Ashdown, Battle of, was fought during the Danish campaign to conquer England in the late 800’s. In 871, only the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Wessex, led by King Ethelred, still resisted the powerful Danes. After a defeat at Reading in 870, the Anglo-Saxon army had retreated to the Berkshire Downs, a line of hills in southern England. The Danish army followed and met the Anglo-Saxons on the plain of Ashdown. King Ethelred’s brother, Prince Alfred, led the army of Wessex against the Danes, killing one of their leaders and driving the Danish army from the field. Both sides suffered heavy casualties.
The Anglo-Saxon victory came at great cost, as the remnants of their army were defeated not long after and Ethelred was killed. Prince Alfred then became king of Wessex—Alfred the Great. In 872, Alfred made peace with the Danes, agreeing to pay a ransom for their withdrawal from Wessex. However, Anglo-Saxon struggles against the Danes would continue for nearly 200 years. See also Alfred the Great; Anglo-Saxons; Vikings (The Danish Vikings); Wessex.
