In the spring Alfred marched forth and again attacked the Danes. They
were intrenched in a camp at Edington, Wiltshire. He surrounded them,
and starved them into complete submission. They had to confess that
Alfred's muscular Christians were more than a match for the most
stalwart heathen. The Danish leader swore to maintain a peace, called
the Peace or Treaty of Wedmore. (See maps facing p. 32 and p. 38.)
More than this, the discomfited warrior sealed the oath with his
baptism,--an admission that Alfred had not only beaten him but
converted him as well.
By the Treaty of Wedmore, 878, the Danes bound themselves to remain
north and east of a line drawn from London to Chester, following the
old Roman road called Watling Street. All south of this line,
including a district around London, was recognized as the dominions of
Alfred, whose chief city, or capital, was Winchester. (See map facing
p. 32.)
By this treaty the Danes got much the larger part of England (called
the Danelaw), but they acknowledged Alfred as their Overlord. He thus
became, in name at least, what his predecessor, Egbert (S49), had
claimed to be,--supreme ruler of the whole country, though the highest
title he ever assumed was "King of the Saxons or English."