Æthelred of Wessex of Mercia, appealed to him for help against the Vikings. Æthelred and his brother, the future Alfred the Great, led a West Saxon army to Nottingham, but there was no decisive battle, and Burgred bought off the Vikings. In 874 the Vikings defeated Burgred and drove him into exile. In 870 the Vikings turned their attention to Wessex, and on 4 January 871 at the Battle of Reading, Æthelred suffered a heavy defeat. Although he was able to re-form his army in time to win a victory at the Battle of Ashdown, he suffered further defeats on 22 January at
Battle of Ashdown the 's expansion 'Viking Conquest'. The battle might take place before its historical date though, depending on player's choices. During the battle, the player character will clash against the Dane invaders aided by the West Seaxe army, and take revenge on Sven Bull Neck, a fictional Viking character and main antagonist. Apart from this, most of the battle is historically accurate, as it takes place in a similar location and involves some historical figures who took action during the battle. Battle of Ashdown The Battle of Ashdown, in Berkshire (possibly the part now in Oxfordshire), took place on 8 January