Battle of Edington 878
Recorded location from Wikidata; battle sites are often approximate.
Key facts
| Year | 878 | Wikidata P585 (point in time) |
|---|---|---|
| Era | Medieval (500–1499) | derived from year |
| Location | England | Natural Earth (modern borders) |
| Continent | Europe | Natural Earth |
| War / conflict | Viking activity in the British Isles | Wikidata P361 |
| Participants | Great Heathen Army, Kingdom of Wessex | Wikidata P710 |
| Coordinates | 51.4403, -2.2422 | Wikidata P625 |
About the battle
The Battle of Edington or Battle of Ethandun was fought in May 878 between the West Saxon army of King Alfred the Great and the Great Heathen Army led by the Danish warlord Guthrum. The battle took place near Edington in Wiltshire, where Alfred secured a decisive victory that halted the Viking advance into Wessex.
The engagement followed a period of sustained Danish incursions into Anglo-Saxon territory. In early 878, Guthrum launched a surprise attack on Chippenham, forcing Alfred into hiding in the marshes of Athelney. After rallying local forces, Alfred confronted and defeated Guthrum at Edington, then laid siege to the Viking position, compelling their surrender.
Following the battle, Guthrum agreed to terms that included his baptism, withdrawal to East Anglia, and the establishment of peace through the Treaty of Wedmore. The outcome preserved Wessex as an independent kingdom and marked a turning point in the Viking wars, laying foundations for the eventual unification of England.
Text adapted from the Wikipedia article Battle of Edington (revision 1370109999), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Changes: excerpted from the article lead section; formatting and citations removed. No text added.
Nearby battles
- Battle of Chippenham 878 · 9 km
- Battle of Deorham 577 · 10 km
- Battle of Badon 500 · 11 km
- Battle of Lansdowne 1643 · 11 km
- Battle of Roundway Down 1643 · 19 km
- Siege of Bristol (1645) 1645 · 24 km
Other battles of the Viking activity in the British Isles
- Battle of York (867) 867
- Battle of Ashdown 871
- Battle of Basing 871
- Battle of Englefield 871
- Battle of Reading (871) 871
- Battle of Chippenham 878
- Battle of Cynwit 878
- Battle of Buttington 893
- Battle of Tettenhall 910
- Battle of Tempsford 917
All 20 battles of the Viking activity in the British Isles →
Browse more: battles in England · Europe · Medieval battles