We were delighted to have Dr Toby Purser (University of Northampton) take us to the Viking invasion of England.
You can watch a recording of the talk here.
Toby Purser is the author of a recent book ‘‘The Making of England: From Rome to Reformation”.
The talk centred on Alfred and Guthrum because Guthrum is the leader of the great army that wintered in England and defeated the other kingdoms. Alfred defeats him at Edington in 878 and brings him to the treaty of Welre, which creates the Danelaw. Guthrum is christened Aethelstan. Alfred’s victory and subsequent defence of Wessex left a strong legacy for his children and grandson Aethelstan to conquer the Danish territories and create the new kingdom of England c. 927.
No Guthrum, no Alfred, no Alfred, no England….
