Leofwin2010's video: Battle of Maldon

A Viking Army under Olaf Trygvasson had been raiding the eastern and southern coast of England in the summer of 991AD unmolested until Byrhtnoth, with the men of Essex, cornered it on Northey Island, near Maldon in August. The two armies faced each other across a narrow stretch of water, until, with the receding tide, Byrhtnoth invited the Vikings across to the mainland to do battle. Byrhtnoth was killed, the English were defeated, and the Vikings began their infamous practice of demanding protection money, or 'Danegeld'. Byrhtnoth's bodyguard, however, stood fast among the wreckage of the army, and died to a man defending their fallen leader. A poem was composed very shortly afterwards commemorating the heroic defeat, and the extract recited in the video evokes Byrhtnoth's response to the Vikings' demand for money. It was filmed at the causeway where the Vikings crossed to the mainland in 991