Today in 878, the Battle of Edington: Alfred the Great and his West Saxon army defeat Viking army of Guthrum the Old.
This scene represents an attempt to instil weapon skills in a group of the Wessex fyrd during the reign of Alfred the Great. The seated monarch views the efforts of two warriors hurling javelins. The warriors are all men of the same hundred (an administrative sub-division of a shire), and will march together on campaign, and in battle will serve in the unit commanded by their shire- reeve who stands at the left hand of the king. Tents provided shelter for Anglo-Saxon warriors during musters and when on campaign. The basic structure of an Anglo-Saxon tent seems to have been similar to that of a modern ridge tent. The warriors are not fully equipped for battle but rather are dressed in long-sleeved Anglo-Saxon tunics, and tight leggings which are probably similar to the hose of the later medieval period.
Artwork by Gerry Embleton from the book 'Anglo-Saxon Thegn AD 449–1066.'