The Rise of Wessex: How a Kingdom Resisted the Vikings

The Viking Resistance of Wessex

The Vikings defeated all the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms with one exception: Wessex. How was Wessex able to resist the Viking attacks?

Initially, the most important answer is the element of time. Because the attacks came from the North to the South, Wessex had time to anticipate the attacks and prepare. They were not caught by surprise.

Wessex adopted several key measures to combat the Vikings:

Defensive Measures

1. The Creation of Burhs

Wessex created strong defensive positions called Burhs. These structures provided a safe haven for people to defend themselves. Usually, these were created with the same structure (a kind of cross). We know that there were around 30 Burhs in Wessex thanks to a document of the age. In the future, we will see towns and cities emerging from these structures.

2. Creation of the "Fyrd"

Wessex established the "fyrd," a regular standing army. It was formed by men dedicated exclusively to war. These groups of professional warriors allowed Wessex to maintain a strong defense.

3. Establishment of a Navy

The key to the success of the Vikings was their ships, usually a "drakkar." These ships were capable of transporting 70 men with animals, weapons, and other belongings. They were also light enough that the whole crew could carry the boat on their shoulders if necessary. The ships were even strong enough to face the seas on the North-Atlantic. This was a major factor in the Vikings' domination.

Wessex was the first kingdom to sustain naval confrontations with the Vikings.

The Reign of King Alfred "The Great"

The King of Wessex, King Alfred "The Great," was largely responsible for the adoption of these measures and for the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. He stands as a very prominent figure in English history. For many people, he is considered the first king of England.

The Danelaw and the Reconquest

While Wessex successfully stopped the Vikings from conquering their kingdom, there was still a Viking settlement in the territory we know as the "Danelaw." At a critical moment, Wessex was the only land that was not under Viking occupation. Due to the Viking occupation, there are many areas that end in –by and –thorn because they were originally Viking locations.

King Alfred was the one that began the reconquest of the Danelaw. He recovered London in the year 886 AD. However, he did not finish the job. It took over five generations to fully reconquer the Danelaw.

In the year 979 AD, the reconquest of the Danelaw was completed. A number of Anglo-Saxon kings continued fighting and reconquering the territory. King Aetheldred "the Unready" was the first king to enjoy a comfortable position after the reconquest was complete.

So what happened to the Vikings who had settled in the Danelaw? Many families in the Danelaw remained of Viking origin and kept Viking rules. There was a general mixture of cultures.