The Vikings Plunder then Settle

Wessex Before Alfred

Summary: Video – Viking Invasions

• Changing fortunes of English kingdoms– Northumbria predominates in 7th century– Mercia expands power in 8th century,

particularly under Offa – Mercia declines after death of Offa in 799;

Wessex which was previously disorganized consolidated by Ecgbehrt (Egbert), his son, Aethelwulf and grandson, Alfred

Summary: Video – Viking Invasions

790s: Scattershot raids on monasteries and churches

840s: Larger invading fleets

850s: Fleets no longer return to homelands but overwinter and resume raids the following spring

865: Great Army raids London and YorkCaptures territory in all kingdoms but Wessex

Danelaw – territory of Danes

Heptarchy

• Expansion by moving against British• Consolidation by subjugation of less

powerful members• Some notes on religion and children

Battle for Chester 613

• Æthelfrith, unites Northumbria• Britons (kingdom of Powys) supported by

monks of Bangor• Victory for Northumbria

– “1,200 monks won the crown of martyrdom”

Mercia – Northern and western borders

Casualties, Mass grave at Heronbridge

• Warrior 1– Age 36-45– Spinal damage from heavy

lifting– Four healed depression

fractures– Hand injury– Three sword blows to the

head

• Warrior 2– 18-25– Five head wounds

Laws of Ine – Keeping the Sabbath

• If a slave works on Sunday by his lord's command, he shall become free, and the lord shall pay a fine of 30 shillings.

• If, however, the slave works without the cognisance of his master, he shall undergo the lash or pay the fine in lieu thereof.

• If, however, a freeman works on that day, except by his lord's command, he shall be reduced to slavery, or [pay a fine of] 60 shillings. A priest shall pay a double fine.

Laws of Ine (~690) - Children

• Child of 10 may be accessory to theft (later raised to age 12)

• Money given for maintenance of foundlings• No compensation given a man for an

illegitimate child he has not acknowledged

Heptarchy

• Three major powers: Northumbria, Mercia and later Wessex

• New mark of prestige – coinage• New instrument for trade - coinage

Gold tremissis (shilling) of Eadbald of Kent, ~630

Thrymsa, 650-670

Sceatta (or pening)

Offa and the World Beyond

Cynethryth, Queen of Mercia

Mercia vs. Wessex

Wessex DynastyEcgberht

(802-839)

Æthelwulf

(839-858)

Æthelbald(858-860)

Æthelberht(858-865)

Æthelred(865-871)

Alfred(871-899)

Wessex Rises

• Before Ecgberht, weak and disputed kingship

• Ecgberht from Kent• 805-7 Kent and Sussex under Wessex

control• 825 Battle of Ellendun (Wroughton)• 839 Anoints his son, Æthelwulf

Beginning of Rise of Wessex

Ecgbehrt

Æthelwulf

• 838 Overlord of Kent• 853 In charge of

Mercia• Base at Winchester• 856 marries Judith,

daughter of Charles the Bold

Æthelwulf (839-856)

• 840 Battle with Vikings at Carhampton• 848 Alfred born• 850 Æthelstan drives off Vikings at

Sandwich, Kent• 854 Daughter marries Burgred, King of

Mercia

Æthelwulf Royal Rings Æthelswith

Aethelwulf’s sons

• 856 Aethelwulf goes to Rome– Æthelbald West Saxons– Æthelberht Kent

• 858 Aethelwulf dies• ~858 Æthelbald m. Judith• 871 Æthelred I killed in battle

w. Vikings

Saxon Winchester