On January 4, 871, Ethelred of Wessex and his brother Alfred attacked a Danish army which was invading Britain and was camped near Reading. Although many Danes were killed, the Saxons under Ethelred were defeated and driven from the field with great slaughter. Jump to: navigation, search January 4 is the 4th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Events Nine battles are fought between the Danes and Wessex. ... King Ethelred I or Æþelræd I (c. ... Statue of Alfred the Great at Winchester Alfred (849? – 26 October 899) or Ælfred was king of the southern Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Wessex from 871 to 899. ...