maximum test » Ælfrēd "Alfred the Great" (849-899)

Persoonlijke gegevens Ælfrēd "Alfred the Great" 

• Roepnaam is Alfred the Great.
• Hij is geboren in het jaar 849 in Wessex KingdomModern Wantage
  Berkshire England.
• Hij werd gedoopt rond 848 in Wantage Berkshire England.
• (Misc Event) in het jaar 871.
• (Misc Event) in het jaar 871.
• Hij is overleden op 26 oktober 899 in Winchester, Hampshire, England, hij was toen 50 jaar oud.
• Hij is begraven op 28 oktober 901 in Winchester CathedralWinchester
  England United Kingdom.
• Een kind van Æþelwulf en Osburga
• Deze gegevens zijn voor het laatst bijgewerkt op 5 januari 2020.

Gezin van Ælfrēd "Alfred the Great"

Hij is getrouwd met Ealhswith.

Zij zijn getrouwd in het jaar 868 te Mercia, England, hij was toen 19 jaar oud.

Kind(eren):

1. Ēadweard  ± 874-924 
2. Ælfthryth  ± 877-929 

Notities over Ælfrēd "Alfred the Great"

From "The Monarchs of England" by Jean Morris---New York: Charterhouse, c. 1975.
From 866-871, the Danes conquered all of England north of the Thames. Against them was Alfred of Wessex, King of one of the little southern kingdoms, a boy of 20, frail in health and gentle in temperament. He gained the loyalty of the men of the south, and the great battle of Ethandune in 878, one of the most decisive battles in English history, he drove the Danes back. He reigned for 20 years after Ethandune, though he never had the strength to conquer the Danelaw and rule all of England. He died in 1901, and the historian, Ethelward wrote:
In this year there passed from this world Alfred King of the Saxons: unshakeable pillar of the people, a man full of justice, active in war, learned in speech, and full of the knowledge of sacred literature. The king died on the seventh day before the Festival of All Saints, and his body rests in peace in the City of Winchester.
The exact where abouts of his grave is unknown.

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Alfred the Great
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Alfred the Great
King of the Anglo-Saxons
Statue of Alfred the Great, Winchester
Statue of Alfred the Great, Winchester
Reign 23 April 871 – 26 October 899
Predecessor Æthelred of Wessex
Successor Edward the Elder
Spouse Ealhswith
Issue
Ælfthryth
Ethelfleda
Ethelgiva
Edward the Elder
Æthelwærd
Full name
Ælfred of Wessex
Royal house House of Wessex
Father Æthelwulf of Wessex
Mother Osburga
Born c. 849
Wantage, Berkshire
Died 26 October 899 (around 50)
Burial c. 1100
Winchester, Hampshire, now lost.

Alfred the Great (also Ælfred from the Old English Ælfred, pronounced ['ælfre?d]) (c. 849 – 26 October 899) was king of the southern Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Wessex from 871 to 899. Alfred is noted for his defence of the kingdom against the Danish Vikings, becoming the only English King to be awarded the epithet "the Great".[1] Alfred was the first King of the West Saxons to style himself "King of the Anglo-Saxons". Details of his life are discussed in a work by the Welsh scholar Asser. Alfred was a learned man, and encouraged education and improved his kingdom's law system as well as its military structure.
Contents
[show]

* 1 Childhood
* 2 Under Ethelred
* 3 King at war
* 4 Reorganization
o 4.1 Legal reform
* 5 Foreign relations
* 6 Religion and culture
o 6.1 Veneration
* 7 Family
* 8 Death, burial and legacy
* 9 Wantage Statue
* 10 See also
* 11 References
* 12 Further reading
* 13 External links

[edit] Childhood

Further information: House of Wessex family tree

Alfred was born sometime between 847 and 849 at Wantage in the present-day ceremonial county of Oxfordshire (in the historic county of Berkshire). He was the fifth and youngest son of King Æthelwulf of Wessex, by his first wife, Osburga.[2] In 868 Alfred married Ealhswith, daughter of Ethelred Mucill.[3]

At five years old, Alfred is said to have been sent to Rome where, according to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, he was confirmed by Pope Leo IV who "anointed him as king." Victorian writers interpreted this as an anticipatory coronation in preparation for his ultimate succession to the throne of Wessex. However, this coronation could not have been foreseen at the time, since Alfred had three living older brothers. A letter of Leo IV shows that Alfred was made a "consul" and a misinterpretation of this investiture, deliberate or accidental, could explain later confusion.[4] It may also be based on Alfred later having accompanied his father on a pilgrimage to Rome and spending some time at the court of Charles the Bald, King of the Franks, around 854–855. On their return from Rome in 856, Æthelwulf was deposed by his son Æthelbald. Æthelwulf died in 858, and Wessex was ruled by three of Alfred's brothers in succession.

Asser tells the story about how as a child Alfred won a prize of a volume of poetry in English, offered by his mother to the first of her children able to memorize it. This story may be true, or it may be a legend designed to illustrate the young Alfred's love of learning.

[edit] Under Ethelred

During the short reigns of his two eldest brothers, Æthelbald and Ethelbert, Alfred is not mentioned. However with the accession of the third brother, Ethelred, in 866, the public life of Alfred began. It is during this period that Asser applies to him the unique title of "secundarius", which may indicate a position akin to that of the Celtic tanist, a recognized successor closely associated with the reigning monarch. It is possible that this arrangement was sanctioned by the Witenagemot, to guard against the danger of a disputed succession should Ethelred fall in battle. The arrangement of crowning a successor as Royal prince and military commander is well-known among Germanic tribes, such as the Swedes and Franks, with whom the Anglo-Saxons had close ties.

In 868, Alfred is recorded fighting beside his brother Ethelred, in an unsuccessful attempt to keep the invading Danes out of the adjoining Kingdom of Mercia. For nearly two years, Wessex was spared attacks because Alfred paid the Vikings to leave him alone. However, at the end of 870, the Danes arrived in his homeland. The year that followed has been called "Alfred's year of battles". Nine martial engagements were fought with varying fortunes, though the place and date of two of the battles have not been recorded. In Berkshire, a successful skirmish at the Battle of Englefield, on 31 December 870, was followed by a severe defeat at the Siege and Battle of Reading, on 5 January 871, and then, four days later, a brilliant victory at the Battle of Ashdown on the Berkshire Downs, possibly near Compton or Aldworth. Alfred is particularly credited with the success of this latter conflict. However, later that month, on 22 January, the English were again defeated at Basing and, on the following 22 March at the Battle of Merton (perhaps Marden in Wiltshire or Martin in Dorset) in which Ethelred was killed. The two unidentified battles may also have occurred in between.

[edit] King at war

In April 871, King Ethelred died, and Alfred succeeded to the throne of Wessex and the burden of its defence, despite the fact that Ethelred left two young sons. Although contemporary turmoil meant the accession of Alfred—an adult with military experience and patronage resources—over his nephews went unchallenged, he remained obliged to secure their property rights. While he was busy with the burial ceremonies for his brother, the Danes defeated the English in his absence at an unnamed spot, and then again in his presence at Wilton in May. Following this, peace was made and, for the next five years, the Danes occupied other parts of England. However, in 876, under their new leader, Guthrum, the Danes slipped past the English army and attacked Wareham in Dorset. From there, early in 877, and under the pretext of talks, they moved westwards and took Exeter in Devon. There, Alfred blockaded them, and with a relief fleet having been scattered by a storm, the Danes were forced to submit. They withdrew to Mercia but, in January 878, made a sudden attack on Chippenham, a royal stronghold in which Alfred had been staying over Christmas, "and most of the people they reduced, except the King Alfred, and he with a little band made his way by wood and swamp, and after Easter he made a fort at Athelney, and from that fort kept fighting against the foe" (Anglo-Saxon Chronicle).
Statue of Alfred the Great at Wantage
Statue of Alfred the Great at Wantage

A popular legend tells how, when he first fled to the Somerset Levels, Alfred was given shelter by a peasant woman who, unaware of his identity, left him to watch some cakes she had left cooking on the fire. Preoccupied with the problems of his kingdom, Alfred accidentally let the cakes burn and was taken to task by the woman upon her return. Upon realizing the king's identity, the woman apologised profusely, but Alfred insisted that he was the one who needed to apologise. From his fort at Athelney, a marshy island near North Petherton, Alfred was able to mount an effective resistance movement while rallying the local militia from Somerset, Wiltshire and Hampshire.

Another story relates how Alfred disguised himself as a minstrel in order to gain entry to Guthrum's camp and discover his plans. This supposedly led to the Battle of Edington, near Westbury, Wiltshire. The result was a decisive victory for Alfred. The Danes submitted and, according to Asser, Guthrum and 29 of his chief men received baptism when they signed the Treaty of Wedmore. As a result, England became split in two: the southwestern half was kept by the Saxons, and the northeastern half including London, thence known as the Danelaw, was kept by the Vikings. By the following year (879), both Wessex and Mercia, west of Watling Street, were cleared of the invaders.

For the next few years there was peace, with the Danes being kept busy in Europe. A landing in Kent in 884 or 885 close to Plucks Gutter, though successfully repelled, encouraged the East Anglian Danes to rise up. The measures taken by Alfred to repress this uprising culminated in the taking of London in 885 or 886, and an agreement was reached between Alfred and Guthrum, known as the Treaty of Alfred and Guthrum. Once more, for a time, there was a lull, but in the autumn of 892 or 893, the Danes attacked again. Finding their position in Europe somewhat precarious, they crossed to England in 330 ships in two divisions. They entrenched themselves, the larger body at Appledore, Kent, and the lesser, under Haesten, at Milton also in Kent. The invaders brought their wives and children with them, indicating a meaningful attempt at conquest and colonisation. Alfred, in 893 or 894, took up a position from whence he could observe both forces. While he was in talks with Haesten, the Danes at Appledore broke out and struck northwestwards. They were overtaken by Alfred's eldest son, Edward, and were defeated in a general engagement at Farnham in Surrey. They were obliged to take refuge on an island in the Hertfordshire Colne, where they were blockaded and were ultimately compelled to submit. The force fell back on Essex and, after suffering another defeat at Benfleet, coalesced with Haesten's force at Shoebury.

Alfred had been on his way to relieve his son at Thorney when he heard that the Northumbrian and East Anglian Danes were besieging Exeter and an unnamed stronghold on the North Devon shore. Alfred at once hurried westward and raised the Siege of Exeter. The fate of the other place is not recorded. Meanwhile the force under Haesten set out to march up the Thames Valley, possibly with the idea of assisting their friends in the west. But they were met by a large force under the three great ealdormen of Mercia, Wiltshire and Somerset, and made to head off to the northwest, being finally overtaken and blockaded at Buttington. Some identify this with Buttington Tump at the mouth of the River Wye, others with Buttington near Welshpool. An attempt to break through the English lines was defeated. Those who escaped retreated to Shoebury. Then after collecting reinforcements they made a sudden dash across England and occupied the ruined Roman walls of Chester. The English did not attempt a winter blockade but contented themselves with destroying all the supplies in the neighbourhood. Early in 894 (or 895), want of food obliged the Danes to retire once more to Essex. At the end of this year and early in 895 (or 896), the Danes drew their ships up the Thames and Lea and fortified themselves twenty miles (32 km) north of London. A direct attack on the Danish lines failed, but later in the year, Alfred saw a means of obstructing the river so as to prevent the egress of the Danish ships. The Danes realised that they were out-manoeuvred. They struck off northwestwards and wintered at Bridgenorth. The next year, 896 (or 897), they gave up the struggle. Some retired to Northumbria, some to East Anglia. Those who had no connections in England withdrew back to Europe.

[edit] Reorganization

After the dispersal of the Danish invaders, Alfred turned his attention to the increase of the navy, partly to repress the ravages of the Northumbrian and East Anglian Danes on the coasts of Wessex, and to prevent the landing of fresh invaders. This is not, as often asserted, the beginning of the English navy. There had been earlier naval operations under Alfred. One naval engagement was fought under Æthelwulf in 851, and earlier ones, possibly in 833 and 840. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, however, does credit Alfred with the construction of a new type of ship, built according to the king's own designs, "swifter, steadier and also higher/more responsive (hierran) than the others". However, these new ships do not seem to have been a great success, as we hear of them grounding in action and foundering in a storm. Nevertheless both the British Royal Navy and the United States Navy claim Alfred as the founder of their traditions.

Alfred's main fighting force, the fyrd, was separated into two, "so that there was always half at home and half out" (Anglo-Saxon Chronicle). The level of organisation required to mobilise his large army in two shifts, of which one was feeding the other, must have been considerable. The complexity which Alfred's administration had attained by 892 is demonstrated by a reasonably reliable charter whose witness list includes a thesaurius, cellararius and pincerna—treasurer, food-keeper and butler. Despite the irritation which Alfred must have felt in 893, when one division, which had "completed their call-up (stemn)", gave up the siege of a Danish army just as Alfred was moving to relieve them, this system seems to have worked remarkably well on the whole.

One of the weaknesses of pre-Alfredian defences had been that, in the absence of a standing army, fortresses were largely left unoccupied, making it very possible for a Viking force to quickly secure a strong strategic position. Alfred substantially upgraded the state of the defences of Wessex, by erecting fortified burhs (or boroughs) throughout the kingdom. During the systematic excavation of at least four of these (at Wareham, Cricklade, Lydford and Wallingford) it has been demonstrated that "in every case the rampart associated by the excavators with the borough of the Alfredian period was the primary defence on the site" (Brooks). The obligations for the upkeep and defence of these and many other sites, with permanent garrisons, are further documented in surviving transcripts of the administrative manuscript known as the Burghal Hidage. Dating from, at least, within twenty years of Alfred's death, if not actually from his reign, it almost certainly reflects Alfredian policy. Comparison of town plans for Wallingford and Wareham with that of Winchester, shows "that they were laid out in the same scheme" (Wormald), thus supporting the proposition that these newly established burhs were also planned as centres of habitation and trade as well as a place of safety in moments of immediate danger. Thereafter, the English population and its wealth were drawn into such towns where it was not only safer from Viking soldiers, but also taxable by the King.

Alfred is thus credited with a significant degree of civil reorganisation, especially in the districts ravaged by the Danes. Even if one rejects the thesis crediting the "Burghal Hidage" to Alfred, what is undeniable is that, in the parts of Mercia acquired by Alfred from the Vikings, the shire system seems now to have been introduced for the first time. This is probably what prompted the legend that Alfred was the inventor of shires, hundreds and tithings. Alfred's care for the administration of justice is testified both by history and legend; and he has gained the popular title "protector of the poor". Of the actions of the Witangemot, we do not hear very much under Alfred. He was certainly anxious to respect its rights, but both the circumstances of the time and the character of the king would have tended to throw more power into his hands. The legislation of Alfred probably belongs to the later part of the reign, after the pressure of the Danes had relaxed. He also paid attention to the country's finances, though details are lacking.

[edit] Legal reform

Main article: Doom book

Alfred the Great’s most enduring work was his legal code, called Deemings, or Book of Dooms (Book of Laws). Sir Winston Churchill believed that Alfred blended the Mosaic Law, Celtic Law, and old customs of the pagan Anglo-Saxons.[5] Dr. F.N. Lee traced the parallels between Alfred’s Code and the Mosaic Code.[6] However, as Thomas Jefferson concluded after tracing the history of English common law: "The common law existed while the Anglo-Saxons were yet pagans, at a time when they had never yet heard the name of Christ pronounced or that such a character existed".[7] Churchill stated that Alfred’s Code was amplified by his successors and grew into the body of Customary Law administered by the Shire and The Hundred Courts. This led to the Charter of Liberties, granted by Henry I of England, AD 1100.

[edit] Foreign relations

Asser speaks grandiosely of Alfred's relations with foreign powers, but little definite information is available. His interest in foreign countries is shown by the insertions which he made in his translation of Orosius. He certainly corresponded with Elias III, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, and possibly sent a mission to India. Contact was also made with the Caliph in Baghdad. Embassies to Rome conveying the English alms to the Pope were fairly frequent. Around 890, Wulfstan of Haithabu undertook a journey from Haithabu on Jutland along the Baltic Sea to the Prussian trading town of Truso. Alfred ensured he reported to him details of his trip.

Alfred's relations with the Celtic princes in the western half of Britain are clearer. Comparatively early in his reign, according to Asser, the southern Welsh princes, owing to the pressure on them of North Wales and Mercia, commended themselves to Alfred. Later in the reign the North Welsh followed their example, and the latter cooperated with the English in the campaign of 893 (or 894). That Alfred sent alms to Irish as well as to European monasteries may be taken on Asser's authority. The visit of the three pilgrim "Scots" (i.e., Irish) to Alfred in 891 is undoubtedly authentic. The story that he himself in his childhood was sent to Ireland to be healed by Saint Modwenna, though mythical, may show Alfred's interest in that island.

[edit] Religion and culture

Very little is known of the church under Alfred. The Danish attacks had been particularly damaging to the monasteries, and though Alfred founded two or three new monasteries and enticed foreign monks to England, monasticism did not revive significantly during his reign.[citation needed] The Danish raids had also an impact on learning, leading to the practical extinction of Latin even among the clergy: the preface to Alfred's translation of Pope Gregory I's Pastoral Care into Old English bearing eloquent, if not impartial witness, to this.[citation needed]

Alfred established a court school, following the example of Charlemagne [8]. To this end, he imported scholars like Grimbald and John the Saxon from Europe, and Asser from South Wales.[citation needed] Not only did the King see to his own education, he also made the series of translations for the instruction of his clergy and people, most of which survive. These belong to the later part of his reign, probably the last four years, of which the chronicles are almost silent.[citation needed]

Apart from the lost Handboc or Encheiridion, which seems to have been merely a commonplace book kept by the king, the earliest work to be translated was the Dialogues of Gregory, a book greatly popular in the Middle Ages. In this case the translation was made by Alfred's great friend Werferth, Bishop of Worcester, the king merely furnishing a foreword. The next work to be undertaken was Gregory's Pastoral Care, especially for the good of the parish clergy. In this, Alfred keeps very close to his original; but the introduction which he prefixed to it is one of the most interesting documents of the reign, or indeed of English history. The next two works taken in hand were historical, the Universal History of Orosius and Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People. The priority should likely be given to the Orosius, but the point has been much debated. In the Orosius, by omissions and additions, Alfred so remodels his original as to produce an almost new work; in the Bede the author's text is closely stuck to, no additions being made, though most of the documents and some other less interesting matters are omitted. Of late years doubts have been raised as to Alfred's authorship of the Bede translation. But the skeptics cannot be regarded as having proved their point.

Alfred's translation of The Consolation of Philosophy of Boethius was the most popular philosophical handbook of the Middle Ages. Here again Alfred deals very freely with his original and though the late Dr. G. Schepss showed that many of the additions to the text are to be traced not to Alfred himself, but to the glosses and commentaries which he used, still there is much in the work which is solely Alfred's and highly characteristic of his genius. It is in the Boethius that the oft-quoted sentence occurs: "My will was to live worthily as long as I lived, and after my life to leave to them that should come after, my memory in good works." The book has come down to us in two manuscripts only. In one of these[9] the writing is prose, in the other[10] a combination of prose and alliterating verse. The latter manuscript was severely damaged in the 18th and 19th centuries,[11] and the authorship of the verse has been much disputed; but likely it also is by Alfred. In fact, he writes in the prelude that he first created a prose work and then used it as the basis for his poem, the Lays of Boethius, his crowning literary achievement. He spent a great deal of time working on these books, which he tells us he gradually wrote through the many stressful times of his reign to refresh his mind. Of the authenticity of the work as a whole there has never been any doubt.

The last of Alfred's works is one to which he gave the name Blostman, i.e., "Blooms" or Anthology. The first half is based mainly on the Soliloquies of St Augustine of Hippo, the remainder is drawn from various sources, and contains much that is Alfred's own and highly characteristic of him. The last words of it may be quoted; they form a fitting epitaph for the noblest of English kings. "Therefore he seems to me a very foolish man, and truly wretched, who will not increase his understanding while he is in the world, and ever wish and long to reach that endless life where all shall be made clear."

Beside these works of Alfred's, the Saxon Chronicle almost certainly, and a Saxon Martyrology, of which fragments only exist, probably owe their inspiration to him. A prose version of the first fifty Psalms has been attributed to him; and the attribution, though not proved, is perfectly possible. Additionally, Alfred appears as a character in The Owl and the Nightingale, where his wisdom and skill with proverbs is attested. Additionally, The Proverbs of Alfred, which exists for us in a thirteenth century manuscript contains sayings that very likely have their origins partly with the king.

The Alfred jewel, discovered in Somerset in 1693, has long been associated with King Alfred because of its Old English inscription "AELFRED MEC HEHT GEWYRCAN" (Alfred Ordered Me To Be Made). This relic, of unknown use, certainly dates from Alfred's reign but it is possibly just one of several that once existed. The inscription does little to clarify the identity of the central figure which has long been believed to depict God or Christ.

[edit] Veneration

Alfred is venerated as a Saint by the Orthodox Church and is regarded as a hero of the Christian Church in the Anglican Communion, with a feast day of 26 October,[12] and may often be found depicted in stained glass in Church of England parish churches. Also, Alfred University was named after him; a large statue of his likeness is in the center of campus.

[edit] Family

In 868, Alfred married Ealhswith, daughter of Ealdorman of the Gaini (who is also known as Aethelred Mucill), who was from the Gainsborough region of Lincolnshire. She appears to have been the maternal granddaughter of a King of Mercia. They had five or six children together, including Edward the Elder, who succeeded his father as king, Ethelfleda, who would become Queen of Mercia in her own right, and Ælfthryth who married Baldwin II the Count of Flanders.
Name Birth Death Notes
Ethelfleda 918 Married 889, Eald of Mercia d 910; had issue.
Edward 870 17 July 924 Married (1) Ecgwynn, (2) Ælfflæd, (3) 919 Edgiva
Æthelgiva Abbess of Shaftesbury
Ælfthryth 929 Married Baldwin, Count of Flanders; had issue
Æthelwærd 16 October 922 Married and had issue

[edit] Death, burial and legacy

Alfred died on 26 October. The actual year is not certain, but it was not necessarily 901 as stated in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. How he died is unknown. He was originally buried temporarily in the Old Minster in Winchester, then moved to the New Minster (perhaps built especially to receive his body). When the New Minster moved to Hyde, a little north of the city, in 1110, the monks transferred to Hyde Abbey along with Alfred's body. His grave was apparently excavated during the building of a new prison in 1788 and the bones scattered. However, bones found on a similar site in the 1860s were also declared to be Alfred's and later buried in Hyde churchyard. Extensive excavations in 1999 revealed what is believed to be his grave-cut, that of his wife Eahlswith, and that of their son Edward the Elder but barely any human remains.[13]

A number of educational establishments are named in Alfred's honour. These are:

* The University of Winchester was named 'King Alfred's College, Winchester' between 1840 and 2004, whereupon it was re-named "University College Winchester".
* Alfred University, as well as Alfred State College located in Alfred, NY, are both named after the king.
* In honour of Alfred, the University of Liverpool created a King Alfred Chair of English Literature.
* University College, Oxford is erroneously said to have been founded by King Alfred.
* King Alfred's College, a secondary school in Wantage, Oxfordshire. The Birthplace of Alfred.
* King's Lodge School, in Chippenham, Wiltshire is so named because King Alfred's hunting lodge is reputed to have stood on or near the site of the school.
* The King Alfred School & Specialist Sports Academy, Burnham Road, Highbridge is so named due to its rough proximity to Brent Knoll (a Beacon Site) and Athelny.

