This time, Guthrum was not going to escape. His grandfather had constructed a small fleet of warships and had used them at times, but Alfred built ships based on the Roman and Greek models, which were actually larger than most Viking ships. That came in 892. The Battle of Edington took place between 6 and 12 May 878. This was Alfred, King of the West Saxons, and eventual king of much of England. A large Danish Viking contingent arrived in around 250 ships. Guthrum, with a few men, fled, riding for his base at Chippenham. While in the marshes, Alfred and his men conducted raids against local Viking forces and kept the idea of a Saxon kingdom alive – the other Saxon kingdoms of Northumberland and East Anglia were now in pagan hands. Depiction of Æthelwulf in the late-13th-century Genealogical Chronicle of the English Kings. Those Vikings that remained in the south were now led by Halfdan and had been joined by a new Viking force led by Bagsecg. Dear lord, the Pagans had the best of it. The battle likely took place on the ridge of land in front of the hillfort. Guthrum moved his people to East Anglia where he ruled as King Aethelstan. Alfred's initial tactic was to make a pact with the Vikings… Guthrum, who had been baptised Aethelstan, moved his people to Mercia where they settled. Guthrum agreed but did not keep the deal. However, after a short while they left England and sailed to France. The preferred Viking strategy was to use river systems to sail into the heart of a kingdom, exploiting its political divisions. Meanwhile, another group of Vikings marched west, probably to relieve the siege of Exeter, but they were met at Buttington by a large force led by the Ealdormen of Mercia, Somerset and Wiltshire who succeeded in putting them to flight. Guthrum, who had ruled East Anglia as King Aethelstan, died. Each one of you. By the time they arrived Burgred, King of Mercia had paid the Vikings off because the Mercians had to get the year’s harvest in to feed people during winter. The Vikings led by Halfdan began dividing up Northumbria preparing to settle the land permanently. King Alfred himself headed west to deal with the raiders along the Channel, who had landed at Exeter and north Devon. A daughter, Aelfthryth, was born to Alfred and Ealhswith. A famous tale (perhaps true, perhaps not) tells of Alfred sitting by the fire in a peasant woman’s hut, tasked with making sure the bread on the fire didn’t burn. Alfred marched to Bridgenorth and lay siege to the fort. Alfred witnessed the coronation of Pope Benedict III. The Great Heathen Army led by Ivar the Boneless left East Anglia and marched north. 14 days later, starving and helpless, Guthrum and his remaining men sued for peace. Maintaining the pace, Alfred moved north at dawn the next day, while sending scouts to ascertain Guthrum’s position. This is misleading. This allowed Alfred to leave Wareham and march to Exeter where he forced Guthrum to surrender. The Vikings made the most of it, sailing up the Thames to the royal estate at Reading. Soon after swearing a peace oath Haesten took his army and laid waste to Benfleet in Essex. The Vikings were forced to abandon their boats and march west, to Bridgnorth, Shropshire, where, during 896, the army simply dribbled away. The Great Army also had a new leader. Now it was Halfdan’s turn to follow up his victory so, four days later, he marched his army from its base at Reading, heading west towards the royal estate at Wallingford. He also sent out messengers, summoning the men of the kingdom to rally to him. Guthrum agreed but did not keep the deal. Setting his force there, Guthrum could ensure he was not outflanked – an important consideration as Alfred’s forces probably outnumbered his. Then, after insults and challenges, came the charge and clash, with Alfred and Guthrum each taking their places in the centre of their lines. Home » Monarchy of Europe » British Monarchy » Kings and Queens of England » King Alfred the Great 849 – 899, Born – 849 Guthrum left the hostages behind with their throats cut. By the end of the 880s, Alfred had largely set up his new military organisation. Alfred’s brother, Alfred’s father Aethelwulf was betrothed to. For his part, Alfred was confident he’d struck a deal with Guthrum: gold and hostages and the Viking’s oath, taken on his pagan gods, that he would leave Wareham. The Vikings were forced, through hunger, to leave Thorney. For the magnates of Wessex, having witnessed the fates of the other Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, it must have seemed as if the Viking tide was inexorable.