The Battle of Cruden Millennium Celebrations
A Viking parade to the harbour took place on 18 August 2012, followed by the burning of a replica longship.
Derek Thomson, the Harbour Master at Port Erroll Harbour spent many hours constructing the longship. adding many special touches. Everything was constructed from recycled materials and Derk designed and cu tout freehand the artwork for the magnificent head and the tail of the boat.
In the summer of 1012 Sweyn Haraldsson, the King of Denmark sent his 17 year old son Cnut, at the head of an army to reinforce a Viking settlement in the area. A bloody battle took place with the army of the Scots, led by King Malcolm II, with many deaths on both sides. This was th Battle of Cruden, sometimes called the Battle of Crochdane (the slaughter of the Danes). There were no real winners but Cnut withdrew and Malolm promised to bury the dead on both sides with dignity and to build a chapel on the battlefield in their memory. This was eventually done and the chapel was dedicated to St Olaf, the patron saint of both Denmark and Norway.
Read the account of the battle by Gerald Stranrear Mull
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