

WAREHAM : ITS INVASIONS AND BATTLES. 91 



from two ships at Portsmouth, and possessed themselves of this 

 shore." The first battle in the immediate neighbourhood was 

 probably that recorded by Camden as having taken place at 

 Bindon, Saxon Beandun, "where Kinegils, A.D. 614, beat the 

 Britains in a battle, the success of which was long doubtful. In 

 the Saxon age Wareham was a noted town, and the importance of 

 this strong fortress of the West Saxons was recognised by friends 

 and foes. But her season of prosperity was brief, for Wareham 

 was continually harassed and assaulted by the Danes. In the 

 year 789 the Danes, according to Hutchins, first invaded this 

 kingdom, landing at Portland, but Matthew of "Westminster puts 

 this event A.D. 791." The next invasion of importance was A.D. 

 833, at Charinouth. According to Matthew of Westminster, King 

 Egbert marched against the invaders with the whole force of the 

 county, and amongst those slain were Dudda and Osmond, two 

 earls, and the Bishops of Winton and Sherburn. Following this 

 there were repeated attacks, and ^Ethelhelm, who is described by 

 Hume as the governor of Dorsetshire, and to whom Hutchins says 

 the county gave the title of earl, was assiduous in his endeavours to 

 prevent their landing. Notwithstanding, in the year 840, Dorset 

 was again invaded, and, the county being aroused, King Ethelwolph 

 himself led his troops to the attack, but after a bloody and obstinate 

 engagement the Danes were victorious. The battle axes and spears 

 of the Saxons resisted the encroachments of the Danes till the 

 unfurling of the standard had lost its charm and the call to arms 

 was unrecognised. Here we see a reason for the little opposition 

 offered at the Danish invasion of Wareham. " Thus it came to 

 pass," writes Collier, " that when Guthrum, a Danish chief, made 

 a descent upon Wareham, in Dorsetshire, only a few dispirited men 

 could be gathered round the banner of the Golden Dragon. To 

 fight was useless or impossible f consequently the enemy obtained 

 a complete victory. The Saxon Chronicler states that in the year 

 875 " three kings, Guthrum and Oskytel, and Anwind, went with 

 a large army from Repton to Cambridge, and sat down there one 

 year." The following year, 876, the army stole away to Wareham, 



