Alfred Before He Was Great: Wessex vs the Viking Army
The History Chap
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King Alfred Before He Was Great.
Chris Green is The History Chap; telling stories that brings the past to life.
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Thumbnail image: Philip Hanning (Wikimedia Commons).
Christmas Day, 870 AD. In just four years, the Viking Great Heathen Army had destroyed the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of Northumbria and East Anglia, sacking monasteries, slaughtering kings, and leaving nothing but ash in their wake.
Only one kingdom stood between the Vikings and total domination of England.That kingdom was Wessex.
And what followed in the bitter winter of 871 would change the course of British history forever.
This is the story of the Viking invasion of Wessex — a desperate, brutal, seesaw struggle for survival fought across six set-piece battles in less than six months.
It is a story of a great king who fought with genuine courage, and a young prince who would step from his brother's shadow to carry the fate of an entire people on his shoulders.
His name was Alfred. He was 24 years old.
The Great Heathen Army that crossed into Berkshire was no ordinary raiding force.
Led by Halfdan, son of the legendary Ragnar Lothbrok, and reinforced by the Danish warrior Bacgsecg, it was an army of seasoned, professional warriors numbering perhaps a thousand men — at a time when the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms could only muster farmers pulled from their fields.
When the Danes seized Reading on 28th December 870 and began fortifying it as their base of operations, the clock was already running out for Wessex.
What followed was nothing short of extraordinary.
Timeline of the Campaign
28 December 870 — The Great Heathen Army captures Reading
31 December 870 — Battle of Englefield: Ealdorman Aethelwulf ambushes a Viking foraging party — a rare early victory
4 January 871 — Battle of Reading: the Anglo-Saxons attack the Viking fortress and are routed
8 January 871 — Battle of Ashdown: Alfred charges the Viking line "with the rush of a wild boar" — the Great Heathen Army breaks and flees
22 January 871 — Battle of Basing: the Vikings recover and defeat the men of Wessex
22 March 871 — Battle of Merton: Aethelred is gravely wounded; the Danes are in the ascendancy once more
Shortly after Easter 871 — Death of King Aethelred; Alfred, the last of five brothers, is crowned King of Wessex
Late April/May 871 — Battle of Wilton: a reinvigorated Great Heathen Army, swelled by the arrival of the Great Summer Army, deals Alfred a telling blow.
By the summer of 871, Wessex stood alone — battered, exhausted, and facing a Viking force that had now been reinforced by an entire new fleet sailing up the Thames.
Alfred's response would define not just his own reign, but the future of England itself.
But that story is for another day.
Chapters:
0:00 Anglo Saxon England 870
0:44 Great Heathen Army
2:07 Vikings Invade Wessex
4:24 Battle of Englefield
5:46 House of Wessex
6:39 Battle of Reading
8:23 Battle of Ashdown 871
10:46 Alfred - The Wild Boar
13:21 Battle of Basing
14:05 Battle of Merton
15:50 King Alfred
16:56 Battle of Wilton
18:03 The Last Kingdom
#alfredthegreat #vikings #britishistory
Follow me at:
https://www.thehistorychap.com
Podcast: https://www.thehistorychappodcast.com
Facebook:https://bit.ly/37IUfkH
thehistorychap
My name is Chris Green and I love to share stories from British history. Not just because they are interesting but because, good or bad, they have shaped the world we live in today.
History should not be stuffy or a long list of dates or kings & queens.
So rather than lectures or Youtube animations, I tell stories that bring the past to life.
My aim is to be chat as if I were having a coffee or meal with you. Jean in Maryland, USA recently wrote: "Chris, is the history teacher I wish I had at school!"
Just for the record, I do have a history degree in Medieval & Modern history from the University of Birmingham and am a member of the Royal Historical Society.
I am also a member of the Victorian Military Society, the Anglo Zulu War Society and the Military Historical Society.
Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Chris Green Communication Ltd t/a The History Chap. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Chris Green Communication Ltd does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.
The History Chap is a trading name of Chris Green Communication Ltd, a company registered in England & Wales (Co No: 05025587)
20 Comments
The most dangerous time in those ancient battles is when one of the armies breaks followed by individuals being pursued by the winning army. Classic predators chasing prey dynamics.
Alfred Before He Was Great: Wessex vs the Viking Army
The History Chap
24,613 views
King Alfred Before He Was Great.
