But between this conquered territory and Dorset, which was also Saxon, there still remained in the hands of the Britons a large strip of country; and from this they were not expelled until the time of Cenwealh (652), who defeated them in 658 at “The Pens” (identified by many with Penselwood), and drove them westward to the Parrett.  Somerton now became the capital of the Somersaetas, the Saxon tribe that gave its name to the county (just as the Dorsaetas and Wilsaetas have done to Dorset and Wilts).  The third stage of the conquest was completed by Ina (688-726), who subdued the rest of Somerset, forcing the British (whose king was Geraint) into Devon and Cornwall, and building Taunton as a fortress against them. Williton and Willsneck (in the Quantocks) perhaps preserve the name of the defeated Welsh.  Ina is famous for more than his military prowess, for he was the first King of Wessex to issue written laws for the guidance of his subjects.

During the Saxon period Somerset did not escape the raids of the Danes; and in the reign of Alfred it was the scene of one of the most eventful crises in English history.  Alfred, after many battles against the invaders, had at last seen Guthrum their leader retire from Wessex into Mercia.  But in 878, in midwinter, Guthrum suddenly surprised Chippenham and made himself master of Wessex, and Alfred was forced to withdraw to the fens of Athelney.  To the narrow limits of the “Isle of the Nobles” the Saxon dominions in the W. were for some months reduced.  Here in the Eastertide of 879 Alfred, in the words of the “Saxon Chronicle,” “wrought a fortress [of which perhaps the Mump at Borough Bridge is the site], and from that work warred on the (Danish) army, with that portion of the men of Somerset that was nearest."[3] Seven weeks after Easter, Alfred emerged from his place of refuge to join the men of Somerset, Wilts, and Hants, who had gathered in force at “Ecgbryhtes Stane” (Brixton Deveril in Wilts).  Putting himself at their head, he covered the distance that separated him from the foe in two stages; for, halting for the night at “Iglea,” the next day he defeated the Danes at “Ethandune,” and then besieged and reduced their fortress or fortified camp.  Guthrum, after his defeat, was baptised at Aller; and at Wedmore subsequently a treaty of peace was concluded between him and Alfred.  The site of the battle of “Ethandune” is unfortunately difficult to determine.  There is an Edington in Somerset on the Polden Hills; and the fact that the battle was followed by Guthrum’s baptism at Aller and the treaty at Wedmore (places near the Somerset Edington) is in favour of this being the scene of the encounter.  Those who accept this identification assume that the Danes had moved from Chippenham to the Poldens, and here, whilst watching Athelney, were taken in the rear by Alfred, whose single night-halt at “Iglea” on the march from Brixton Deveril is placed at Edgarley, a locality near Glastonbury.[4]