BattlefieldsAlfred Fortifies London 886
Early Medieval

Alfred Fortifies London 886

886
Middlesex, England
Also known as: Alfred rebuilds London 886 · Restoration of London 886
Era
Early Medieval
Battle Type
Siege
Location
Middlesex, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Danes occupying London
Forces
Danish garrison in London
VS
Victor
Wessex (Alfred)
Forces
West Saxon army
Outcome
London restored to English control; Alfred received submission of all English not under Danish rule
The Battle

History & Significance

Alfred captured and restored London in 886 and entrusted it to his son-in-law Aethelred of Mercia. The restoration was a major political event: the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records that all the English people who were not under subjection to the Danes submitted to Alfred. This was the moment when Alfred began to be recognised as leader of all free English.

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