From his base at Athelney, Alfred managed to rally his
supporters to his cause and looked to take the fight to the Vikings and meet
them on the open field.
During the seventh week after Easter in 878 Alfred had ordered those men still
loyal to him to meet with his forces at Egbert’s
Stone, which was probably in the south-west area of Salisbury Plain. He was
joined by men from Somerset, Wiltshire and Hampshire who had recieved word from
the numerous messangers he sent out.
Together this army marched towards Chippenham, where Guthrum had made his headquarters.
Before they were able to reach Chippenham they were met
by the Viking force at Edington.
King Alfred's Tower, built in 1772, at
the site of Egbert's Stone
Picture taken by Trevor Rickard,
King Alfred's Tower, Stourhead, Somerset,
CC BY-SA 2.0
Together this army marched towards Chippenham, where Guthrum had made his headquarters. Before they were able to reach Chippenham they were met by the Viking force at Edington.
Little is now about the numbers fighting, but there is certainty about the outcome; Alfred’s army won a clear victory, which forced the routed Vikings to retreat back to Chippenham.
Alfred pursued the Viking forces, blockading Chippenham until Guthrum, after two
the weeks, was forced to seek terms in the Treaty of Wedmore. The Treaty was in
Alfred’s favour with hostages being given by the Vikings and a promise to leave
Wessex which the Vikings complied with for the next fourteen years. Guthrum was
baptised as a Christian, with Alfred becoming his godfather.
