Burford, battle of

views updated

Burford, battle of, c.752. Æthelbald of Mercia was defeated by Cuthred of Wessex, enabling Wessex temporarily to extend its territories north of the Thames. Henry of Huntingdon gives a very detailed account, some of which may be authentic. On the evidence of place-names, Stenton denied that Beorhford could be Burford in Oxfordshire. Wessex's gains were wiped out by Offa's victory at Benson c.777.

J. A. Cannon