List of Anglo-Welsh wars


This is an incomplete list of the wars and battles between the Anglo-Saxons who later formed into the Kingdom of England and the Britons, as well as the conflicts between the English and Welsh in subsequent centuries. The list begins after the Adventus Saxonum in c. AD 446 to the late Middle Ages when England annexed the whole of Wales in 1535. The list is not exhaustive but seeks to note the significant campaigns and the major battles.

5th century

Germanic tribes who colonized parts of the eastern and southern coasts of Britannia attacked the Britons, whom the Anglo-Saxons dubbed Wīelisċ, in a series of immigrations and coordinated uprisings. Additional reinforcements from Old Saxony, Angeln, Flanders and Jutland make landings and mostly through treaty occupy large areas of eastern and south eastern Britain.
  • The Germanic people settled on the eastern "Saxon Shore" of Britain rise in a revolt led by Hengest and his sons against their Romano British masters.
  • Battle of Aylesford – Anglo-Saxons led by Hengest defeat the Britons led by Vortimer in Battle of Aylesford, Kent.
  • Battle of Crayford – Anglo-Saxons led again by Hengest perhaps defeat the Britons led by Vortimer in battle. The Britons are allegedly driven from which is afterwards ruled by Hengist and his son Æsc and their descendants.
  • Battle of Wippedesfleot – Britons defeat the Anglo-Saxons in battle in Kent and confine them to the Isle of Thanet.
  • The Anglo-Saxons move westwards and regain their ground in Kent.
  • Battle of Cymensora – Anglo-Saxons led by Ælle defeat the Cantii close to Selsey.
  • Siege of Anderida – Anglo-Saxons led by Ælle capture the Castle of Anderida from the Britons and slaughter all men, women and children therein. Ælle establishes the Kingdom of the South Saxons.
  • Cerdic reputedly defeats the Britons in battle close to modern day Bournemouth and establishes kingdom of the West Saxons.

    Arthurian Battles listed in the [Historia Brittonum].

  • Battle on the River Glein – Arthur, general of the British forces, and the British kings defeat the Anglo-Saxons.
  • Second, third and fourth battles of Arthur at the river Dubglas in Linnuis - thought to be the old Kingdom of Lindsey, where he led the Britons to victory over the Anglo-Saxons at each battle.
  • Battle at the river Bassas – Arthur defeats the Anglo-Saxons.
  • Battle in the Caledonian forest – Arthur defeats the Anglo-Saxons somewhere in the Caledonian forest in Scotland.
  • Battle of the fort of Guinnion – Arthur defeats the Anglo-Saxons.
  • Battle of "City of the Legion" – Arthur defeats the Anglo-Saxons, which is thought to probably be Caerleon or Chester, both known anciently as "city of the legion".
  • Battle of the river shore of Tribruit – Arthur defeats the Anglo-Saxons.
  • Battle of the hill of Breguoin – Arthur defeats the Anglo-Saxons at what is believed to be the old Roman fortress of Bremenium in Rochester, Northumberland.
  • Battle of Mons Badonicus – The Anglo-Saxons are soundly defeated by the Britons. This defeat allegedly ends the Saxon attacks for decades.

    6th century

Pagan Anglo-Saxon tribes conquer southern Britain capturing London, Colchester, Silchester, Chichester, Winchester, Grantchester, Leicester, Gloucester, Cirencester, Bath, York, Lincoln and Canterbury among other places. Later in the century Angles defeat the northern Britons and colonize the north eastern coast.
  • c.509 Battle of Natanleod – the West Saxons allegedly led by Cerdic defeat the Britons at Netley, Hampshire.
  • 519 Another supposed battle in which Cerdic is victorious. He establishes the Kingdom of Wessex at this point.
  • 527 Battle of Cerdicesleag – the West Saxons led by Cerdic and his son Cynric defeat the Britons.
  • 530 The Britons of the Isle of Wight are overrun by the Anglo-Saxons.
  • 547 the Northern Angles led by Ida the Flamebearer capture the fortress of Din Guyaroi from the Britons of the Kingdom of Bryneich.
  • c.550 Presumed date for the fall of Londinium and Camulodunum to the East Saxons.
  • 575 a northern alliance of the Britons led by King Urien of Rheged defeat the Angles of Bernicia and besiege them on Ynys Metcaut for three days.
  • 577 Battle of Deorham where the West Saxons and their allies captured the British fortress at Hinton Hill near Dyrham in modern Gloucestershire. The British of the Severn Valley attempted to retake this strategic location but were defeated with three of their kings killed in the fighting, according to Later accounts by Saxon monks. The West Saxons went on to capture Gloucester, Cirencester and Bath thus separating the Britons of the South West Peninsula from the Britons of modern Wales.
  • 580 Battle of Ebrauc where the Angles of Bernicia capture the city of Ebrauc.
  • 584 Battle of Tintern where the armies of the Kingdom of Gwent, led by Tewdrig and his son Meurig defeated the English and forced them to retreat from the Gloucester area. Tewdrig was mortally wounded and died three days after the battle.
  • 590 the northern alliance of the Britons is defeated following the assassination of their leader and divisions between the former allies.
  • 598 Battle of Catraeth – the northern Angles led by Æthelfrith defeat the forces of the Britons of Gododdin and Bryneich.

