A long-lost battlefield where Anglo-Saxon forces delivered a devastating defeat to a Viking army could finally have been found.
Researchers believe Castle Hill, a former Iron Age hillfort near Beaford in North Devon, matches ancient descriptions of the legendary Battle of Cynuit, fought in 878.
The clash came at a pivotal moment in English history, when Alfred the Great’s kingdom of Wessex was on the brink of being overwhelmed by the Vikings.
More than 800 Viking Northmen are said to have been killed in the battle, while another account puts the death toll at around 1,200.
The site – which features a large mound – could also be where the ashes of notorious Viking leader Ubbe Ragnarsson were buried.
Historian Paul Harper, who has written a new book detailing the findings, said: ‘People have been searching for the battle site in Devon for centuries but Castle Hill has the most compelling claims and could finally solve this age–old mystery.
‘It is fascinating that this infamous Viking Ubbe probably met his demise in this quiet corner of Devon.
‘What is a very remote and rural part of Britain once played centre stage to a battle that had huge ramifications for the future of the island.’
A drone view of Castle Hill, which experts now believe was where Anglo–Saxon forces delivered a devastating defeat to a Viking army in 878
Castle Hill appears to fit the description remarkably closely, with ancient earth and stone ramparts and no obvious water source within the fort itself
Mr Harper’s book showcases research by Nick Arnold, who identified Castle Hill as the most likely location after examining historic records, maps and ancient forts across Devon and Dartmoor.
The site appears to fit descriptions written by Alfred’s biographer Asser, who said the battlefield was in Devon, had no nearby water supply and was particularly vulnerable from the east.
A later chronicler, Geoffrey Gaimar, described the location as ‘Penwood’ – a name meaning a headland next to woods.
Castle Hill fits the description remarkably closely, with ancient earth and stone ramparts and no obvious water source within the fort itself.
Crucially, an ancient trackway is also believed to have passed directly beside the hillfort, linking Bideford and Exeter along a route now largely followed by the A3124.
Such roads would have been vital for medieval armies moving through the region.
‘This study demonstrated that Castle Hill is the only location in Devon that fits the description of a headland fort with comparatively weak defences, secure from all directions except the east,’ Mr Arnold said.
But perhaps the most tantalising clue lies just a short distance from the fort – a huge mound measuring around 39ft (12m) across and more than 8ft (2.5m) high.
The site – which features a large mound (pictured) – could also be where the ashes of notorious Viking leader Ubbe Ragnarsson were buried
Ubbe was one of the sons of the legendary Ragnar Lothbrok, whose supposed death in a snake pit inspired the TV series Vikings. Pictured: Jordan Patrick Smith playing Ubbe in the hit series
Who was Ubbe Ragnarsson?
- Ubbe Ragnarsson was a Viking warlord who led the Great Heathen Army, the huge Viking force that invaded Anglo–Saxon England in 865
- According to Norse sagas, Ubbe was one of the sons of Ragnar Lothbrok, the legendary Viking warrior whose exploits were popularised by the TV series Vikings
- Geoffrey Gaimar, a 12th century Anglo-Norman historian, claimed a Viking leader named Ubbe was killed at the battle of Cynuit and was buried by followers underneath a huge mound after his death
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Nineteenth-century maps describe the mound as a ‘tumulus’, while geophysical surveys suggest it contains a pile of stones sitting on top of a rocky outcrop.
The experts believe this could be the final resting place of Ubbe Ragnarsson, the feared Viking commander who is said to have been killed at Cynuit.
According to later medieval accounts, Ubbe’s surviving followers placed him beneath a huge burial mound after his death, naming it ‘Ubbelawe’ – meaning Ubba’s mound.
Ubbe was one of the sons of the legendary Ragnar Lothbrok, whose supposed death in a snake pit inspired the popular TV series Vikings.
While Ragnar himself is generally regarded as a legendary figure, Ubbe and his brothers, including Ivar the Boneless and Halfdan, are recorded as leaders of the Great Heathen Army which invaded England in 865.
The Vikings had already seized much of the country when they were confronted by forces loyal to Wessex at Cynuit.
According to the research, the Northmen may have sailed up the River Taw before targeting royal estates near Bishops Tawton, only to encounter Devon troops led by Odda, the region’s chief officer.
The Anglo-Saxon forces are thought to have launched a dawn attack on the Viking camp, killing hundreds and capturing their famous raven war banner.
The discovery has been published in Mr Harper’s book, Sons of Ragnar, which showcases research by historian Nick Arnold
Weeks later, Alfred emerged from hiding in the Somerset marshes and went on to defeat the Vikings at the Battle of Edington – a victory that helped shape the England we know today.
The discovery has been published in Mr Harper’s book, Sons of Ragnar.
‘If the Vikings had won at the Battle of Cynuit, King Alfred would have been dead in weeks,’ he said.
‘There would have been no fight–back and England would have become a patchwork of Danish states. Our language, culture and history would be drastically different.’
The Viking age in European history was from about 700 to 1100 AD.
During this period many Vikings left their homelands in Scandinavia and travelled by longboat to other countries, like Britain and Ireland.
When the people of Britain first saw the Viking longboats they came down to the shore to welcome them.
However, the Vikings fought the local people, stealing from churches and burning buildings to the ground.
The people of Britain called the invaders ‘Danes’, but they came from Norway and Sweden as well as Denmark.
The name ‘Viking’ comes from a language called ‘Old Norse’ and means ‘a pirate raid’.
The first Viking raid recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle was around 787 AD.
It was the start of a fierce struggle between the Anglo-Saxons and the Vikings.
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