Chris Green is The History Chap; telling stories that brings the past to life.
Love British History?
Get My Free Weekly Newsletter
https://www.thehistorychap.com/Newsle...
WAYS YOU CAN SUPPORT MY CHANNEL
Become A Patron and get exclusive history talks
https://www.thehistorychap.com/Suppor...
Make a one-off donation
https://buymeacoffee.com/thehistorychap
Thumbnail image: Philip Hanning (Wikimedia Commons).
Christmas Day, 870 AD. In just four years, the Viking Great Heathen Army had destroyed the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of Northumbria and East Anglia, sacking monasteries, slaughtering kings, and leaving nothing but ash in their wake.
Only one kingdom stood between the Vikings and total domination of England.That kingdom was Wessex.
And what followed in the bitter winter of 871 would change the course of British history forever.
This is the story of the Viking invasion of Wessex — a desperate, brutal, seesaw struggle for survival fought across six set-piece battles in less than six months.
It is a story of a great king who fought with genuine courage, and a young prince who would step from his brother's shadow to carry the fate of an entire people on his shoulders.
His name was Alfred. He was 24 years old.
The Great Heathen Army that crossed into Berkshire was no ordinary raiding force.
Led by Halfdan, son of the legendary Ragnar Lothbrok, and reinforced by the Danish warrior Bacgsecg, it was an army of seasoned, professional warriors numbering perhaps a thousand men — at a time when the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms could only muster farmers pulled from their fields.
When the Danes seized Reading on 28th December 870 and began fortifying it as their base of operations, the clock was already running out for Wessex.
What followed was nothing short of extraordinary.
Timeline of the Campaign
28 December 870 — The Great Heathen Army captures Reading
31 December 870 — Battle of Englefield: Ealdorman Aethelwulf ambushes a Viking foraging party — a rare early victory
4 January 871 — Battle of Reading: the Anglo-Saxons attack the Viking fortress and are routed
8 January 871 — Battle of Ashdown: Alfred charges the Viking line "with the rush of a wild boar" — the Great Heathen Army breaks and flees
22 January 871 — Battle of Basing: the Vikings recover and defeat the men of Wessex
22 March 871 — Battle of Merton: Aethelred is gravely wounded; the Danes are in the ascendancy once more
Shortly after Easter 871 — Death of King Aethelred; Alfred, the last of five brothers, is crowned King of Wessex
Late April/May 871 — Battle of Wilton: a reinvigorated Great Heathen Army, swelled by the arrival of the Great Summer Army, deals Alfred a telling blow.
By the summer of 871, Wessex stood alone — battered, exhausted, and facing a Viking force that had now been reinforced by an entire new fleet sailing up the Thames.
Alfred's response would define not just his own reign, but the future of England itself.
But that story is for another day.
Chapters:
0:00 Anglo Saxon England 870
0:44 Great Heathen Army
2:07 Vikings Invade Wessex
4:24 Battle of Englefield
5:46 House of Wessex
6:39 Battle of Reading
8:23 Battle of Ashdown 871
10:46 Alfred - The Wild Boar
13:21 Battle of Basing
14:05 Battle of Merton
15:50 King Alfred
16:56 Battle of Wilton
18:03 The Last Kingdom
#alfredthegreat #vikings #britishistory
Follow me at:
https://www.thehistorychap.com
Podcast: https://www.thehistorychappodcast.com
Facebook:https://bit.ly/37IUfkH
thehistorychap
My name is Chris Green and I love to share stories from British history. Not just because they are interesting but because, good or bad, they have shaped the world we live in today.
History should not be stuffy or a long list of dates or kings & queens.
So rather than lectures or Youtube animations, I tell stories that bring the past to life.
My aim is to be chat as if I were having a coffee or meal with you. Jean in Maryland, USA recently wrote: "Chris, is the history teacher I wish I had at school!"
Just for the record, I do have a history degree in Medieval & Modern history from the University of Birmingham and am a member of the Royal Historical Society.
I am also a member of the Victorian Military Society, the Anglo Zulu War Society and the Military Historical Society.
Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Chris Green Communication Ltd t/a The History Chap. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Chris Green Communication Ltd does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.
The History Chap is a trading name of Chris Green Communication Ltd, a company registered in England & Wales (Co No: 05025587)