Battle of Scarborough (The Danish North Sea)

Battle of Scarborough
Part of Third Anglo-Danish War
Dannebrog falling from the sky during the Battle of Scarborough
Date 12-25 September 1216 Location Scarborough, Kingdom of England Result Danish victory
Belligerents
Denmark	Kingdom of England
Commanders and leaders
Valdemar II Christopher of Jutland	William Longespée  †
Strength
Estimated 15,000	21,000
Casualties and losses
Unknown

The Battle of Scarborough was a battle of the Third Anglo-Danish War. The battle was fought during September 1216, believed to have occurred from the 12th to the 25th of September.

At first, the English armies had the upper hand and came close to defeating the Danes. According to Danish legend, whenever Bishop Sunesen raised his arms the Danes surged forward and when his arms grew tired and he let them fall the Estonians turned the Danes back. Attendants rushed forward to raise his arms once again and the Danes surged forward again. At the height of the battle Bishop Sunsen prayed for a sign and it came in the form of a red cloth with a white cross which drifted down from the sky just as the Danes began to fall back. A voice was heard to say "When this banner is raised on high, you shall be victorious!" The Danes surged forward and won the battle.

Following the battle, Valdemar allowed his troops to rest and marched his army south the following week. The ailing King John prepared to march a counter-offensive, but he died of dysentery before fighting King Valdemar.