    7th century

The Anglo-Saxons consolidate their hold on southern and eastern Britain. The Mercian Angles made substantial gains in central Britain. Cambria is cut off from the Britons of the north west and the south west. The Anglo-Saxons convert to Christianity by the middle of the century. The last serious attempts by the Britons to reclaim Britain fail.
  • 614 Battle of Beandun – The West Saxons led by Cynegils defeat the West Britons, possibly led by Tewdwr ap Peredur, at Badbury Rings, Dorset. In what is speculated to have been a siege over two thousand British warriors died following the capture of the fort, according to later Saxon accounts. After this battle it is possible Dorset was annexed by Wessex.
  • 616 Battle of Chester – the Northern Angles of Northumbria led by Aethelfrith of Northumbria defeat an alliance of Powys and Gwynedd and capture the city of Chester.
  • 619 The united Northumbrian Angles led by Edwin of Northumbria invade and conquer Elmet, a British territory close to modern Leeds. The Kingdom of Elmet is occupied and its last ruler, Ceretic, is driven into exile in Powys where soon after he dies.
  • 629 The Northumbrians invade Gwynedd and drive Cadwallon ap Cadfan into exile.
  • 630 The Battle of Pont y Saeson Tewdrig King of Gwent together with Meurig, slaughtered the invading Saxons
  • 630 "The Battle of Cefn Digoll, also known as the Battle of the Long Mynd was a battle fought in 630 at Long Mountain near Welshpool, won by the British.
  • 633 Battle of Hatfield Chase near Doncaster. The battle was fought between the Northumbrian army of King Edwin and an alliance between King Cadwallon of Gwynedd and Penda of Mercia. The battle ended in the death of Edwin and drove the Northumbrian invaders out of Gwynedd, and preceded a British campaign into Northumbria. Cadwallon occupies Northumbria, capturing York and killing many members of the Northumbrian dynasty that invaded Gwynedd.
  • 634 Battle of Heavenfield near Hadrian's Wall where Cadwallon is defeated and killed by the Northumbrians led by Oswald of Northumbria. The British are driven from Northumbria ending the campaign to reclaim the North.
  • 638 The Britons of Gododdin modern day Edinburgh area are defeated at Catterick, North Yorkshire|.
  • 642 Battle of Maes Cogwy near Oswestry where the British alongside their Mercian allies were defeated by the Northumbrians.
  • 650 Battle of Bradford on Avon, a West Saxon victory against the West British.
  • 655 Battle of the Winwaed in which King Oswiu of Bernicia defeated and killed King Penda of Mercia. King Cadafael ap Cynfeddw of Gwynedd was allied with Penda but stayed out of the battle.
  • 658 The small British kingdom of Pengwern in modern Shropshire was overrun and annexed by Mercia.
  • 658 Battle of Peonnum in Somerset where an allied force of the West British and Cadwaladr of Gwynedd are defeated. The West Saxons move to occupy western Somerset.
  • 665 The alleged Second Battle of Badon which was allegedly a West Saxon victory against the Kingdom of Gwent and her allies.
  • 670 The West Saxons led by Cenwealh capture central Somerset and establish the religious centre at Glastonbury.
  • 682 the West Saxons led by Centwine move westwards and defeat the West British somewhere near the River Parrett, allegedly driving them "to the sea".
  • c.685 The Brut y Tywysogion records a British victory in the south west with naval support, including allies from the Kingdom of Brittany that forces the West Saxons back from some of their gains.

    8th century

The British territories in the south west defend themselves and push the English back. The borders of modern Wales are broadly defined as Mercian expansion grinds to a halt.
  • 710 after defeating the West British of Devon, led by Geraint of Dumnonia, and capturing the stronghold at Norton Fitzwarren, Ine of Wessex builds a fortress at Taunton to defend "his" lands. In the course of the battle King Geraint is slain.
  • c.720 Battle of Hehil, in Dumnonia where the Cornish British with support from Rhodri Molwynog are victorious against Wessex bringing freedom from attack to the Cornish for almost a century. The Brut records another battle won honorably in the same war between Rhodri and the Saxons.
  • c.720 The Battle of Pencoed in Morgannwg, the Battle of Garth Maelog, and "another battle in Gwynedd" are cited by the Brut as British victories, although explicitly separated from the war against the Saxons the same year.
  • 722 Ine of Wessex advances as far as the River Tamar but is defeated and withdraws. The West Saxon fortress at Taunton is destroyed.
  • 728 Battle of Carno Mountain in Gwent where the British drove the Anglo-Saxons back to the River Usk where many were drowned.
  • 733 Battle of Devawdan, another British victory.
  • 735 First Battle of Hereford where the British are victorious after a long and bloody fight.
  • 743 an allied army of Mercians and West Saxons fight the British. Possible construction of Wat's Dyke.
  • 752 where Eadberht of Northumbria invades the Kingdom of Strathclyde and conquered the territory of Kyle.
  • 753 the West Saxons led by Cuthred fight the British of Cornwall. The result is not known but the Cornish preserve their independence, so a Cornish British victory seems likely.
  • 755 the westward expansion of Wessex resumes. Over the next thirty or so years eastern and northern Devon is controlled by Wessex.
  • 756 the Northumbrians led by Eadbert in alliance with the Picts invade the northern British Kingdom of Strathclyde and defeat their king Dumnagual who is forced to submit thus becoming, for a while, a vassal of Northumbria. A second battle at Hereford is recorded as another British victory in the Brut y Tywysogion.
  • 765 where the British invade Mercia and cause much devastation.
  • 769 Mercians campaign in Wales.
  • 760 Battle of Hereford is recorded as a British victory against the Mercians led by Offa of Mercia. The British were probably led by Elisedd ap Gwylog of Powys and his son Brochfael ap Elisedd.
  • 780 the construction of Offa's Dyke begins. It appears this frontier ditch delineated an agreed frontier between Powys and Mercia.
  • 784 it is presumed that Exeter was captured by Cynewulf of Wessex following a siege. The British invade Mercia again causing havoc.
  • 798 the Mercians led by Coenwulf of Mercia invade Wales but later retreated, even though his forces killed the Welsh King Caradog ap Meirion.