The Saxons & Vikings
face the enemy. Wessex became the centre of resistance. The Danes had made an attempt to
conquer Wessex, but king Egbert had defeated them. In 871 the Danes invaded Wessex again.
Its king Ethelred I died, his brother Alfred, became king. Alfred could think of only one
solution bribery. He paid the Danes money to leave Wessex alone. They did but only for 4
years. In 876 the Danes attacked again. Alfred won several victories and defeated the Danes in
AD 878.
The treaty of Wedmore in 878 divided England. The Danes promised to leave Wessex & part
of Mercia. They settled in the north-western part in a region which from that time was called
the Danelaw. The Danes spoke their language & kept to their way of life.'
In time of peace the Great King Alfred managed to raise an army, the fyrd, in which every
free peasant had to serve. They formed a levy of infantrymen. Knights with good armour
formed and army on horseback. Half of the infantrymen were serving, half working at home
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