Fire from the Fens, c.1071 by Chris Collingwood   In the year 1070, Saxon England lay under Norman oppression. Only one last centre of resistance remained. The Isle of Ely in the Fenlands of East Anglia. Here, Hereward Leofricson, son of Earl Leofric and Lady Godiva, emerged as a warrior leader. Struggling against overwhelming odds in his defiance of the Normans. The legend of Hereward the Wake was born. Alfred The Great by Chris Collingwood   First in the series of great British Kings from the middle ages. The Battle of Brunanburh   937 AD. The west Saxon Ruler Athelstan son of Edward the Elder and Grandson of Alfred the great. Had brought under his control the Norse Kingdom of York and the Kingdom of the Britans, Strathclyde.  However when he marched into Scotland, the North erupted into war against the Saxon King. against him were the Picts, and Scots of Constantine III, Britain's as well as Vikings under King Olaf Godfreyson of Dublin. The combined force fought against Athelstan's army in a epic two day battle at Brunanburg (situated now near the border of Scotland and England) The Saxons of Wessex and Mercia and some Danes won a great victory against the Northern Foe.  After this battle Athelstan controlled most of England, this position was later held by his  brothers King Edmund the 1st and later King Edred.   Sons of Odin by Chris Collingwood  A Viking raid on the western coast of England 890 AD.

Hingston Down 837 The Danish were joined by the people of Cornwall in an attack on southwestern Britain but at Hingston Down they were met by King Egbert of Wessex. His army defeated them and as a result Cornwall was added to his empire. Aclea 851 Aclea, south of the Thames, was a major battle between the Danish invaders and the Saxon King of Wessex (Ethelwulf). At Aclea King Ethelwulf and his army and succeeded in repelling the Danes after a bitter battle. York 867 A group of Danes led by Ivan the Boneless ventured toward York to avenge Ivan's father who was killed in Northumbria. The two kings of Northumbria united their armies and drove the Danes against the city walls. The advantage was not pursued properly and in the ensuing fight both kings were killed and many men besides. York fell to the Danish and became a stronghold. Hoxne 870 The battle was fought between Edmund king of East Anglia and the Vikings, and resulted in defeat for the Saxons. It is alleged that Edmund was beheaded for refusing to renounce Christianity. Ashdown 871 The Vikings had managed to take many of the Saxon kingdoms and had occupied London with a camp at Reading but Wessex remained unconquered. King Ethelred I and his brother Alfred led an army to meet the charge of the Vikings. On January 8th Alfred led the charge of the Saxons and when the Vikings retreated they pursued. Reading 871 Ethelred I and brother Alfred led an assault on the Danish stronghold of Reading. Although the Saxons charged the camp they could not penetrate the entrenchments and were driven from the field taking heavy casualties. Wilton 871 The death of Ethelred I meant that Alfred had to take over the kingdom of Wessex. It was then that the Vikings assaulted Wilton though they were held off at first, when they faked a retreat the Saxon army were taken in and pursued. The Danes turned about and attacked with great success. Alfred's army was depleted and so he offered a tribute to the Danes (Danegeld) if they would withdraw to London. Chippenham 878 The Danes under new leadership of Guthrum had started to raid neighbouring counties in 877 despite the 5 year peace treaty secured by Alfred. In January the Danes took Alfred's headquarters, Chippenham, by storm. Surprised, many of the Saxons army were killed and Alfred became a fugitive at Athelney in Somersetshire. Edington 878 It was here that Alfred the Great launched his counteroffensive against the Vikings in Wiltshire. The Saxon warriors marched toward the Danes camped at Chippenham while the Danes marched towards the Saxons. They met at Edington and battled at close quarters for hours until Alfred's army gained the upper hand. Defeated, Guthrum, leader of the Danes, surrendered and was later baptized. All southern Britain came under the rule of Alfred. Tettenhall 910 Alfred the Great died in 899 leaving his son Edward and daughter Ethelfleda to succeed. Peace between the Saxons and Danes was broken by the Vikings and forced Edward to fight the battle of Tettenhall. Edward the Elder won a decisive victory and as a result expanded his rule to the Humber. Tempsford 918 After Tettenhall, Edward set about reducing the Danelaw until finally storming the Tempsford fortress in 918. Guthrum II was killed and resistance waned. When Ethelfleda (Edwards sister) died the two Saxon crowns were united. Maldon 991 During Ethelred II reign Viking invaders landed at Maldon and demanded tribute which was refused by the Alderman of Essex. In turn he and most of his men were slaughtered. Ethelred tried to buy off the invaders but in the end was forced to flee leaving King Sweyn I (Forkbeard) to become king of England. Nairn 1009 Sweyn I landed on the Moray Firth coast with his army laid siege to the town of Nairn. King Malcolm II sent an army to relieve the town and drove the Danes back. Malcolm himself was wounded in the action. Mortlack 1010 The battle took place after the Vikings invaded Banff County and King Malcolm II organised an army to repel them. The Scots' army managed to drive the Danes back to their ships. Pen 1016 King Sweyn I died and Ethelred II's son Edmund (Ironside) decided to claim the throne. However, Canute (Sweyn's son) arrived to claim the throne and so a battle ensued. Edmund won and when his father died claimed the throne. Ashingdon 1016 The contest for the throne between Edmund Ironside and Canute was decided at Ashingdon on 16th October. Edmund's brother-in-law deserted to the Danes with some men giving an advantage to the Danes. Canute's army to defeated Edmund's Saxons but the two leaders made peace. Canute got Edmund's kingdom apart from Wessex which remained under Edmund's rule.