Alfred and Guthram’s Peace
King Alfred the Great and the Viking King, Guthram, made a peace agreement. The exact date of the treaty is not known. Alfred and Guthram’s peace is a short and simple document, though hugely significant. It denotes boundaries, establishes rules for justice and enacts laws that would enable trade between the Saxons and Vikings. The peace did not stop clashes between the Saxons and Danes but is viewed as the effective end of open war between the two sides.
The first article of the peace treaty is the most famous. It makes the boundary between the Saxon held lands and the sphere of Viking influence clear. The Thames and Watling Street are mentioned. It essentially draws a diagonal line across the country that denotes the border. Some historians use this as the beginning of Danelaw, others consider it to be a fluid boundary with Danelaw coming later.
The second article states the level of compensation that must be paid should the peace be broken and somebody killed. The rate is incredibly high, noted by some historians as being unaffordable for most. This could be a deterrent, though as it is unaffordable, some historians argue that it may have been counterproductive.
The third article notes the types and amount of evidence required for a manslaughter/murder trial to be held.
The fourth relates to trust in trading agreements. The purchaser must know the person warranting a transaction. This is a simple point of law.
The last article relates to trading between the Saxons and the Danes. As a means of ensuring that trade is conducted safely, hostages needed to be given in lieu of good behaviour whilst trading beyond the boundary set out in article one.
Source: Alfred and Guthram’s Peace
This is the peace that King Alfred and King Guthrum, and the witan of all the English nation, and all the people that are in East Anglia, have all ordained and with oaths confirmed, for themselves and for their descendants, as well forborn as for unborn, who reck of God’s mercy or of ours.
1. Concerning our land boundaries: Up on the Thames, and then up on the Lea, and along the Lea unto its source, then straight to Bedford, then up on the Ouse unto Watling Street.
2. Then is this: If a man be slain, we estimate all equally dear, English and Danish, at viii half marks of pure gold; except the ceorl who resides on rented land and their [the Danes’] freedmen; they also are equally dear, either atcc. shillings.
3. And if a king’s thegn be accused of manslaying, if he dare clear himself on oath, let him do that with 12 king’s thegns. If any one accuse that man whois of less degree than the king’s thegn, let him clear himself with xi of his equals and with one king’s thegn. And so in every suit which may be more than mancuses. [A money of account representing thirty pence] And if he dare not, let him pay for it threefold, as it may be valued.
4. And that every man know his warrantor in acquiring slaves and horses and oxen.
5. And we all ordained on that day that the oaths were sworn, that neither bond nor free might go to the host without leave, no more than any of them to us. But if it happen that from necessity any of them will have traffic with us or we with them, with cattle and with goods, that is to be allowed in this wise: that hostages be given in pledge of peace, and as evidence whereby it may be known that the party has a clean back.
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