Alfred the Great

Alfred becomes King

This victory at Ashdown was short lived, for King Aethelred was killed in battle soon afterwards. Alfred became King at 21 years of age. Almost straight away Alfred had to fight the Danes at Wilton, near Salisbury, in the very heart of Wessex. Alfred lost the battle, and to stop the Vikings conquering Wessex paid them money to go away. This money was called "Danegeld". The Vikings turned north and went into Mercia. Now it was the Mercian King who was attacked. When Mercia fell in 874 Wessex stood alone against the Viking invaders. After the defeat of Mercia, half of the Viking army turned north and settled near York. The other half turned east towards Cambridge. After overwintering in Cambridge, the Vikings turned towards Wessex to try and defeat Alfred and take over all of Britain. In 877 the main army rode from Cambridge to Gloucester.