Editing Guthrum (section)

==The Great Army==
{{main|Great Heathen Army}}
[[File:Healfdene coin.png|thumb|Coin of King Halfdan, London 872{{sfn|Laust Krambs|2024|p=1}}]]
Guthrum, a nephew of [[Horik II]] of Denmark and a failed candidate for a share of the Danish throne, was one of the leaders of the Great Summer Army, which in April 871 joined forces with the "Great Danish Army" based at Reading. The combined army had several military engagements with the West Saxons before wintering in [[Anglo-Saxon London|London]] in  871–872. Coins minted in London during this period bear the name [[Halfdan Ragnarsson|Halfdan]], identifying him as its leader.{{sfn|Costambeys|2008}}{{sfn|Sturdy|1995|p=146}}

In the autumn of 872, the Great Army returned to Northumbria to quell a revolt{{efn|This explanation for the army's move north has been challenged, and it has been suggested the relocation was a result of a war with Mercia.{{sfn|Downham|2007|p=69}}}} against its puppet-regent [[Ecgberht I of Northumbria]].{{sfn|Forte|Oram|Pedersen|2005|pp=73–74}} The Army overwintered at [[Torksey]], and was then reported as being in the [[Repton]] district a year later. It conquered Mercia in 874, with [[Burgred of Mercia]] being deposed and replaced by a Danish puppet-regent, [[Ceolwulf II of Mercia|Ceolwulf]].{{sfn|Forte|Oram|Pedersen|2005|pp=73–74}}

Following this victory, the Great Army split in two&nbsp;– one half under Halfdan heading north to fight against the [[Picts]] and [[Celtic Britons|Britons]] of [[Kingdom of Strathclyde|Strathclyde]], and the other half under Guthrum heading south to continue fighting against Wessex.{{sfn|Costambeys|2008}}