For generations, the Anglo-Sex and dominance in Eastern Britain had gone largely unchallenged.

In the face of this, the war-like vagabonds that first came to these lands had transformed into gentry.

Power had calcified into the hands of a few.

War had become a ritualized way for dynasties to settle arguments over wealth,

and kingdoms had grown complacent.

Into this arena entered the Northmen,

skilled opportunists who saw that the systems that supported these dynasties were outmoded

and could be wielded against them, and they were stunningly effective.

In barely over a decade, all of the heptarchy had fallen to the Danish sword.

Most recently, Wessex, the last free Anglo-Saxon kingdom, had fallen to Gothron.

All was lost.

Or so many thought.

Hidden in the marshes of Somerset, Alfred prepared his next move.

He lost his crown, his kingdom, and God knows what was happening with his family,

but he wasn't out of the fight yet.

He still had a small band of supporters.

And while it would be difficult, what he had would have to be enough.

The kingdom needed to be retaken, and Alfred had a plan.

And so the battle will continue.

And Alfred will become great in season 6 of the British History Podcast.

Wessex.