871

Centuries: 8th century - 9th century - 10th century

Decades: 820s 830s 840s 850s 860s - 870s - 880s 890s 900s 910s 920s

Years: 866 867 868 869 870 - 871 - 872 873 874 875 876

• Nine battles are fought between the Danes and Wessex. Of two of them the place and date are not recorded, the others were Englesfield[?] (31 December 870), [[Battle of Reading|Reading (4 January), Ashdown[?] (8 January), Basing[?] (22 January), Merton[?] (22 March), Wilton (May).
• Alfred the Great succeeds as king of Wessex after Ethelred's death.
• After the battle at Wilton, peace is made, with the Danes and Alfred each governing part of England.
• Rhodri the Great inherits Seisyllwig[?], thus uniting most of Wales under his rule
• Louis II captures Ban, the headquarters of the Saracens.
• Alfred makes Winchester to his capital.

Births

Deaths

• Ethelred of Wessex (died in the battle of Merton[?])