[edit] Wantage Statue

The statue of Alfred the Great, situated in the Wantage's market place, was sculpted by Count Gleichen, a relative of Queen Victoria, and unveiled on 14 July 1877 by the Prince and Princess of Wales, the future Edward VII and his wife.[14]

The statue was vandalised on New Year's eve 2007, losing part of its right arm. [15]

[edit] See also

* British military history
* Kingdom of England
* Lays of Boethius

[edit] References

1. ^ Canute the Great, who ruled England from 1016 to 1035, was Danish.
2. ^ Alfred was the youngest of five brothers[1]
3. ^ The Life of King Alfred
4. ^ Wormald, Patrick, 'Alfred (848/9-899)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford University Press, 2004).
5. ^ Churchill, Sir Winston: The Island Race, Corgi, London, 1964, II, p. 219.
6. ^ Lee, F. N., King Alfred the Great and our Common Law Department of Church History, Queensland Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Brisbane, Australia, August 2000
7. ^ Reports of Cases Determined in the General Court, appendix. Thomas Jefferson.
8. ^ Codicology of the court school of Charlemagne: Gospel book production, illumination, and emphasized script (European university studies. Series 28, History of art) ISBN 3820472835
9. ^ Oxford Bodleian Library MS Bodley 180
10. ^ British Library Cotton MS Otho A. vi
11. ^ Kiernan, Kevin S., "Alfred the Great's Burnt Boethius". In Bornstein, George and Theresa Tinkle, eds., The Iconic Page in Manuscript, Print, and Digital Culture (Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 1998).
12. ^ Gross, Ernie (1990). This Day In Religion. New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers, Inc..
13. ^ Dodson, Aidan (2004). The Royal Tombs of Great Britain. London: Duckworth.
14. ^ "Wantage Herald Article".
15. ^ "Wantage Herald Article".

[edit] Further reading

* Pratt, David: The political thought of King Alfred the Great (Cambridge Studies in Medieval Life and Thought: Fourth Series, 2007) ISBN 9780521803502
* Parker, Joanne: England's Darling The Victorian Cult of Alfred the Great, 2007, ISBN 9780719073564
* Pollard, Justin: Alfred the Great : the man who made England, 2006, ISBN 0719566665
* Fry, Fred: Patterns of Power: The Military Campaigns of Alfred the Great, 2006, ISBN 9781905226931
* Ancestral roots of sixty colonists who came to New England between 1623 and 1650 : the lineage of Alfred the Great, Charlemagne, Malcolm of Scotland, Robert the Strong, and some of their descendants, 1976, ISBN 806303735
* Giles, J. A. (ed.): The Whole Works of King Alfred the Great (Jubilee Edition, 3 vols, Oxford and Cambridge, 1858)
* The whole works of King Alfred the Great, with preliminary essays, illustrative of the history, arts, and manners, of the ninth century, 1969, OCLC 28387

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(Research):Alfred Early Life The youngest son of King Æthelwulf, he was sent in 853 to Rome, where the pope gave him the title of Roman consul. He returned to Rome with his father in 855. His adolescence was marked by ill health and deep religious devotion, both of which persisted for the rest of his life. Little is known of him during the reigns of his older brothers Æthelbald and Æthelbert, but when Æthelred took the throne (865), Alfred became his secundarius (viceroy?) and aided his brother in subsequent battles against the Danes, who then threatened to overrun all England. When the Danes began their assault on Wessex in 870, Æthelred and Alfred resisted with varying results: they won a victory at Ashdown, Berkshire; they were defeated at Basing; and they had several indecisive engagements. Source: http://www.encyclopedia.com/articles/00333EarlyLife.html Alfred Reign Early Wars with the Danes Upon Æthelred's death after Easter in 871, Alfred became king of the West Saxons and overlord of Kent, Surrey, Sussex, and Essex. Faced by an enemy too powerful to defeat decisively, Alfred cleared the Danes from Wessex by a heavy payment of tribute (see Danegeld) in 871. Alfred used the five-year respite that followed to begin building up a fleet. In 876 and 877 the Danes returned to ravage for several months and finally, halted by Alfred's army, swore to leave Wessex forever. However, in a surprise invasion early in 878 they crushed Alfred's forces, and he fled to Athelney in the fens of Somerset, where he organized a series of harassing raids on the enemy. The famous legend in which, unrecognized, he is scolded by a peasant woman for letting her cakes burn probably derives from this period of his life. In May, 878, Alfred rallied his army and won a complete victory over the Danes at Edington. He then dictated the Peace of Chippenham (or Wedmore) by which Guthrum, the Danish leader, accepted Christian baptism and probably agreed to separate England into English and Danish spheres of influence. The Danes moved into East Anglia and E Mercia, and Alfred established his overlordship in W Mercia. Alfred captured (886) London and concluded another treaty with Guthrum that marked off the Danelaw E and N of the Thames, Lea, and Ouse rivers, and Watling Street, leaving the south and west of England to Alfred. Reforms and Achievements Security gave Alfred the chance to institute numerous reforms within his kingdom. Against further probable attacks by the Danes, he reorganized the militia, or fyrd, around numerous garrisoned forts throughout Wessex. Drawing from the old codes of Æthelbert of Kent, Ine of Wessex, and Offa of Mercia, he issued his own code of laws, which contained measures for a stronger centralized monarchy. He reformed the administration of justice and energetically participated in it, and he reorganized the finances of his court. He came eventually to be considered the overlord of all England, although this title was not realized in concrete political administration. Alfred's greatest achievements, however, were the revival of learning and the establishment of Old English literary prose. He gathered together a group of eminent scholars, including the Welshman Asser. They strengthened the church by reviving learning among the clergy and organized a court school like that of Charlemagne, in which not only youths and clerics but also mature nobles were taught. Alfred himself between 887 and 892 learned Latin and translated several Latin works into English-Gregory the Great's Pastoral Care, Orosius's universal history, Boethius's Consolation of Philosophy, and St. Augustine's Soliloquies. A translation of Bede's Ecclesiastical History is also commonly ascribed to him, but there is some doubt since it differs markedly in style from the others. Alfred liberally interpolated his own thoughts into his writings, and the Orosius is particularly interesting for the addition of accounts of voyages made by the Norse explorers Ohthere and Wulfstan. Although he probably was not directly responsible for the compilation of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, his patronage of learning undoubtedly encouraged it. Renewed Danish Invasions All these pursuits were interrupted, but not ended, by new Danish invasions between 892 and 896. The struggle was severe because Alfred's military reforms had not been completed and because the invading forces were joined by settlers from the Danelaw. He received strong support from his son Edward the Elder, his daughter Æthelflæd, and her husband, Æthelred of Mercia, and in the critical year of 893 the great Danish fort at Benfleet was successfully stormed. The one Danish attempt to penetrate deeply into Wessex was halted by Edward the Elder. In 896 the Danes slowly dispersed to the Danelaw or overseas, and Alfred's new long ships fought with varying success against pirate raids on the south coast. Alfred's career was later embroidered by many heroic legends, but history alone justifies calling him Alfred the Great. ========================================================= Alfred the Great, King West Saxons Born: 849, Wantage, Berkshire Acceded: 23 APR 871, Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey Died: 28 OCT 899 Interred: Hyde Abbey, Winchester Notes: Reigned 871-899. He prevented the Danish conquest of England, defeating them at Edington(878) after a campaign of guerrila warfare. After his victory he allowed the Danes to keep their conquests in Mercia nd East Anglia provided that Guthrum, their King, was converted to Christianity. Alfred built a navy of Warships to defend the south coast against further Danish invasions (885-86 ;892-96) and protected Wessex with a chain of fortifications. He took London (886), this gaining control of all England except the Danish areas. Father: , AEthelwulf, King of England, b. ABT 800 Mother: , Osburga Married 868, Winchester, England to , Ealhswith of the Gaini Child 1: , AEthelflaed, Lady of Mercia, b. CIR 869 Child 2: , Edmund, b. ABT 870 Child 3: , Edward the Elder, King of England, b. 869 Child 4: , AEfthryth Child 5: , AEthelgeofu of Shaftesbury, Abbess of Shaftesbury Child 6: , AEthelweard, b. 880

Source #1: Frederick Lewis Weis, "Ancestral Roots of Certain American Colonists Who Came to America Before 1700" - Seventh Edition, with additions and corrections by Walter Lee Sheppard, Jr., assisted by Davis Faris (Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co, 1995), p. 2

King of England 871-899 - one of the greatest in British history. Founded the British Navy; organized the militia; compiled a code of laws. He prevented the Danish conquest of England, defeating them at Edington, 878, after a campaign of guerrila warfare. After his victory he allowed the Danes to keep their conquests in Mercia and East Anglia provided that Guthrum, their King, was converted to Christianity. Alfred built a navy of Warships to defend the south coast against further Danish invasions (885-86 and 892-96) and protected Wessex with a chain of fortifications. He took London in 886, thus gaining control of all England except the Danish areas.

He built schools and monasteries, and invited scholars to live at his court. He was a good scholar and translated many books.

[grosenbaum1.ged]

Alfred the Great (849-899), king of the West Saxons (871-899), and one of the outstanding figures of English history. Born in Wantage in southern England, Alfred was the youngest of five sons of King Ethelwulf. On the death of his brother Ethelred, Alfred became king, coming to the throne during a Danish invasion. Although he succeeded in making peace with the Danes, they resumed their marauding expeditions five years later, and by eary 878 they were successful almost everywhere. About Easter of 878, however, Alfred established himself at Athelney and became assembling an army. In the middle of that year he defeated the Danes and captured their stronghold, probably at present-day Edington. During the following 14 years Alfred was able to devote himself to the internal affairs of his kingdom. By 886 he had captured the city of London, and soon afterward he was recognized as the king of all England. In 893 the Danes invaded England againk, and the following four years were marked by warfare; eventually, the Danes were forced to withdraw from Alred's domain. The only ruler to resist Danish invasins successfully, Alfred made his kingdome the rallying point for all Saxons, thus laying the unification of England.

King of England, Crowned in 871

AKA Alfred the Great

Reigned 871-899. He prevented the Danish conquest of England, defeatingthem at Edington(878) after a campaign of guerrila warfare. After his victoryhe allowed the Danes to keep their conquests in Mercia and East Angliaprovided that Guthrum, their King, was converted to Christianity. Alfred built anavy of Warships to defend the south coast against further Danish invasions(885-86 ;892-96) and protected Wessex with a chain of fortifications. He tookLondon (886), this gaining control of all England except the Danish areas.

Name Prefix: King Name Suffix: Of Wessex "The Great" "Also spelled AELFRED, byname ALFRED THE GREAT king of Wessex (871-899), a Saxon kingdom insouthwestern England. He prevented England from falling to the Danes and promoted learning and literacy. Compilation of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle began during his reign, c. 890. "@(XXXXX@XXXX.XXX)@S166@

Name Prefix: Count Name Suffix: of Galicia

Alfred 'the Great', King of Wessex1 (M) b. between 846 and 849, d. between 25 October 899 and 28 October 899, #102606d. bt 25 Oct 899 - 28 Oct 899|p10261.htm#i102606|Ethelwulf, King of Wessex|b. bt 795 - 810d. a 13 Jan 858|p10261.htm#i102608|Osburga (?)|d. bt 846 - 855|p10261.htm#i102609|Egbert \\'the Great\\', King of Wessex|b. bt 769 - 780d. 4 Feb 839|p10262.htm#i102615|Redburga (?)||p10262.htm#i102616|Oslac of Hampshire||p10262.htm#i102618||||');"Pedigree Last Edited=16 Aug 2003
Alfred 'the Great', King of Wessex was the son of Ethelwulf, King of Wessex and Osburga (?). He was born between 846 and 849 at Wantage, Oxfordshire, England.2 He married Ethelswitha, Princess of Mercia, daughter of Ethelred Mucel, Ealdorman of the Gainas and Edburga (?) , Princess of Mercia , between 868 and 869.3 He died between 25 October 899 and 28 October 899.4 He was also reported to have died on 26 October 900. He was buried at Newminster Abbey, Winchester, Hampshire, England.4 He succeeded to the title of King Alfred of Mercia on 23 April 871.3 He succeeded to the title of King Alfred of the Wessex on 23 April 871.3 He helped his brother gain a great victory over the Danes at Ashdown in 871. Alfred organised the army and was the founder of the English Navy. By 877 the Danes had occupied London and reached Gloucester and Exeter, but they lost 120 supply ships in a fierce storm off Swanage. In 878 he was forced to hide in Somerset and it was there arose the legend of the burned cakes. He renewed the fight and won a famous victory at Edington in Wiltshire the same year. After, the Danes agreed that their king, Guthrum, should be baptised and Alfred was godfather. Afterwards Guthrum ruled Mercia but acknowledged Alfred as Overlord. The Mercian settlement developed over the next 100 years into the body known as Danelaw. Before that, in 879 at Fulham and also near Rochester in 884, other Norse armies landed. Alfred continued fighting until he was the acknowledged champion of the English against the Danes. Alfred was scholarly, a writer, law-maker, pious and also a valiant fighter. Additionally he had a good knowledge of geography. He was a most able administrator and also instituted educational programmes. He founded monasteries and gave a large part of his income to charities.
Children of Alfred 'the Great', King of Wessex and Ethelswitha, Princess of Mercia:
Ethelgiva (?) d. c 896 Elfrida (?) + d. 7 Jun 929 Ethelfleda, Lady of Mercia + b. c 869, d. 12 Jun 918 Edmund (?) b. c 870 Edward 'the Elder', King of Wessex + b. c 871, d. 17 Jul 924 Ethelweard (?) + b. c 880, d. bt 920 - 922
Citations
[S11 ] Alison Weir, Britain's Royal Family: A Complete Genealogy (London, U.K.: The Bodley Head, 1999), page 11. Hereinafter cited as Britain's Royal Family.
[S11 ] Alison Weir, Britain's Royal Family, page 8.
[S11 ] Alison Weir, Britain's Royal Family, page 9.
[S11 ] Alison Weir, Britain's Royal Family, page 10.

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ALFRED THE GREAT (849-899) was king of the West Saxons in England. He saved his country, Wessex, from Danish conquest, laid the basis for the unification of England under the West Saxon monarchy, and led a revival of learning and literature. He was such an outstanding leader in both war and peace that he was called "the great."
Alfred was born in Wantage, which is now part of Oxfordshire. As a boy, he was curious and eager to learn. There is a story that his mother offered a prize to the first of her five sons who learned to read. Alfred, the youngest, won the prize, a book of Anglo-Saxon poems. Before he was 7, be had traveled to Rome twice, and was confirmed by Pope Leo IV. These travels showed him the contrast between the civilized parts of Europe and his more backward England.
Alfred became king in 871, after the death of his fourth brother. The West Saxons had been at war with the Danes for many years. After several losing battles, Alfred made peace with the invaders. But the Danes renewed their attacks four years later and defeated Alfred at the Battle of Chippenham. Alfred finally defeated the Danes at the Battle of Edington in 878. The Danish leader, Guthrum, agreed to be baptized a Christian. After the Danes broke the peace once more, Alfred won his greatest military victory, the conquest of London in 886. The Danes withdrew to the eastern third of England, called the "Danelaw." All the English people, both in and out of Wessex, who were not subject to the Danes recognized Alfred as their king and paid him homage.
Alfred built forts at strategic points and stationed a fleet of ships along the coast to protect his kingdom and guard against invasion. He also issued a great code of laws to improve government.
Education declined because the Danes had looted monasteries and churches, the only centers of learning. Few even among the clergy could read or write. Alfred brought teachers and learned men to Wessex from Wales, northern England, and Europe. He himself helped translate books from Latin into Anglo-Saxon. He also kept a record of current events. Called the "Anglo-Saxon Chronicle," it was continued after his death until 1154. It is the best source for Anglo-Saxon history.

[The World Book]

Youngest son of King Æthelwulf, Alfred became King of Wessex during a time of constant Viking attack. He was driven into hiding by a Viking raid into Wessex, led by the Dane, Guthorm, and took refuge in the Athelney marshes in Somerset. There, he recovered sufficient strength to be able to defeat the Danes decisively at the Battle of Eddington. As a condition of the peace treaty which followed, Guthorm received Christian baptism and withdrew his forces from Wessex, with Alfred recognizing the Danish control over East Anglia and parts of Mercia. This partition of England, called the "Danelaw", was formalized by another treaty in 886.

Alfred created a series of fortifications to surround his kingdom and provide needed security from invasion. The Anglo-Saxon word for these forts, "burhs", has come down to us in the common place-name suffix, "bury." He also constructed a fleet of ships to augment his other defenses, and in so doing became known as the "Father of the English Navy." The reign of Alfred was known for more than military success. He was a codifier of law, a promoter of education and a suppor|er of the arts. He, himself, was a scholar and translated Latin books into the Anglo-Saxon tongue. The definitive contemporary work on Alfred's life is an unfinished account in Latin by Asser, a Welshman, bishop of Sherbourne and Alfred's counsellor. After his death, he was buried in his capital city of Winchester, and is the only English monarch in history to carry the title, "the Great."

Succeeded to the crown in 871

Succeeded to the crown in 871

Alfred ?den Store? var konge av Wessex og Kent 873 - 901.
Etter farens død hjalp han sine eldre brødre i kampen mot de normanniske vikingers
innfall.
For angelsakserne var første halvdel av 800-tallet en grusom tid. De hedenske
mennene fra nord benyttet seg av de stadige indre urolighetene i smårikene i Øst-England og
underla seg etter hvert hele denne delen av landet, brente kirker og klostre og slo uten
barmhjertighet i hjel både munker og nonner. En vikinghøvding hugget med egen hånd ned en
gammel ærverdig abbed som sto for høyalteret og leste messen, og fra bøndene tok de
buskap og hester og spente eierne selv for plogen.
Angelsaksernes redningsmann i nøden ble kong Alfred av Wessex, det sydligste av de
angelsaksiske smårikene. Han ble konge i 873 da han var 23 år gammel. Etter utallige
forbitrede kamper med ?danene?, som vikingene gjerne ble kalt, var angelsaksernes krefter nå
nesten uttømt, og det så ut som om hele England skulle komme i de fremmedes vold. Alfred
måtte flykte og holde seg skjult i skog og myrer. I 878 forskanset han seg på øya Ætelney.
Han opplevde mange eventyr som folkesagnene har romantisert og utbrodert. En tid bodde
han forkledd i en gjeterhytte. Men i hemmelighet sendte han bud til alle som ville ta opp
kampen mot undertrykkerne at de skulle møte fullt væpnet på et bestemt sted. En dag hadde
gjeterens kone satt ham til å passe noen brød som hun holdt på å steke, mens hun stelte med
noe annet arbeid. Men da hun kom tilbake var brødene brent. ?Din latstokk,? ropte hun
forarget og slo til ham med bakstefløyten, ?spise brødet vårt, det kan du, men passe det duger
du ikke til.? I det samme trådte Alfreds sendebud inn og meddelte sin konge at de
angelsaksiske frivillige nå var samlet og bare ventet på sin anfører. Og nå fikk kona til sin
forferdelse vite hvem det var hun hadde behandlet så lite ærbødig. Men Alfred bare smilte,
takket vertsfolkene sine og gikk.
Danenes hær lå i en befestet leir. For å skaffe seg rede på fiendens styrke og
forsvarstiltak skal Alfred selv ha gitt seg i vei dit, forkledd som en omvandrende harpespiller.
Danene ble så begeistret for spillemannen som sang og spilte så vakkert, at de holdt ham
tilbake i flere dager. Men da Alfred hadde utforsket alle svake punkter i fiendens leir, smøg han
seg tilbake til sine egne. Neste dag førte ha dem mot danene og tilføyde fienden et så grundig
nederlag at de måtte overgi seg på nåde og unåde. Vikingene ga ham gisler som sikkerhet for
at de skulle la Wessex i fred, og høvdingen deres lot seg døpe sammen med tredve av sine
fornemste menn. Noen år senere brøt de riktignok freden, og nå hadde de fått forsterkninger
av nye vikingflokker hjemmefra, men Alfred beseiret dem igjen etter en hard kamp.
Ved å bygge krigsfartøy og møte vikingene ute på havet, sparte han sitt folk for mange
lidelser og satte seg også i større respekt hos fienden enn noen av hans forgjengere eller de
frankiske kongene hadde maktet. Og med tiden smeltet også de nordboerne som hadde
bosatt seg i England og angelsakserne sammen til ett folk.
Så snart Alfred hadde avsluttet sin heltemodige og beundringsverdig utholdende kamp
for å vinne sitt rike tilbake, begynte han av all kraft å arbeide for å styrke forsvaret både til
lands og til vanns, og her tok han lærdom av fienden han hadde kjempet mot i så mange år.
Fred og orden trygget han med et stort lovverk, hvor han som ledende prinsipp satte ordene:
?Alt det som Dere ikke vil at menneskene skal gjøre mot Dere, skal Dere heller ikke gjøre mot
dem!? Krig og leirliv hadde ikke brutalisert Alfreds humane livssyn. Sin skildring av hvordan en
konge bør være, har han innledet med følgende ord: ?Makt er i og for seg intet gode, men blir
det bare så sant dens innehaver selv er god.?
I hele sin ferd som hersker minner Alfred meget om frankernes største konge, hvis
veldige materielle ressurser riktignok var mange ganger større enn angelsakserens. Som Karl
?den Store? elsket Alfred de gamle saksiske sangene og kronet sin kongegjerning med et
iherdig arbeid for å gjenopprette den angelsaksiske kulturen som hadde gått sterkt tilbake
under danenes herjinger. Alfred var også vitebegjærlig og full av kunnskapstørst og satte seg
som mål å utbre lese- og skriveferdigheten blant sine undersåtter ved å opprette skoler. Hans
ganglige virksomhet på alle områder skaffet ham hans landsmenns takknemlighet både i
samtid og ettertid og innbrakte ham også hedersnavnet ?den Store?. For engelskmennene er
?den engelske nasjons skaper? blitt nasjonalhelten fremfor noen og hans liv er av deres
kjæreste historiske minner. ?Den vise kongen? er i folketradisjonen blitt til en engelsk Salomo,
hvis ry for ubestikkelig rettferdighet er slått fast på en temmelig drastisk måte i fortellingen om
hvordan han på en og samme dag hengte 44 urettferdige dommere. Dette er bare en av alle
de anekdotene som i tidens løp er blitt knyttet til minnet om den gode og folkekjære fyrsten
?som på en gang var konge, far og oppdrager for sitt folk?, for å sitere en berømt engelsk
historiker.
Alfred døde sannsynligvis i år 900. Hans sønn og sønnesønner fortsatte det verket han
hadde påbegynt og fullførte det ved å underlegge seg flere andre engelske småriker og skape
et stort samlet rike med London som hovedstad. Men i sin sønnesønns sønnesønn, Ethelred II
med tilnavnet ?den Rådville? fikk Alfred derimot en uverdig etterfølger.

