Vikings vs Anglo-Saxons
The conflict between Vikings and Anglo-Saxons for control of England: Viking raids, Alfred the Great's resistance, the Danelaw, Athelstan as first king of all England, Edward the Confessor
What a learner can do afterwards
- Describe the Viking raids on Anglo-Saxon England and their impact
- Explain who Alfred the Great was and why he was important
- Describe what the Danelaw was (the area of England under Viking control)
The lesson
You already know Vikings sailed to England in longships to raid villages and monasteries. After years of raids, the Vikings wanted more than treasure. They wanted to conquer whole kingdoms and rule the land.
One Anglo-Saxon king refused to give up: Alfred of Wessex. Vikings once chased him so hard he had to hide in a farmhouse. A story says he was so worried about his army that he let some cakes burn on the fire without noticing. He did not stay hidden for long. Alfred rebuilt his army, defeated the Vikings in battle, and forced them to agree to peace.
Because of Alfred, that peace treaty split England with a line. East of the line, Vikings kept control and lived by their own laws, in an area called the Danelaw. West of the line, Alfred and his family still ruled the Anglo-Saxons. Years later, Alfred's grandson Athelstan pushed the Vikings back even further and became the first king to rule all of England as one country.
Alfred is the only English king ever called 'the Great'. Remember why: he is the one who stopped the Vikings from taking over every Anglo-Saxon kingdom.
Vikings tried to conquer England, but Alfred the Great held them off, the land was split by the Danelaw, and his family later united all of England.
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