Ragnar Lothbrok and the Battle of Ashdown: A Viking Defeat

The Great Heathen Army wasn't invincible. In 871, at the Battle of Ashdown, King Æthelred of Wessex and his younger brother Alfred faced Ivar the Boneless and Halfdan Ragnarsson on a ridge in Berkshire. This episode reconstructs the fighting from the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle and contemporary sources: the shield-wall, the death of King Bagsecg, the role of the Saxon cavalry, and why this defeat forced the Vikings to change strategy. We also explore the bizarre legend that Alfred disguised himself as a minstrel to spy on the Viking camp — a story that may say more about medieval storytelling than actual history. Plus: how Ashdown fits into the broader war between Wessex and the sons of Ragnar Lothbrok. #BattleOfAshdown #ÆthelredOfWessex #AlfredTheGreat #GreatHeathenArmy #IvarTheBoneless #HalfdanRagnarsson #AngloSaxonChronicle #ShieldWall #VikingAge #KingBagsecg #Wessex #Berkshire #MedievalWarfare #VikingDefeat #RagnarLothbrok #History #FexingoHistory #NorthernEurope Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo