By 878 the Vikings (under Guthrum) had taken nearly all of England except Wessex under Alfred. Fighting had seemingly ceased for the winter of 877-8 and for the Christmas celebrations (the Viking feast of Yule being held at the same period). The soldiers of Alfred’s army had largely gone home to enjoy the respite usual at this time of year. The king, his a few hundred troops forming his bodyguard were wintering in the important city of Chippenham in what is now Wiltshire. The Vikings had left Wessex, and the Danegeld had been paid to buy them off again.
The Vikings led by Guthrum mobilised in secret, however, and took Alfred completely by surprise with a raid on Chippenham on 6th January 878, probably timed deliberately just after twelfth night when the Saxon defences would be at their weakest. Alfred and his surviving men managed to escape and fled to the marshes, eventually making their base in Athelney in Somerset.
Guthrum’s army now held Wessex. Many Saxons fled to France and Ireland. The rest of the land was subjugated. Only Alfred and what amounted to a guerrilla band held out against the Norsemen. Alfred eventually prevailed and at the Battle of Edington he defeated the Viking "Great Heathen Army" led by Guthrum on a date between 6 and 12 May AD 878.
However, if Alfred had been caught at Chippenham the language of England would have been Danish not English! ----------------------------------------------------
Reynold Leming
Information Management ConsultantInformu Solutions LtdBath, UKhttp://www.informu-solutions.com/
07966 397417
From: Glen Sanderson <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Friday, 17 July 2015, 5:59
Subject: Friday Pondering-Historical fact
What's the most obscure historical fact that you have heard?
For me it was how the reformation brought about unique watch designs.
Happy Friday
G
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