Succeeded brother Aethelred, it was then 396 winters since the time when his kindred first gained the land of Wessex from the Welsc. He was succeeded by his son Eadward.
ASC
853. This year Burhred, King of Mercia, with his council, besought King Ethelwulf to assist him to subdue North-Wales. He did so; and with an army marched over Mercia into North-Wales, and made all the inhabitants subject to him. The same year King Ethelwulf sent his son Alfred to Rome; and Leo, who was then pope, consecrated him king, and adopted him as his spiritual son. The same year also Elchere with the men of Kent, and Huda with the men of Surrey, fought in the Isle of Thanet with the heathen army, and soon obtained the victory; but there were many men slain and drowned on either hand, and both the aldermen killed. Burhred, the Mercian king, about this time received in marriage the daughter of Ethelwulf, king of the West-Saxons.
854. After this Ethelwulf came to his people, and they were fain to receive him; but about two years after his residence among the Franks he died; and his body lies at Winchester. He reigned eighteen years and a half. Ethelbald reigned five years. Alfred, his third son, Ethelwulf had sent to Rome; and when the pope heard say that he was dead, he consecrated Alfred king, and held him under spiritual hands, as his father Ethelwulf had desired, and for which purpose he had sent him thither.
868. This year the same army went into Mercia to Nottingham, and there fixed their winter-quarters; and Burhred, king of the Mercians, with his council, besought Ethered, king of the West-Saxons, and Alfred, his brother; that they would assist them in fighting against the army. And they went with the West-Saxon army into Mercia as far as Nottingham, and there meeting the army on the works, they beset them within. But there was no heavy fight; for the Mercians made peace with the army.
871. This year came the army to Reading in Wessex; and in the course of three nights after rode two earls up, who were met by Alderman Ethelwulf at Englefield; where he fought with them, and obtained the victory. There one of them was slain, whose name was Sidrac. About four nights after this, King Ethered and Alfred his brother led their main army to Reading, where they fought with the enemy; and there was much slaughter on either hand, Alderman Ethelwulf being among the skain; but the Danes kept possession of the field. And about four nights after this, King Ethered and Alfred his brother fought with all the army on Ashdown, and the Danes were overcome. They had two heathen kings, Bagsac and Healfden, and many earls; and they were in two divisions; in one of which were Bagsac and Healfden, the heathen kings, and in the other were the earls. King Ethered therefore fought with the troops of the kings, and there was King Bagsac slain; and Alfred his brother fought with the troops of the
earls, and there were slain Earl Sidrac the elder, Earl Sidrac the younger, Earl Osbern, Earl Frene, and Earl Harold. They put both the troops to flight; there were many thousands of the slain, and they continued fighting till night. Within a fortnight of this, King Ethered and Alfred his brother fought with the army at Basing; and there the Danes had the victory. About two months after this, King Ethered and Alfred his brother fought with the army at Marden. They were in two divisions; and they put them both to flight, enjoying the victory for some time during the day; and there was much slaughter on either hand; but the Danes became masters of the field; and there was slain Bishop Heahmund, with many other good men. After this fight came a vast army in the summer to Reading. And after the Easter of this year died King Ethered. He reigned five years, and his body lies at Winburn-minster. Then Alfred, his brother, the son of Ethelwulf, took to the kingdom of Wessex. And within a month of this, King Alfred fought against all the Army with a small force at Wilton, and long pursued them during the day; but the Danes got possession of the field. This year were nine general battles fought with the army in the kingdom south of the Thames; besides those skirmishes, in which Alfred the king's brother, and every single alderman, and the thanes of the king, oft rode against them; which were accounted nothing. This year also were slain nine earls, and one king; and the same year the West-Saxons made
peace with the army.
875. This summer King Alfred went out to sea with an armed fleet, and fought with seven ship-rovers, one of whom he took, and dispersed the others.
877. This year came the Danish army into Exeter from Wareham; whilst the navy sailed west about, until they met with a great mist at sea, and there perished one hundred and twenty ships at Swanwich. Meanwhile King Alfred with his army rode after the cavalry as far as Exeter; but he could not overtake
them before their arrival in the fortress, where they could not be come at. There they gave him as many hostages as he required, swearing with solemn oaths to observe the strictest amity. In the harvest the army entered Mercia; some of which they divided among them, and some they gave to Ceolwulf.
It is now generally written, as pronounced, "Swanage".
878. This year about mid-winter, after twelfth-night, the Danish army stole out to Chippenham, and rode over the land of the West-Saxons; where they settled, and drove many of the people over sea; and of the rest the greatest part they rode down, and subdued to their will; -- ALL BUT ALFRED THE KING. He, with a little band, uneasily sought the woods and fastnesses of the moors. And in the winter of this same year the brother of Ingwar and Healfden landed in Wessex, in Devonshire, with three and twenty ships, and there was he slain, and eight hundred men with him, and forty of his army. There also was taken the war-flag, which they called the RAVEN. In the Easter of this year King Alfred with his little force raised a work at Athelney; from
which he assailed the army, assisted by that part of Somersetshire which was nighest to it. Then, in the seventh week after Easter, he rode to Brixton by the eastern side of Selwood; and there came out to meet him all the people of Somersersetshire, and Wiltshire, and that part of Hampshire which is on this side of the sea; and they rejoiced to see him. Then within one night he went from this retreat to Hey; and within one night after he proceeded to Heddington; and there fought with all the army, and put them to flight, riding after them as far as the fortress, where he remained a fortnight. Then the army gave him hostages with many oaths, that they would go out of his kingdom. They told him also, that their king would receive baptism. And they acted accordingly; for in the course of three weeks after, King Guthrum, attended by some thirty of the worthiest men that were in the army, came to him at Aller, which is near Athelney, and there the king became his sponsor in baptism; and his crisom-leasing was at Wedmor. He was there twelve nights with the king, who honoured him and his attendants with many presents.
882. This year went the army up along the Maese far into Frankland, and there sat a year; and the same year went King Alfred out to sea with a fleet; and fought with four ship-rovers of the Danes, and took two of their ships; wherein all the men were slain; and the other two surrendered; but the men were severely cut and wounded ere they surrendered.
883. This year went the army up the Scheldt to Conde, and there sat a year. And Pope Marinus sent King Alfred the "lignum Domini". The same year led Sighelm and Athelstan to Rome the alms which King Alfred ordered thither, and also in India to St. Thomas and to St. Bartholomew. Then they sat against the army at London; and there, with the favour of God, they were very successful after the performance of their vows.
885. This year separated the before-mentioned army in two; one part east, another to Rochester. This city they surrounded, and wrought another fortress around themselves. The people, however, defended the city, until King Alfred came out with his army. Then went the enemy to their ships, and forsook their work. There were they provided with horses; and soon after, in the same summer, they went over sea again. The same year sent King Alfred a fleet from Kent into East-Anglia. As soon as they came to Stourmouth, there met them sixteen ships of the pirates. And they fought with them, took all the ships, and slew the men. As they returned homeward with their booty, they met a large fleet of the pirates, and fought with them the same day; but the Danes had the victory.
886. This year went the army back again to the west, that before were bent eastward; and proceeding upwards along the Seine, fixed their winter-quarters in the city of Paris. The same year also King Alfred fortified the city of London; and the whole English nation turned to him, except that part of it which was held captive by the Danes. He then committed the city to the care of Alderman Ethered, to hold it under him.
887: Alderman Ethelhelm led the alms of the West-Saxons and of King Alfred to Rome.
889. This year there was no journey to Rome; except that King Alfred sent two messengers with letters.
891. This year went the army eastward; and King Arnulf fought with the land-force, ere the ships arrived, in conjunction with the eastern Franks, and Saxons, and Bavarians, and put them to flight. And three Scots came to King Alfred in a boat without any oars from Ireland; whence they stole away, because they would live in a state of pilgrimage, for the love of God, they recked
not where. The boat in which they came was made of two hides and a half; and they took with them provisions for seven nights; and within seven nights they came to land in Cornwall, and soon after went to King Alfred. They were thus named: Dubslane, and Macbeth, and Maelinmun. And Swinney, the best teacher that was among the Scots, departed this life. And the same year after Easter, about the gang-days or before, appeared the star that men in book-Latin call "cometa": some men say that in English it may be termed "hairy star"; for that there standeth off from it a long gleam of light, whilom on one side, whilom on each.
894. This year, that was about twelve months after they had wrought a work in the eastern district, the Northumbrians and East-Angles had given oaths to King Alfred, and the East-Angles six hostages; nevertheless, contrary to the truce, as oft as the other plunderers went out with all their army, then went they also, either with them, or in a separate division. Upon this King Alfred gathered his army, and advanced, so that he encamped
between the two armies at the highest point he could find defended by wood and by water, that he might reach either, if they would seek any field. Then went they forth in quest of the wealds, in troops and companies, wheresoever the country was defenceless. But they were also sought after most days by other companies, either by day or by night, both from the army and also from the towns. The king had divided his army into two parts; so
that they were always half at home, half out; besides the men that should maintain the towns. The army came not all out of their stations more than twice; once, when they first came to land, ere the forces were collected, and again, when they wished to depart from their stations. They had now seized much booty, and would ferry it northward over Thames into Essex, to meet their ships. But the army rode before them, fought with them at Farnham, routed their forces, and there arrested the booty. And they flew over Thames without any ford, then up by the Colne on an island. Then the king's forces beset them without as long as they had food; but they had their time set, and their meat noted. And the king was advancing thitherwards on his march with the division that accompanied him. But while he was advancing thitherwards, the other force was returning homewards. The Danes, however, still remained behind; for their king was wounded in the fight, so that they could not carry him. Then collected together those that dwell in Northumbria and East-Anglia about a hundred ships, and went south about; and with some forty more went north about, and besieged a fort in Devonshire by the north sea; and those who went south about beset Exeter. When the king heard that, then went he west towards Exeter with all his force, except a very considerable part of the eastern army, who advanced till they came to London; and there being joined by the citizens and the reinforcements that came from the west, they went east to Barnfleet. Hasten was there with his gang, who before were stationed at Milton, and also the main army had come thither, that sat before in the mouth of the Limne at Appledore. Hasten had formerly constructed that work at Barnfleet, and was then gone out on plunder, the main army being at home. Then came the king's troops, and routed the enemy, broke down the work, took all that was therein money, women, and children and brought all to London. And all the ships they either broke to pieces, or burned, or brought to London or to Rochester. And Hasten's wife and her two sons they brought to the king, who returned them to him, because one of them was his godson, and the other Alderman Ethered's. They had adopted them ere Hasten came to Bamfleet; when he had given them hostages and oaths, and the king had also given him many presents; as he did also then, when he returned the child and the wife. And as soon as they came to Bamfleet, and the work was built, then plundered he in the same quarter of his kingdom that Ethered his compeer should have held; and at another time he was plundering in the same district when his work was destroyed. The king then went westward with the army toward Exeter, as I before said, and the army had beset the city; but whilst he was gone they went to their ships. Whilst he was thus busied there with the army, in the west, the marauding parties were both gathered together at Shobury in Essex, and there built a fortress. Then they both went together up by the Thames, and a great concourse joined them, both from the East-Angles and from the Northumbrians. They then advanced upward by the Thames, till they arrived near the Severn. Then they proceeded upward by the Severn. Meanwhile assembled Alderman Ethered, Alderman Ethelm,
Alderman Ethelnoth, and the king's thanes, who were employed at home at the works, from every town east of the Parret, as well as west of Selwood, and from the parts east and also north of the Thames and west of the Severn, and also some part of North-Wales. When they were all collected together, they overtook the rear of the enemy at Buttington on the banks of the Severn, and there beset them without on each side in a fortress. When they had sat there many weeks on both sides of the water, and the king meanwhile was in Devonshire westward with the naval force, then were the enemy weighed down with famine. They had devoured the greater part of their horses; and the rest had perished with hunger. Then went they out to the men that sat on the eastern side of the river, and fought with them; but the Christians had the victory. And there Ordhelm, the king's thane, was slain; and also many other king's thanes; and of the Danes there were many slain, and that part of them that came away escaped only by flight. As soon as they came into Essex to their fortress, and to their ships, then gathered the remnant again in East-Anglia and from the Northumbrians a great force before winter, and having committed their wives and their ships and their booty to the East-Angles, they marched on the stretch by day and night, till they arrived at a western city in Wirheal that is called Chester. There the army could not overtake them ere they arrived within the work: they beset the work though, without, some two days, took all the cattle that was thereabout, slew the men whom they could overtake without the work, and all the corn they either burned or consumed with their horses every evening. That was about a twelvemonth since they first came hither over sea.
897: Then King Alfred gave orders for building long ships against the esks, which were full-nigh twice as long as the others. Some had sixty oars, some more; and they were both swifter and steadier, and also higher than the others. They were not shaped either after the Frisian or the Danish model, but so as he himself thought that they might be most serviceable. Then, at a certain turn of this same year, came six of their ships to the Isle of Wight; and going into Devonshire, they did much mischief both there and everywhere on the seacoast. Then commanded the king his men to go out against them with nine of the new ships, and prevent their escape by the mouth of the river to the outer sea. Then came they out against them with three ships, and three others were standing upwards above the mouth on dry land: for the men were gone off upon shore. Of the first three ships they took two at the mouth outwards, and slew the men; the third veered off, but all the men were slain except five; and they too were severely wounded. Then came onward those who manned the other ships, which were also very uneasily situated. Three were stationed on that side of the deep where the Danish ships were aground, whilst the others were all on the opposite side; so that none of them could join the rest; for the water had ebbed many furlongs from them. Then went the Danes from their three ships to those other three that were on their side, be-ebbed; and there they then fought. There were slain Lucomon, the king's reve, and Wulfheard, a Frieslander; Ebb, a Frieslander, and Ethelere, a Frieslander; and Ethelferth, the king's neat-herd; and of all the men, Frieslanders and English, sixty-two; of the Danes a hundred and twenty. The tide, however, reached the Danish ships ere the Christians could shove theirs out; whereupon they rowed them out; but they were so crippled, that they could not row them beyond the coast of Sussex: there two of them the sea drove ashore; and the crew were led to Winchester to the king, who ordered them to be hanged. The men who escaped in the single ship came to East-Anglia, severely wounded. This same year were lost no less than twenty ships, and the men withal, on the southern coast.
901. This year died ALFRED, the son of Ethelwulf, six nights before the mass of All Saints. He was king over all the English nation, except that part that was under the power of the Danes. He held the government one year and a half less than thirty winters; and then Edward his son took to the government.

ALFRED THE GREAT (849-899), the most justly celebrated of all Anglo-Saxon rulers, was King of Wessex from 871 until 899. Alfred was born atWantage in 849, the youngest son of King Ethelwulf of Wessex and his first wife, Osburh. The short reigns and early deaths of his elder brothers Ethelbald (858-850), Ethelbert (860-865) and Ethelred I (865-871) brought Alfred to the throne of Wessex at the age of about twenty-two in 871.
Alfred's lifetime was overshadowed by the Danish invasions of England. Between 865 and 870 the Danes had conquered the kingdoms of East Anglia and Northumbria and had forced Mercia into submission. In 870 they decided to move against Wessex and established themselves in winterquarters at Reading. Five battles were fought in the winter and earlyspring of 870-871, at Englefield, Reading, Ashdown, Basing and the unidentified Meretun. Of these only Ashdown was a West Saxon victory. Shortly after the last battle the Danes were reinforced by another Viking army. At the time of Alfred's accession in April 871 the advantage lay firmly with the invaders. For the new king the outlook was bleak, and it was to remain so for some time. In May Alfred was defeated again, at Wilton, after which he decided to capitulate as the Mercians haddone. A contemporary put the best interpretation on it that he could:"the Saxons made peace with the Vikings on condition that they would leave them; and this they did." What this almost certainly means is that Alfred paid them to go away; what later generations were to call paying Danegeld.
The Danes kept their word. Between 871 and 875 they busied themselveswith Mercia and Northumberland. A second invasion of Wessex occurred in 876-77. Under their leader Guthrum, the Danes struck deeper than ever before into Wessex, and established themselves first at Wareham in Dorset and then at Exeter. Once more Alfred was forced to buy peace from them and they withdrew across the Mercian border in the summer of 877 to a new base at Gloucester. A third invasion followed soon. In January 878 the Danes entered Wessex, settled at Chippenham and subjectedlarge areas of the kingdom to their authority. With only a small following Alfred fled to the west and found refuge at Athelney in Somerset, in the marshy country of the Parrett valley. (The episode of Alfredand the cakes, first committed to writing about a century after his death, was located during the retreat at Athelney.) Had the king died at this point he would be remembered, if at all, only as a failure.
But Alfred survived and prospered. During the spring of 878 he quietly mustered troops and from the fortress which he had constructed at Athelney he waged guerilla war upon the Danes. By May he was ready to challenge them openly. He advanced eastwards, gathering support from the county levies of Somerset, Wiltshire and Hampshire as he went. Theyencountered Guthrum's army at Edington in Wiltshire and decisively defeated it, pursuing the survivors as far as their stronghold at Chippenham. After a fortnight the Danes surrendered. Their leader Guthrum was baptized a Christian in June and they swore to leave Wessex in peace, a promise which they carried out later in the year. Alfred had won the struggle for survival.
Towards the end of 884 part of a Viking army which had been campaigning in Francia crossed the Channel to Kent and laid siege to Rochester.Alfred relieved the town and eventually managed to chase the intruders back to the Continent. Guthrum's followers, settled in East Anglia since 880, had assisted the Vikings from the Continent, and it was in an attempt to neutralise them that Alfred sent a naval force against East Anglia in the summer of 885, which had mixed success, and in 886 occupied London. Shortly afterwards he made a peace-treaty with Guthrum. Apart from these events, during the fourteen years between 878 and 892 Wessex was unmolested. These were the creative years in which Alfred initiated his programme of military reform and cultural revival.
In 892 the Danes returned in force and Alfred's defensive measures were put to the test. The war of 892-96 is reported at considerable length in the contemporary record of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. Without following the campaigns in detail we may say that once more the Danish strategy rested upon the occupation of bases from which raids could be launched. However, there were contrasts with the earlier crises of 870-71 and 875-78. Whereas the earlier invaders had repeatedly penetratedinto the heart of Alfred's kingdom (e.g. Wilton 871, Wareham 876) those of 892-96 got into Wessex only once, in 893. Whereas the earlier invaders had won victory after victory, particularly in the years 870-71, the Danes who broke into Wessex in 893 were defeated by the king's son Edward at Fareham before they had got very far. Furthermore, although the Danes were difficult to pin down and bring to battle, the English forces could on occasion do this. They matched the mobility of theDanes, pursuing them right up the valley of the Severn in 893. They could dislodge them from their bases, as at Chester in 894 and in the valley of the river Lea near London in 895. They could sometimes cornerand defeat them, as ealdorman Ethelred of Mercia, Alfred's son-in-law, did at Buttington in 893. They could also by now engage the Danes by sea as well as on land, as in 896, with at least fair success. By the summer of 896 the Danish leaders had realised that Wessex was too well-defended for them. Their army dispersed, some to East Anglia or Northumbria, some to further campaigning across the Channel in Francia. The remaining three years of Alfred's reign are ill-documented but were apparently peaceful. He died on 27 October 899, aged about fifty, and was buried at Winchester.
Alfred was probably a good deal more aware of the continent of Europethan have been at least some nineteenth and twentieth-century historians who have devoted their attention to him. He had visited Rome as a boy in the company of his father. He regularly sent alms to Rome and received at least one letter from Pope John VIII. His sister Aethelswith, the wife of King Burgred of Mercia who was deposed by the Danes in 874, spent her later years in Italy until her death in 888. Alfred's father Ethelwulf had had a Frankish secretary and had married as his second wife a Frankish princess. Alfred's wife Ealhswith---they were married in 868---was English, a noblewoman descended from the Mercian royal dynasty. Of the five children of their marriage who lived to maturity, one of the daughters, Aelfthryth, married Baldwin II, Count of Flanders, between 893 and 899. Alfred corresponded with Archbishop Fulk of Rheims, and attracted scholars from Francia such as Grimbald and John to his court. The compiler of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle was knowledgeable about Frankish affairs. We can sense a web of contact between Alfred's Wessex and the western European continent that may have been agood deal more dense than the surviving evidence allows us to see.
It was not only in the military field that Alfred may have been indebted to his Frankish neighbors. There is the code of laws which was probably drawn up about 890. We cannot be certain that any English ruler had issued laws since King Ine of Wessex nearly two centuries earlier.Frankish rulers of the ninth century, especially Charles the Bald (d.877) whose court Alfred had visited, had been tireless, one might almost say frenzied legislators. Some of the individual clauses in Alfred's laws betray the influence of Frankish practice, the requirement, for example, that his subjects should swear an oath of loyalty to him. During the 880s, in all probability, the town of Winchester was comprehensively replanned inside its refurbished Roman defenses. A new grid-pattern of streets was laid down, bounded by a road which ran round the inside of the walls. This operation involved the laying of at leastfive miles of road and their surfacing with nearly 8000 tons of flintcobbles. Only a king could have mobilised the resources for such a task: the initiative must have been Alfred's. Winchester included a royal palace, a cathedral and its community, a new monastery probably planned by Alfred although not completed until after his death, and a nunnery founded by Queen Ealhswith. It also housed a royal mint, merchants on whose services the court depended, and residences for the counsellors in attendance on the King. Alfred's Winchester was not exactly acapital city in our sense of the term, but it was the closest thing to one in Wessex---a favoured royal residence, a place of ceremonial, prayer and liturgy, a fit setting for solemn acts of state and a mausoleum where kings would rest and be remembered after their deaths. Surely its inspiration was, at least in part, Frankish. Alfred's Winchester was to Wessex what Charlemagne's Aachen was to the kingdom of the Franks.
Like Frankish rulers such as Charlemagne or Charles the Bald, though on a more modest scale, Alfred was a patron of learning. Unlike them, he personally contributed to the intellectual revival which he sponsored and it is this activity which is his most enduring claim to fame. Alfred regarded his attempts to rehabilitate English learning as part and parcel of his kingly responsibilities. To this end Alfred recruiteda number of learned men, Plegmund, a native of Mercia who became Archbishop of Canterbury in 890; the Welshman Asser, who became Bishop of Sherborne; another Mercian, Bishop Werferth of Worcester; a Flemish monk, Grimbald of St. Bertin's; and a monk from continental Saxony namedJohn who was made Abbot of Alfred's monastic foundation at Athelney. Through the efforts of these five men, and doubtless of others whose names we do not know, the ground was prepared for the intellectual achievements of the tenth century.
Alfred's own contribution to the revival of learning was to translatefrom Latin into Old English 'certain books,' in his own words, 'whichare the most necessary for all men to know.' He had learned to read the vernacular as a child and went on to learn Latin as a grown man. Alfred personally translated three books, the Liber Regulae Pastoralis (Book of Pastoral Rule) of Pope Gregory I, the Soliloquies of St. Augustine of Hippo, and the Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius.
It was Asser who rendered unforgettably in his biography those aspects of Alfred's character which so appealed to the Victorians: his moral uprightness, his warm family life, his struggles against ill health, his earnest self-improvement. Alfred was a man of robustly traditional tastes---a warrior, a hunter, a ring-giver---as well as the scholar and seeker after knowledge revealed in his writings. He was a man of his time, like everyone else. His achievements rested in some degree on foundations laid by his father Ethelwulf and on lessons learned from his Frankish neighbours. He had an orderly mind and he was fertile in practical expedient, whether in the construction of ships or of lantern-clocks. He was also endowed with a speculative mind, charged with intellectual vitality. How many kings have taught themselves Latinat the age of thirty eight? "He stood, I believe, head and shoulders above all the kings of England who came before and after him." This was the verdict of an Anglo-Norman historian writing in about 1120.
[Who's Who in Roman Britain and Anglo-Saxon England, Richard Fletcher, Shepheard-Walwyn Publishers Ltd., London, 1989]

