Battle of Catraeth
The Battle of Catraeth is a notable historical conflict primarily referenced in the 6th-century poem "Y Gododdin," attributed to the poet Aneirin. The battle's exact date and location remain uncertain, but it is believed to have occurred at the site of the Roman fort at Catterick, near the river crossing of the Swale. It was initiated by Mynyddog, a leader from the Gododdin kingdom, who assembled a coalition army commanded by Cynan of Din Eidyn and Gorthyn from Gwynedd. The British forces, described in the poem as only 300 men, are thought to have been closer to 1,000, while the Anglian army reportedly numbered between 5,000 to 10,000. Despite a strategic dawn attack from the British cavalry, they were ultimately overwhelmed by the larger Anglian force. The aftermath of the battle was significant, marking the last major resistance of the British against the Angles in northern Britain, and it paved the way for the expansion of Æthelfrith of Bernicia's power, leading to the formation of the kingdom of Northumbria. The event is characterized by its dramatic portrayal of loss and the decline of British power in the region.
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Battle of Catraeth
Type of action: Ground battle in defense of Britain
Date: c. 595/598
Location: Probably Catterick in North Yorkshire, England
Combatants: British vs. Angles
Principal commanders:British, Cynan and Gorthyn; Anglian, Æthelfrith of Bernicia (c. 568-616)
Result: Total defeat for the British
The poemY Gododdin (The Gododdin) by Aneirin is the only source for details about this battle. Its precise date and location are uncertain, although the Roman fort at Catterick and the nearby river crossing of the Swale are generally accepted as the site of the conflict. The battle was instigated by the otherwise unchronicled Mynyddog of Gododdin, who raised a confederate army placed under the command of Cynan of Din Eidyn and Gorthyn, a prince of Gwynedd (Mynyddog being too old). The poem states a battle force of only 300 men faced an Anglian army of 100,000. Allowing for poetic license, the British force was probably less than 1,000 and the Angles possibly 5,000 or even 10,000. Despite a dawn attack by the British cavalry on two fronts, the British were overwhelmed by the Angles. Aneirin’s account of only one survivor may be exaggerated but demonstrates the extent of the annihilation.
Significance
The Battle of Catraeth was the last major stand by the British against the Angles in the north. It probably took place soon after the death of Aelle, king of Deira, and allowed Æthelfrith of Bernicia to expand his power base south into Deira. The remnant British kingdoms of Gododdin and Rheged also came under Æthelfrith’s sphere of control. Their defeat allowed him to dominate the north and subsequently to establish the kingdom of Northumbria.
Bibliography
Aneirin. The Gododdin. Edinburgh, Scotland: Edinburgh University Press, 1969.
Jarman, A. O. H. Aneirin: Y Gododdin. Llandysul: The Welsh Classic, 1988.
Sutcliffe, Rosemary. The Shining Company. London: The Bodley Head, 1990.