The Great Heathen Army, Part III

From Pillage to Ploughshares

After the winter spent at Repton on the River Trent in Britain, the Viking invading force, known to medieval Anglo-Saxon chroniclers as “the Great Heathen Army” or just “The Great Army”, had permanently divided itself into two halves. One, under the leadership of Halfdan, decided to go north, making York their stronghold, settling in Northumbria, and raiding in Scotland. The other half, under the leadership of Guthrum and a few of his compatriots, set their sights on Wessex, the last remaining Anglo-Saxon kingdom.

The march of Guthrum and his contingent was not the first time the Vikings had tried their luck at invading Wessex, however. In 871 CE, they made their first attempt, but thanks to the stalwart defense of King Aethelred and his younger brother Alfred, they were not able to establish a foothold in the kingdom. The Vikings would, nevertheless, not cease their harrying, and that same year Aethelred was killed in battle, and Alfred was crowned King of Wessex. He alone now stood against the ravenous threat posed by the Viking forces.