ALFRED THE GREAT (849-899), the most justly celebrated of all Anglo-Saxon rulers, was King of Wessex from 871 until 899. Alfred was born atWantage in 849, the youngest son of King Ethelwulf of Wessex and his first wife, Osburh. The short reigns and early deaths of his elder brothers Ethelbald (858-850), Ethelbert (860-865) and Ethelred I (865-871) brought Alfred to the throne of Wessex at the age of about twenty-two in 871.
Alfred's lifetime was overshadowed by the Danish invasions of England. Between 865 and 870 the Danes had conquered the kingdoms of East Anglia and Northumbria and had forced Mercia into submission. In 870 they decided to move against Wessex and established themselves in winterquarters at Reading. Five battles were fought in the winter and earlyspring of 870-871, at Englefield, Reading, Ashdown, Basing and the unidentified Meretun. Of these only Ashdown was a West Saxon victory. Shortly after the last battle the Danes were reinforced by another Viking army. At the time of Alfred's accession in April 871 the advantage lay firmly with the invaders. For the new king the outlook was bleak, and it was to remain so for some time. In May Alfred was defeated again, at Wilton, after which he decided to capitulate as the Mercians haddone. A contemporary put the best interpretation on it that he could:"the Saxons made peace with the Vikings on condition that they would leave them; and this they did." What this almost certainly means is that Alfred paid them to go away; what later generations were to call paying Danegeld.
The Danes kept their word. Between 871 and 875 they busied themselveswith Mercia and Northumberland. A second invasion of Wessex occurred in 876-77. Under their leader Guthrum, the Danes struck deeper than ever before into Wessex, and established themselves first at Wareham in Dorset and then at Exeter. Once more Alfred was forced to buy peace from them and they withdrew across the Mercian border in the summer of 877 to a new base at Gloucester. A third invasion followed soon. In January 878 the Danes entered Wessex, settled at Chippenham and subjectedlarge areas of the kingdom to their authority. With only a small following Alfred fled to the west and found refuge at Athelney in Somerset, in the marshy country of the Parrett valley. (The episode of Alfredand the cakes, first committed to writing about a century after his death, was located during the retreat at Athelney.) Had the king died at this point he would be remembered, if at all, only as a failure.
But Alfred survived and prospered. During the spring of 878 he quietly mustered troops and from the fortress which he had constructed at Athelney he waged guerilla war upon the Danes. By May he was ready to challenge them openly. He advanced eastwards, gathering support from the county levies of Somerset, Wiltshire and Hampshire as he went. Theyencountered Guthrum's army at Edington in Wiltshire and decisively defeated it, pursuing the survivors as far as their stronghold at Chippenham. After a fortnight the Danes surrendered. Their leader Guthrum was baptized a Christian in June and they swore to leave Wessex in peace, a promise which they carried out later in the year. Alfred had won the struggle for survival.
Towards the end of 884 part of a Viking army which had been campaigning in Francia crossed the Channel to Kent and laid siege to Rochester.Alfred relieved the town and eventually managed to chase the intruders back to the Continent. Guthrum's followers, settled in East Anglia since 880, had assisted the Vikings from the Continent, and it was in an attempt to neutralise them that Alfred sent a naval force against East Anglia in the summer of 885, which had mixed success, and in 886 occupied London. Shortly afterwards he made a peace-treaty with Guthrum. Apart from these events, during the fourteen years between 878 and 892 Wessex was unmolested. These were the creative years in which Alfred initiated his programme of military reform and cultural revival.
In 892 the Danes returned in force and Alfred's defensive measures were put to the test. The war of 892-96 is reported at considerable length in the contemporary record of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. Without following the campaigns in detail we may say that once more the Danish strategy rested upon the occupation of bases from which raids could be launched. However, there were contrasts with the earlier crises of 870-71 and 875-78. Whereas the earlier invaders had repeatedly penetratedinto the heart of Alfred's kingdom (e.g. Wilton 871, Wareham 876) those of 892-96 got into Wessex only once, in 893. Whereas the earlier invaders had won victory after victory, particularly in the years 870-71, the Danes who broke into Wessex in 893 were defeated by the king's son Edward at Fareham before they had got very far. Furthermore, although the Danes were difficult to pin down and bring to battle, the English forces could on occasion do this. They matched the mobility of theDanes, pursuing them right up the valley of the Severn in 893. They could dislodge them from their bases, as at Chester in 894 and in the valley of the river Lea near London in 895. They could sometimes cornerand defeat them, as ealdorman Ethelred of Mercia, Alfred's son-in-law, did at Buttington in 893. They could also by now engage the Danes by sea as well as on land, as in 896, with at least fair success. By the summer of 896 the Danish leaders had realised that Wessex was too well-defended for them. Their army dispersed, some to East Anglia or Northumbria, some to further campaigning across the Channel in Francia. The remaining three years of Alfred's reign are ill-documented but were apparently peaceful. He died on 27 October 899, aged about fifty, and was buried at Winchester.
Alfred was probably a good deal more aware of the continent of Europethan have been at least some nineteenth and twentieth-century historians who have devoted their attention to him. He had visited Rome as a boy in the company of his father. He regularly sent alms to Rome and received at least one letter from Pope John VIII. His sister Aethelswith, the wife of King Burgred of Mercia who was deposed by the Danes in 874, spent her later years in Italy until her death in 888. Alfred's father Ethelwulf had had a Frankish secretary and had married as his second wife a Frankish princess. Alfred's wife Ealhswith---they were married in 868---was English, a noblewoman descended from the Mercian royal dynasty. Of the five children of their marriage who lived to maturity, one of the daughters, Aelfthryth, married Baldwin II, Count of Flanders, between 893 and 899. Alfred corresponded with Archbishop Fulk of Rheims, and attracted scholars from Francia such as Grimbald and John to his court. The compiler of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle was knowledgeable about Frankish affairs. We can sense a web of contact between Alfred's Wessex and the western European continent that may have been agood deal more dense than the surviving evidence allows us to see.
It was not only in the military field that Alfred may have been indebted to his Frankish neighbors. There is the code of laws which was probably drawn up about 890. We cannot be certain that any English ruler had issued laws since King Ine of Wessex nearly two centuries earlier.Frankish rulers of the ninth century, especially Charles the Bald (d.877) whose court Alfred had visited, had been tireless, one might almost say frenzied legislators. Some of the individual clauses in Alfred's laws betray the influence of Frankish practice, the requirement, for example, that his subjects should swear an oath of loyalty to him. During the 880s, in all probability, the town of Winchester was comprehensively replanned inside its refurbished Roman defenses. A new grid-pattern of streets was laid down, bounded by a road which ran round the inside of the walls. This operation involved the laying of at leastfive miles of road and their surfacing with nearly 8000 tons of flintcobbles. Only a king could have mobilised the resources for such a task: the initiative must have been Alfred's. Winchester included a royal palace, a cathedral and its community, a new monastery probably planned by Alfred although not completed until after his death, and a nunnery founded by Queen Ealhswith. It also housed a royal mint, merchants on whose services the court depended, and residences for the counsellors in attendance on the King. Alfred's Winchester was not exactly acapital city in our sense of the term, but it was the closest thing to one in Wessex---a favoured royal residence, a place of ceremonial, prayer and liturgy, a fit setting for solemn acts of state and a mausoleum where kings would rest and be remembered after their deaths. Surely its inspiration was, at least in part, Frankish. Alfred's Winchester was to Wessex what Charlemagne's Aachen was to the kingdom of the Franks.
Like Frankish rulers such as Charlemagne or Charles the Bald, though on a more modest scale, Alfred was a patron of learning. Unlike them, he personally contributed to the intellectual revival which he sponsored and it is this activity which is his most enduring claim to fame. Alfred regarded his attempts to rehabilitate English learning as part and parcel of his kingly responsibilities. To this end Alfred recruiteda number of learned men, Plegmund, a native of Mercia who became Archbishop of Canterbury in 890; the Welshman Asser, who became Bishop of Sherborne; another Mercian, Bishop Werferth of Worcester; a Flemish monk, Grimbald of St. Bertin's; and a monk from continental Saxony namedJohn who was made Abbot of Alfred's monastic foundation at Athelney. Through the efforts of these five men, and doubtless of others whose names we do not know, the ground was prepared for the intellectual achievements of the tenth century.
Alfred's own contribution to the revival of learning was to translatefrom Latin into Old English 'certain books,' in his own words, 'whichare the most necessary for all men to know.' He had learned to read the vernacular as a child and went on to learn Latin as a grown man. Alfred personally translated three books, the Liber Regulae Pastoralis (Book of Pastoral Rule) of Pope Gregory I, the Soliloquies of St. Augustine of Hippo, and the Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius.
It was Asser who rendered unforgettably in his biography those aspects of Alfred's character which so appealed to the Victorians: his moral uprightness, his warm family life, his struggles against ill health, his earnest self-improvement. Alfred was a man of robustly traditional tastes---a warrior, a hunter, a ring-giver---as well as the scholar and seeker after knowledge revealed in his writings. He was a man of his time, like everyone else. His achievements rested in some degree on foundations laid by his father Ethelwulf and on lessons learned from his Frankish neighbours. He had an orderly mind and he was fertile in practical expedient, whether in the construction of ships or of lantern-clocks. He was also endowed with a speculative mind, charged with intellectual vitality. How many kings have taught themselves Latinat the age of thirty eight? "He stood, I believe, head and shoulders above all the kings of England who came before and after him." This was the verdict of an Anglo-Norman historian writing in about 1120.
[Who's Who in Roman Britain and Anglo-Saxon England, Richard Fletcher, Shepheard-Walwyn Publishers Ltd., London, 1989]

ALFRED THE GREAT (849-899), the most justly celebrated of all Anglo-Saxon rulers, was King of Wessex from 871 until 899. Alfred was born atWantage in 849, the youngest son of King Ethelwulf of Wessex and his first wife, Osburh. The short reigns and early deaths of his elder brothers Ethelbald (858-850), Ethelbert (860-865) and Ethelred I (865-871) brought Alfred to the throne of Wessex at the age of about twenty-two in 871.
Alfred's lifetime was overshadowed by the Danish invasions of England. Between 865 and 870 the Danes had conquered the kingdoms of East Anglia and Northumbria and had forced Mercia into submission. In 870 they decided to move against Wessex and established themselves in winterquarters at Reading. Five battles were fought in the winter and earlyspring of 870-871, at Englefield, Reading, Ashdown, Basing and the unidentified Meretun. Of these only Ashdown was a West Saxon victory. Shortly after the last battle the Danes were reinforced by another Viking army. At the time of Alfred's accession in April 871 the advantage lay firmly with the invaders. For the new king the outlook was bleak, and it was to remain so for some time. In May Alfred was defeated again, at Wilton, after which he decided to capitulate as the Mercians haddone. A contemporary put the best interpretation on it that he could:"the Saxons made peace with the Vikings on condition that they would leave them; and this they did." What this almost certainly means is that Alfred paid them to go away; what later generations were to call paying Danegeld.
The Danes kept their word. Between 871 and 875 they busied themselveswith Mercia and Northumberland. A second invasion of Wessex occurred in 876-77. Under their leader Guthrum, the Danes struck deeper than ever before into Wessex, and established themselves first at Wareham in Dorset and then at Exeter. Once more Alfred was forced to buy peace from them and they withdrew across the Mercian border in the summer of 877 to a new base at Gloucester. A third invasion followed soon. In January 878 the Danes entered Wessex, settled at Chippenham and subjectedlarge areas of the kingdom to their authority. With only a small following Alfred fled to the west and found refuge at Athelney in Somerset, in the marshy country of the Parrett valley. (The episode of Alfredand the cakes, first committed to writing about a century after his death, was located during the retreat at Athelney.) Had the king died at this point he would be remembered, if at all, only as a failure.
But Alfred survived and prospered. During the spring of 878 he quietly mustered troops and from the fortress which he had constructed at Athelney he waged guerilla war upon the Danes. By May he was ready to challenge them openly. He advanced eastwards, gathering support from the county levies of Somerset, Wiltshire and Hampshire as he went. Theyencountered Guthrum's army at Edington in Wiltshire and decisively defeated it, pursuing the survivors as far as their stronghold at Chippenham. After a fortnight the Danes surrendered. Their leader Guthrum was baptized a Christian in June and they swore to leave Wessex in peace, a promise which they carried out later in the year. Alfred had won the struggle for survival.
Towards the end of 884 part of a Viking army which had been campaigning in Francia crossed the Channel to Kent and laid siege to Rochester.Alfred relieved the town and eventually managed to chase the intruders back to the Continent. Guthrum's followers, settled in East Anglia since 880, had assisted the Vikings from the Continent, and it was in an attempt to neutralise them that Alfred sent a naval force against East Anglia in the summer of 885, which had mixed success, and in 886 occupied London. Shortly afterwards he made a peace-treaty with Guthrum. Apart from these events, during the fourteen years between 878 and 892 Wessex was unmolested. These were the creative years in which Alfred initiated his programme of military reform and cultural revival.
In 892 the Danes returned in force and Alfred's defensive measures were put to the test. The war of 892-96 is reported at considerable length in the contemporary record of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. Without following the campaigns in detail we may say that once more the Danish strategy rested upon the occupation of bases from which raids could be launched. However, there were contrasts with the earlier crises of 870-71 and 875-78. Whereas the earlier invaders had repeatedly penetratedinto the heart of Alfred's kingdom (e.g. Wilton 871, Wareham 876) those of 892-96 got into Wessex only once, in 893. Whereas the earlier invaders had won victory after victory, particularly in the years 870-71, the Danes who broke into Wessex in 893 were defeated by the king's son Edward at Fareham before they had got very far. Furthermore, although the Danes were difficult to pin down and bring to battle, the English forces could on occasion do this. They matched the mobility of theDanes, pursuing them right up the valley of the Severn in 893. They could dislodge them from their bases, as at Chester in 894 and in the valley of the river Lea near London in 895. They could sometimes cornerand defeat them, as ealdorman Ethelred of Mercia, Alfred's son-in-law, did at Buttington in 893. They could also by now engage the Danes by sea as well as on land, as in 896, with at least fair success. By the summer of 896 the Danish leaders had realised that Wessex was too well-defended for them. Their army dispersed, some to East Anglia or Northumbria, some to further campaigning across the Channel in Francia. The remaining three years of Alfred's reign are ill-documented but were apparently peaceful. He died on 27 October 899, aged about fifty, and was buried at Winchester.
Alfred was probably a good deal more aware of the continent of Europethan have been at least some nineteenth and twentieth-century historians who have devoted their attention to him. He had visited Rome as a boy in the company of his father. He regularly sent alms to Rome and received at least one letter from Pope John VIII. His sister Aethelswith, the wife of King Burgred of Mercia who was deposed by the Danes in 874, spent her later years in Italy until her death in 888. Alfred's father Ethelwulf had had a Frankish secretary and had married as his second wife a Frankish princess. Alfred's wife Ealhswith---they were married in 868---was English, a noblewoman descended from the Mercian royal dynasty. Of the five children of their marriage who lived to maturity, one of the daughters, Aelfthryth, married Baldwin II, Count of Flanders, between 893 and 899. Alfred corresponded with Archbishop Fulk of Rheims, and attracted scholars from Francia such as Grimbald and John to his court. The compiler of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle was knowledgeable about Frankish affairs. We can sense a web of contact between Alfred's Wessex and the western European continent that may have been agood deal more dense than the surviving evidence allows us to see.
It was not only in the military field that Alfred may have been indebted to his Frankish neighbors. There is the code of laws which was probably drawn up about 890. We cannot be certain that any English ruler had issued laws since King Ine of Wessex nearly two centuries earlier.Frankish rulers of the ninth century, especially Charles the Bald (d.877) whose court Alfred had visited, had been tireless, one might almost say frenzied legislators. Some of the individual clauses in Alfred's laws betray the influence of Frankish practice, the requirement, for example, that his subjects should swear an oath of loyalty to him. During the 880s, in all probability, the town of Winchester was comprehensively replanned inside its refurbished Roman defenses. A new grid-pattern of streets was laid down, bounded by a road which ran round the inside of the walls. This operation involved the laying of at leastfive miles of road and their surfacing with nearly 8000 tons of flintcobbles. Only a king could have mobilised the resources for such a task: the initiative must have been Alfred's. Winchester included a royal palace, a cathedral and its community, a new monastery probably planned by Alfred although not completed until after his death, and a nunnery founded by Queen Ealhswith. It also housed a royal mint, merchants on whose services the court depended, and residences for the counsellors in attendance on the King. Alfred's Winchester was not exactly acapital city in our sense of the term, but it was the closest thing to one in Wessex---a favoured royal residence, a place of ceremonial, prayer and liturgy, a fit setting for solemn acts of state and a mausoleum where kings would rest and be remembered after their deaths. Surely its inspiration was, at least in part, Frankish. Alfred's Winchester was to Wessex what Charlemagne's Aachen was to the kingdom of the Franks.
Like Frankish rulers such as Charlemagne or Charles the Bald, though on a more modest scale, Alfred was a patron of learning. Unlike them, he personally contributed to the intellectual revival which he sponsored and it is this activity which is his most enduring claim to fame. Alfred regarded his attempts to rehabilitate English learning as part and parcel of his kingly responsibilities. To this end Alfred recruiteda number of learned men, Plegmund, a native of Mercia who became Archbishop of Canterbury in 890; the Welshman Asser, who became Bishop of Sherborne; another Mercian, Bishop Werferth of Worcester; a Flemish monk, Grimbald of St. Bertin's; and a monk from continental Saxony namedJohn who was made Abbot of Alfred's monastic foundation at Athelney. Through the efforts of these five men, and doubtless of others whose names we do not know, the ground was prepared for the intellectual achievements of the tenth century.
Alfred's own contribution to the revival of learning was to translatefrom Latin into Old English 'certain books,' in his own words, 'whichare the most necessary for all men to know.' He had learned to read the vernacular as a child and went on to learn Latin as a grown man. Alfred personally translated three books, the Liber Regulae Pastoralis (Book of Pastoral Rule) of Pope Gregory I, the Soliloquies of St. Augustine of Hippo, and the Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius.
It was Asser who rendered unforgettably in his biography those aspects of Alfred's character which so appealed to the Victorians: his moral uprightness, his warm family life, his struggles against ill health, his earnest self-improvement. Alfred was a man of robustly traditional tastes---a warrior, a hunter, a ring-giver---as well as the scholar and seeker after knowledge revealed in his writings. He was a man of his time, like everyone else. His achievements rested in some degree on foundations laid by his father Ethelwulf and on lessons learned from his Frankish neighbours. He had an orderly mind and he was fertile in practical expedient, whether in the construction of ships or of lantern-clocks. He was also endowed with a speculative mind, charged with intellectual vitality. How many kings have taught themselves Latinat the age of thirty eight? "He stood, I believe, head and shoulders above all the kings of England who came before and after him." This was the verdict of an Anglo-Norman historian writing in about 1120.
[Who's Who in Roman Britain and Anglo-Saxon England, Richard Fletcher, Shepheard-Walwyn Publishers Ltd., London, 1989]

Alfred the Great
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For the 1969 movie, see Alfred the Great (film)
For the 10th century Bishop of Sherborne, see Alfred (bishop). For the comic by Al Columbia, see Alfred the Great (comic).
Alfred the Great
King of the Anglo-Saxons

Burial c. 1100
Winchester, Hampshire, now lost.
Alfred the Great (also Ælfred from the Old English Ælfred, pronounced['ælfre?d]) (c. 849 ? 26 October 899) was king of the southern Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Wessex from 871 to 899. Alfred is noted for his defence of the kingdom against the Danish Vikings, becoming the only English King to be awarded the epithet "the Great".[1] Alfred was the firstKing of the West Saxons to style himself "King of the Anglo-Saxons". Details of his life are discussed in a work by the Welsh scholar Asser. Alfred was a learned man, and encouraged education and improved hiskingdom's law system as well as its military structure.

Contents [hide]
1 Childhood
2 Under Ethelred
3 King at war
4 Reorganization
4.1 Legal reform
5 Foreign relations
6 Religion and culture
6.1 Veneration
7 Family
8 Death, burial and Legacy
9 Wantage Statue
10 See also
11 References
12 Further reading
13 External links

[edit] Childhood
Further information: House of Wessex family tree
Alfred was born sometime between 847 and 849 at Wantage in the present-day ceremonial county of Oxfordshire (in the historic county of Berkshire). He was the fifth and youngest son of King Æthelwulf of Wessex,by his first wife, Osburga.[2] In 868 Alfred married Ealhswith, daughter of Ethelred Mucill, who is called ealdorman of the Gaini, an unidentified district.[3]

At five years old, Alfred is said to have been sent to Rome where, according to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, he was confirmed by Pope Leo IV who "anointed him as king." Victorian writers interpreted this as an anticipatory coronation in preparation for his ultimate succession to the throne of Wessex. However, this coronation could not have been foreseen at the time, since Alfred had three living elder brothers. A letter of Leo IV shows that Alfred was made a "consul" and a misinterpretation of this investiture, deliberate or accidental, could explain later confusion.[4] It may also be based on Alfred later having accompanied his father on a pilgrimage to Rome and spending some time at the court of Charles the Bald, King of the Franks, around 854?855. On their return from Rome in 856, Æthelwulf was deposed by his son Æthelbald. Æthelwulf died in 858, and Wessex was ruled by three of Alfred's brothers in succession.

