He made several attacks on Wessex, starting in 875, and in the last nearly captured Alfred in his winter fortress at Chippenham. Northampton, battle of The Crosby Family Lawsuit, Battle of Edington. Alfred seems at this time to have ineffectually chased the Danes around Wessex, while the Danes were in a position to do as they pleased. It's a full season. Guthrum, in turn, ordered that no mercy be showed to the Anglo-Saxons. In 968, another charter reported that King Edgar had granted land at Edyndon to Romsey Abbey. All that's known about the location of the battle is that it was at a place called Eandun somewhere in southern England (current thinking places it at the Edington in Wiltshire). BBC Radio 4 Archive Programme In Our Time: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Battle_of_Edington&oldid=1117190568, This page was last edited on 20 October 2022, at 11:27. Encyclopedias almanacs transcripts and maps. Alternatives to Edington, Wiltshire, have been suggested since early times. Hastings, battle of, 1066. YouTube. Date The annals for 893 reported that a large Viking army had landed in the Lympne Estuary, Kent and a smaller force had landed in the Thames estuary under the command of Danish king Hastein. Greswell, William Henry Parr 1848-1923 (Created by) Book Title: The Story Of The Battle Of Edington. Battle of Ethandun 878. [11] In the spring of 878, he summoned his West Saxon forces and marched to Edington, where he met the Danes, led by Guthrum, in battle. The indicates that the character was not fighting during the event. Although the battle was indecisive the Vikings suffered huge [4] At the other end of the country, in the Kingdom of Northumbria, during 793 the holy island of Lindisfarne was raided. The previous engagement has thinned both armies, but considerable numbers on either side were involved. But for the average person, I don't think much would have changed over time. . 4,000 Warriors 200 Ships The new king benefited from a lull in the onslaught until 876, when Danish attacks resumed in earnest. By the 10th century, the Anglo-Saxon model of kingship seems to have been universally adopted by the Anglo-Danish leadership. He believes he cannot forsake England at this key moment. By the end of the 9th century, all of the Anglo-Danish rulers were minting coins too. At the Battle of Edington an army of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Wessex under Alfred the Great defeated the Great Heathen Army led by Guthrum on a date between 6 and 12 May AD 878. Questions about Battle related topics. The king was lucky to escape, taking refuge with a handful of followers in the depths of the Somerset marshes at Athelney. Following the battle, Uhtred orders Leofric's (Uhtred's friend) grave marked as an Ealdorman and a pyre for Iseult, Guthrum is converted to Christianity, while Ragnar and Brida have been imprisoned. Meanwhile, Guthrum tries to get information on Alfred through Alfred's resentful thelwold, who hates Alfred for "taking" the throne that he feels is rightfully his. Then, copy and paste the text into your bibliography or works cited list. Battle of Edington | Detailed Pedia Battle of Edington Coordinates: 511550N 020834W Norse invasions of England At the Battle of Edington, an army of the kingdom of Wessex under Alfred the Great defeated the Great Heathen Army led by the Dane Guthrum on a date between 6 and 12 May 878, resulting in the Treaty of Wedmore later the same year. ." Even if Alfred had caught up with the Danish force, it is unlikely that he could have accomplished anything. The French Grande Arme under Emperor Napoleon I attacked the Imperial Russian Army of General Mikhail Kutuzov near the village of Borodino , west of the town of Mozhaysk , and eventually captured the main positions on the battlefield, but failed to destroy the Russian . The year is 878 AD, the embattled English king Alfred the Great has mounted a heroic defence at the battle of Edington, and blunted the Viking invasion. Questions or concerns? "Episode 1.8" The Battle of Edington is a decisive military engagement. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle does not mention the reason for this invasion, perhaps because Viking raids were fairly common during that period of time. Fought on 14 October at what is now Battle (Sussex), where William the Conqueror ordered the construct, Battle of Northampton In May 878 he rode out to challenge the Danes at Edington (Ethandun) outside the now Danish-held fortress of Chippenham. Primary sources locate the battle at "Eandun".Until a scholarly consensus linked the battle site with the present-day village of Edington in Wiltshire, it was . The chronicle was compiled during the reign of Alfred the Great and is thus a contemporary record. [8], Mercia had collapsed by 874, and the Army's cohesion went with it. At the start of the year, the Vikings, led by Guthrum (one of many self-proclaimed Danish kings) broke previous terms of peace between him and Alfred and launched a surprise attack on Chippenham, where Alfred was staying over the winter. Guthrum, with two other unnamed kings, "departed for Cambridge in