Atlas of Battles

battle, notable, medieval

Battle of Reading

Battle of Reading was a battle fought on 8 January AD 871 at Reading, in what is now United Kingdom. It was part of human history. The recorded result: Viking victory.

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Battle of Reading
Wikimedia Commons, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Fought8 January AD 871
WhereReading, United Kingdom51.460N, 0.960W
OutcomeViking victory
BelligerentsWest SaxonsagainstDanish Vikings
Part ofhuman historyViking activity in the British Isles

Where it sits in human history

First Viking attack on England, AD 780Battle of York, AD 867Battle of Englefield, AD 870Battle of Reading, AD 871Battle of Ashdown, AD 871Battle of Basing, AD 871Battle of Marton, AD 871Battle of Chippenham, AD 877Battle of Cynwit, AD 878Battle of Edington, AD 878Battle of Buttington, AD 893Battle of Stamford (894), AD 894Battle of Tettenhall, AD 910Battle of Tempsford, AD 917Battle of Derby, AD 917Battle of Corbridge, AD 918Battle of Stamford, AD 918Battle of Brunanburh, AD 937Battle of Stainmore, AD 954Battle of Maldon, AD 991Cnut the Great's invasion of England, 1016Battle of Brentford, 1016Battle of Sherston, 1016Battle of Assandun, 1016Battle of Fulford, 1066Battle of Stamford Bridge, 1066Battle of Danes Moor, 1469November 1932 Geneva shooting, 1932Battle of Geel, 19441983 Invasion of Grenada, 19831983 Grenada mental hospital bombing, 1983AD 7801983Battle of Reading, AD 871
31 placed engagements of human history in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

Date8 January AD 871
PlaceReading, United Kingdom
51.460N, 0.960W
KindBattle, medieval
Commanders
  • Bagsecg
  • Halfdan Ragnarsson
Battle of ReadingBattle of ReadingBattle of ReadingSiege of ReadingBattle of EnglefieldBattle of AshdownBattle of BasingBattle of AshdownBattle of BasingBirminghamCardiffBrightonPortsmouthLutonOxfordNorwichIpswich100 km51.460N, 0.960W
The recorded site, with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

Nearest engagements

Contested ground: this site was fought over 3 times between AD 871 and 1688.

In the same war

Elsewhere in AD 871

Battle of Reading is one of 193 engagements of the 9th century in the atlas and one of 753 in present-day United Kingdom.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q2065046, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Battle of Reading (871), revision 1370587314, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.