Guthrum II

Guthrum II was, according to some reconstructions, a King of East Anglia in the early tenth century. He should not be confused with the earlier and better-known Guthrum, who fought against Alfred the Great.

Background

The only Viking ruler of the kingdom of East Anglia whose existence is beyond doubt is the earlier Guthrum. He took the baptismal name Æthelstan, died in 890 after ruling East Anglia for around ten years.

Until the death of Guthrum, the coins of East Anglia provide an essential guide to the rulers of the kingdom. After the killing of King Æthelberht II of East Anglia in 794, only two kings—Edmund, better known as Saint Edmund the Martyr, and Guthrum—are named in near-contemporary written records, while all others are known only from the numismatic evidence provided by surviving coins. This evidence comes to an end at Guthrum's death as late East Anglian coins cease to name the king on whose orders they were minted and instead bear the name of King Edmund. From this time forward, kings are only known from the very limited written record.