East Anglia". Novel Battle of Edington - Battle in Wiltshire at which Alfred the Great defeated a Danish army, forcing them to withdraw from Wessex into East Anglia Battle of Edington, 878 Home - Book Shop - Wars - Battles - Biographies - Timeline - Weapons - Blog - Full Index - Subjects - Concepts - Country - Documents - Pictures & Maps As a result, Guthrum and many of his leading . Danish army was placed at the medium size hill. A list of Battle-related questions. Vimeiro, battle of Before its destruction this version had been transcribed and annotated; it is this transcription on which modern translations are based. The chronicle was compiled during the reign of Alfred the Great and is thus a contemporary record. Result The Saxon army spent the night before the battle at Iley Oak, just to the south of Warminster, before moving out at dawn to meet Guthrum, who was occupying high ground at Edington, then known as Ethandun, near . In 865866 it escalated further with the arrival of what the Saxons called the Great Heathen Army. By 896 the Vikings gave up with some going to East Anglia and others going to Northumbria. axis Countries which fought on the German side including Italy, Germany and Japan. The next day, Alfred's host moved to Iley Oak, and then the day after that to Eandun. Alfred came to the throne after his brother, King Aethelred I, was killed fighting the Danes in 871. This they did, spending the rest of 877 (by the Gregorian calendar) in Gloucester (in the kingdom of Mercia). Hvitserk immediately rushed to his little brother to cradle him as he cried out in tears "I am afraid!" Date. Katy Isd Baseball Tournament 2022, In a battle far away I get somewhat severely wounded and even though I will surely survive my wounds I won't be able to walk on my . Until a scholarly consensus linked the battle site with the present-day village of Edington in Wiltshire, it was known as the Battle of Ethandun. With his small warband, a fraction of his army at Chippenham, Alfred could not hope to retake the town from the Danes, who had in previous battles (for example at Reading in 871) proved themselves adept at defending fortified positions. In 1904 William Henry Stevenson analysed possible sites and said "So far, there is nothing to prove the identity of this Eandune with Edington" but then goes on to say that "there can be little reason for questioning it". "The Pale Horseman" Commanders [37][38] In the 19th century there was a resurgence in interest of medieval history and King Alfred was seen as a major hero. The arrival of a Danish "great army" in East Anglia in 865 marked the start of a new phase of Viking attacks on Britain. The Battle of Edington was fought in May 878, when an army of West Saxons under King Alfred the Great defeated the Great Heathen Army under the Viking king Guthrum. Hide Map Menu. His army settled there, and he is not mentioned after 876, when "[the Danes] were engaged in ploughing and making a living for themselves". Their mission: defeat the Viking King Guthrum and his Great Heathen Army. Guthrum and his men had adopted the usual Danish strategy of occupying a fortified town and waiting for a peace "treaty", involving money in return for a promise to leave the kingdom immediately; Alfred shadowed the army, trying to prevent more damage than had already occurred. [19] After two weeks, the hungry Danes sued for peace, giving Alfred "preliminary hostages and solemn oaths that they would leave his kingdom immediately", just as usual, but in addition promising that Guthrum would be baptized. Although these articles may currently differ in style from others on the site, they allow us to provide wider coverage of topics sought by our readers, through a diverse range of trusted voices. After the collapse of the Roman Empire, the invasion . Thebattlewas fought in 878, when theWessex army, under KingAlfred,defeated the"Great Heathen Army"under theVikingkingGuthrum. The battle which took place at Ethandun on this day, May 6, 878 ensured that Christianity would survive in England. Kingdom of Norway In May 878 in Edington, there was a greatest battle of this war. In May 878 in Edington, there was a greatest battle of this war. Until a scholarly consensus linked the battle site with the present-day village of Edington in Wiltshire, it was known as the Battle of Ethandun. Articles such as this one were acquired and published with the primary aim of expanding the information on Britannica.com with greater speed and efficiency than has traditionally been possible. In the seventh week after Easter, or between 4 and 7 May, Alfred called a levy at Ecgbryhtesstan (Egbert's Stone). . Result: Saxon victory: Belligerents; Wessex: Danelaw: Commanders and leaders; Alfred the Great: Guthrum: Strength; 2,000-6,000 It might not seem it. Most online reference entries and articles do not have page numbers. There, on an unknown date between 6 and 12 May, they fought the Danes. Something Something. Place In the spring of 878 at the Battle of Edington the tide of English history turned. Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps. Guthrum came to England with an initial force of six hundred warriors, but soon gains more influence among the . Date: May 878: Location: Probably Edington, Wiltshire. And in many ways, four months can pass in the blink of an eye. . Alfred the Great had spent the winter preceding the Battle of Edington in the Somerset marsh of Athelney, protected somewhat by the natural defences of the country. The victory at Edington forced Guthrum to abandon Wessex , and Alfred resumed control of the entire kingdom, ensuring that the last Anglo-Saxon kingdom survived the Viking onslaught. It depicts the confrontation between the Vikings led by Ivar and King Harald and the Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Wessex. Update now. This fabulous KS2 Anglo Saxon Kings and Vikings lesson pack contains everything you need to teach an amazing History class. By May he was ready to attack again and encountered Guthrum's Danes at Edington, near Westbury on the Wiltshire downs. The fact that his army could not defend the fortified Chippenham, even in "an age as yet untrained in siege warfare" casts great doubt on its ability to defeat the Danes in an open field, unaided by fortifications. These forces began "a new stage, that of conquest and residence". Updates? In the seventh week after Easter, or between 4 and 7 May, Alfred called a levy at Ecgbryhtesstan (Egbert's Stone). . After Alfred left Athelney, he went via Egbert's Stone and Iglea to Ethandun where he fought against the Vikings and won. However, the system of military reforms and the Burghal Hidage introduced by Edward the Elder enabled Alfred's successors to retake control of the lands occupied in the North of England by the Danes. The year is 878 AD, the embattled English king Alfred the Great has mounted a heroic defence at the battle of Edington, and blunted the Viking invasion. Fortunately for Wessex, they did not use the time available effectively. In addition, Ealdorman Aethelred Mucel of Mercia's son Aethelred led an experienced Mercian contingent to join the West Saxons. Map from Laborde's original 1925 paper suggesting the location of the Battle of Maldon. The Viking Invasions of England. The Battle of Edington is a decisive military engagement. Recently, however, the charitable organisation Wirral Archaeology argued the case for it having . The Tudor historian Polydore Vergil appears to have misread the ancient texts for the battle site as he places it at Abyndoniam (Abingdon) instead of Edington. On the Norse side, a few catapults had been erected. Alfred seems at this time to have ineffectually chased the Danes around Wessex, while the Danes were in a position to do as they pleased. [25] It is believed that Asser's Life was originally written in 893; however, no contemporary manuscript survives. After the disaster at Chippenham in January 878, Alfred was reduced for some months to guerrilla warfare from the marshes around Athelney. At the Battle of Edington, an army of the kingdom of Wessex under Alfred the Great defeated the Great Heathen Army led by the Dane Guthrum on a date between 6 and 12 May 878, resulting in the Treaty of Wedmore later the same year. pp. Revolt of Eoferwic (878). Wessex had always been the focal point for Viking raids and invasions. At the gathering place for the great Saxon army, thelwold abandons his assassination attempt and joins Alfred at the top of the hill, watching as thousands of swords of Wessex answer the war call. In May of 878 Alfred the Great defeated the Vikings at the Battle of Edington, and a treaty was agreed whereby the Vikings were able to remain in control of much of northern and eastern England. Previously, the Vikings had come to raid and settle around the coast; this force came to conquer. The indicates that the character was not fighting during the event. Reinvading Wessex, they captured Wareham and, in 877, occupied Exeter. The Battle of Ashdown, was a West Saxon victory over a Danish Viking army on about 8 January 871. It is believed that Asser's Life was originally written in 893; however, no contemporary manuscript survives. [25][50] It is possible that the enforced conversion was an attempt by Alfred to lock Guthrum into a Christian code of ethics, hoping it would ensure the Danes' compliance with any treaties agreed to. It was under Alfred that the Viking threat was contained. Encyclopedia.com. Of course, at times, tension or violence would flare up between different polities, especially as the geopolitical map began to shift in the late ninth century and early 10th century. Chastened - but not yet broken - the Norse warlords have settled across Britain. The Battle of Edington was one of the most important battles in English history. 865 to 1066. Refer to each styles convention regarding the best way to format page numbers and retrieval dates. In the 19th century there was a resurgence in interest of medieval history and King Alfred was seen as a major . The West Saxon Army, now bolstered with fresh reinforcements from the Chichester garrison and Mercian soldiers, began moving towards the valley of Edington, where Ivar had stationed his troops to fight. 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