Ashdown Battle of

Battle that took place on the 8th January 871 in which , at the age of 21, Alfred the Great and the West Saxons did battle with the Danes. Ashdown is in Berkshire. It could be considered a pyrrhic victory ( won at high cost ) as many lives were lost on both sides. This battle was one of eight that Alfred had engaged in that year. He managed to obtain a respite from the superior resources of the Danes by paying them danegeld. During this fragile time of peace he planned his next move.