Editing Guthrum (section)

==Surprise attack==
{{Main|Battle of Chippenham}}
On [[Epiphany (holiday)|Epiphany]], 6 January 878, Guthrum made a surprise nighttime attack on Alfred and his court at [[Chippenham]]. It being an important feast day in the Christian [[liturgical year]], the Saxons were presumably taken by surprise—indeed it is possible that [[Wulfhere, Ealdorman of Wiltshire]], allowed the attack through either negligence or intent, for, on Alfred's return to power later in 878, Wulfhere and his wife were stripped of their lands.{{sfn|Garmonsway|1972|p=74}}{{sfn|Smyth|1995|pp=446–447}}

Alfred fled the attack with a few retainers and took shelter in the marshes of [[Somerset]], staying in the small village of [[Athelney]]. Over the next few months, according to the ''Anglo Saxon Chronicle'', he built up his force and waged a [[guerrilla war]] against Guthrum:
{{quote|"Alfred: and he, with a small band, with difficulty retreated to the woods and to the fastnesses{{efn|Fastness - Safe place{{sfn|Cambridge Dictionary|2020}}}} of the moors.... at Easter king Alfred with a small band constructed a fortress at Athelney; and from this fortress, with that part of the men of Somerset which was nearest to it, from time to time they fought against the  [viking] army."|source={{harvnb|Giles|1914|loc=ASC 878}}}}
After a few months, Alfred called his loyal men to Egbert's Stone, and from there they travelled to Edington to fight the invaders.{{sfn|Garmonsway|1972|p=76}}