You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly. You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
alternatehistory.com
[1055] … Earl Ælfgar, son of Earl Leofric, was outlawed without any fault; and then he turned to Ireland, and there got himself a fleet, which was 18 ships apart from his own, and then turned to Wales to King Gruffydd with that troop; and he received him under his safe-conduct. And then they gathered a great army with the Irish men and with the Welsh race, and Earl Ralph gathered a great army against them at Hereford market-town, and they sought them out there; but before there was any spear thrown, the English people already fled, because they were on horse; and a great slaughter was made – about four hundred men, or five – and they none in return; and they then turned to the market-town and burned it down…
[FONT="]
Extract from the Abingdon (or C) version of what is known as The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles. The Worcester (or D) version has a similarly worded entry but with this difference:
… but there Earl Ralph came against him with a great raiding-army, and with a little struggle they were brought to flight, and many people killed in that flight … (emphasis added)
Both Chronicle entries were written up within a few years of the event. Some 50 years after the battle, John of Worcester wrote it up thus: [/FONT][FONT="]
Earl Ralph, the cowardly son of King Edward's sister, having assembled an army, fell in with the enemy two miles from the city of Hereford, on the ninth of the calends of November [24th October]. He ordered the English, contrary to their custom, to fight on horseback; but just as the engagement was about to commence, the earl, with his French and Normans, were the first to flee. The English seeing this, followed their leader's example, and nearly the whole of the enemy's army going in pursuit, four or five hundred of the fugitives were killed, and many were wounded.
Have I forgotten any sources for this battle?
Is anyone aware of something similar from elsewhere?
Do we take the chroniclers at their word? What the fuck really happened?
I have an idea (which I don’t think is ASB) but am curious as to how others interpret this battle. And no, this battle is not the POD for my forthcoming TL on 1066 and all that (yes,, a “Common and Overdone before 1900 What If?”) but there are implications.