Asser tells the story about how as a child Alfred won a prize of a volume of poetry in English, offered by his mother to the first of her children able to memorize it. This story may be true, or it may be a legend designed to illustrate the young Alfred's love of learning.

[edit] Under Ethelred
During the short reigns of his two eldest brothers, Æthelbald and Ethelbert, Alfred is not mentioned. However with the accession of the third brother, Ethelred I, in 866, the public life of Alfred began. It isduring this period that Asser applies to him the unique title of "secundarius", which may indicate a position akin to that of the Celtic tanist, a recognized successor closely associated with the reigning monarch. It is possible that this arrangement was sanctioned by the Witenagemot, to guard against the danger of a disputed succession should Ethelred fall in battle. The arrangement of crowning a successor as Royalprince and military commander is well-known among Germanic tribes, such as the Swedes and Franks, with whom the Anglo-Saxons had close ties.

In 868, Alfred is recorded fighting beside his brother Ethelred, in an unsuccessful attempt to keep the invading Danes out of the adjoining Kingdom of Mercia. For nearly two years, Wessex was spared attacks because Alfred paid the Vikings to leave him alone. However, at the end of 870, the Danes arrived in his homeland. The year that followed has been called "Alfred's year of battles". Nine martial engagements were fought with varying fortunes, though the place and date of two of the battles have not been recorded. In Berkshire, a successful skirmishat the Battle of Englefield, on 31 December 870, was followed by a severe defeat at the Siege and Battle of Reading, on 5 January 871, and then, four days later, a brilliant victory at the Battle of Ashdown onthe Berkshire Downs, possibly near Compton or Aldworth. Alfred is particularly credited with the success of this latter conflict. However, later that month, on 22 January, the English were again defeated at Basing and, on the following 22 March at the Battle of Merton (perhaps Marden in Wiltshire or Martin in Dorset) in which Ethelred was killed. The two unidentified battles may also have occurred in between.

[edit] King at war
In April 871, King Ethelred died, and Alfred succeeded to the throne of Wessex and the burden of its defence, despite the fact that Ethelred left two young sons. Although contemporary turmoil meant the accession of Alfred?an adult with military experience and patronage resources?over his nephews went unchallenged, he remained obliged to secure their property rights. While he was busy with the burial ceremonies for his brother, the Danes defeated the English in his absence at an unnamed spot, and then again in his presence at Wilton in May. Following this, peace was made and, for the next five years, the Danes occupied other parts of England. However, in 876, under their new leader, Guthrum, the enemy slipped past the English army and attacked Wareham in Dorset. From there, early in 877, and under the pretext of talks, they moved westwards and took Exeter in Devon. There, Alfred blockaded them, and with a relief fleet having been scattered by a storm, the Danes were forced to submit. They withdrew to Mercia but, in January 878, madea sudden attack on Chippenham, a royal stronghold in which Alfred hadbeen staying over Christmas, "and most of the people they reduced, except the King Alfred, and he with a little band made his way by wood and swamp, and after Easter he made a fort at Athelney, and from that fort kept fighting against the foe" (Anglo-Saxon Chronicle).

Statue of Alfred the Great at WinchesterA popular legend tells how, when he first fled to the Somerset Levels, Alfred was given shelter bya peasant woman who, unaware of his identity, left him to watch some cakes she had left cooking on the fire. Preoccupied with the problems of his kingdom, Alfred accidentally let the cakes burn and was taken to task by the woman upon her return. Upon realizing the king's identity, the woman apologised profusely, but Alfred insisted that he was the one who needed to apologise. From his fort at Athelney, a marshy island near North Petherton, Alfred was able to mount an effective resistance movement while rallying the local militia from Somerset, Wiltshire and Hampshire.

Another story relates how Alfred disguised himself as a minstrel in order to gain entry to Guthrum's camp and discover his plans. This supposedly led to the Battle of Edington, near Westbury in Wiltshire. The result was a decisive victory for Alfred. The Danes submitted and, according to Asser, Guthrum and 29 of his chief men received baptism whenthey signed the Treaty of Wedmore. As a result, England became split in two: the southwestern half was kept by the Saxons, and the northeastern half including London, thence known as the Danelaw, was kept by the Vikings. By the following year (879), both Wessex and Mercia, west of Watling Street, were cleared of the invaders.

For the next few years there was peace, with the Danes being kept busy in Europe. A landing in Kent in 884 or 885 close to Plucks Gutter, though successfully repelled, encouraged the East Anglian Danes to rise up. The measures taken by Alfred to repress this uprising culminated in the taking of London in 885 or 886, and an agreement was reachedbetween Alfred and Guthrum, known as the Treaty of Alfred and Guthrum. Once more, for a time, there was a lull, but in the autumn of 892 or 893, the Danes attacked again. Finding their position in Europe somewhat precarious, they crossed to England in 330 ships in two divisions. They entrenched themselves, the larger body at Appledore, Kent, andthe lesser, under Haesten, at Milton also in Kent. The invaders brought their wives and children with them, indicating a meaningful attemptat conquest and colonisation. Alfred, in 893 or 894, took up a position from whence he could observe both forces. While he was in talks with Haesten, the Danes at Appledore broke out and struck northwestwards. They were overtaken by Alfred's eldest son, Edward, and were defeated in a general engagement at Farnham in Surrey. They were obliged to take refuge on an island in the Hertfordshire Colne, where they were blockaded and were ultimately compelled to submit. The force fell back on Essex and, after suffering another defeat at Benfleet, coalesced with Haesten's force at Shoebury.

Alfred had been on his way to relieve his son at Thorney when he heard that the Northumbrian and East Anglian Danes were besieging Exeter and an unnamed stronghold on the North Devon shore. Alfred at once hurried westward and raised the Siege of Exeter. The fate of the other place is not recorded. Meanwhile the force under Haesten set out to march up the Thames Valley, possibly with the idea of assisting their friends in the west. But they were met by a large force under the three great ealdormen of Mercia, Wiltshire and Somerset, and made to head offto the northwest, being finally overtaken and blockaded at Buttington. Some identify this with Buttington Tump at the mouth of the Wye River, others with Buttington near Welshpool. An attempt to break throughthe English lines was defeated. Those who escaped retreated to Shoebury. Then after collecting reinforcements they made a sudden dash across England and occupied the ruined Roman walls of Chester. The Englishdid not attempt a winter blockade but contented themselves with destroying all the supplies in the neighbourhood. Early in 894 (or 895), want of food obliged the Danes to retire once more to Essex. At the end of this year and early in 895 (or 896), the Danes drew their ships up the Thames and Lea and fortified themselves twenty miles (32 km) northof London. A direct attack on the Danish lines failed, but later in the year, Alfred saw a means of obstructing the river so as to prevent the egress of the Danish ships. The Danes realised that they were out-manoeuvred. They struck off northwestwards and wintered at Bridgenorth. The next year, 896 (or 897), they gave up the struggle. Some retired to Northumbria, some to East Anglia. Those who had no connections in England withdrew back to Europe.

[edit] Reorganization
After the dispersal of the Danish invaders, Alfred turned his attention to the increase of the navy, partly to repress the ravages of the Northumbrian and East Anglian Danes on the coasts of Wessex, and to prevent the landing of fresh invaders. This is not, as often asserted, the beginning of the English navy. There had been earlier naval operations under Alfred. One naval engagement was fought under Æthelwulf in 851, and earlier ones, possibly in 833 and 840. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, however, does credit Alfred with the construction of a new type ofship, built according to the king's own designs, "swifter, steadier and also higher/more responsive (hierran) than the others". However, these new ships do not seem to have been a great success, as we hear of them grounding in action and foundering in a storm. Nevertheless both the British Royal Navy and the United States Navy claim Alfred as the founder of their traditions.

Alfred's main fighting force, the fyrd, was separated into two, "so that there was always half at home and half out" (Anglo-Saxon Chronicle). The level of organisation required to mobilise his large army in two shifts, of which one was feeding the other, must have been considerable. The complexity which Alfred's administration had attained by 892is demonstrated by a reasonably reliable charter whose witness list includes a thesaurius, cellararius and pincerna?treasurer, food-keeper and butler. Despite the irritation which Alfred must have felt in 893,when one division, which had "completed their call-up (stemn)", gave up the siege of a Danish army just as Alfred was moving to relieve them, this system seems to have worked remarkably well on the whole.

One of the weaknesses of pre-Alfredian defences had been that, in theabsence of a standing army, fortresses were largely left unoccupied, making it very possible for a Viking force to quickly secure a strong strategic position. Alfred substantially upgraded the state of the defences of Wessex, by erecting fortified burhs (or boroughs) throughout the kingdom. During the systematic excavation of at least four of these (at Wareham, Cricklade, Lydford and Wallingford) it has been demonstrated that "in every case the rampart associated by the excavators with the borough of the Alfredian period was the primary defence on the site" (Brooks). The obligations for the upkeep and defence of these and many other sites, with permanent garrisons, are further documented in surviving transcripts of the administrative manuscript known as theBurghal Hidage. Dating from, at least, within twenty years of Alfred's death, if not actually from his reign, it almost certainly reflectsAlfredian policy. Comparison of town plans for Wallingford and Wareham with that of Winchester, shows "that they were laid out in the samescheme" (Wormald), thus supporting the proposition that these newly established burhs were also planned as centres of habitation and trade as well as a place of safety in moments of immediate danger. Thereafter, the English population and its wealth were drawn into such towns where it was not only safer from Viking soldiers, but also taxable by the King.

Alfred is thus credited with a significant degree of civil reorganisation, especially in the districts ravaged by the Danes. Even if one rejects the thesis crediting the "Burghal Hidage" to Alfred, what is undeniable is that, in the parts of Mercia acquired by Alfred from the Vikings, the shire system seems now to have been introduced for the first time. This is probably what prompted the legend that Alfred was theinventor of shires, hundreds and tithings. Alfred's care for the administration of justice is testified both by history and legend; and he has gained the popular title "protector of the poor". Of the actions of the Witangemot, we do not hear very much under Alfred. He was certainly anxious to respect its rights, but both the circumstances of the time and the character of the king would have tended to throw more power into his hands. The legislation of Alfred probably belongs to the later part of the reign, after the pressure of the Danes had relaxed. He also paid attention to the country's finances, though details are lacking.

[edit] Legal reform
Main article: Doom book
Alfred the Great?s most enduring work was his legal code, called Deemings, or Book of Dooms (Book of Laws). Sir Winston Churchill believed that Alfred blended the Mosaic Law, Celtic Law, and old customs of thepagan Anglo-Saxons.[5] Dr. F.N. Lee traced the parallels between Alfred?s Code and the Mosaic Code.[6] However, as Thomas Jefferson concluded after tracing the history of English common law: "The common law existed while the Anglo-Saxons were yet pagans, at a time when they had never yet heard the name of Christ pronounced or that such a characterexisted".[7] Churchill stated that Alfred?s Code was amplified by hissuccessors and grew into the body of Customary Law administered by the Shire and The Hundred Courts. This led to the Charter of Liberties,granted by Henry I of England, AD 1100.

[edit] Foreign relations
Asser speaks grandiosely of Alfred's relations with foreign powers, but little definite information is available. His interest in foreign countries is shown by the insertions which he made in his translation of Orosius. He certainly corresponded with Elias III, the Patriarch ofJerusalem, and possibly sent a mission to India. Contact was also made with the Caliph in Baghdad. Embassies to Rome conveying the Englishalms to the Pope were fairly frequent. Around 890, Wulfstan of Haithabu undertook a journey from Haithabu on Jutland along the Baltic Sea to the Prussian trading town of Truso. Alfred ensured he reported to him details of his trip.

Alfred's relations with the Celtic princes in the western half of Britain are clearer. Comparatively early in his reign, according to Asser, the southern Welsh princes, owing to the pressure on them of North Wales and Mercia, commended themselves to Alfred. Later in the reign the North Welsh followed their example, and the latter cooperated with the English in the campaign of 893 (or 894). That Alfred sent alms to Irish as well as to European monasteries may be taken on Asser's authority. The visit of the three pilgrim "Scots" (i.e., Irish) to Alfred in 891 is undoubtedly authentic. The story that he himself in his childhood was sent to Ireland to be healed by Saint Modwenna, though mythical, may show Alfred's interest in that island.

[edit] Religion and culture
Very little is known of the church under Alfred. The Danish attacks had been particularly damaging to the monasteries, and though Alfred founded two or three new monasteries and enticed foreign monks to England, monasticism did not revive significantly during his reign.[citationneeded] The Danish raids had also an impact on learning, leading to the practical extinction of Latin even among the clergy: the preface toAlfred's translation of Pope Gregory I's Pastoral Care into Old English bearing eloquent, if not impartial witness, to this.[citation needed]

Alfred established a court school, following the example of Charlemagne [8]. To this end, he imported scholars like Grimbald and John the Saxon from Europe, and Asser from South Wales.[citation needed] Not only did the King see to his own education, he also made the series of translations for the instruction of his clergy and people, most of which survive. These belong to the later part of his reign, probably the last four years, of which the chronicles are almost silent.[citation needed]

Apart from the lost Handboc or Encheiridion, which seems to have beenmerely a commonplace book kept by the king, the earliest work to be translated was the Dialogues of Gregory, a book greatly popular in the Middle Ages. In this case the translation was made by Alfred's great friend Werferth, Bishop of Worcester, the king merely furnishing a foreword. The next work to be undertaken was Gregory's Pastoral Care, especially for the good of the parish clergy. In this, Alfred keeps very close to his original; but the introduction which he prefixed to it is one of the most interesting documents of the reign, or indeed of English history. The next two works taken in hand were historical, the Universal History of Orosius and Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People. The priority should likely be given to the Orosius, but the point has been much debated. In the Orosius, by omissions and additions, Alfred so remodels his original as to produce an almost new work; in the Bede the author's text is closely stuck to, no additions being made, though most of the documents and some other less interesting matters are omitted. Of late years doubts have been raised as to Alfred's authorship of the Bede translation. But the skeptics cannot be regarded as having proved their point.

Alfred's translation of The Consolation of Philosophy of Boethius wasthe most popular philosophical handbook of the Middle Ages. Here again Alfred deals very freely with his original and though the late Dr. G. Schepss showed that many of the additions to the text are to be traced not to Alfred himself, but to the glosses and commentaries which he used, still there is much in the work which is solely Alfred's and highly characteristic of his genius. It is in the Boethius that the oft-quoted sentence occurs: "My will was to live worthily as long as I lived, and after my life to leave to them that should come after, my memory in good works." The book has come down to us in two manuscripts only. In one of these[9] the writing is prose, in the other[10] a combination of prose and alliterating verse. The latter manuscript was severely damaged in the 18th and 19th centuries,[11] and the authorship ofthe verse has been much disputed; but likely it also is by Alfred. Infact, he writes in the prelude that he first created a prose work andthen used it as the basis for his poem, the Lays of Boethius, his crowning literary achievement. He spent a great deal of time working on these books, which he tells us he gradually wrote through the many stressful times of his reign to refresh his mind. Of the authenticity of the work as a whole there has never been any doubt.

The last of Alfred's works is one to which he gave the name Blostman,i.e., "Blooms" or Anthology. The first half is based mainly on the Soliloquies of St Augustine of Hippo, the remainder is drawn from various sources, and contains much that is Alfred's own and highly characteristic of him. The last words of it may be quoted; they form a fittingepitaph for the noblest of English kings. "Therefore he seems to me avery foolish man, and truly wretched, who will not increase his understanding while he is in the world, and ever wish and long to reach that endless life where all shall be made clear."

Beside these works of Alfred's, the Saxon Chronicle almost certainly,and a Saxon Martyrology, of which fragments only exist, probably owe their inspiration to him. A prose version of the first fifty Psalms has been attributed to him; and the attribution, though not proved, is perfectly possible. Additionally, Alfred appears as a character in TheOwl and the Nightingale, where his wisdom and skill with proverbs is attested. Additionally, The Proverbs of Alfred, which exists for us ina thirteenth century manuscript contains sayings that very likely have their origins partly with the king.

Main article: Alfred Jewel
The Alfred jewel, discovered in Somerset in 1693, has long been associated with King Alfred because of its Old English inscription "AELFREDMEC HEHT GEWYRCAN" (Alfred Ordered Me To Be Made). This relic, of unknown use, certainly dates from Alfred's reign but it is possibly just one of several that once existed. The inscription does little to clarify the identity of the central figure which has long been believed to depict God or Christ.

[edit] Veneration
Alfred is venerated as a Saint by the Orthodox Church and is regardedas a hero of the Christian Church in the Anglican Communion, with a feast day of 26 October,[12] and may often be found depicted in stainedglass in Church of England parish churches. Also, Alfred University was named after him; a large statue of his likeness is in the center ofcampus.

[edit] Family
In 868, Alfred married Ealhswith, daughter of Ealdorman of the Gaini (who is also known as Aethelred Mucill), who was from the Gainsboroughregion of Lincolnshire. She appears to have been the maternal granddaughter of a King of Mercia. They had five or six children together, including Edward the Elder, who succeeded his father as King of Wessex, Ethelfleda, who would become Queen of Mercia in her own right, and Ælfthryth who married Baldwin II the Count of Flanders.

Name Birth Death Notes
Ethelfleda 918 Married 889, Eald of Mercia d 910; had issue.
Edward 870 17 July 924 Married (1) Ecgwynn, (2) Ælfflæd, (3) 919 Edgiva
Æthelgiva Abbess of Shaftesbury
Ælfthryth 929 Married Baldwin, Count of Flanders; had issue
Æthelwærd 16 October 922 Married and had issue

[edit] Death, burial and Legacy
Alfred died on 26 October. The actual year is not certain, but it wasnot necessarily 901 as stated in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. How he died is unknown. He was originally buried temporarily in the Old Minsterin Winchester, then moved to the New Minster (perhaps built especially to receive his body). When the New Minster moved to Hyde, a little north of the city, in 1110, the monks transferred to Hyde Abbey along with Alfred's body. His grave was apparently excavated during the building of a new prison in 1788 and the bones scattered. However, bones found on a similar site in the 1860s were also declared to be Alfred's and later buried in Hyde churchyard. Extensive excavations in 1999 revealed what is believed to be his grave-cut, that of his wife Eahlswith, and that of their son Edward the Elder but barely any human remains.[13]

Alfred has had a number of education establishments named in his honour. These are:

The University of Winchester was named 'King Alfred's College, Winchester' between 1840 and 2004, whereupon it was re-named "University College Winchester".
Alfred University, as well as Alfred State College located in Alfred,NY, are both named after the king.
In honour of Alfred, the University of Liverpool created a King Alfred Chair of English Literature.
University College, Oxford is erroneously said to have been founded by King Alfred.
King Alfred's College, a secondary school in Wantage, Oxfordshire. The Birthplace of Alfred.
King's Lodge School, in Chippenham, Wiltshire is so named because King Alfred's hunting lodge is reputed to have stood on or near the siteof the school.
The King Alfred School & Specialist Sports Academy, Burnham Road, Highbridge is so named due to its rough proximity to Brent Knoll (a Beacon Site) and Athelny.

[edit] Wantage Statue
The statue of Alfred the Great, situated in the Wantage's market place, was sculpted by Count Gleichen, a relative of Queen Victoria, and unveiled on 14 July 1877 by the Prince and Princess of Wales, the future Edward VII and his wife.[14]

The statue was vandalised on New Year's eve 2007, losing part of its right arm. [15]

[edit] See also
British military history
Kingdom of England
Lays of Boethius

[edit] References
^ Canute the Great, who ruled England from 1016 to 1035, was Danish.
^ Alfred was the youngest of five brothers[1]
^ The Life of King Alfred
^ Wormald, Patrick, 'Alfred (848/9-899)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford University Press, 2004).
^ Churchill, Sir Winston: The Island Race, Corgi, London, 1964, II, p. 219.
^ Lee, F. N., King Alfred the Great and our Common Law Department of Church History, Queensland Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Brisbane, Australia, August 2000
^ Reports of Cases Determined in the General Court, appendix. Thomas Jefferson.
^ Codicology of the court school of Charlemagne: Gospel book production, illumination, and emphasized script (European university studies. Series 28, History of art) ISBN 3820472835
^ Oxford Bodleian Library MS Bodley 180
^ British Library Cotton MS Otho A. vi
^ Kiernan, Kevin S., "Alfred the Great's Burnt Boethius". In Bornstein, George and Theresa Tinkle, eds., The Iconic Page in Manuscript, Print, and Digital Culture (Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 1998).
^ Gross, Ernie (1990). This Day In Religion. New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers, Inc..
^ Dodson, Aidan (2004). The Royal Tombs of Great Britain. London: Duckworth.
^ "Wantage Herald Article".
^ "Wantage Herald Article".

[edit] Further reading
Pratt, David: The political thought of King Alfred the Great (Cambridge Studies in Medieval Life and Thought: Fourth Series, 2007) ISBN 9780521803502
Parker, Joanne: England's Darling The Victorian Cult of Alfred the Great, 2007, ISBN 9780719073564
Pollard, Justin: Alfred the Great : the man who made England, 2006, ISBN 0719566665
Fry, Fred: Patterns of Power: The Military Campaigns of Alfred the Great, 2006, ISBN 9781905226931
Ancestral roots of sixty colonists who came to New England between 1623 and 1650 : the lineage of Alfred the Great, Charlemagne, Malcolm ofScotland, Robert the Strong, and some of their descendants, 1976, ISBN 806303735
Giles, J. A. (ed.): The Whole Works of King Alfred the Great (JubileeEdition, 3 vols, Oxford and Cambridge, 1858)
The whole works of King Alfred the Great, with preliminary essays, illustrative of the history, arts, and manners, of the ninth century, 1969, OCLC 28387

How Alfred became king of Wessex was more by circumstance than birth. Alfred has been acknowledged as having four elder brothers and one sister. All the brothers except Aethelstan, who died in about 850, reigned in turn from second to last born, following the death of their father Aethelwulf in 855. The only sister was named Aethelswith.

