Fall of Dyflin

Fall of Dyflin
File:Dyflinvictory.jpg 'Aelle's bloody victory' Oil, 1851, C.L. Marten
Date 10th October - 19th December 1304AD Location Dyflin, Dyflin Canton Result Brytisc victory Union of the Crowns
Belligerents
Brytene	Template:Country data Dyflin
Commanders and leaders
King Aelle Ealdorman Katherine of Nortymba	Template:Country data Dyflin High King Ua Neill of Lodbrok
Strength
22,000	8,000
Casualties and losses
approx 1,200 killed or wounded	approx 5,600 killed
3,000 - 5,000 civilian casualties

The Fall of Dyflin refers to the three-month siege and eventual sack of the city of Dyflin by armies from the Kingdom of Brytene. The battle was a major event in the history of Brytene and led to the union of the two regions by marriage.

Background

Earlier in the year, the Vikingr of Dyflin had launched an assault against the northern Brytisc territory of Nortymba. Following a campaign of attrition, the Brytisc fyrd had gathered and delivered a crushing blow to the invading Vikings at the Black Pass, forcing them to retreat across the ocean to Dyflin.

Led by King Aelle, the surviving Brytisc nobles gathered and voted to take the fight to Dyflin. Supplies were gathered and at the end of summer, the armies crossed the water, landing on the shores of Dyflin on the 4th of October 1304.

The siege

Prelude

It took the Brytons nearly a week to make it through the swampy territory around the city of Dyflin. The city was surrounded by a low ring of thick stone walls, backed by a moat and outlying palisades. The Brytisc heavy cavalry quickly cleared away the light Viking horse and infantry left to hold the outer defenses, bottling up the Vikings in their capital city.

Unknown to them, High King Ua Neill had managed to gather more reinforcements, though many of the great lords and jarls of Dyflin had delayed assistance, believing him to be weak and vulnerable. When Brytisc heralds demanded the surrender of the city, the High King reportedly ordered his archers to shoot at them by way of response.

Initial assault

The first assault by the Brytisc forces was a failure. Advancing with battering rams and ladders, they were repelled by the Viking defenders and suffered roughly 400 losses, hampered by the onset of an early blizzard which reduced visibility and confused the attack.

Siege

With the weather turning inclement and the defenses proving formidable, the Brytisc decided to dig in and starve out the defenders. The large garrison meant that food supplies would be depleted much more quickly, and the Brytisc cavalry proved highly effective at hunting down and intercepting attempts to smuggle supplies into the city.

Both sides suffered from disease as the cold weather set in, but the Brytisc were able to replenish their supplies and reinforce their ranks, and their siege camp was both sprawling and well-irrigated, whereas the city quickly became riddled with illness.

By early December, many of the defenders were sick or dying, weak from the cold and from starvation. The Brytisc sent another emissary to offer a surrender, but the High King refused.

Final assault

Gathering their men again, the Brytisc nobles formulated a new plan of attack. Under cover of darkness, they would mount a feint against the main southern gate, whilst to the east they would send unarmoured men to swim into the harbour and undo the giant chain which was blocking entrance to the Brytisc fleet.

The plan worked, and the Brytisc fleet sailed directly into the harbour, landing hundreds of warriors behind the city walls. The defenses quickly crumbled and, frustrated by a long siege and heavy losses, the Brytisc warriors began looting the city.

High King Ua Neill led his personal retinue onto the streets in an attempt to stem the tide, but his unit was surrounded and destroyed. One contemporary witness, a soldier named Wiglaf of Dalton, states: ..and then the King himself did com upon the distresed Defleners and demand they lay down their armes. The High King of the Vikingr refused and swang hes axe, but it was shatterd by the sword of King Aelle, and he did cry out in dismae and ask for succour in that moment...

Aftermath

With the High King surrendered, the nobles of Dyflin began to fight with one another for supremacy, sensing a power vacuum. In response King Aelle offered his daughter, Brenna, to the High King in marriage, unifying the two thrones and giving the backing of Brytene to the continued reign of King Ua Neill.

Dyflin was established as a client kingdom of Brytene, and the monarchy of Dyflin was listed as a cadet branch of the monarchy of Brytene.

Today

Today, the rulers of Dyflin still sit on the Witenagmot council, and the current Jarl of Dyflin is Aoife Brighteye.

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