1.2 events in a’s battle against the vikings

Question 1

What did Asser produce in 893? What was this?

Answer 1

“Life of King Alfred”, first known biography of Anglo-Saxon King.

Question 2

Why was Asser’s document important for historians?

Answer 2

Gave a comprehensive narrative-based account of Alfred’s exploits during time of war and peace.

Question 3

Why do we have to be careful with how we treat the document?

Answer 3

Asser was likely to have been promoted to write this (payed+employed).

Question 4

What was likely Asser’s motivation when writing the biography?

Answer 4

To write a heroic account of Alfred and impress Wales, Asser is from there (propaganda) Wales was never raided by the Vikings -build an allegience.

Question 5

What was there a renewed threat from in the 890s?

Answer 5

From the vikings.

Question 6

What are the names of Alfred’s 6 key battles?

Answer 6

Battle of Wilton, Wareham, Exeter, Chippenham, Edington, Rochester+Benfleet.

Question 7

What was the years of Alfred’s 6 key battles?

Answer 7

871, 876, 877, 878, 878, 885.

Question 8

What happened at the battle of Wilton 871? What were the consequences?

Answer 8

LOST. First battle as King, payed off the vikings -this didn’t guarantee they wouldn’t return.
Paying them off meant that the vikings would go to other kingdoms>damaged relations with other kingdoms.

Question 9

What happened at the battle of Wareham 876? What were the consequences?

Answer 9

Guthrum gained foothold in Wareham. Agreed to exchange hostages and Alfred would pay them off AGAIN.
Wareham becomes the first buhr.

Question 10

What happened at the battle of Exeter 877? What were the consequences?

Answer 10

Storm destroyed over 3000 soldiers. Agreed with Guthrum to the exchange of hostages and the taking of viking oaths.
He stuck to the agreement (unlike Wareham). Guthrum NEEDS a victory.

Question 11

What happened at the battle of Chippenham 878? What were the consequences?

Answer 11

Guthrum broke previous agreement by invading Wessex.
Took Alfred by suprise.

Question 12

What happened at the battle of Edington 878? What were the consequences? TURNING POINT!

Answer 12

Alfred met Guthrum here after rallying support and plotting a counter-attack. Guthrum is now hopeless>he and his Vikings were baptised.
This prevented disassociation between Guthrum and his followers. Protected Guthrum’s wealth and authority. Vikings didn’t return until 893.

Question 13

What happened at the battle of Rochester and Benfleet 885? What were the consequences?

Answer 13

Alfred reacted immediately and attacked the Viking camp. FIRST NAVAL APPEARANCE.
Indicated that something more far-reaching than settlements was needed if a lasting peace was to occur.

Question 14

Danelaw meaning?

Answer 14

Viking occupied land.

Question 15

Francia/Frankia meaning?

Answer 15

Country with roughly the same territory as modern-day France.

Question 16

Archaeology meaning?

Answer 16

Study of human history using physical sites and remains.

Question 17

What were the 4 most important events in Alfred’s battle against the Vikings? +dates

Answer 17

Eddington 878, Athelney 878, London 886, Viking return 893.

Question 18

Why did Alfred go to Athelney? What were the events leading up to Alfred’s retreat to Athelney? What options did Alfred have? What did he actually do?

Answer 18

He was kicked from Chippenham. Guthrum arrived in Wessex and set up a camp at Chippenham, Alfred was taken by surprise. Alfred had 2 options: flee into hiding, or launch a counter attack. He ended up hiding in hostile marshland.

Question 19

What 3 story’s came from Alfred’s stay at Athelney? Why was Athelney important for Alfred’s victory?

Answer 19

Cakes, St Cuthbert (minstrel interpretation) , Alfred spying. Recruits more people, battles are won by good numbers!

Question 20

What happened in the cakes story?

Answer 20

Alfred was travelling alone disguised, stumbled across a swineherd’s (pig-hunters) hut and was welcomed in. He failed to deal with some cakes that were burning, swineherd’s wife scolded him for being neglectful.

