Mons Bodonicus (Mount Badon)
King Arthur’s Greatest Victory
Aug 28, 2007 Joseph Allen McCullough
Who fought at Mons Bodonicus?
Mons Bodonicus (or Mount Badon) was one of the most important battles between the Romano-British, the name given to the Romanized Celts of Britain, and the Germanic Invaders. The Romano-British were led by Arthur (though there is no evidence that he was a king), and their forces probably consisted predominately of cavalry. The Saxons were certainly an infantry force, but their leader is unclear. The only Saxon mentioned by name as being at the battle is King Oesc of Kent. Some scholars have suggested that the Saxons were actually led by Allele of Sussex, a Saxon warlord who disappeared around this time, but there is no historical evidence to back theory. Several other minor Saxons kings may also have fought.
When was Mons Bodonicus Fought?
There is some debate about the exact date of the battle, but it probably occurred around the year AD 516.
Where was Mons Bodonicus?
This is completely unknown, though there are many guesses. One likely candidate is Liddington Castle near Swindon. However, many people argue that battle was fought on a hill near Bath.
What do we know about the fighting at Mons Bodonicus?
Most of the major chroniclers refer to the battle as a siege, thus it is safe to assume that one side was inside some kind of fortification. However, nowhere is it stated who besieged whom. It seems likely that the Saxons besieged the Romano-British, as most of the evidence points to a Saxon invasion. Also, Arthur’s main advantage was probably cavalry, and cavalry is useless in a siege. The battle is said to have lasted three days.
Who won the battle of Mons Bodonicus?
The one thing that is definitely known about the battle is that it was a major Romano-British victory. In fact, so devastating was the loss to the Saxons that it ended their offensive operations for a generation. The chronicler Nennius claims that over 900 Saxons were killed in the fighting.
What are the major sources for the battle of Mons Bodonicus?
The battle is first mentioned in passing by the chronicler Gildas, though he gives few details about it. The battle is also listed in Annales Cambriae (Annals of Wales). The later chronicler Nennius gives us a few more details concerning this and the other battles of Arthur.
There are also a few Welsh tales that mention the battle, though it is now impossible to separate the fact from the fiction in these.
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