Alfred the Great (AD ) (reigned )

Alfred’s Childhood Alfred was born in Wantage, Berkshire in 849 as the fifth son of Aethelwulf (Ethelwulf), King of Wessex and Osburh (Osburga), his queen. He was of the royal house of the Jutes of Wight. Alfred was born into England which was suffering from Danish attacks.

At the age of five Alfred was sent to Rome where he was received with honour by Pope Leo IV. The purpose of his visit is not known. Two years later Alfred went on pilgrimage to Rome again with his father who thought he was close to death. They returned to England after a year in Rome and also visited Charles the Bald, King of the Franks. In 858 Ethewulf died and Wessex was governed by his sons, Aethelbald, Aethelbert, and Aethelred, successively, until 871, when Alfred came to the throne.

Alfred’s Reign During the reigns of Aethelbald ( ) and Aethelbert ( ) nothing much is heard of Alfred. With the accession of his brother Aethelred I ( ) Alfred’s public life began. In 868 Alfred married Ealswith, daughter of Aethelred. Alfred fought with his brother against the Danes to relieve Mercia from their pressure. In 871 Aethelred was killed in battle at Ashdown. Alfred became the King of Wessex.

Alfred did not want to go into battle, so he kept the peace by paying tribute to the Danes for four years. But in 876, the Vikings, under a new leader, Guthrum, slipped past him and attacked the lands of the Saxons. In 877 Alfred the Great blockaded them and the Danes whose fleet had been scattered by the storm had to submit and withdraw to Mercia. The next year another invasion took place. The Danes went on killing people and forced Alfred to flee to Somerset marshes.

The Vikings Used fast mobile armies Raided the coasts and inland waters of England Overcame East Anglia and Mercia Alfred: reorganised the army, created a series of fortifications, constructed a fleet of ships

In 878 the King won the Vikings at the Battle of Edington. As a result England became split in two: 1) The Danelaw 2) Land of the Saxons which now included West Mercia and Kent. king Guthrum was converted to Christianity

By 886 he had captured the city of London and Welsh kings sought alliances with him. Soon afterward he was referred to as ‘King of the English'. Alfred's charters and coinage referred to him as 'king of the English'

Alfred the Great was a wise king Started the ultimate unification of Anglo-Saxon England established a legal code promoted education supported the arts translated Latin books into Anglo-Saxon translated Ecclesiastical History of the English People was patron of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle "Father of the English Navy"

Alfred’s Importance Alfred increased the royal navy and a lot of ships were built in the Danish style to beat the Vikings. He built fortresses (burh’s) all over Southern England to protect the country. Soon these places became the centres of trade and local goverment.

He also created the fyrd- the reguar army of the peasants. Alfred valued education. He thought that the illiteracy and the fall in religion was caused by the Vikings who destroyed the monasteries. To improve literacy he arranged the translation of many books from Latin into Anglo- Saxon. Alfred was the patron of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, a patriotic history of the English. He also put down a definite body of the Anglo- Saxon law.

Alfred the Great died on the 26 October 899 at the age of 50 and was buried in Winchester. Alfred - alone of all the English kings and queens - is known as 'the Great'.

Winchester, the burial place of the West Saxon royal family

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