Battle of Lüneburg Heath

The Battle of Lüneburg Heath (also called the Battle of Ebstorf) was a conflict between the army of King Louis III of France and the Norse Great Heathen Army fought on 2 February 880 AD, at Lüneburg Heath in today's Lower Saxony.

Following defeat by Alfred the Great at the Battle of Edington, the Norse Great Heathen Army moved from England to pillage the Duchy of Saxony. The army of Louis met the Norsemen at Lüneburg Heath. The Saxons were routed in a snowstorm, with the army being destroyed or captured.

Known combatants include Marquard of Hildesheim, Theodoric of Ninden, Lothar I, Count of Stade, an unidentified count named " Bardonum" and  Bruno, Duke of East Saxony  who according to the chronicles, Annales Fuldenses  and the Gesta Francorum drowned in a river during the Saxon retreat. Those killed were recognized by the Catholic Church as the Martyrs of Ebsdorf, who's feast day is 2 February.

The Norse army were subsequently defeated at the Battle of Thimeon latter that month and finally checked at the Battle of Saucourt.