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2. The Battle of Maldon, 991 AD
 In the second week in August, after a profitable descent on Ipswich, 40 miles to the north-east (see map, Appendix), they entered the Blackwater estuary, and occupied Northey Island to the east of Maldon (then called Maeldun, meaning "Hill with a Cross"). For access to the mainland they depended then, as today, on a single causeway, flooded at high tide (see photo, Appendix), which led from Northey to the flats along the southern margin of the estuary.
Before the Vikings had left their camp on the island, Byrhtnoth, with his retainers and a hastily assembled force of local militia, had taken possession of the landward end of the causeway. The Vikings, as was their way, shouted across the water while the tide was high their demands for gold and silver tribute in exchange for their leaving. However, Byrhtnoth refused and drew up his men along the bank and waited, as then did the Vikings, for the ebb tide.
As the water fell the raiders began to stream out along the causeway (see photo, Appendix). But three of Byrhtnoth's retainers, tough and hardened fighting men, held it against them, and at last they asked to be allowed to cross unhindered and fight on equal terms on the mainland.
Now even at low tide, the causeway is no more than a few feet wide at best, and both to the left and right is the black sticky ooze of the Essex salt marshes - I know, I've stood at the very spot! A man weighed down with arms and thick mud would be no match for those waiting on dry land. It was a virtually unassailable position, yet with what even those who admired him most called over-courage, Byrhtnoth agreed to their request: the pirates rushed through the falling tide, and battle was joined.
Suffice to say it was a fearsome fight with no quarter asked or given on either side. The English were well aware of the ferocity of the Vikings who in their turn knew that there could be no surrender so far from home. The issue was decided when Byrhtnoth himself was slain.
Many, even of his own men, immediately took flight and the English ranks were broken. What gives enduring interest to the battle is the superb courage with which a group of Byrhtnoth's thegns (his personal military entourage), knowing that the fight was lost, deliberately gave themselves to death in order that they might avenge their lord. A plaque has been erected at the spot to mark the site (see photo, Appendix).
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