[1] In late December 870 the Vikings invaded Wessex and occupied Reading.

There was then a lull of two months until the Battle of Meretun, when the Vikings again prevailed.

Soon after Easter, which fell on 15 April in that year, Æthelred died and was succeeded by Alfred.

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records that the Battle of Basing was two months earlier, dating it to 22 January, Ashdown fourteen days before that on 8 January, Reading four days earlier on 4 January, Englefield another four days earlier on 31 December 870 and the arrival of the Vikings in Reading three days earlier on 28 December.

However, as the two month interval between Meretun and Basing is probably not exact, the earlier dates are approximate.