In 917, the group of Danes who had hitherto been based in Huntingdon relocates to Tempsford, together with other Danes from East Anglia.

They build and fortifiy a new burh here, to serve as a forward base for attacks on English territory.

Later this year, after launching an unsuccessful attack on Bedford, they are attacked by an English army led by King Edward the Elder, as part of his widespread offensive which in that year overwhlems the Danish territories in East Anglia and southeastern Mercia.

The burh is stormed and a Danish king, probably that of East Anglia, was killed, along with the Jarls Toglos and Manna and many of their followers, while the rest are captured.