The Saxons are defeated by the Danes in the Battle of Assandun.

The Battle of Assandun was fought on 18 October 1016. There is dispute over whether Assandun may actually be Ashdon near Saffron Walden in north Essex, or the long-supposed Ashingdon near Rochford in southeast Essex, England. It was a victory for the Danes, led by Canute the Great, who triumphed over the English army led by King Edmund II. The battle was the conclusion to the Danish reconquest of England.

King Canute was accustomed to building a church, chapel or holy site after winning a battle to commemorate the soldiers who died in battle. A few years later saw the completion of construction in 1020 of the memorial church known as Ashingdon Minster, located on the hill next to the presumed site of the Battle in Ashingdon. The church still stands to this day. King Canute attended the dedication of Ashingdon Minster with his bishops and he appointed his personal priest Stigand to be the priest there. The church is now dedicated to Saint Andrew, but it is believed that it was dedicated earlier to Saint Michael who was considered to be a military saint and churches dedicated to him are frequently located on a hill.