Danish Control of Northumbria
Danish power in Northumbria forms part of the wider Viking pressure on the remaining English kingdoms.
Role range: 0874-0890
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Guthrum Biography and Timeline
Follow Guthrum through 53 dated historical records for Denmark.
Guthrum, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
53Distinct records
1 of 2Page
874–879Years on this page
874
Invasion of England
By 874 the Danes control much of Northumbria, East Anglia and Mercia, leaving Wessex as the main English resistance.
Role range: 0874-0890
Invasion of Mercia
The Danish army drives Burgred of Mercia into exile and imposes control over much of the kingdom.
Role range: 0874-0890
Partition of Mercia
The Danes divide Mercia and install Ceolwulf as a client ruler in the remaining Mercian kingdom.
Role range: 0874-0890
875
Great Army
Guthrum becomes one of the principal leaders of the southern section of the Great Army.
Role range: 0875-0890
Invasion of Wessex
Guthrum leads Viking operations against Wessex after the Great Army divides.
Role range: 0875-0890
Winter at Cambridge
Guthrum led the southern division of the army to winter at Cambridge.
876
Great Heathen Army
Guthrum seizes Wareham with the southern army and compels Alfred to negotiate terms and hostages.
Role range: 0875-0890
Invasion of England
Guthrum's army advances into Wessex and seizes Wareham before negotiating with Alfred.
Role range: 0875-0890
Invasion of Wessex
Guthrum pushes into Wessex and forces Alfred into negotiations after occupying Wareham.
Role range: 0875-0890
Occupation of Wareham
Guthrum occupies Wareham and agrees to give hostages and swear oaths to Alfred.
Role range: 0875-0890
Siege of Wareham
Alfred surrounds Guthrum's Danish army at Wareham and forces negotiations.
Role range: 0875-0890
Occupation of Wareham
Guthrum occupied Wareham and negotiated with Alfred before breaking the agreed peace.
877
Great Heathen Army
Guthrum moves from Wareham to Exeter before Alfred contains the Danish army and forces its withdrawal.
Role range: 0875-0890
Invasion of Mercia
Danish control in Mercia supports Guthrum's wider campaign against the remaining English resistance.
Role range: 0875-0890
Occupation of Exeter
Guthrum's army moves from Wareham to Exeter, where Alfred later contains the Danish force.
Role range: 0875-0890
Siege of Exeter
Alfred contains Guthrum's army at Exeter while a Viking reinforcement fleet is damaged by storms.
Role range: 0875-0890
Occupation of Exeter
Guthrum moved to Exeter and accepted another settlement after a Danish fleet was damaged by storms.
878
Invasion of Wessex
Guthrum launches a surprise midwinter attack on Alfred at Chippenham.
Role range: 0875-0890
Occupation of Chippenham
Guthrum surprises Alfred at Chippenham and forces the West Saxon king into temporary refuge.
Role range: 0875-0890
Capture of Chippenham
Guthrum surprised Alfred at Chippenham and temporarily overran much of Wessex.
Battle of Edington
Guthrum is defeated by Alfred at Edington and retreats to Chippenham.
Role range: 0875-0890
Battle of Edington
Guthrum's shield wall is broken by Alfred's army during the decisive West Saxon victory at Edington.
Role range: 0875-0890
Battle of Edington
Guthrum faces Alfred's rallied West Saxon army after Alfred gathers forces from Somerset, Wiltshire and Hampshire.
Role range: 0875-0890
Great Heathen Army
Guthrum's army is defeated by Alfred at Edington, ending the major Wessex campaign of the Great Heathen Army.
Role range: 0875-0890
Hostages
Guthrum gives hostages to Alfred as part of the terms imposed after the Danish surrender.
Role range: 0875-0890
Result of Surrender of Guthrum and the Danish Army
Guthrum accepts baptism, hostages and withdrawal, ending the immediate Danish campaign against Wessex.
Role range: 0875-0890
Retreat from Hampshire
After Edington Guthrum loses the initiative as men from Hampshire rally to Alfred.
Role range: 0875-0890
Retreat from Wiltshire
After Edington Guthrum's army retreats through Wiltshire toward Chippenham.
Role range: 0875-0890
Retreat to Chippenham
Guthrum retreats to Chippenham with the remains of his army after defeat at Edington.
Role range: 0875-0890
Siege of Chippenham
After defeat at Edington Guthrum is besieged at Chippenham and forced to surrender.
Role range: 0875-0890
Siege of Chippenham
Guthrum is besieged by Alfred after Edington and is forced to negotiate surrender terms.
Role range: 0875-0890
Surrender of Guthrum and the Danish Army
Guthrum surrenders after the post-Edington siege and agrees to baptism, hostages and withdrawal from Wessex.
Role range: 0875-0890
Baptism
Guthrum accepts Christian baptism after his surrender, with Alfred standing as his sponsor.
Role range: 0875-0890
Conversion
Guthrum's conversion is confirmed as part of the post-Edington settlement with Alfred.
Role range: 0875-0890
Invasion of England
Guthrum leads the Danish invasion that threatens the survival of Alfred's kingdom.
Role range: 0875-0890
Settlement
After Edington Guthrum agrees to leave Wessex, opening the way for a later territorial settlement.
Role range: 0875-0890
Treaty of Wedmore
Guthrum accepts baptism and agrees to withdraw from Wessex under the settlement following Edington.
Role range: 0875-0890
879
Settlement in East Anglia
Guthrum's army moves toward East Anglia after leaving Wessex under the peace settlement.
Role range: 0875-0890
Settlement in East Anglia
Guthrum moved his followers into East Anglia and established a durable Scandinavian kingdom.
Role range: 0880-0890
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.