In the January of 871, three battles took place between the forces of King Ethelred against an invading Danish army, the first on this day, was outside the Berkshire town of Reading.
King Ethelred had ascended the throne of England on the death of his brother Ethelbert in 865, that was the same year that the men of the north arrived on our countries shores. Within five years the Vikings had defeated the forces of the king of Mercia and were making their way to Ethelred's Wessex.
It was on the 4th of January that Ethelred took on the enemy at the Battle of Reading. This battle ended with a defeat for Ethelred's army enabling the Vikings to take the town which they used as their base.
Within days they continued their advance into Wessex and by the 8th of January, the two forces battled on the Berkshire Downs just the south-west of Ashbury village. Ethelred's scattered army had reformed, and he had placed his forces in two units, one under his command the other under his brother Alfred on either side of a ridge. A delay on Ethelred's part to order a charge forced Alfred to make his attack, Ethelred followed, eventually, the Viking army was defeated.
It was on the 4th of January that Ethelred took on the enemy at the Battle of Reading. This battle ended with a defeat for Ethelred's army enabling the Vikings to take the town which they used as their base.
Within days they continued their advance into Wessex and by the 8th of January, the two forces battled on the Berkshire Downs just the south-west of Ashbury village. Ethelred's scattered army had reformed, and he had placed his forces in two units, one under his command the other under his brother Alfred on either side of a ridge. A delay on Ethelred's part to order a charge forced Alfred to make his attack, Ethelred followed, eventually, the Viking army was defeated.
The final battle in January took place at Basing on the 22nd where Ethelred's army was once again defeated but there were heavy losses to both sides. Exactly two months later on the 22nd of March at Marton, the forces of the Anglo-Saxon's and the Danish army met again at a site that has never been confirmed (up to five sites have been suggested) that was another loss for Ethelred. In the April King Ethelred is thought to have died from wounds inflicted at Marton.
Taking up Ethelred's sword against the Vikings would be Alfred named the Great, who according to English historian Edward Freeman was "the most perfect character in history.’
Taking up Ethelred's sword against the Vikings would be Alfred named the Great, who according to English historian Edward Freeman was "the most perfect character in history.’
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