Question 21

What happened in the St Cuthbert story?

Answer 21

St Cuthbert visited Alfred at Athelney. St begged for food and Alfred separated what he had into equal shares. A servant was ordered to take food to St, but he was gone. St reappeared to Alfred in a dream and tells him he’s blessed by God.

Question 22

What happened in the Alfred spying story?

Answer 22

Recounts how Alfred entered the camp of the Vikings, disguised, to spy on the enemy.

Question 23

Why was the cakes story significant?

Answer 23

Showed how all humans in the eyes of God needed to show humbleness, even the King. Makes Alfred look good as he’s too busy thinking about the country, instead of the cakes.

Question 24

Why is the St Cuthbert story significant?

Answer 24

Ensured Alfred’s success was partly attributed to their patron saint. Builds religious identity.

Question 25

Why is the Alfred spying story significant?

Answer 25

Alfred is seen as brave and intelligent>people will follow him>propaganda.

Question 26

Why was the capture of London important for Alfred’s victory? What was Alfred’s position against the Vikings in 885?

Answer 26

London had an element of Viking control. Once Alfred captured London, he could optimise his control. Attempted takeover of Rochester by the Rochester Vikings.

Question 27

Why did he seize control of London? (2)

Answer 27

-Saw an opportunity to influence wealth and creation in London to benefit his own people.
-Saw the significance of London as a centre of production and commerce

Question 28

How did he take control of London?

Answer 28

-Little is known about exactly how
-Asser claimed that it occurred after so many towns had been burned and so many people had been slaughtered. Suggests something of a planned and long-drawn campaign took place, but there’s no details of this.

Question 29

What were the consequences of London? (4)

Answer 29

-Relocates London to the South of the River.
-Creates a buhr with 2000 hides (guards)
-Prioritises trades: builds Wharves of London, to do this he had to tax the people A LOT
-Arranges a marriage -creating a lasting alliance between Wessex and Mercia, “Kingdom of the Anglo-Saxons”.

Question 30

Overall, Alfred created London as a…? Before him London didn’t really…?

Answer 30

Major city, London doesn’t really exist.

Question 31

What years did the Vikings return? Why is there a gap between the years they came?

Answer 31

892-893, because they didn’t arrive all at once.

Question 32

Were these vikings related to Guthrum’s group? Who led the returning viking forces?

Answer 32

No, led by Hastein (sometimes refered to as Hastaen)

Question 33

What were 2 reasons that made the vikings return?

Answer 33

-The continental vikings suffered a great defeat by King Arnulf of Francia (891)
-Crops were failing: vikings found it difficult to gather food due to a kind of blight (disease)>vikings needed money (resources)

Question 34

How many ships did the Franks give the Vikings to get rid of them? How many ships did Hastein return with? In total how many ships were there? But how many ships returned in total?

Answer 34

250, 80, 330, a few thousand.

Question 34

What was a positive consequence of the Viking invasion by 876?

Answer 34

Alfred’s buhr system works

Question 35

What happened at the battle of Bullington in 893? What was the outcome? Why is this important?

Answer 35

Cooperation was shown between Saxon groups of Wessex, Wales and Mercia. They won against the vikings, shows unification is working.

Question 36

Why does Abels argue that Alfred’s success may exaggerated?

Answer 36

Feeds into this image that he has, “he’s a really good leader”.

Question 37

Who was also equally as important beside Alfred in defeating the Vikings.

Answer 37

His son Edward -Alfred’s health is failing after 894.

Question 38

What 2 historical books showed propaganda?

Answer 38

-Anglo-Saxon Chronicle 893 (historical record of everything that happened in the year).
-Asser’s bibliography on Alfred

Question 39

What is Alfred trying to introduce? What is Alfred trying to prove?

Answer 39

That there’s no such thing as a primogeniture (first of the blood). They used to use “most suitable”, voted by the Witenagemot (council), if youre’re not suitable=removed. Proving he shouldn’t be replaced.