Today in History: The Battle of Englefield

On this day (December 31) in 870, Earl Aethulwulf defeated the Danes at the Battle of Englefield in modern day Berkshire. It was one of many back and forth battles in the invasion which almost ended Anglo-Saxon independence in England. The Danes were driven back to their fortification in Reading where four days later, King Ethelred, and his brother who would become Alfred the Great, assaulted the Vikings with the main West Saxon army. They were defeated and Earl Aethulwulf, who had led the defense four days earlier, was killed.