Guthorm's Invasion of Wessex:
The Battle of Ethandun (Edington)
Who knows what really happened on the battlefield that May morning in 878?
The details, unfortunately, are lost forever. But, using what little is known
about the battle and what we know about the Vikings' way of life, together with
some imagination, perhaps the battle can be described like this:
The Lay of Guthorm's Army at Ethandun
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- Upon the Salisbury Plain face to face
- Englishmen eager for home's defence
- Shieldwalls woven in tight protection
- Guthorm's warriors call to Odin
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- With voices grumbling
- Danes delight in battle always.
- `Gainst attack from either side,
- Wielding words to frighten foemen.
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- Gods of battle grow greedy for slaughter
- The shouts of men fighting fiercely
- On biting sword's and gory axe's field
- Beneath men's boots, bodies fall
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- The ravens bark above the din,
- The plain runs red with blood.
- Shields ring out and split asunder
- From either side in equal number.
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- The gods of war council Vikings:
- Each man must valiant be
- After death, talk recalls deeds
- The Valkyries gather valiant men
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- Warriors fight fearless and strong!
- Before the blade his skull bites.
- Little is lost for men who fight well.
- To fight again another day.
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- Guthorm's men fought fiercely, far from home
- But saw not Odin's favour that day.
- Back to Chippenham weary behind walls
- Little the loss for men who fight well;
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- They wielded weapons
- Guthorm turned his warriors back,
- To fight again another day.
- Yet Odin gives fickle fortune.
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And so it went at the battle on Salisbury Plain, near Ethandun (now called
Edington). Guthorm retreated back to Chippenham after the battle. Alfred pursued
him there and surrounded the Viking camp. He killed the loose cattle and the men
he found outside the walls. Guthorm and his men must have wondered if their gods
still favoured them. Some may have complained to their war leader that it was a
good time to make peace, settle, and farm the lands outside of Wessex. And while
they discussed their next move, Alfred was keeping any food and water from
coming into the camp. Within two weeks, in late May, 878, Guthorm and his army
surrendered and accepted total defeat of the plan to conquer Wessex
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