Battle of Ashdown

Date: January 8, 871 • Location: Market Lavington, United Kingdom

This milestone marked the outbreak and beginning of this historic period, which spanned 871.

Æthelred I and Alfred the Great lead a West Saxon army to repel an invasion by Danelaw Vikings.

Æthelred I was King of Wessex from 865 until his death in 871. He was the fourth of five sons of King Æthelwulf of Wessex, four of whom in turn became king. Æthelred succeeded his elder brother Æthelberht and was followed by his youngest brother, Alfred the Great. Æthelred had two sons, Æthelhelm and Æthelwold, who were passed over for the kingship on their father's death because they were still infants. Æthelwold later unsuccessfully disputed the throne with Alfred's son and successor, Edward the Elder.