Alfred the Great doesn't hold off the Danes

The English territory becomes the Westernmost Scandinavian state and a new class of illiterate Pagan warlords takes over from another set of Christian peasants.
 
York would presumably still be the capital as the north rather than the south is the most important part of the country. I would see a breakaway kingdom with close ties to Norway and Denmark being formed.
 
Would the north remain more important? It seems to me that southern England was richer and more populated, and London's location is just so damn good.

Hrm. I wonder how much this delays the Christianization of Scandinavia, if at all.
 
Would the north remain more important? It seems to me that southern England was richer and more populated, and London's location is just so damn good.

The north only really went down hill after the Normans came, destroying villages, salting fields and intentionally causing famine will do that to a region.
Of course, now the Norman invasion will be butterflied away and the north will remain reasonably prosperous.

London is good if you're close with continental Europe, but if you've closer relations with Scandinavia I think York is a good location. Maybe Nottingham or Norwich as a compromise.
 
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