Earl Byrhtnoth and his thegns led the English against a Viking invasion .

A source from the 12th century , , written by the monks at Ely , suggests Convincing that Byrhtnoth had only a few men to command : `` he was neither shaken by the small number of his men , nor fearful of the multitude of the enemy '' .

The poem suggests Convincing that Byrhtnoth held Defending this latter attitude , hence his moving speeches of patriotism .

The Vikings sailed Motion up the Blackwater ( then called Name_conferral the Panta ) , and Byrhtnoth called out his levy .

Byrhtnoth replied Response , `` We will pay Commerce_pay you with spear tips and sword blades . ''

The Viking commander requested Request that Byrhtnoth allow Preventing_or_letting his troops onto the shore for formal battle .

Byrhtnoth , ( line 89b ) , let Preventing_or_letting the enemy force cross to the mainland .

Battle was joined Cause_to_amalgamate , but an Englishman called Godrīc fled Escaping riding Byrhtnoth 's horse .

Then many English fled Escaping , recognizing the horse and thinking that its rider was Byrhtnoth fleeing .

To add Cause_to_be_included insult to injury , it is stated Statement that Godric had often been given Giving horses by Byrhtnoth , a detail that , especially during the time period , would have had Godric marked Recording as a coward and a traitor , something that could have easily been described as worse than death .

The Vikings overcame the Saxons after losing Death many men , killing Killing Byrhtnoth .

After the battle Byrhtnoth 's body was found Know with its head missing , but his gold-hilted sword was still with his body .

One argument is that the poem was written to celebrate Social_event Byrhtnoth 's actions and goad others into heroic action , and Byrhtnoth 's action stands proudly in a long tradition of heroic literature .

One argument is that the poem was written to celebrate Social_event Byrhtnoth 's actions and goad others into heroic action , and Byrhtnoth 's action stands proudly in a long tradition of heroic literature .

There is a memorial window , representing Choosing Byrhtnoth 's dying Killing prayer Rite , in St Mary 's church at Maldon .

It is believed by many scholars that the poem , while based upon actual events and people , was created Causation to be less of a historical account and more of a means of enshrining and lifting Process_end up the memories of the men who fought and lost Death their lives on the battlefield protecting Defending their homeland , especially in the case of the English commander of the battle , Byrhtnoth .

He ( Byrhtnoth ) seems to embody many of the virtues that are uplifted in the Anglo-Saxon world , and is compared often by many scholars to the character Beowulf .

Therefore , if Byrhtnoth 's forces Causation had kept the Vikings off by guarding the causeway or by paying Commerce_pay them off , Olaf would likely have sailed farther up the river or along the coast , and raided Attack elsewhere .

As a man with troops and weapons , it might be that Byrhtnoth had to allow Preventing_or_letting the Vikings ashore to protect Preventing_or_letting others .