Atlas of Battles

battle, notable, medieval

Battle of Cynwit

Battle of Cynwit was a battle fought in AD 878 at Countisbury, in what is now United Kingdom. It was part of Q1379246. The recorded result: West Saxon victory. Recorded strength: Unknown against 1,200.

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Map of earthworks at Cynwits Castle, Cannington, Somerset, England.
Map of earthworks at Cynwits Castle, Cannington, Somerset, England.. Editor - W.Page; Chapter on Ancient Earthworks - C.H.Bothamley, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
FoughtAD 878
WhereCountisbury, United Kingdom51.159N, 3.078W
OutcomeWest Saxon victory
BelligerentsWest SaxonsagainstVikings
Casualties and lossesFewand800
Part ofQ1379246

Where it sits in Q1379246

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 991Battle of Brentford, 1016Battle of Assandun, 1016Battle of Fulford, 1066Battle of Stamford Bridge, 1066Battle of Danes Moor, 1469AD 7801469Battle of Cynwit, AD 878
25 placed engagements of Q1379246 in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

DateAD 878 (year precision)
PlaceCountisbury, United Kingdom
51.159N, 3.078W
KindBattle, medieval
StrengthUnknown1,200
Casualties and lossesFew800
Commanders
  • Odda, Ealdorman of Devon
  • Ubba
Battle of CynwitBattle of CynwitBattle of SedgemoorSiege of BridgwaterSieges of TauntonBattle of LangportBattle of Marshall's ElmSieges of TauntonCardiffPortsmouthPlymouthOxfordExeterBathPenzanceReading100 km51.159N, 3.078W
The recorded site, with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

Nearest engagements

In the same war

Elsewhere in AD 878

Battle of Cynwit is one of 169 engagements of the 9th century in the atlas and one of 695 in present-day United Kingdom.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q573774, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Battle of Cynwit, revision 1370438030, 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.