means fortified place durham names means hill states related alternative battle site county durham argued roman fort point road known street crossed river
Battle of Brunanburh