Guthrum Biography

Danish power in Northumbria forms part of the wider Viking pressure on the remaining English kingdoms.

By 874 the Danes control much of Northumbria, East Anglia and Mercia, leaving Wessex as the main English resistance.

The Danish army drives Burgred of Mercia into exile and imposes control over much of the kingdom.

The Danes divide Mercia and install Ceolwulf as a client ruler in the remaining Mercian kingdom.

Guthrum becomes one of the principal leaders of the southern section of the Great Army.

Guthrum leads Viking operations against Wessex after the Great Army divides.

Guthrum led the southern division of the army to winter at Cambridge.

Guthrum seizes Wareham with the southern army and compels Alfred to negotiate terms and hostages.

Guthrum's army advances into Wessex and seizes Wareham before negotiating with Alfred.

Guthrum pushes into Wessex and forces Alfred into negotiations after occupying Wareham.

Guthrum occupies Wareham and agrees to give hostages and swear oaths to Alfred.

Guthrum occupied Wareham and negotiated with Alfred before breaking the agreed peace.

Alfred surrounds Guthrum's Danish army at Wareham and forces negotiations.

Guthrum moves from Wareham to Exeter before Alfred contains the Danish army and forces its withdrawal.

Danish control in Mercia supports Guthrum's wider campaign against the remaining English resistance.

Guthrum's army moves from Wareham to Exeter, where Alfred later contains the Danish force.

Guthrum moved to Exeter and accepted another settlement after a Danish fleet was damaged by storms.

Alfred contains Guthrum's army at Exeter while a Viking reinforcement fleet is damaged by storms.

Guthrum accepts Christian baptism after his surrender, with Alfred standing as his sponsor.

Guthrum's conversion is confirmed as part of the post-Edington settlement with Alfred.

Guthrum leads the Danish invasion that threatens the survival of Alfred's kingdom.

After Edington Guthrum agrees to leave Wessex, opening the way for a later territorial settlement.

Guthrum accepts baptism and agrees to withdraw from Wessex under the settlement following Edington.

Guthrum surprised Alfred at Chippenham and temporarily overran much of Wessex.

Guthrum launches a surprise midwinter attack on Alfred at Chippenham.

Guthrum surprises Alfred at Chippenham and forces the West Saxon king into temporary refuge.

Guthrum is defeated by Alfred at Edington and retreats to Chippenham.

Guthrum's shield wall is broken by Alfred's army during the decisive West Saxon victory at Edington.

Guthrum faces Alfred's rallied West Saxon army after Alfred gathers forces from Somerset, Wiltshire and Hampshire.

Guthrum's army is defeated by Alfred at Edington, ending the major Wessex campaign of the Great Heathen Army.

Guthrum gives hostages to Alfred as part of the terms imposed after the Danish surrender.

Guthrum accepts baptism, hostages and withdrawal, ending the immediate Danish campaign against Wessex.

After Edington Guthrum loses the initiative as men from Hampshire rally to Alfred.

After Edington Guthrum's army retreats through Wiltshire toward Chippenham.

Guthrum retreats to Chippenham with the remains of his army after defeat at Edington.

After defeat at Edington Guthrum is besieged at Chippenham and forced to surrender.

Guthrum is besieged by Alfred after Edington and is forced to negotiate surrender terms.

Guthrum surrenders after the post-Edington siege and agrees to baptism, hostages and withdrawal from Wessex.

Guthrum's army moves toward East Anglia after leaving Wessex under the peace settlement.

Guthrum moved his followers into East Anglia and established a durable Scandinavian kingdom.

Guthrum's Vikings settle in East Anglia and establish a Danish-ruled kingdom.

Guthrum rules East Anglia after leaving Wessex and settling with his followers.

Guthrum rules East Anglia under the Christian name Athelstan after his baptism.

Guthrum leaves Wessex and concentrates his power in East Anglia.

East Anglian Vikings attack Kent and provoke renewed fighting with Alfred's kingdom.

A Viking force from East Anglia breaks peace and renews pressure on Alfred's realm.

Guthrum and Alfred agree terms regulating peace, compensation and relations between English and Danes.

The Treaty of Alfred and Guthrum outlines boundaries and legal rules between Alfred's people and Guthrum's people.

The treaty defines boundaries later associated with the Danelaw and allows Danish self-rule in Guthrum's territory.

Guthrum supported an attack on Rochester that Alfred forced the Danes to abandon.

Guthrum accepted a boundary separating Alfredian territory from regions under Danish authority.

Guthrum agrees terms with Alfred that divide authority and regulate trade between English and Danes.

Guthrum died after ruling the Scandinavian kingdom of East Anglia for about a decade.