872–877
Repton and the division of the army, 873–877
In 872 the army goes from London into Northumbria, where a revolt has driven out Ecgberht, and then winters at Torksey on the Trent. In 873 it moves up the Trent to Repton, a monastery where Mercian kings are buried. In 874 it drives King Burgred overseas. Burgred goes to Rome, dies there and is buried in the church of the English quarter, and the Danes give Mercia to Ceolwulf II, who swears to hold it ready for them whenever they want it.
A silver penny of King Burgred of Mercia, struck 866–870Wikimedia Commons, Classical Numismatic Group, CC BY-SA 2.5 (Burgred, King of Mercia, silver penny (phase IIb); struck 866–868∕870 AD (obverse).jpg)
Excavations at St Wystan’s church in Repton between 1974 and 1988 have found a D-shaped earthwork on the river bank and graves of the army. A building cut down to form a burial mound holds the bones of about 250 people, most of them men aged 15 to 45, and radiocarbon dates published in 2018 place them all in the late 9th century.
The Anglo-Saxon crypt of St Wystan’s church at Repton, a burial place of Mercian kingsWikimedia Commons, Christopher Hilton, CC BY-SA 2.0 (St Wystan's church, Repton, Saxon crypt - geograph.org.uk - 2230951.jpg)
At Repton the army divides. Halfdan takes one part north, winters on the Tyne in 874–875 and in 875 fights the Picts and the Britons of Strathclyde. In 876 he shares out the land of Northumbria, and his men begin to plough and to support themselves. Guthrum, Oscetel and Anwend take the other part to Cambridge for the winter of 874–875.
A sword from a Viking grave at Repton, Derby MuseumWikimedia Commons, Roger from Derby, UK, CC BY 3.0 (Derby Museum Viking Sword.jpg)
In 876 Guthrum’s army slips past the West Saxon levies into Wareham. Alfred makes peace with it, and the Danes swear on their holy ring to leave his kingdom, but they ride away by night to Exeter. In 877 their fleet sailing west is caught by a storm off Swanage and 120 ships are lost. Shut in at Exeter, the Danes give hostages and oaths, and in August they leave for Mercia, where they share out part of the kingdom, leave the rest to Ceolwulf and winter at Gloucester.
Sources
- Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, entries for 872 to 877.
- Martin Biddle and Birthe Kjølbye-Biddle, “Repton and the Vikings”, Antiquity 66 (1992), pp. 36 to 51.
- Dawn Hadley and others, “The Winter Camp of the Viking Great Army, AD 872–3, Torksey, Lincolnshire”, Antiquaries Journal 96 (2016), pp. 23 to 67.
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