Alfred the Great strikes back
The Watlington Hoard is evidence of the struggles between Vikings and Anglo-Saxons as the tide turned in Alfred’s favour
The late ninth century was a time of great tumult in Britain. In England, the Viking ‘Great Army’ conquered the kingdoms of Northumbria and East Anglia, and seized control of much of Mercia. Then, in the mid- 0s, it turned its sights on Wessex. Even the soon-to-be great King Alfred was forced into hiding on the Somerset Levels.
But, in , Alfred emerged from Athelney, defeating the Vikings at the battle of Edington. The Viking leader, Guthrum, sued for peace with Alfred and agreed to leave Wessex. After spending the winter of in Cirencester, the Vikings headed to East Anglia to settle, probably taking a route along the Icknield Way in southern Oxfordshire. It was here, near to the small town of Watlington, that detectorist ,ames Mather made a discovery that sheds light on this moment in history.
The find, known as the 9atlington Hoard, is made up of Viking silver jewellery and ingots, plus 203 silver coins. It is the first large Viking hoard from the Upper Thames Valley, made even more significant by the Rresence of the coins. These consist mainly of rare pennies of Alfred the Great reigned 1– and Ceolwulf II of Mercia –c , Rroduced using the same design for both kings.
Two-hundred of the pennies belong to two joint designs: the Cross-and-.o\enge of which there are 1 and the Two 'mRerors of which there are 13 . &eRicting two rulers below an angel, it is the latter design, copying a late Roman gold coin, that has attracted the most attention. But both types essentially suggest the same thing a recognition of the benefits of economic cooperation.
9esseZ and Mercia had issued coins using shared designs since the 0s, an alliance that the coins show continued under Alfred and Ceolwulf, even if historical documents said otherwise.
The Anglo-SaZon Chronicle written in 9esseZ from the 0s described Ceolwulf as pa foolish king’s thegn”, a puppet of the Vikings. Historians now see him diʘerently, acceRting him as the king of the Mercians, with the coinage an important part of his rehabilitation. The coins indicate that Alfred and Ceolwulfos Rennies were probably struck in large numbers, too, so this was no ʚeeting alliance.
This is not the only way in which the coins are important: diʘerences in inscriRtions, the style of the coin design and the names of moneyers reveal a great deal about the chronology of the coin production and the mints where they were struck, probably at Canterbury, .ondon and 9inchester, with another in Mercia.
The Watlington Hoard (now on disRlay at the Ashmolean Museum may bring to light new knowledge about Alfred and Ceolwulf, but the chances are it was buried by a member of the Viking Great Army as it made that journey to East Anglia. In fact, the hoard may have been part of the peace deal struck between Alfred’s Wessex and Guthrum’s Vikings following the great clash at Edington.
John Naylor, national finds adviser, #sJOolean /WseWO