Most copies of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle record that Byrhtnoth was slain at Maldon and that tribute was paid to the Danes. Only the A manuscript of the Chronicle records the presence of Olaf Tryggvason, king of Norway, Anlaf in the Old English text. However the copyist of the A manuscript appears to have combined the events of 991 with those of 994, probably because he misread the Roman numeral 'iiii' as 'iii' (notice how the number of ships was affected).
AD 991. In this year Ipswich was plundered, and very soon after that Byrhtnoth was slain at Maldon,. And in that year it was first advised to pay tribute to the Danish men because of the great destruction they caused on the sea-coasts. That was at first ten thousand pounds, as advised by Archbishop Siric.
From the entry for AD 994. This year Anlaf and Swein came to London on the Nativity of St. Mary with ninety-four ships. They closely besieged the city and would fain have set it on fire; but they sustained more harm and evil than they ever supposed that any citizens could inflict on them. The holy mother of God on that day in her mercy considered the citizens, and ridded them of their enemies. Thence they advanced, and performed the greatest evil that ever any army could do, in burning and plundering and manslaughter, not only on the sea-coast in Essex, but in Kent and in Sussex and in Hampshire. Next they took horse and rode wherever they would and committed unspeakable evil. Then the king and his council resolve to send to them and offer them tribute and provision on condition that they desisted from plunder. They accepted terms, and the whole army came to Southampton and there fixed their winter quarters. There they were fed by all the subjects of the West-Saxon kingdom. And they gave them 16,000 pounds in money. Then the king sent for King Anlaf, Bishop Ælfeah, and ealdorman Æthelweard; and, hostages being left with the ships, they led Anlaf with great pomp to the king at Andover. And King Æthelred received him at the bishop's hands, and honoured him with royal presents. In return Anlaf promised, as he also performed, that he never again would come in a hostile manner to England.
The text for AD 993 from manuscript A:
AD 993. In this year Anlaf came with ninety-three to Folkstone and plundered the area and went thence to Sandwich, and then to Ipswich, which he laid waste; and so to Maldon. There ealdorman Byrhtnoth came against him with his force, and fought with him; and there they slew the ealdorman and gained the field of battle, whereupon peace was made with him [Anlaf]. And the king received him afterwards at bishop's hands by the advice of Siric, Bishop of Canterbury, and Ælfeah of Winchester. This year Bamburgh was destroyed, and much spoil was taken. Afterwards the army came to the mouth of the Humber; and there they did much evil both in Lindsey and in Northumbria.
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Last Updated on 30 January 2000.