TQ 74 68 (LO). The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle for AD 885/886 states: 'In this year the aforesaid army divided in two, one part going east, the other part to Rochester, where they beseiged the city and made other fortifications round themselves. And nevertheless the English defended the city until King Alfred came up with his army. Then the enemy went to their ships and abandoned their fortification'.
There is no trace of the Viking camp mentioned in the account. (1-3)

‘885 (886 C) In this year the aforesaid army divided into two [one part going east], the other part to Rochester, where they besieged the city and made other fortifications round themselves. And nevertheless the English defended the city until King Alfred came up with his army’. (4)

An army of Viking warriors descended upon Rochester in 885. The main Viking army divided into two; one group went east to Louvain and the others chose to go back across the English Channel. They entered at Medway and attacked Rochester however due to the resistance of the citizens they were unable to take the town. The Vikings then encamped opposite the entrance to the town and constructed ramparts and ditches to fortify their position. King Alfred reacted to the threat by gathering a large force from Wessex and marching east. The Vikings were caught by surprise at the speed of Alfred’s approach and he proceeded to seize their fortifications and capture some of their horses and prisoners. Some of the Vikings retreated back to their ships and sailed for Francia and some stayed behind and came to terms with Alfred. However as during previous situations the Vikings failed to adhere to oaths and twice that year raided the region bordering the southern banks of the Thames. (5)

In the year 884 an army of Vikings divided into two parts; one group went to east France and the other went to Kent where they besieged a city called Rochester which is situated on the banks of the river Medway. The pagans constructed a strong fortress before the gate of the town but they were unable to take it as the citizens had defended it bravely. King Alfred came to help them and brought a large army. The pagans abandoned their fortress and many of their horses which they had brought with them from France and fled to their ships. The Saxons seized any prisoners or horses that were left behind and the pagans returned to France. (6)

‘The Siege of Rochester 884’. Rochester was besieged in 884 by an army of Danes and protected themselves from a relieving force by building an outer work. However the city held out and King Alfred arrived in 885 and was able to drive the Danes away to their ships. (7)

The precise location of the Siege of Rochester is unknown and the National Grid Reference given here (TQ74247 68501) is an approximation based on the location of the old town, cathedral and the original defence walls.

<1> Struth, P MAR-94 RCHME Field Investigation (OS Card Reference). SKE49693.

<2> edited by Dorothy Whitelock, 1979, English historical documents: 1, c 500-1042, 1979, Page Nos. 197 (Bibliographic reference). SKE6380.

<3> RCHME: Anglo Saxon Monasteries in Kent, Essex and Greater London (Collection). SKE6500.

<4> Various, c. 890, The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (Bibliographic reference). SKE56181.

<5> Abels, R, 1998, Alfred the Great: War, Kingship and Culture in Anglo-Saxon England (Bibliographic reference). SKE56182.

<6> Higginbotham, Peter., 2013, The Life of King Alfred, <http://omacl.org/KingAlfred/part2.html> {Accessed 23-AUG-2013] (Website). SKE56183.

<7> Rayner M, 2004, English Battlefields: 500 Battlefields that Shaped English History (Bibliographic reference). SKE56184.