Alfred the Great Saves England from Danish Rule
Battles with Danelaw
When Alfred the Great became King of Wessex in 871, England was under the threat of Danish occupation. A large area of England was already under Danish rule and called Danelaw. The Danes were a major threat given their military skill, organization and numbers. Could England, an island divided up in little kingdoms, defeat such a fierce enemy?
The Battles During Danish-Occupied Reading
The future of Wessex and all England looked grim. The Danes were now in Reading with reinforcements. This strong force defeated one of King Alfred's attempts to push them out of Wessex at a battle in Wilton. Alfred then realized that he needed to strengthen his forces in land and sea. In fact, England's best chance for defense against the Danes may lie at sea.
Between 871 and 875, Alfred strengthened the English fleet to defend the English coast and built up his army. During this time, the Danes remained in Reading but did not have control of all of Wessex. The West Saxons were also able to remain free of Danish rule by making peace through payment and a strong defense. In 875, Alfred led a fleet in a sea battle that prevent seven Danish ships from landing in England and captured one. He was also able to stop a Danish attempt to take over more areas in Wessex in a land battle at Wareham in 876. Alfred took hostages and made the Danes promise to leave Wessex. However, the Danes immediately broke the promise and took over Exeter. Yet Alfred was not discouraged. He led his army to Exeter and pushed the Danes out.
For a short period of time between 876 and 878, the Danes remained in Reading but did not make any more attempts to overtake other parts of Wessex. Then in 878, the Danes led a surprise attack and captured Chippenham and nearly conquered all of Wessex.
Victory at Edington
Alfred retreated his forces to the Somerset marshes and attacked the Danes from his fort at Athelney while he strengthened his army. Within seven weeks, Alfred built a substantial force of men from the surrounding shires and defeated the Danes at Edington in Wiltshire. The attack lasted for a fortnight until the Danish King Gunthrum promised to leave Wessex and be baptized as a Christian. The Danes signed a peace treaty, which the Danes honored until 885. After Alfred's defeat of the Danes at Edington in 878, he became king of all of England except the Danish occupied areas.
Significance of the English Victory Over the Danes
The victory over the Danes at Edington gave the English seven years of peace. During that time, King Alfred built up the army and English defense tactics to protect England from the Danes. He planned to recapture Danelaw. Alfred instituted new defenses such as a levy system that increased the English army's presence in crucial areas and a burghal system of fortified units with armed soldiers in strategic locations.
After 885, the Danish made many unsuccessful attempts to penetrate the English strongholds. Despite a number of forceful Danish land and sea attacks in 896 to 899, the Danes were never able to conquer Wessex or increase the borders of Danelaw. The Danelaw was finally recaptured for England by Alfred's son, King Edward the Elder, in the early 900's.
Sources:
Williamson, David, Debrett's Kings and Queens of Great Britain
Asser, Bishop of Sherborne, The Life of King Alfred
Danish occupied areas are shaded in pink.
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