Battle of Maserfield

52°51′36″N 3°03′14″W / 52.860°N 3.054°W / 52.860; -3.054

Battle of Maserfield
A twelfth-century painting of St Oswald, killed at Maserfield, in Durham Cathedral
Date 5 August 641 or 642 Location Oswestry Result Mercian-Brittonic victory
Belligerents
Kingdom of Mercia Kingdom of Gwynedd Kingdom of Powys	Kingdom of Northumbria
Commanders and leaders
King Penda King Eowa † Prince Cynddylan	King Oswald †
Strength
2,000 Mercian forces 1,200 Powysian forces	1,000
Casualties and losses
100 Mercians killed 600 Powysian fighters killed	Heavy, 800 killed

The Battle of Maserfield, a corruption of the Welsh Maes Elferth (Elferth's field, also Welsh: Cad Maes Cogwy) was fought on 5 August 641 or 642 (642 according to Ward^[1]) between the Anglo-Saxon kings Oswald of Northumbria and Penda of Mercia allied with Welsh Kingdom of Gwynedd, ending in Oswald's defeat, death, and dismemberment. The location was also known as Cogwy in Welsh, with Welshmen from Pengwern participating in the battle (according to the probably ninth-century Canu Heledd), probably as allies of the Mercians. Bede reports the commonly accepted date given above; the Welsh Annales Cambriae is generally considered incorrect in giving the year of the battle as 644. The site of the battle is traditionally identified with Oswestry.