BattlefieldsGuthrum Baptism at Aller and Peace of Wedmore 878
Early Medieval

Guthrum Baptism at Aller and Peace of Wedmore 878

878
Somerset, England
Era
Early Medieval
Battle Type
Skirmish
Location
Somerset, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Guthrum
Forces
Guthrum's Danes c.3000–4000; parley
VS
Victor
Alfred
Forces
Alfred's forces c.3000–4000
Outcome
Guthrum accepted baptism with Alfred as godfather; Peace agreed; Danelaw boundary established; Danish army withdrew from Wessex
The Battle

History & Significance

Following his defeat at Edington, Guthrum surrendered to Alfred. Twelve days after the baptism ceremony at Aller in Somerset, the chrism-loosing ceremony was held at Wedmore. Guthrum took the Christian name Aethelstan. The subsequent Peace of Wedmore and later Treaty of Alfred and Guthrum defined the Danelaw boundary. This was one of the most consequential diplomatic moments in early medieval English history.

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