Youngest son of King Æthelwulf, Alfred became King of Wessex during a time of constant Viking attack. He was driven into hiding by a Viking raid into Wessex, led by the Dane, Guthorm, and took refuge in the Athelney marshes in Somerset. There, he recovered sufficient strength to be able to defeat the Danes decisively at the Battle of Eddington. As a condition of the peace treaty which followed, Guthorm received Christian baptism and withdrew his forces from Wessex, with Alfred recognizing the Danish control over East Anglia and parts of Mercia. This partition of England, called the "Danelaw", was formalized by another treaty in 886.

Alfred created a series of fortifications to surround his kingdom and provide needed security from invasion. The Anglo-Saxon word for these forts, "burhs", has come down to us in the common place-name suffix, "bury." He also constructed a fleet of ships to augment his other defenses, and in so doing became known as the "Father of the English Navy." The reign of Alfred was known for more than military success. He was a codifier of law, a promoter of education and a suppor|er of the arts. He, himself, was a scholar and translated Latin books into the Anglo-Saxon tongue. The definitive contemporary work on Alfred's life is an unfinished account in Latin by Asser, a Welshman, bishop of Sherbourne and Alfred's counsellor. After his death, he was buried in his capital city of Winchester, and is the only English monarch in history to carry the title, "the Great."

Alfred was twenty two when he was declared king. He was semi illiterate but at the same time articulate. Illiteracy was not uncommon, even among the aristocracy. It is strange how little we know about this period as far as the Saxon rulers are concerned. So it is surprising that we know so much about Alfred. This is basically all down to one person. A Welshman and confidant of the king, by the name of Asser . It is the chronicles written by this man that give us a good insight into Alfred, his life and the torment he must have suffered.

(Research):Reigned 871-899. He prevented the Danish conquest of England, defeating them
at Edington(878) after a campaign of guerrila warfare. After his victory he
allowed the Danes to keep their conquests in Mercia nd East Anglia provided
that Guthrum, their King, was converted to Christianity. Alfred built a navy
of Warships to defend the south coast against further Danish invasions (885-86
;892-96) and protected Wessex with a chain of fortifications. He took London
(886), this gaining control of all England except the Danish areas.

How Alfred became king of Wessex was more by circumstance than birth. Alfred has been acknowledged as having four elder brothers and one sister. All the brothers except Aethelstan, who died in about 850, reigned in turn from second to last born, following the death of their father Aethelwulf in 855. The only sister was named Aethelswith.

Youngest son of King Æthelwulf, Alfred became King of Wessex during a time of constant Viking attack. He was driven into hiding by a Viking raid into Wessex, led by the Dane, Guthorm, and took refuge in the Athelney marshes in Somerset. There, he recovered sufficient strength to be able to defeat the Danes decisively at the Battle of Eddington. As a condition of the peace treaty which followed, Guthorm received Christian baptism and withdrew his forces from Wessex, with Alfred recognizing the Danish control over East Anglia and parts of Mercia. This partition of England, called the "Danelaw", was formalized by another treaty in 886.

Alfred created a series of fortifications to surround his kingdom and provide needed security from invasion. The Anglo-Saxon word for these forts, "burhs", has come down to us in the common place-name suffix, "bury." He also constructed a fleet of ships to augment his other defenses, and in so doing became known as the "Father of the English Navy." The reign of Alfred was known for more than military success. He was a codifier of law, a promoter of education and a suppor|er of the arts. He, himself, was a scholar and translated Latin books into the Anglo-Saxon tongue. The definitive contemporary work on Alfred's life is an unfinished account in Latin by Asser, a Welshman, bishop of Sherbourne and Alfred's counsellor. After his death, he was buried in his capital city of Winchester, and is the only English monarch in history to carry the title, "the Great."

Alfred was twenty two when he was declared king. He was semi illiterate but at the same time articulate. Illiteracy was not uncommon, even among the aristocracy. It is strange how little we know about this period as far as the Saxon rulers are concerned. So it is surprising that we know so much about Alfred. This is basically all down to one person. A Welshman and confidant of the king, by the name of Asser . It is the chronicles written by this man that give us a good insight into Alfred, his life and the torment he must have suffered.

(Research):Reigned 871-899. He prevented the Danish conquest of England, defeating them
at Edington(878) after a campaign of guerrila warfare. After his victory he
allowed the Danes to keep their conquests in Mercia nd East Anglia provided
that Guthrum, their King, was converted to Christianity. Alfred built a navy
of Warships to defend the south coast against further Danish invasions (885-86
;892-96) and protected Wessex with a chain of fortifications. He took London
(886), this gaining control of all England except the Danish areas.

lfred was the youngest son of King Aethelwulf and his wife, Osberga. He was born at the Royal Palace of Wantage (Berkshire) in AD 849. He was brought up and educated by his mother and a famous story tells how she once promised an expensive illuminated book to the first of her children to learn to read it. Despite his young age, Alfred won the prize and he continued to understand the importance of knowledge throughout his later reign as King.

When his brother, Aethelred, became King of Wessex in AD 865, Alfred was sixteen. He quickly became a seasoned warrior and his brother's right-hand man during one of the worst periods of invasion in English history. The Vikings had been raiding along the English coast for thirty years, but Aethelred's coronation year they conquered the Kingdom of East Anglia. Within five years, their Great Heathen Army had arrived in Wessex and seized the Royal palace at Reading (Berkshire). The local ealdorman managed to contain them until the King arrived, with Alfred and the English army. A siege at Reading was unsuccessful but, soon afterward in January AD 871, Alfred regrouped his brother's troops on the nearby Berkshire Downs and led them against the Viking hoards at the Battle of Ashdown. It was one of his greatest victories but, unfortunately, a number of defeats followed that same year, resulting in Aethelred's death.

Alfred was now King of Wessex, but he was still unable to stop the Viking menace. After his defeat in the Battle of Wilton, at the end of AD 871, he decided he must sue for peace. A large payment persuaded the Vikings to retreat to York for the next four years; but, in the long-term, the money encouraged their return. King Alfred was soon forced to give away more of his treasury in AD 875 and again two years later.

Once again, however, peace was short-lived. Alfred had spent the Christmas of AD 877 at his palace in Chippenham (Wiltshire). The Vikings kept track of his movements and early in the New Year, they launched a surprise attack. Alfred narrowly escaped capture but managed to flee into the marshes of Somerset. It was here that legend says he famously burnt the cakes of a local housewife while musing upon his predicament.

From a temporary fort constructed at Athelney, Alfred rallied his remaining troops. For several months, they waged a guerrilla war against the Vikings until Alfred was able to call out the militia from Hampshire and Wiltshire. His new army crushed the invaders at Countisbury Hill (Devon) and then proceeded to their decisive victory at the Battle of Edington (Wiltshire). The Vikings were pushed back to Chippenham and besieged for three weeks before their leader, Guthrum, agreed to peace terms. The Treaty of Wedmore thus divided England in two, with the English ruling the south and the Vikings controlling the north, thence known as the 'Danelaw'. Guthrum was also obliged to be baptized into the Christian Church and retreat to East Anglia.

A new period of peace then ensued and Alfred ensured that his people would always be safe from future attacks by setting up a systems of defensive forts or 'burghs' around the country. They were given permanent garrisons but were largely unoccupied. This allowed them to act as easily taxable trading centres or mints, as well as places of refuge when the need arose. Alfred completely reorganised his army so that half his forces were always in kept in reserve and he established a proper naval attachment with improved ships built with Frisian help. He also changed military tactics. Having invited the great Welsh scholar, Asser, to his court, Alfred had him negotiate the submission of Kings Hyfaidd of Dyfed, Elisedd of Brycheiniog and Hywel of Glywysing. Since these Welsh monarchs were already being harassed by the armies of King Anarawd of Gwynedd, they readily agreed; and an alliance with King Merfyn of Powys followed shortly afterward. In contrast, Alfred adopted an aggressive policy towards Viking settlers in Wessex and retook London in AD 886. This Alfred returned to his son-in-law, Aethelred II of Mercia and, along with the High-Reeve of Bamburgh, these two accepted his overlordship and protection. Alfred was delighted and issued new coinage to celebrate his becoming King of all the English. These alliances proved key to both English and Welsh defence when, between AD 892 and 896 armies containing of Wessex, Powysian and Mercian troops kept Viking invaders on the move and frustrated their goals. Even King Anarawd of Gwynedd eventually saw the advantages of Wessex overlordship.

The moral and religious well-being of his people was as important to King Alfred as their physical protection. Influenced by Christian kingship ideals developed during the Carolingian Renaissance, he introduced law-codes based on traditional Old Testament legislation. The Royal Court became a magnet for eminent scholars who became the nucleus around which a great resurgence in Christian learning developed. As well as Asser, Alfred's biographer, Frankish & Germanic scholars such as St. Grimbald (later appointed Dean of the New Minster in Winchester) and John the Old Saxon (appointed Abbot of Athelney) were a great influence on the King.

Despite a rebuke from Pope John VII for annexing former church lands, Alfred was a very pious man and founded a number of monasteries: Shaftesbury for his daughter, Princess Aethelgitha, and Athelney in celebration of his regaining the kingdom. He was an especially remarkable man who actually undertook a number of translations himself from Latin to old English: the Regula Pastoralis of Gregory the Great, the De Comolatione Philosophiae by Boethius, St. Augustine's Soliloquia and the first fifty Psalms. He, of course, commissioned other scholars to follow his example and was probably instigated the compilation of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. The King was keen for others to benefit from having such works available to them; and this is made clear in the preface to his Regula Pastralis translation which he sent to every diocese in the Kingdom along with accompanying golden manuscript pointers. Here, he calls for his bishops to take the book's principles seriously and to ensure their priests do the same. Royal officials, like Ealdormen, were all expected to study or risk dismissal. Christian teachings encouraged the idea that kings were God's representatives on earth, and Alfred always managed to use this to his advantage.

Alfred's will shows he could be ruthless when the need arose, ensuring that his son, Edward, took the throne upon his death, rather than one of his elder cousins. He was a powerful king who commanded respect from all ethnic groups across the country; and his legacy provided a springboard for his successors to reach even greater heights. About AD 868, he had married Elswith, daughter of Aethelred Mucil, Ealdorman of the Mercian tribe called the Gaini, by his wife, Edburga, thought to have been the sister of St. Wistan. They had at least four other children besides Edward: Aethelflaed, Aethelgitha, Aelfthrith and Aethelweard.

King Alfred died on 26th October AD 899. His son built the New Minster in Winchester as a family mausoleum to house his tomb.

[s2.FTW]

Alfred ruled 871-899. Alfred was born in 849, and became King of Wessex at the age of 22. He was married to Ealswyth and had five children: Aetheflaed, Eadward, Aethelgeofu, Aelfthryth, Aethelweard.

Alfred has been known throughout history as Alfred the Great, but this title was only conferred upon him a long time after his death.

Alfred's first major problem was to stop the Danes advancing and taking over Wessex. He managed to create a force to replace the crumbling and separated English kingdoms, and it was a first concept of a nation, a whole England.

Alfred fought nine battles against the Danes in one year, which left him with some breathing space. He did not reorganise the defence of Wessex very brilliantly, but managed to hold off the Danes for seven years until in 878 when they invaded Wessex for four months. Alfred developed an underground movement from his temporary base in the marshes of Somerset, and managed to form an army which were victorious over the Danes at the Battle of Edington.

He insisted that the leader of the Danes become a Christian, in order to help the people in the occupied lands of Mercia and Northumbria. At the same time he conscripted men to build strongholds and fortresses all over Mercia to protect against such an invasion ever occuring again. He also formed a navy.

He was a hardened and experienced commander, but was a tortured man. He suffered from psychosomatic illnesses, and it is said that on his wedding day he became mysteriously and seriously ill.

He was able to give England vision of a new land, and advanced life, by introducing decent laws, security, and education. He learnt these areas by spending time in Rome, where he was robed by the Pope and sponsored as a future leader, and time spent with the King of Franks. At the same time still suffering from a crushing self-doubt. One of his major areas of self hatred was focussed on the fact that he was illiterate, like all King's sons of that time. He learnt to read and write towards the end of his years. Alfred never recieved the title of King of England, although in the history books, he sometimes recieves this accolade. He was titled King of the Saxons, and his head was to be found on some coins.

Source: http://www.camelotintl.com/heritage/alfred.htmlAlfred ruled 871-899. Alfred was born in 849, and became King of Wessex at the age of 22. He was married to Ealswyth and had five children: Aetheflaed, Eadward, Aethelgeofu, Aelfthryth, Aethelweard.

Alfred has been known throughout history as Alfred the Great, but this title was only conferred upon him a long time after his death.

Alfred's first major problem was to stop the Danes advancing and taking over Wessex. He managed to create a force to replace the crumbling and separated English kingdoms, and it was a first concept of a nation, a whole England.

Alfred fought nine battles against the Danes in one year, which left him with some breathing space. He did not reorganise the defence of Wessex very brilliantly, but managed to hold off the Danes for seven years until in 878 when they invaded Wessex for four months. Alfred developed an underground movement from his temporary base in the marshes of Somerset, and managed to form an army which were victorious over the Danes at the Battle of Edington.

He insisted that the leader of the Danes become a Christian, in order to help the people in the occupied lands of Mercia and Northumbria. At the same time he conscripted men to build strongholds and fortresses all over Mercia to protect against such an invasion ever occuring again. He also formed a navy.

He was a hardened and experienced commander, but was a tortured man. He suffered from psychosomatic illnesses, and it is said that on his wedding day he became mysteriously and seriously ill.

He was able to give England vision of a new land, and advanced life, by introducing decent laws, security, and education. He learnt these areas by spending time in Rome, where he was robed by the Pope and sponsored as a future leader, and time spent with the King of Franks. At the same time still suffering from a crushing self-doubt. One of his major areas of self hatred was focussed on the fact that he was illiterate, like all King's sons of that time. He learnt to read and write towards the end of his years. Alfred never recieved the title of King of England, although in the history books, he sometimes recieves this accolade. He was titled King of the Saxons, and his head was to be found on some coins.

Source: http://www.camelotintl.com/heritage/alfred.html

King of England 871-899
Alfred The Greatking of Wessex(871-899), a Saxon kingdom in southwestern England. He prevented England from falling to the Danes and promoted learning and literacy. Compilation of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle began during his reign, c. 890. When he was born, it must have seemed unlikely that Alfred would become king, since he had four older brothers; he said that he never desired royal power. Perhaps a scholar's life would have contented him. His mother early aroused his interest in English poetry, and from his boyhood he also hankered after Latin learning, possibly
stimulated by visits to Rome in 853 and 855. It is possible also that he was aware of and admired the great Frankish king Charlemagne, who had at the beginning of the century revived learning inhis realm. Alfred had no opportunity to acquire the education he sought, however, until much later in life.He probably received the education in military arts normal for a young man of rank. He first appeared on active service in 868, whenhe and his brother, King Aethelred (Ethelred) I, went to help Burgred of Mercia (the kingdom between the Thames and the Humber) against a great Danish army that had landed in East Anglia in 865 and taken possession of Northumbria in 867. The Danes refused to give battle, and peace was made. In this year Alfred married Ealhswith, descended through her mother from Mercian kings. Late in 871, the Danes invaded Wessex, and Aethelred and Alfred fought several battles with them.
Aethelred died in 871 and Alfred succeeded him. After an unsuccessful battle at Wilton he made peace. It was probably the quality of the West Saxon resistance that discouraged Danish attacks for five years.In 876 the Danes again advanced on Wessex: they retired in 877 having accomplished little, but a surprise attack in January 878 came near to success. The Danes established themselves at Chippenham, and the West Saxons submitted "except King Alfred." He harassed the Danes from a fort in the Somerset marshes, and until seven weeks after Easter he secretly assembled an army, which defeated them at the Battle of Edington. They surrendered, and their king, Guthrum, was baptized, Alfred standing as sponsor; the following year they settled in East Anglia.Wessex was never again in such danger. Alfred had a respite from fighting until 885, when he repelled an invasion of Kent by a Danish army, supported by the East Anglian Danes. In 886 he took the offensive and captured London, a success that brought all the English not under Danish rule to accept him as king. The possession of London also made possible the reconquest of the Danish territories in his son's reign, and Alfred mayhave been preparing for this, though he could make no further advance himself. He had to meet a serious attack by a large Danish force from the European continent in 892, and it was not until 896 that it gave up the struggle.The failure of the Danes to make any more advances against Alfred was largely a result of the defensive measures he undertook during the war. Old forts were strengthened and new ones built at strategic sites, and arrangements were made for their continual manning. Alfred reorganized his army and used ships against the invaders as early as 875. Later he had larger ships built to his own design for use against the coastal raids that continued even after 896. Wise diplomacy also helped Alfred's defense. He maintained friendly relations with Mercia and Wales; Welsh rulers sought his support and supplied some troops for his army in 893.Alfred succeeded in government as well as at war. He was a wise administrator, organizing his finances and the service due from his
thanes (noble followers). He scrutinized the administration of justice and took steps to ensure the protection of the weak from oppression by ignorant or corrupt judges. He promulgated an important code.of laws, after studying the principles of lawgiving in the Book of Exodus and the codes ofAethelbert of Kent, Ine of Wessex (688-694), and Offa of Mercia (757-796), again with special attention to the protection of the weak and dependent. While avoiding
unnecessary changes in custom, he limited the practice of the blood feud and imposed heavy penalties for breach of oath or pledge.Alfred is most exceptional, however, not for his generalship or his administration but for his attitude toward learning. He shared the contemporary view that Viking raids were a divine punishment for the people's sins, and he attributed these to the decline of learning, for only through learning could men acquire wisdom and live in
accordance with God's will. Hence, in the lull from attack between 878 and 885, he invited scholars to his court from Mercia, Wales, and the European continent. He learned Latin himself and began to translate Latin books into English in 887. He directed that all young freemen of adequate means must learn to read English, and, by his own translations and those of his helpers, he made available English versions of "those books most necessary for all men to know," books that would lead them to wisdom and virtue. The Ecclesiastical History of the English People, by the English historian Bede, and the Seven Books of Histories Against the Pagans, by Paulus Orosius, a 5th-centurtheologian--neither of which was translated by Alfred himself, though they have been credited to him--revealed the divine purpose in history. Alfred's translation of the Pastoral Care of St. Gregory I, the great 6th-century pope, provided a manual for priests in the instruction of their flocks, and a translation by Bishop Werferth of Gregory's Dialogues supplied edifying reading on holy men. Alfred's rendering of the Soliloquies of the 5th-century theologian St. Augustine of Hippo, to which he added material from other works of the Fathers of the Church, discussed problems concerning faith and reason and the nature of eternal life. This translation deserves to
be studied in its own right, as does his rendering of Boethius' Consolation of Philosophy. In considering what is true happiness and the relation of providence to faith and of predestination to free will, Alfred does not fully accept Boethius' position but depends more on the early Fathers. In both works, additions include parallels from contemporary conditions, sometimes revealing his views on the social order and the duties of kingship. Alfred wrote for the benefit of his people, but he was also deeply interested in theological problems for their own sake and commissioned the first of the translations, Gregory's Dialogues, "that in the midst of earthly troubles he might sometimes think of heavenly things." He may also have done a translation of the first 50 psalms. Though not Alfred's
work, the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, one of the greatest sources of information about Saxon England, which began to be circulated about 890, may have its origin in the intellectual interests awakened by the revival of learning under him. His reign also saw activity in building and in art, and foreign craftsmen were attracted to his court.
In one of his endeavours, however, Alfred had little success; he tried to revive monasticism, founding a monastery and a nunnery, but there was little enthusiasm in England for the monastic life until after the revivals on the European continent in the next century.Alfred, alone of Anglo-Saxon kings, inspired a full-length biography, written in 893, by the Welsh scholar Asser. This work contains much valuable information, and it reveals that Alfred laboured throughout under the burden of recurrent, painful illness; and beneath Asser's rhetoric can be seen a man of attractive character, full of compassion, able to inspire affection, and intensely conscious of the responsibilities of kingly office. This picture is confirmed by Alfred's laws and writings.Alfred was never forgotten: his memory lived on through the Middle Ages and in legend as that of a king who won victory in apparently hopeless circumstances and as a wise lawgiver. Some of his works were copied as late as the 12th century. Modern studies have increased
knowledge of him but have not altered in its essentials the medieval conception of a great king.King Alfred only lived up to 50 which was a ripe old age for the era and the fact that he was able to rule for 28 years when many English kings were lucky to reign for six years, shows that his longevity was a success story.

[elen.FTW]

[Brøderbund WFT Vol. 3, Ed. 1, Tree #4579, Date of Import: Jun 15, 2003]

Alfred the Great was one of the most notable men in history. He was crowned king at Winchester, 871; founded the British Navy, organized the militia, compiled a code of laws, built schools and monasteries, and invited scholars to live at his court. He was a good scholar and translated many books.
king of England, was the youngest son of Ethelwolf, king of the West Saxons, and was born at Wantage, Berks, in 849. He was sent to Rome when five years old, and three years later went again with his father and stayed a year. On the death of his brother Ethelred, Alfred succeeded to the throne of England, 871, in his 22nd year, at a time when his kingdom was a prey to domestic dissensions, and to the invasions of the Danes, whom he engaged at Wilton and in several other battles during the first year of his reign, but was forced to conclude a treaty on disadvantageous terms. The Danes, however, continued to over-run the country, and conquered Mercia and Northumbria. Alfred defeated them at sea, in 875, again made peace with them in the following year, and in 877 recovered Exeter from them. Soon afterwards he retired to the island of Athelney, and there received information that one of his chiefs had obtained a great victory over the Danes, and taken their magical standard.

Alfred is said to have disguised himself as a harper, entered the Danish camp, and gained a knowledge of the state of the enemy. Quitting his retreat he besieged the Danes at Ethandune (Edington) in 878, and completely defeated them. Yet the terms of peace included the cession to them of a large part of the kingdom, and prepared the way for the enterprise of Canute. The king Guthrun and his followers professed themselves Christians, and were baptized. Alfred now put his kingdom into a state of defence, increased his navy, and brought London into a flourishing state; but after a rest of some years, an immense number of Northmen, under the leadership of Hasting, landed in Kent, and fortified themselves at Appledore and Milton; they were, however, defeated by Alfred at Farnham, Bemfleet, and Buttington. Thus he secured the peace of his dominions, and struck terror into his enemies, after 56 battles by sea and land, in all of which he was personally engaged.

But the warlike exploits of Alfred formed, perhaps, the least of the services he rendered his country. He was so exact in his government, that robbery was unheard of. His great council, consisting of bishops, earls, aldermen, and thanes, was called together twice a year in London, Oxford, or Gloucester, for the better government of the realm. The state of learning in his time was so low, that, from the Thames to the Humber, scarcely a man could be found who understood the service of the Church, or could translate a sentence of Latin into English. To remedy this evil, he invited men of learning from all quarters, and placed them at the head of schools in various parts of his kingdom. The laws published by Alfred were chiefly selections from those previously existing, those of Ethelbert, Ina, and Offa.

Alfred himself wrote several works, and translated others from the Latin, particularly the General History of Orosius, and Boëthius's 'Consolations of Philosophy.' He divided the twenty-four hours into three equal parts, one devoted to the service of God, another to public affairs, and the third to rest and refreshment; his revenue, also, was divided into two equal moieties, one dedicated to sacred, the other to civil uses. To Alfred, England is indebted for the foundation of her fleet. To crown his great public character, Alfred is described as one of the most amiable men in private life; of a temper serene and cheerful, affable, kind, and not averse to society, or to innocent recreation ; he was also personally well-favoured, possessing a handsome and vigorous form, and a dignified and engaging aspect. Died October, 901, and was buried at Winchester. We conclude our notice of this great man in the words of Sir James Mackintosh:

'Although it be an infirmity of every nation to ascribe their institutions to the contrivance of a man rather than to the slow action of time and circumstances, yet the selection of Alfred by the English people, as the founder of all that was dear to them, is surely the strongest proof of the deep impression left on the minds of all of his transcendant wisdom and virtue.'
King Alfred the Great
(849-899)
Born: AD 849 at Wantage, Berkshire
King of England
Died: 26th October AD 899 at Winchester, Hampshire
Alfred was the youngest son of King Aethelwulf and his wife, Osberga. He was born at the Royal Palace of Wantage (Berkshire) in AD 849. He was brought up and educated by his mother and a famous story tells how she once promised an expensive illuminated book to the first of her children to learn to read it. Despite his young age, Alfred won the prize and he continued to understand the importance of knowledge throughout his later reign as King.

When his brother, Aethelred, became King of Wessex in AD 865, Alfred was sixteen. He quickly became a seasoned warrior and his brother's right-hand man during one of the worst periods of invasion in English history. The Vikings had been raiding along the English coast for thirty years, but Aethelred's coronation year they conquered the Kingdom of East Anglia. Within five years, their Great Heathen Army had arrived in Wessex and seized the Royal palace at Reading (Berkshire). The local ealdorman managed to contain them until the King arrived, with Alfred and the English army. A siege at Reading was unsuccessful but, soon afterward in January AD 871, Alfred regrouped his brother's troops on the nearby Berkshire Downs and led them against the Viking hoards at the Battle of Ashdown. It was one of his greatest victories but, unfortunately, a number of defeats followed that same year, resulting in Aethelred's death.

Alfred was now King of Wessex, but he was still unable to stop the Viking menace. After his defeat in the Battle of Wilton, at the end of AD 871, he decided he must sue for peace. A large payment persuaded the Vikings to retreat to York for the next four years; but, in the long-term, the money encouraged their return. King Alfred was soon forced to give away more of his treasury in AD 875 and again two years later.

Once again, however, peace was short-lived. Alfred had spent the Christmas of AD 877 at his palace in Chippenham (Wiltshire). The Vikings kept track of his movements and early in the New Year, they launched a surprise attack. Alfred narrowly escaped capture but managed to flee into the marshes of Somerset. It was here that legend says he famously burnt the cakes of a local housewife while musing upon his predicament.

From a temporary fort constructed at Athelney, Alfred rallied his remaining troops. For several months, they waged a guerrilla war against the Vikings until Alfred was able to call out the militia from Hampshire and Wiltshire. His new army crushed the invaders at Countisbury Hill (Devon) and then proceeded to their decisive victory at the Battle of Edington (Wiltshire). The Vikings were pushed back to Chippenham and besieged for three weeks before their leader, Guthrum, agreed to peace terms. The Treaty of Wedmore thus divided England in two, with the English ruling the south and the Vikings controlling the north, thence known as the 'Danelaw'. Guthrum was also obliged to be baptized into the Christian Church and retreat to East Anglia.

A new period of peace then ensued and Alfred ensured that his people would always be safe from future attacks by setting up a systems of defensive forts or 'burghs' around the country. They were given permanent garrisons but were largely unoccupied. This allowed them to act as easily taxable trading centres or mints, as well as places of refuge when the need arose. Alfred completely reorganised his army so that half his forces were always in kept in reserve and he established a proper naval attachment with improved ships built with Frisian help. He also changed military tactics. Having invited the great Welsh scholar, Asser, to his court, Alfred had him negotiate the submission of Kings Hyfaidd of Dyfed, Elisedd of Brycheiniog and Hywel of Glywysing. Since these Welsh monarchs were already being harassed by the armies of King Anarawd of Gwynedd, they readily agreed; and an alliance with King Merfyn of Powys followed shortly afterward. In contrast, Alfred adopted an aggressive policy towards Viking settlers in Wessex and retook London in AD 886. This Alfred returned to his son-in-law, Aethelred II of Mercia and, along with the High-Reeve of Bamburgh, these two accepted his overlordship and protection. Alfred was delighted and issued new coinage to celebrate his becoming King of all the English. These alliances proved key to both English and Welsh defence when, between AD 892 and 896 armies containing of Wessex, Powysian and Mercian troops kept Viking invaders on the move and frustrated their goals. Even King Anarawd of Gwynedd eventually saw the advantages of Wessex overlordship.

The moral and religious well-being of his people was as important to King Alfred as their physical protection. Influenced by Christian kingship ideals developed during the Carolingian Renaissance, he introduced law-codes based on traditional Old Testament legislation. The Royal Court became a magnet for eminent scholars who became the nucleus around which a great resurgence in Christian learning developed. As well as Asser, Alfred's biographer, Frankish & Germanic scholars such as St. Grimbald (later appointed Dean of the New Minster in Winchester) and John the Old Saxon (appointed Abbot of Athelney) were a great influence on the King.

Despite a rebuke from Pope John VII for annexing former church lands, Alfred was a very pious man and founded a number of monasteries: Shaftesbury for his daughter, Princess Aethelgitha, and Athelney in celebration of his regaining the kingdom. He was an especially remarkable man who actually undertook a number of translations himself from Latin to old English: the Regula Pastoralis of Gregory the Great, the De Comolatione Philosophiae by Boethius, St. Augustine's Soliloquia and the first fifty Psalms. He, of course, commissioned other scholars to follow his example and was probably instigated the compilation of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. The King was keen for others to benefit from having such works available to them; and this is made clear in the preface to his Regula Pastralis translation which he sent to every diocese in the Kingdom along with accompanying golden manuscript pointers. Here, he calls for his bishops to take the book's principles seriously and to ensure their priests do the same. Royal officials, like Ealdormen, were all expected to study or risk dismissal. Christian teachings encouraged the idea that kings were God's representatives on earth, and Alfred always managed to use this to his advantage.

Alfred's will shows he could be ruthless when the need arose, ensuring that his son, Edward, took the throne upon his death, rather than one of his elder cousins. He was a powerful king who commanded respect from all ethnic groups across the country; and his legacy provided a springboard for his successors to reach even greater heights. About AD 868, he had married Elswith, daughter of Aethelred Mucil, Ealdorman of the Mercian tribe called the Gaini, by his wife, Edburga, thought to have been the sister of St. Wistan. They had at least four other children besides Edward: Aethelflaed, Aethelgitha, Aelfthrith and Aethelweard.

King Alfred died on 26th October AD 899. His son built the New Minster in Winchester as a family mausoleum to house his tomb.

His victory at the battle of Edington in Wiltshire against the invading Danes
changed the course of history, for had he lost there, Wessex would have
become another Scandinavian colony. The West saxon dynasty, therefore,
survived. Then, Alfred could truly be described as "king over all English
people (except for those areas of existing Danish Areas in Great Britain)".
For the next 20 years the conquest of Scandinavian England took place and the
King of Wessex became the "protector" to all other areas for English peoples.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He is one of the outstanding figures of English history. On the death of his brother Aethelred Alfred became king, coming to the throne during a Danish invasion. Although he succeeded in making peace with the Danes, they resumed their marauding expeditions five years later, and by early 878 they were successful almost everywhere. About Easter of 878, however, Alfred established himself at Athelney and began assembling an army. In the middle of that year he defeated the Danes and captured their stronghold, probably at present-day Edington. During the following 14 years Alfred was able to devote himself to the internal affairs of his kingdom. By 886 he had captured the city of London, and soon afterward he was recognized as the king of all England. In 893 the Danes invaded England again, and the following four years were marked by warfare; eventually, the Danes were forced to withdraw from Alfred's domain. The only ruler to resist Danish invasions successfully, Alfred made his kingdom the rallying point for all Saxons, thus laying the foundation for the unification of England. Alfred was a patron of learning and did much for the education of his people. He began a court school and invited British and foreign scholars, notably the Welsh monk Asser (flourished 885-909) and the Irish-born philosopher and theologian John Scotus Erigena, to come there. Alfred translated such works as The Consolation of Philosophy by the Roman statesman and philosopher Boethius, The History of the World by the Spanish priest Paulus Orosius (circa 385-420), and Pastoral Care by Pope Gregory I. Alfred's laws, the first promulgated in more than a century, were the first that made no distinction between the English and the Welsh peoples.
--Other Fields Ref Number: + EVEN: Reigned Date: 871/899

Alfred the Great
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Alfred the Great
King of the Anglo-Saxons
Statue of Alfred the Great, Winchester
Statue of Alfred the Great, Winchester
Reign 23 April 871 – 26 October 899
Predecessor Æthelred of Wessex
Successor Edward the Elder
Spouse Ealhswith
Issue
Ælfthryth
Ethelfleda
Ethelgiva
Edward the Elder
Æthelwærd
Full name
Ælfred of Wessex
Royal house House of Wessex
Father Æthelwulf of Wessex
Mother Osburga
Born c. 849
Wantage, Berkshire
Died 26 October 901 (around 50)
Burial c. 1100
Winchester, Hampshire, now lost.

Alfred the Great (Old English: Ælfred; c. 849 – October 26, c. 899), also spelt Ælfred, was king of the southern Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Wessex from 871 to 899. Alfred is noted for his defence of the kingdom against the Danish Vikings, becoming the only English King to be awarded the epithet "the Great".[1] Alfred was the first King of the West Saxons to style himself "King of the English". Details of his life are discussed in a work by the Welsh scholar Asser. Alfred was a learned man, and encouraged education and improved his kingdom's law system as well as its military structure.
Contents
[hide]

* 1 Childhood
* 2 Under Ethelred
* 3 King at war
* 4 Reorganisation
o 4.1 Legal reform
* 5 Foreign relations
* 6 Religion and culture
o 6.1 Veneration
* 7 Family
* 8 Death, burial and legacy
* 9 Wantage Statue
* 10 See also
* 11 References
* 12 Further reading
* 13 External links

[edit] Childhood

Alfred was born sometime between 847 and 849 at Wantage in the present-day ceremonial county of Oxfordshire (in the historic county of Berkshire). He was the youngest son of King Æthelwulf of Wessex, by his first wife, Osburga.[2] In 868 Alfred married Ealhswith, daughter of Ethelred Mucil.[3]

At five years old, Alfred is said to have been sent to Rome where, according to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, he was confirmed by Pope Leo IV who "anointed him as king." Victorian writers interpreted this as an anticipatory coronation in preparation for his ultimate succession to the throne of Wessex. However, this coronation could not have been foreseen at the time, since Alfred had three living older brothers. A letter of Leo IV shows that Alfred was made a "consul" and a misinterpretation of this investiture, deliberate or accidental, could explain later confusion.[4] It may also be based on Alfred later having accompanied his father on a pilgrimage to Rome and spending some time at the court of Charles the Bald, King of the Franks, around 854–855. On their return from Rome in 856, Æthelwulf was deposed by his son Æthelbald. Æthelwulf died in 858, and Wessex was ruled by three of Alfred's brothers in succession.

Asser tells the story about how as a child Alfred won a prize of a volume of poetry in English, offered by his mother to the first of her children able to memorise it. This story may be true, or it may be a legend designed to illustrate the young Alfred's love of learning.

[edit] Under Ethelred

During the short reigns of his two eldest brothers, Æthelbald and Ethelbert, Alfred is not mentioned. However with the accession of the third brother, Ethelred, in 866, the public life of Alfred began. It is during this period that Asser applies to him the unique title of "secundarius", which may indicate a position akin to that of the Celtic tanist, a recognised successor closely associated with the reigning monarch. It is possible that this arrangement was sanctioned by the Witenagemot, to guard against the danger of a disputed succession should Ethelred fall in battle. The arrangement of crowning a successor as Royal prince and military commander is well-known among Germanic tribes, such as the Swedes and Franks, with whom the Anglo-Saxons had close ties.

In 868, Alfred is recorded fighting beside his brother Ethelred, in an unsuccessful attempt to keep the invading Danes out of the adjoining Kingdom of Mercia. For nearly two years, Wessex was spared attacks because Alfred paid the Vikings to leave him alone. However, at the end of 870, the Danes arrived in his homeland. The year that followed has been called "Alfred's year of battles". Nine martial engagements were fought with varying fortunes, though the place and date of two of the battles have not been recorded. In Berkshire, a successful skirmish at the Battle of Englefield, on 31 December 870, was followed by a severe defeat at the Siege and Battle of Reading, on 5 January 871, and then, four days later, a brilliant victory at the Battle of Ashdown on the Berkshire Downs, possibly near Compton or Aldworth. Alfred is particularly credited with the success of this latter conflict. However, later that month, on 22 January, the English were again defeated at Basing and, on the following 22 March at the Battle of Merton (perhaps Marden in Wiltshire or Martin in Dorset) in which Ethelred was killed. The two unidentified battles may also have occurred in between.

[edit] King at war

In April 871, King Ethelred died, and Alfred succeeded to the throne of Wessex and the burden of its defence, despite the fact that Ethelred left two young sons. Although contemporary turmoil meant the accession of Alfred—an adult with military experience and patronage resources—over his nephews went unchallenged, he remained obliged to secure their property rights. While he was busy with the burial ceremonies for his brother, the Danes defeated the English in his absence at an unnamed spot, and then again in his presence at Wilton in May. Following this, peace was made and, for the next five years, the Danes occupied other parts of England. However, in 876, under their new leader, Guthrum, the Danes slipped past the English army and attacked Wareham in Dorset. From there, early in 877, and under the pretext of talks, they moved westwards and took Exeter in Devon. There, Alfred blockaded them, and with a relief fleet having been scattered by a storm, the Danes were forced to submit. They withdrew to Mercia but, in January 878, made a sudden attack on Chippenham, a royal stronghold in which Alfred had been staying over Christmas, "and most of the people they reduced, except the King Alfred, and he with a little band made his way by wood and swamp, and after Easter he made a fort at Athelney, and from that fort kept fighting against the foe" (Anglo-Saxon Chronicle).
Statue of Alfred the Great at Wantage

A popular legend originating from early twelfth century chronicles,[5] tells how when he first fled to the Somerset Levels, Alfred was given shelter by a peasant woman who, unaware of his identity, left him to watch some cakes she had left cooking on the fire. Preoccupied with the problems of his kingdom, Alfred accidentally let the cakes burn and was taken to task by the woman upon her return. Upon realising the king's identity, the woman apologised profusely, but Alfred insisted that he was the one who needed to apologise. From his fort at Athelney, a marshy island near North Petherton, Alfred was able to mount an effective resistance movement while rallying the local militia from Somerset, Wiltshire and Hampshire.

Another story relates how Alfred disguised himself as a minstrel in order to gain entry to Guthrum's camp and discover his plans. This supposedly led to the Battle of Edington, near Westbury, Wiltshire. The result was a decisive victory for Alfred. The Danes submitted and, according to Asser, Guthrum and 29 of his chief men received baptism when they signed the Treaty of Wedmore. As a result, England became split in two: the southwestern half was kept by the Saxons, and the northeastern half including London, thence known as the Danelaw, was kept by the Vikings. By the following year (879), both Wessex and Mercia, west of Watling Street, were cleared of the invaders.

For the next few years there was peace, with the Danes being kept busy in Europe. A landing in Kent in 884 or 885 close to Plucks Gutter, though successfully repelled, encouraged the East Anglian Danes to rise up. The measures taken by Alfred to repress this uprising culminated in the taking of London in 885 or 886, and an agreement was reached between Alfred and Guthrum, known as the Treaty of Alfred and Guthrum. Once more, for a time, there was a lull, but in the autumn of 892 or 893, the Danes attacked again. Finding their position in Europe somewhat precarious, they crossed to England in 330 ships in two divisions. They entrenched themselves, the larger body at Appledore, Kent, and the lesser, under Haesten, at Milton also in Kent. The invaders brought their wives and children with them, indicating a meaningful attempt at conquest and colonisation. Alfred, in 893 or 894, took up a position from whence he could observe both forces. While he was in talks with Haesten, the Danes at Appledore broke out and struck northwestwards. They were overtaken by Alfred's eldest son, Edward, and were defeated in a general engagement at Farnham in Surrey. They were obliged to take refuge on an island in the Hertfordshire Colne, where they were blockaded and were ultimately compelled to submit. The force fell back on Essex and, after suffering another defeat at Benfleet, coalesced with Haesten's force at Shoebury.

Alfred had been on his way to relieve his son at Thorney when he heard that the Northumbrian and East Anglian Danes were besieging Exeter and an unnamed stronghold on the North Devon shore. Alfred at once hurried westward and raised the Siege of Exeter. The fate of the other place is not recorded. Meanwhile the force under Haesten set out to march up the Thames Valley, possibly with the idea of assisting their friends in the west. But they were met by a large force under the three great ealdormen of Mercia, Wiltshire and Somerset, and made to head off to the northwest, being finally overtaken and blockaded at Buttington. Some identify this with Buttington Tump at the mouth of the River Wye, others with Buttington near Welshpool. An attempt to break through the English lines was defeated. Those who escaped retreated to Shoebury. Then after collecting reinforcements they made a sudden dash across England and occupied the ruined Roman walls of Chester. The English did not attempt a winter blockade but contented themselves with destroying all the supplies in the neighbourhood. Early in 894 (or 895), want of food obliged the Danes to retire once more to Essex. At the end of this year and early in 895 (or 896), the Danes drew their ships up the Thames and Lea and fortified themselves twenty miles (32 km) north of London. A direct attack on the Danish lines failed, but later in the year, Alfred saw a means of obstructing the river so as to prevent the egress of the Danish ships. The Danes realised that they were out-manoeuvred. They struck off northwestwards and wintered at Bridgenorth. The next year, 896 (or 897), they gave up the struggle. Some retired to Northumbria, some to East Anglia. Those who had no connections in England withdrew back to Europe.

[edit] Reorganisation

After the dispersal of the Danish invaders, Alfred turned his attention to the increase of the navy, partly to repress the ravages of the Northumbrian and East Anglian Danes on the coasts of Wessex, and to prevent the landing of fresh invaders. This is not, as often asserted, the beginning of the English navy. There had been earlier naval operations under Alfred. One naval engagement was fought in the reign of Æthelwulf in 851 by Alfred's brother, Athelstan, and earlier ones, possibly in 833 and 840. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, however, does credit Alfred with the construction of a new type of ship, built according to the king's own designs, "swifter, steadier and also higher/more responsive (hierran) than the others". However, these new ships do not seem to have been a great success, as we hear of them grounding in action and foundering in a storm. Nevertheless both the British Royal Navy and the United States Navy claim Alfred as the founder of their traditions.

Alfred's main fighting force, the fyrd, was separated into two, "so that there was always half at home and half out" (Anglo-Saxon Chronicle). The level of organisation required to mobilise his large army in two shifts, of which one was feeding the other, must have been considerable. The complexity which Alfred's administration had attained by 892 is demonstrated by a reasonably reliable charter whose witness list includes a thesaurius, cellararius and pincerna—treasurer, food-keeper and butler. Despite the irritation which Alfred must have felt in 893, when one division, which had "completed their call-up (stemn)", gave up the siege of a Danish army just as Alfred was moving to relieve them, this system seems to have worked remarkably well on the whole.

One of the weaknesses of pre-Alfredian defences had been that, in the absence of a standing army, fortresses were largely left unoccupied, making it very possible for a Viking force to quickly secure a strong strategic position. Alfred substantially upgraded the state of the defences of Wessex, by erecting a net of fortified burhs (or boroughs) throughout the kingdom that were also planned as centres of habitation and trade. No area of Wessex would be at more than 20 miles of one of these burhs. During the systematic excavation of at least four of these burhs (at Wareham, Cricklade, Lydford and Wallingford), it has been demonstrated that "in every case the rampart associated by the excavators with the borough of the Alfredian period was the primary defence on the site" (Brooks). The obligations for the upkeep and defence of these and many other sites, with permanent garrisons, are further documented in surviving transcripts of the administrative manuscript known as the Burghal Hidage. Dating from, at least, within twenty years of Alfred's death, if not actually from his reign, it almost certainly reflects Alfredian policy. Comparison of town plans for Wallingford and Wareham with that of Winchester, shows "that they were laid out in the same scheme" (Wormald), thus supporting the proposition that these newly established burhs were also planned as centres of habitation and trade as well as a place of safety in moments of immediate danger. Thereafter, the English population and its wealth were drawn into such towns where it was not only safer from Viking soldiers, but also taxable by the King.

Alfred is thus credited with a significant degree of civil reorganisation, especially in the districts ravaged by the Danes. Even if one rejects the thesis crediting the "Burghal Hidage" to Alfred, what is undeniable is that, in the parts of Mercia acquired by Alfred from the Vikings, the shire system seems now to have been introduced for the first time. This is probably what prompted the legend that Alfred was the inventor of shires, hundreds and tithings. Alfred's care for the administration of justice is testified both by history and legend; and he has gained the popular title "protector of the poor". Of the actions of the Witangemot, we do not hear very much under Alfred. He was certainly anxious to respect its rights, but both the circumstances of the time and the character of the king would have tended to throw more power into his hands. The legislation of Alfred probably belongs to the later part of the reign, after the pressure of the Danes had relaxed. He also paid attention to the country's finances, though details are lacking.

[edit] Legal reform

Alfred the Great’s most enduring work was his legal code, called Deemings, or Book of Dooms (Book of Laws). Sir Winston Churchill believed that Alfred blended the Mosaic Law, Celtic Law, and old customs of the pagan Anglo-Saxons.[6] Dr. F.N. Lee traced the parallels between Alfred’s Code and the Mosaic Code.[7] However, as Thomas Jefferson concluded after tracing the history of English common law: "The common law existed while the Anglo-Saxons were yet pagans, at a time when they had never yet heard the name of Christ pronounced or that such a character existed".[8] Churchill stated that Alfred’s Code was amplified by his successors and grew into the body of Customary Law administered by the Shire and The Hundred Courts. This led to the Charter of Liberties, granted by Henry I of England, AD 1100.

