Battle of Hingston Down

The Battle of Hingston Down took place in 838, probably at Hingston Down in Cornwall between a combined force of Cornish and Vikings on the one side, and West Saxons led by Ecgberht, King of Wessex on the other.

[1] According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, which called the Cornish the West Welsh: Most historians of the period identify the site of the battle as Hingston Down north-east of Callington in Cornwall,[3] but others argue for Hingston Down near Moretonhampstead, Devon,[4][5][6] and Hingston Hill, near to Down Tor on Dartmoor[7] The British kingdom of Dumnonia, which covered Devon and Cornwall, survived into the early eighth century, when eastern Devon was conquered by Wessex.

Conflict continued throughout the 8th century with Wessex pushing further west.

In 815 King Egbert raided Cornwall 'from east to West' which, given later battles at Gafulford and Hingston Down probably indicates the conquest of the remaining parts of West Devon.

The last known king of Cornwall, Dungarth, died in 875, but he is thought to have been an under-king subject to Wessex.