The Battle of Edington (May 878) was a battle which took place near Edington in the county of Wiltshire in the south-west of England.

In the 9th century, the Danes had been steadily invading England, pushing and prodding the Anglo-Saxon residents. They held the northeast area of the country. A defeat at Ashdown had paused, but not halted their advance. Alfred the Great had been hiding in a marsh throught the Winter. When Spring arrived, he summoned his forces and marched to Edington, where he challenged the Northmen to a battle. He then defeated the Vikings (or Danes) under Guthrum, fighting behind a protective wall of shields, reminiscent of tactics used by the Roman legions.

After fighting for much of the day, the Danes fled to what became the Danelaw, surrendering at Chippenham, their own fortress, after a 14 day siege. They then asked for quarter, which was given. The king of the Vikings was afterwards baptized into the Christian church. Alfred stood godfather to him and raised him from the font. Alfred could have tortured and killed them, and slaughtered them to a man, for he had them in his power... but he wished to make a lasting peace with these men, to share the land with them rather than drive them off.

See also

• British military history