The Second Battle of Yorktown is a decisive military engagement that is part of the Great Heathen Army's First Invasion. It depicts the confrontation between the Great Heathen Army and the Saxon forced led by King Æthelwulf and Bishop Heahmund. The event takes place in Season 5 Episode 5, The Prisoner.
Prelude
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The Battle
The Vikings, to the great surprise of the Saxons, had apparently left the town of York and marched back to their ships. Bishop Heahmund and King Æthelwulf opened the doors of the cathedral only to find it was empty, with a horse inside and some rats crawling on the door, which made Heahmund suspicious and wonder why they weren't underground.
The Saxon population and the refugees of York began moving into the town, ready to celebrate high mass, while thousands of Saxon troops were stationed into the town. The soldiers started cheering, relieved of the disappearance of this threat, when they were suddenly caught in the streets of York when contingents of Viking warriors, bloodthirsty and determined, started pouring out from the sewers underground that were built by the Romans and that was Ivar's plan since the beginning. Viking archers started wreaking havoc among soldiers and civilians alike, the Saxons struggling to defend themselves against the incoming tide of Viking warriors. The Saxons formed some kind of shield-wall to protect their king but many were overrun and the battle emerged into a vicious, close quarter fighting. Hvitserk met Æthelwulf in close combat, both evenly matched struck blows on each other before Hvitserk was pushed away by a Saxon soldier in the chaos. While Ivar and his men progressed through the streets of York. The fight was also raging at the gates were a contingent of Saxon men formed a circle against their opponents. Heahmund took out several Vikings with master blows of his sword while Ivar's men shattered the Saxon wall by throwing spears that the Saxon took in their shields, making them stagger backwards. Heahmund then moved towards the Viking warriors, taking out a shield-maiden and making his horse crush her under his feet to impress his opponents, but his horse was brought down by archers. In the meantime, Æthelwulf, Aethelred, and Alfred retreated out of the town with their men, while Mannel was severely bashed in the back of the skull with a war-hammer from a ferocious Viking Berserker who then died of his wounds. Ivar, impressed by the courage and skills of the warrior bishop, interrupted the fight and told his men to give Heahmund another horse, stating that the latter was too good a warrior to fight on foot. The fight resumed but the pressure and the crushing numbers of the Vikings proved too much for the remaining Saxons, who were overrun or fled from the town. Heahmund himself was captured in the process by Ivar, shouting that he was a heathen, only to Ivar's mockery.
Aftermath
Following the decisive victory, the Vikings maintain their hold on York with moderate casualties. York would then be installed with a strong garrison, while Ivar and Hvitserk heading back to Kattegat to get vengeance against Lagertha. Due to the chaotic ambush and battle Bishop Heahmund was captured and would go on to follow Ivar to Norway. The Saxon Army was depleted as they broke off from York with Lord Mannel of Northumbria being a casualty of the onslaught.