Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Scandinavian Britain - I. The Earlies Raids
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have been a nominal marriage of policy, for as he had
given his daughter to the Mercian king in order to
strengthen Wessex on the north against the Vikings, so
now he made an alliance with the Franks to secure as
far as possible the co-operation of the great southern
power in the same cause. On his arrival home he
found his son Æthelbald in possession of the throne,
and thenceforward contented himself with the eastern
half of his old kingdom. During his lifetime we hear of
no more Viking attacks ; his policy was successful, not
only for himself, but for Æthelbald, who succeeded
him, and the peace lasted into the days of Æthelberht,
the brother who followed. So secure did the West-Saxons
feel, that when at last a body of Vikings, perhaps
under Völund who was adventuring at this time
in France, suddenly landed and made a dash upon
Winchester, the capital city of the realm, it was only
after the storm and sack of the town that the local
fyrd was got together. Then the Hampshire and
Berkshire men intercepted the raiders, and put them
to flight with great slaughter. But the tide was
beginning to turn.
In 865 "the heathen army sat down in Thanet, and
made peace with the men of Kent, and the men of
Kent promised them money for the peace ;
and during the peace and the promise of money, the army
stole away by night and ravaged all Kent to the eastward."
This is a noteworthy entry, for it marks the
first payment of the Danegeld which afterwards became
such a burden to England ; and it is the first
example of the "Danish breach of faith" of which
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