New
New
Year 5

Aethelred, Alfred the Great and Wessex

I can describe how the kingdom of Wessex tried to resist the Viking invaders.

New
New
Year 5

Aethelred, Alfred the Great and Wessex

I can describe how the kingdom of Wessex tried to resist the Viking invaders.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. In 870, Wessex was ruled by the young king Aethelred, aided by his younger brother Alfred.
  2. They managed to stall the Viking invasion of Wessex by defeating them at the Battle of Ashdown.
  3. In further battles the Vikings pushed the forces of Wessex back, killing Aethelred in 871.
  4. The new King Alfred fought against the Vikings, now reinforced by the Danish chief Guthrum who had arrived in 872.
  5. Alfred made peace with the Vikings, probably bribing them, they went on to conquer Mercia and then Northumbria.

Keywords

  • Wessex - Wessex was an Anglo-Saxon kingdom in the south of England

  • Defend - when you defend something, you resist an attack made against it

  • Stall - to stall means to stop something making progress

  • Bribe - a bribe means to give someone money or something else of value, often illegally, to persuade that person to do something you want

Common misconception

Pupils may not realise that the Viking army was so large it was able to split its forces which led to its success across Britain.

The Viking army was so large, it could split into different sections and fight in different parts of Britain at the same time. The army could also send reinforcements from one section to support another section in need.

Track where the Viking army had invaded in Britain to show its size and strength.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the below were Anglo-Saxon kingdoms?
Correct answer: Wessex
Correct answer: Northumbria
London
York
Correct answer: Mercia
Q2.
What is the correct definition of a 'heathen'?
a person who is a leader of a widely held religion.
Correct answer: a person who does not belong to a widely held religion.
a person who follows a widely held religion.
Q3.
What was the name of the Viking army that arrived in East Anglia in 865 CE?
The Great Pagan Army
The Great Holy Army
The Great Fierce Army
Correct answer: The Great Heathen Army
Q4.
True or false? The Vikings established camps over summer to continue raids.
True
Correct answer: False
Q5.
Order these events, starting with the earliest.
1 - A huge Viking force, called the Great Heathen Army, arrived in Kent.
2 - The Vikings set up winter camps to continue their raids.
3 - The Great Heathen Army travelled north to East Anglia.
Q6.
What city in the kingdom of Northumbria did the Vikings invade and capture in 866 CE?
Dublin
Jarrow
Iona
Correct answer: York

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the word to the correct description.
Correct Answer:defend,to resist an attack made against something

to resist an attack made against something

Correct Answer:stall,to stop something making progress

to stop something making progress

Correct Answer:bribe,to give someone something to make them do what you want

to give someone something to make them do what you want

Q2.
Which statements are correct about the kingdom of Wessex in 870 CE?
It was the first kingdom that the Vikings had successfully invaded.
Correct answer: It was the only kingdom the Vikings had not successfully invaded.
It was ruled by the young King Alfred.
Correct answer: It was ruled by the young King Aethelred.
Q3.
What was the outcome of the Battle of Reading in 871 CE?
the Anglo-Saxons were victorious
the Vikings withdrew and surrendered
King Aethelred was fatally injured
Correct answer: the Vikings were victorious
Q4.
Complete the sentence. Shortly after King Aethelred died, became king of Wessex.
Correct Answer: Alfred, alfred
Q5.
How did King Alfred defend Wessex?
He defeated the Vikings in battle.
Correct answer: He bribed the Vikings.
He made friends with the Vikings.
He started to trade with the Vikings.
Q6.
Which kingdoms did the Vikings conquer after leaving Wessex in peace?
Correct answer: Mercia
Somerset
Correct answer: Northumbria
Lancaster

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