Alfred the Great vol. 6: The War of the Five Kings 892 AD

Alfred the Great vol. 6: The War of the Five Kings 892 AD is a Medieval England Operational level board-wargame for 2 players.

King Alfred must have believed that by 892AD the lands of the Saxons were secure, as the implementation of his military and structural reforms meant that his vision of a united England, was achievable if not in his lifetime than by his son the Atheling prince, Edward. He would in fact be facing the greatest challenge of his long and successful reign as later in the year, a war broke out that involved five Kings and stretched across most of middle & southern Britain.

By 892 AD Vikings had been in the Daneland areas of East Anglia, Mercia, and Northumbria for 27 years. These local warriors comprised a formidable army, and formed alliance with another Viking Army that pillaged Frankia and arrived on the shores of Britain in two divisions led by the legendary Hasten.

Alfred, who showed a mind that thought both strategically and tactically, not only reformed his Fyrd (local militia) but had also created the Burh system of defense in depth. The southern Welsh kingdoms, who for so long were a natural foe of the Saxons and who had battled vigorously with the Saxons of Mercia, had through strategic necessity and Alfred’s diplomatic entrees, become firm allies with Alfred in what could only be described as a diplomatic master class for this greatest of Saxon kings.

The Viking strength was in their professional and aggressive soldiery skills. Their weaknesses were often in the re-supply of their fighting men from overseas. However, with the local Viking Army drawn from the Daneland region of Britain this was changing the re-supply dynamic and creating new challenges for the Saxons and Welsh.

Each copy of War of the Five Kings is composed of the following:

One 12 page set of Rules 702 single sided Units
2x Combat Battle Boards 6x Player Aid Sheets 3x 11 by 17-inch Map Sheets

Also needed for play is at least one six-sided die (although using two or three speed play of the game).

-description from designer