Alfred the Great is the most famous Anglo-Saxon king, hailed for fighting off the Vikings and kick-starting the unification of England.

He became the King of Wessex in 871 at the age of 21. Seven years later a Viking invasion forced him to flee to the Somerset marshes – supposedly when he burnt the peasant woman’s cakes, a legend written by 12th century chroniclers and for which he is best-known. After a period of guerrilla warfare, he defeated the Vikings in 878 at the Battle of Edington.

The records show little about Ceolwulf II. He came to power in Mercia after Burgred was deposed by the Vikings. The pro-Wessex chronicles suggest he was a puppet of the Vikings, though the new evidence suggests this was false and instead he had an alliance with Alfred against the invaders.

After the alliance collapsed, Ceolwulf vanished, with no further reference made to him after 879, although he may have continued ruling. In 883 Ethelred took control of the territory, under the lordship of Alfred.