The Battle of Mercredesburne was part of the Saxon conquest that established the Kingdom of Sussex, the first kingdom of the South Saxons.
Key Facts
- Year fought
- 485 CE
- Saxon leader
- Ælle
- Ships in Ælle's arrival
- 3 ships
- Series of battles
- One of three: Cymenshore (477), Mercredesburne (485), Pevensey (491)
- Kingdom founded
- Kingdom of Sussex
- Kingdom later annexed by
- Kingdom of Wessex, 9th century
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The Saxon leader Ælle arrived in Sussex with three ships and began a campaign to conquer the region from the local Britons. Following his earlier engagement at Cymenshore in 477 CE, Ælle continued his military advance into British-held territory, setting the stage for further confrontations along the southern English coast.
In 485 CE, Ælle's Saxon forces fought the local Britons at Mercredesburne, the second of three recorded battles in the conquest of what would become the Kingdom of Sussex. The battle is documented in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle as a key engagement in Ælle's ongoing campaign to establish Saxon dominance in southern England.
The series of battles culminating at Pevensey in 491 CE resulted in Ælle becoming the first king of the South Saxons and the establishment of the Kingdom of Sussex. The kingdom endured until the 9th century, when it was annexed by the Kingdom of Wessex and eventually became the county of Sussex in England.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Ælle.
Side B
1 belligerent