Sondwic, Kingdom of Kent, 882 AD
Sondwic, Kingdom of Kent, 882 ADWhether he had intended it as part of an overall strategy or not, King Alfred had established a new order between 878 and 880. Some of his decisions were taken literally on the hoof, as he confessed to Deormund. Nonetheless, his creation of burhs in London, Gloucester, and Oxford enhanced and consolidated his political, military, social, and economic control of the population of Mercia and Wessex. He now began to call himself King of the Anglo-Saxons, whereas he had used King of the Saxons. Ealdorman Aethelred of Mercia, now his son-in-law, was included in an active partnership with Alfred.
on the hoofThe situation drove Alfred’s thoughts to the water. As he told Ealdorman Raedulf, “We have secured the land. Now we must mak
