User:Paddler22/sandbox

The article entitled The Battle of Maldon is quite good but could be improved. For example the title ‘The Battle of Maldon’ implies it was the only battle of Maldon, although that is not the case. For example on the second of June 2012 I led a party of Battlefield Trust members around one of the earlier battles of Maldon the 917 battle where the Vikings besieged the Maldon Burh. Incidentally the Maldon warriors held out until help arrived then left the Maldon Burh walls and killed hundreds of the besieging Vikings. (See the Anglo Saxon Chronicles.) Making the title ‘The 991 Battle of Maldon’ would add accuracy. Suggesting the poem description seems to match the Northey island causeway is valid. However this was only suggested in 1925. Before then it was believed to have been else ware and some locals still consider other sites more likely. 4 possible sites for the 991 battle have been suggested: 1/ Heybridge = At the Heybridge causeway near the Fullbridge. / Near the Hey Bridge near Heybridge church. / Near the Benbridge 2/ Langford = over the long ford 3/ the land opposite the Osea Island causeway 4/ the land opposite the ‘original’ Northey Island causeway After leading my tour of the 917 Battle of Maldon site I took the party round Heybridge one of the proposed 991 battle alternative sites. In the afternoon I jointly led a party around the site you describe including crossing the Northey island causeway. (With the kind permission of the National Trust.) This article also states unequivocally that the battle ended in an Anglo-Saxon defeat. But if this is true what did the Vikings win? As the Vikings had plundered several other towns in the south east I think it can be safely assumed this was their reason for attacking Maldon. When they left it is recoded they had barely enough men left to man their Longships. This indicates the Vikings had lost a substantial amount of their men. They had not taken Maldon or any plunder apart from the severed head of the Saxon leader. I would be interested in others opinions on my statements. Paddler22--Paddler22 (talk) 14:46, 3