The defence of Wessex : the Burghal Hidage and Anglo-Saxon fortifications

A collection of 13 papers from a conference in May 1989 in Manchester, England, exploring aspects of the early 10th-century manuscript Burghal Hidage, which contains important information on the 33 places for which it lists the number of hides to be paid as tax. After a bibliographical review of previous studies and an edition and translation, they discuss manuscript evidence, the document, place names, administrative background, the fortification and their shires, and mints and burhs. Among the appendices are an annotated bibliography relating to the Tribal Hidage and a gazetteer of Burghal Hidage sites. Distributed in the US by St. Martin's Press. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or. After Defeating Guthrum's Vikings At Edington, King Alfred Initiated A Great Programme Of Building To Defend Southern England Against Viking Attack. This Book Is The First Comprehensive Analysis Of The Burghal Hidage, The Early 10th Century Vernacular Document Which Gives Details Of This Extraordinary Web Of Fortifications, Many Of Which Developed Into Familiar English Towns. This Book Offers An Entirely New Edition And Translation Of The Burghal Hidage, Which Is One Of Our Most Important Windows Onto The Organisation Of Anglo-saxon Government And Urban Development. It Tests Its Subject Matter Against The Evidence Of Surviving Archaeological Remains, And Sets The Document In Its Historical And Paleographical Contexts. A Gazetteer Gives Details And Site Plans Of All The Fortifications. After defeating Guthrum's Vikings at Edington, King Alfred initiated a great programme of building to defend southern England against Viking attack. This book is a comprehensive analysis of the Burghal Hidage, the early 10th century vernacular document which gives details of this extraordinary web of fortifications, many of which developed into familiar English towns.