Heahmund of Sherborne

Heahmund (also called Hamund) was bishop of Sherborne in the ninth century, a warrior bishop, killed fighting against the Danes for King Æthelred I of Wessex and his brother, the future King Alfred the Great. He is venerated as a martyr in the Catholic Church, with a commemoration on 22 March. Our sources show no Orthodox commemoration.

Heahmund was consecrated bishop in 867 or 868. He died at the battle of Meretun in 871. Since his death is assigned to 22 March in the English calendar of saints, the battle and his death can be dated to 22 March 871. He was buried at Keynsham in Somerset.

Very little is known of his life. The Anglo-⁠Saxon Chronicle mentions him. According to it, two months after the fight at Basing, King Æthelred and his brother Alfred fought the army at Meretun. It was divided into two bands; they put both to flight and rejoiced in victory for part of the day. There were great losses on both sides, but the Danes remained masters of the field. There Bishop Heahmund was killed, along with many other good men.