[edit] Foreign relations

Asser speaks grandiosely of Alfred's relations with foreign powers, but little definite information is available. His interest in foreign countries is shown by the insertions which he made in his translation of Orosius. He certainly corresponded with Elias III, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, and possibly sent a mission to India. Contact was also made with the Caliph in Baghdad. Embassies to Rome conveying the English alms to the Pope were fairly frequent. Around 890, Wulfstan of Haithabu undertook a journey from Haithabu on Jutland along the Baltic Sea to the Prussian trading town of Truso. Alfred ensured he reported to him details of his trip.

Alfred's relations with the Celtic princes in the western half of Britain are clearer. Comparatively early in his reign, according to Asser, the southern Welsh princes, owing to the pressure on them of North Wales and Mercia, commended themselves to Alfred. Later in the reign the North Welsh followed their example, and the latter cooperated with the English in the campaign of 893 (or 894). That Alfred sent alms to Irish as well as to European monasteries may be taken on Asser's authority. The visit of the three pilgrim "Scots" (i.e., Irish) to Alfred in 891 is undoubtedly authentic. The story that he himself in his childhood was sent to Ireland to be healed by Saint Modwenna, though mythical, may show Alfred's interest in that island.

[edit] Religion and culture

Very little is known of the church under Alfred. The Danish attacks had been particularly damaging to the monasteries, and though Alfred founded two or three new monasteries and enticed foreign monks to England, monasticism did not revive significantly during his reign.[citation needed] The Danish raids had also an impact on learning, leading to the practical extinction of Latin even among the clergy: the preface to Alfred's translation of Pope Gregory I's Pastoral Care into Old English bearing eloquent, if not impartial witness, to this.[citation needed]

Alfred established a court school, following the example of Charlemagne.[9] To this end, he imported scholars like Grimbald and John the Saxon from Europe, and Asser from South Wales.[citation needed] Not only did the King see to his own education, he also made the series of translations for the instruction of his clergy and people, most of which survive. These belong to the later part of his reign, probably the last four years, of which the chronicles are almost silent.[citation needed]

Apart from the lost Handboc or Encheiridion, which seems to have been merely a commonplace book kept by the king, the earliest work to be translated was the Dialogues of Gregory, a book greatly popular in the Middle Ages. In this case the translation was made by Alfred's great friend Werferth, Bishop of Worcester, the king merely furnishing a foreword. The next work to be undertaken was Gregory's Pastoral Care, especially for the good of the parish clergy. In this, Alfred keeps very close to his original; but the introduction which he prefixed to it is one of the most interesting documents of the reign, or indeed of English history. The next two works taken in hand were historical, the Universal History of Orosius and Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People. The priority should likely be given to the Orosius, but the point has been much debated. In the Orosius, by omissions and additions, Alfred so remodels his original as to produce an almost new work; in the Bede the author's text is closely stuck to, no additions being made, though most of the documents and some other less interesting matters are omitted. Of late years doubts have been raised as to Alfred's authorship of the Bede translation. But the skeptics cannot be regarded as having proved their point.

Alfred's translation of The Consolation of Philosophy of Boethius was the most popular philosophical handbook of the Middle Ages. Here again Alfred deals very freely with his original and though the late Dr. G. Schepss showed that many of the additions to the text are to be traced not to Alfred himself, but to the glosses and commentaries which he used, still there is much in the work which is solely Alfred's and highly characteristic of his genius. It is in the Boethius that the oft-quoted sentence occurs: "My will was to live worthily as long as I lived, and after my life to leave to them that should come after, my memory in good works." The book has come down to us in two manuscripts only. In one of these[10] the writing is prose, in the other[11] a combination of prose and alliterating verse. The latter manuscript was severely damaged in the 18th and 19th centuries,[12] and the authorship of the verse has been much disputed; but likely it also is by Alfred. In fact, he writes in the prelude that he first created a prose work and then used it as the basis for his poem, the Lays of Boethius, his crowning literary achievement. He spent a great deal of time working on these books, which he tells us he gradually wrote through the many stressful times of his reign to refresh his mind. Of the authenticity of the work as a whole there has never been any doubt.

The last of Alfred's works is one to which he gave the name Blostman, i.e., "Blooms" or Anthology. The first half is based mainly on the Soliloquies of St Augustine of Hippo, the remainder is drawn from various sources, and contains much that is Alfred's own and highly characteristic of him. The last words of it may be quoted; they form a fitting epitaph for the noblest of English kings. "Therefore he seems to me a very foolish man, and truly wretched, who will not increase his understanding while he is in the world, and ever wish and long to reach that endless life where all shall be made clear."

Beside these works of Alfred's, the Saxon Chronicle almost certainly, and a Saxon Martyrology, of which fragments only exist, probably owe their inspiration to him. A prose version of the first fifty Psalms has been attributed to him; and the attribution, though not proved, is perfectly possible. Additionally, Alfred appears as a character in The Owl and the Nightingale, where his wisdom and skill with proverbs is attested. Additionally, The Proverbs of Alfred, which exists for us in a thirteenth century manuscript contains sayings that very likely have their origins partly with the king.

The Alfred jewel, discovered in Somerset in 1693, has long been associated with King Alfred because of its Old English inscription "AELFRED MEC HEHT GEWYRCAN" (Alfred Ordered Me To Be Made). This relic, of unknown use, certainly dates from Alfred's reign but it is possibly just one of several that once existed. The inscription does little to clarify the identity of the central figure which has long been believed to depict God or Christ.

[edit] Veneration

Alfred is venerated as a Saint by the Orthodox Church and is regarded as a hero of the Christian Church in the Anglican Communion, with a feast day of 26 October,[13] and may often be found depicted in stained glass in Church of England parish churches. Also, Alfred University was named after him; a large statue of his likeness is in the center of campus.

[edit] Family

In 868, Alfred married Ealhswith, daughter of Ealdorman of the Gaini (who is also known as Aethelred Mucill), who was from the Gainsborough region of Lincolnshire. She appears to have been the maternal granddaughter of a King of Mercia. They had five or six children together, including Edward the Elder, who succeeded his father as king, Ethelfleda, who would become Queen of Mercia in her own right, and Ælfthryth who married Baldwin II the Count of Flanders. His mother was Osburga daughter of Oslac of the Isle of Wight, Chief Butler of England. Asser, in his Vita Alfredi asserts that this shows his lineage from the Jutes of the Isle of Wight. This is unlikely as Bede tells us that they were all slaughtered by the Saxon under Caedwalla. However, ironically Alfred could trace his line via the House of Wessex itself, from King Wihtred of Kent, whose mother was the sister of the last Island King, Arwald.
Name Birth Death Notes
Ethelfleda 918 Married 889, Ealdorman Ethelred of Mercia d 910; had issue.
Edward 870 17 July 924 Married (1) Ecgwynn, (2) Ælfflæd, (3) 919 Edgiva
Æthelgiva Abbess of Shaftesbury
Ælfthryth 929 Married Baldwin, Count of Flanders; had issue
Æthelwærd 16 October 922 Married and had issue

[edit] Death, burial and legacy

Alfred died on 26 October. The actual year is not certain, but it was not necessarily 901 as stated in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. How he died is unknown, although he suffered throughout his life with a painful and unpleasant illness- probably Crohn's Disease, which seems to have been inherited by his grandson king Edred. He was originally buried temporarily in the Old Minster in Winchester, then moved to the New Minster (perhaps built especially to receive his body). When the New Minster moved to Hyde, a little north of the city, in 1110, the monks transferred to Hyde Abbey along with Alfred's body. During the reign of Henry VIII his crypt was looted by the new, Anglican owners of the old church in which he'd been laid to rest. His coffin was melted down for its lead and his bones were unceremoniously reburied in the churchyard. This grave was apparently excavated during the building of a new prison in 1788 and the bones scattered. However, bones found on a similar site in the 1860s were also declared to be Alfred's and later buried in Hyde churchyard. Extensive excavations in 1999 revealed what is believed to be his grave-cut, that of his wife Eahlswith, and that of their son Edward the Elder but barely any human remains.[14]

A number of educational establishments are named in Alfred's honour. These are:

* The University of Winchester was named 'King Alfred's College, Winchester' between 1840 and 2004, whereupon it was re-named "University College Winchester".
* Alfred University, as well as Alfred State College located in Alfred, NY, are both named after the king.
* In honour of Alfred, the University of Liverpool created a King Alfred Chair of English Literature.
* University College, Oxford is erroneously said to have been founded by King Alfred.
* King Alfred's College, a secondary school in Wantage, Oxfordshire. The Birthplace of Alfred.
* King's Lodge School, in Chippenham, Wiltshire is so named because King Alfred's hunting lodge is reputed to have stood on or near the site of the school.
* The King Alfred School & Specialist Sports Academy, Burnham Road, Highbridge is so named due to its rough proximity to Brent Knoll (a Beacon Site) and Athelny.
* The King Alfred School in Barnet, North London, UK.

[edit] Wantage Statue

The statue of Alfred the Great, situated in the Wantage market place, was sculpted by Count Gleichen, a relative of Queen Victoria, and unveiled on 14 July 1877 by the Prince and Princess of Wales, the future Edward VII and his wife.[15]

The statue was vandalised on New Year's Eve 2007, losing part of its right arm.[15]

[edit] See also

* British military history
* Kingdom of England
* Lays of Boethius
* Alfred Jewel

[edit] References

1. ^ Canute the Great, who ruled England from 1016 to 1035, was Danish.
2. ^ Alfred was the youngest of either four (Weir, Alison, Britain's Royal Families: The Complete Genealogy (1989), p. 5.) or five brothers,[1] the primary record conflicting regarding whether Æthelstan of Wessex was a brother or uncle.
3. ^ The Life of King Alfred
4. ^ Wormald, Patrick, 'Alfred (848/9-899)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford University Press, 2004).
5. ^ History of the Monarchy - The Anglo-Saxon Kings - Alfred 'The Great'
6. ^ Churchill, Sir Winston: The Island Race, Corgi, London, 1964, II, p. 219.
7. ^ Lee, F. N., King Alfred the Great and our Common Law Department of Church History, Queensland Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Brisbane, Australia, August 2000
8. ^ Reports of Cases Determined in the General Court, appendix. Thomas Jefferson.
9. ^ Codicology of the court school of Charlemagne: Gospel book production, illumination, and emphasised script (European university studies. Series 28, History of art) ISBN 3820472835
10. ^ Oxford Bodleian Library MS Bodley 180
11. ^ British Library Cotton MS Otho A. vi
12. ^ Kiernan, Kevin S., "Alfred the Great's Burnt Boethius". In Bornstein, George and Theresa Tinkle, eds., The Iconic Page in Manuscript, Print, and Digital Culture (Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 1998).
13. ^ Gross, Ernie (1990). This Day In Religion. New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers, Inc..
14. ^ Dodson, Aidan (2004). The Royal Tombs of Great Britain. London: Duckworth.
15. ^ a b ""Wantage Herald Article"".

[edit] Further reading

* Pratt, David: The political thought of King Alfred the Great (Cambridge Studies in Medieval Life and Thought: Fourth Series, 2007) ISBN 9780521803502
* Parker, Joanne: England's Darling The Victorian Cult of Alfred the Great, 2007, ISBN 9780719073564
* Pollard, Justin: Alfred the Great : the man who made England, 2006, ISBN 0719566665
* Fry, Fred: Patterns of Power: The Military Campaigns of Alfred the Great, 2006, ISBN 9781905226931
* Giles, J. A. (ed.): The Whole Works of King Alfred the Great (Jubilee Edition, 3 vols, Oxford and Cambridge, 1858)
* The whole works of King Alfred the Great, with preliminary essays, illustrative of the history, arts, and manners, of the ninth century, 1969, OCLC 28387
* For a novelization of King Alfred's exploits, there is Bernard Cornwell's series, beginning with The Last Kingdom.

[edit] External links
Wikisource
Wikisource has original works written by or about:
Alfred the Great

* The Life of King Alfred translated by Dr. J.A. Giles (London, 1847).
* Britannia History Bishop Asser's Life of King Alfred
* Documentary - The Making of England: King Alfred
* An Illustrated Biography of Alfred the Great
* Alfred the Great
* official website of the British Monarchy
* King Alfred the Great
* Alfred Jewel
* Lays of Boethius
* Royal Berkshire History: King Alfred the Great
* Alfred's Palace
* Orosius (c. 417), Alfred the Great; Barrington, Daines, eds., The Anglo-Saxon Version, from the Historian Orosius, London, 1773, http://books.google.com/books?id=aT0JAAAAQAAJ. Retrieved on 17 August 2008

Alfred the Great
House of Wessex
Born: 849 Died: 26 October 899
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Ethelred King of Wessex
871 – 899 Succeeded by
Edward the Elder
Preceded by
New title King of England
878 – 899 Succeeded by
Edward the Elder
Preceded by
Ethelred Bretwalda
871 – 899 Last holder

His victory at the battle of Edington in Wiltshire against the invading Danes
changed the course of history, for had he lost there, Wessex would have
become another Scandinavian colony. The West saxon dynasty, therefore,
survived. Then, Alfred could truly be described as "king over all English
people (except for those areas of existing Danish Areas in Great Britain)".
For the next 20 years the conquest of Scandinavian England took place and the
King of Wessex became the "protector" to all other areas for English peoples.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He is one of the outstanding figures of English history. On the death of his brother Aethelred Alfred became king, coming to the throne during a Danish invasion. Although he succeeded in making peace with the Danes, they resumed their marauding expeditions five years later, and by early 878 they were successful almost everywhere. About Easter of 878, however, Alfred established himself at Athelney and began assembling an army. In the middle of that year he defeated the Danes and captured their stronghold, probably at present-day Edington. During the following 14 years Alfred was able to devote himself to the internal affairs of his kingdom. By 886 he had captured the city of London, and soon afterward he was recognized as the king of all England. In 893 the Danes invaded England again, and the following four years were marked by warfare; eventually, the Danes were forced to withdraw from Alfred's domain. The only ruler to resist Danish invasions successfully, Alfred made his kingdom the rallying point for all Saxons, thus laying the foundation for the unification of England. Alfred was a patron of learning and did much for the education of his people. He began a court school and invited British and foreign scholars, notably the Welsh monk Asser (flourished 885-909) and the Irish-born philosopher and theologian John Scotus Erigena, to come there. Alfred translated such works as The Consolation of Philosophy by the Roman statesman and philosopher Boethius, The History of the World by the Spanish priest Paulus Orosius (circa 385-420), and Pastoral Care by Pope Gregory I. Alfred's laws, the first promulgated in more than a century, were the first that made no distinction between the English and the Welsh peoples.
--Other Fields Ref Number: + EVEN: Reigned Date: 871/899

His victory at the battle of Edington in Wiltshire against the invading Danes
changed the course of history, for had he lost there, Wessex would have
become another Scandinavian colony. The West saxon dynasty, therefore,
survived. Then, Alfred could truly be described as "king over all English
people (except for those areas of existing Danish Areas in Great Britain)".
For the next 20 years the conquest of Scandinavian England took place and the
King of Wessex became the "protector" to all other areas for English peoples.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He is one of the outstanding figures of English history. On the death of his brother Aethelred Alfred became king, coming to the throne during a Danish invasion. Although he succeeded in making peace with the Danes, they resumed their marauding expeditions five years later, and by early 878 they were successful almost everywhere. About Easter of 878, however, Alfred established himself at Athelney and began assembling an army. In the middle of that year he defeated the Danes and captured their stronghold, probably at present-day Edington. During the following 14 years Alfred was able to devote himself to the internal affairs of his kingdom. By 886 he had captured the city of London, and soon afterward he was recognized as the king of all England. In 893 the Danes invaded England again, and the following four years were marked by warfare; eventually, the Danes were forced to withdraw from Alfred's domain. The only ruler to resist Danish invasions successfully, Alfred made his kingdom the rallying point for all Saxons, thus laying the foundation for the unification of England. Alfred was a patron of learning and did much for the education of his people. He began a court school and invited British and foreign scholars, notably the Welsh monk Asser (flourished 885-909) and the Irish-born philosopher and theologian John Scotus Erigena, to come there. Alfred translated such works as The Consolation of Philosophy by the Roman statesman and philosopher Boethius, The History of the World by the Spanish priest Paulus Orosius (circa 385-420), and Pastoral Care by Pope Gregory I. Alfred's laws, the first promulgated in more than a century, were the first that made no distinction between the English and the Welsh peoples.
--Other Fields Ref Number: + EVEN: Reigned Date: 871/899

Alfred, the brother of Ethelred, was born at Wantage. He helped his brother gain a great victory over the Danes at Ashdown in 871. Alfred organised the army and was the founder of the English Navy. By 877 the Danes had occupied London and reached Gloucester and Exeter, but they lost 120 supply ships in a fierce storm off Swanage. In 878 he was forced to hide in Somerset and it was there arose the legend of the burned cakes. He renewed the fight and won a famous victory at Edington in Wiltshire the same year. After, the Danes agreed that their king, Guthrum, should be baptised and Alfred was godfather. Afterwards Guthrum ruled Mercia but acknowledged Alfred as Overlord. The Mercian settlement developed over the next 100 years into the body known as Danelaw. Before that, in 879 at Fulham and also near Rochester in 884, other Norse armies landed. Alfred continued fighting until he was the acknowledged champion of the English against the Danes. Alfred was scholarly, a writer, law-maker, pious and also a valiant fighter. Additionally he had a good knowledge of geography. He was a most able administrator and also instituted educational programmes. He founded monasteries and gave a large t of his income to charities. His wife was Ealswith. Alfred died on the 26th October, some say in 901, others 900, but the more generally accepted year is 899. He was buried at Winchester.

Biography of Alfred the Great

His victory at the battle of Edington in Wiltshire against the invading Danes
changed the course of history, for had he lost there, Wessex would have
become another Scandinavian colony. The West saxon dynasty, therefore,
survived. Then, Alfred could truly be described as "king over all English
people (except for those areas of existing Danish Areas in Great Britain)".
For the next 20 years the conquest of Scandinavian England took place and the
King of Wessex became the "protector" to all other areas for English peoples.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He is one of the outstanding figures of English history. On the death of his brother Aethelred Alfred became king, coming to the throne during a Danish invasion. Although he succeeded in making peace with the Danes, they resumed their marauding expeditions five years later, and by early 878 they were successful almost everywhere. About Easter of 878, however, Alfred established himself at Athelney and began assembling an army. In the middle of that year he defeated the Danes and captured their stronghold, probably at present-day Edington. During the following 14 years Alfred was able to devote himself to the internal affairs of his kingdom. By 886 he had captured the city of London, and soon afterward he was recognized as the king of all England. In 893 the Danes invaded England again, and the following four years were marked by warfare; eventually, the Danes were forced to withdraw from Alfred's domain. The only ruler to resist Danish invasions successfully, Alfred made his kingdom the rallying point for all Saxons, thus laying the foundation for the unification of England. Alfred was a patron of learning and did much for the education of his people. He began a court school and invited British and foreign scholars, notably the Welsh monk Asser (flourished 885-909) and the Irish-born philosopher and theologian John Scotus Erigena, to come there. Alfred translated such works as The Consolation of Philosophy by the Roman statesman and philosopher Boethius, The History of the World by the Spanish priest Paulus Orosius (circa 385-420), and Pastoral Care by Pope Gregory I. Alfred's laws, the first promulgated in more than a century, were the first that made no distinction between the English and the Welsh peoples.
--Other Fields Ref Number: + EVEN: Reigned Date: 871/899

His victory at the battle of Edington in Wiltshire against the invading Danes
changed the course of history, for had he lost there, Wessex would have
become another Scandinavian colony. The West saxon dynasty, therefore,
survived. Then, Alfred could truly be described as "king over all English
people (except for those areas of existing Danish Areas in Great Britain)".
For the next 20 years the conquest of Scandinavian England took place and the
King of Wessex became the "protector" to all other areas for English peoples.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He is one of the outstanding figures of English history. On the death of his brother Aethelred Alfred became king, coming to the throne during a Danish invasion. Although he succeeded in making peace with the Danes, they resumed their marauding expeditions five years later, and by early 878 they were successful almost everywhere. About Easter of 878, however, Alfred established himself at Athelney and began assembling an army. In the middle of that year he defeated the Danes and captured their stronghold, probably at present-day Edington. During the following 14 years Alfred was able to devote himself to the internal affairs of his kingdom. By 886 he had captured the city of London, and soon afterward he was recognized as the king of all England. In 893 the Danes invaded England again, and the following four years were marked by warfare; eventually, the Danes were forced to withdraw from Alfred's domain. The only ruler to resist Danish invasions successfully, Alfred made his kingdom the rallying point for all Saxons, thus laying the foundation for the unification of England. Alfred was a patron of learning and did much for the education of his people. He began a court school and invited British and foreign scholars, notably the Welsh monk Asser (flourished 885-909) and the Irish-born philosopher and theologian John Scotus Erigena, to come there. Alfred translated such works as The Consolation of Philosophy by the Roman statesman and philosopher Boethius, The History of the World by the Spanish priest Paulus Orosius (circa 385-420), and Pastoral Care by Pope Gregory I. Alfred's laws, the first promulgated in more than a century, were the first that made no distinction between the English and the Welsh peoples.
--Other Fields Ref Number: + EVEN: Reigned Date: 871/899

Alfred the Great

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Alfred the Great [Alfred the Great.jpg]

Rank: 6th

Ruled: 871-October 26, 899

Predecessor: Ethelred I

Date of Birth: 848

Place of Birth: Wantage, Oxfordshire,

England

Wife: Ealhswith

Buried: Winchester Cathedral

Date of Death: October 26, 899

Parents: Ethelwulf and Osburga

Alfred (847? - 899) (sometimes spelled Aelfred) was king of England 871-899 , though at no time did he rule over the whole of the country. Alfred is famous for his defence of the kingdom against the Danes (Vikings), and gained the epithet, "the
Great", as a result. Details of his life are known as a result of a work by the Welsh scholar, Asser. A learned man, Alfred encouraged education and improved the kingdom's legal system.

Alfred was born some time between 847 and 849 AD at Wantage in Berkshire (Alterations to county borders in 1974 mean that Wantage is now part of Oxfordshire) , the fourth son of King Ethelwulf of Wessex (or Aethelwulf), probably by his first
wife, Osburh. He succeeded his brother, Ethelred I as King of Wessex and Mercia in 871.

He seems to have been a child of singular attractiveness and promise, and stories of his boyhood were remembered. At the age of five, in 853, he is said to have been sent to Rome, where he was confirmed by Pope Leo IV , who is also stated to
have "anointed him as king." Later writers interpreted this as an anticipatory crowning in preparation for his ultimate succession to the throne of Wessex. That, however, could not have been foreseen in 853, as Alfred had three elder brothers
living. It is probably to be understood either of investiture with the consular insignia, or possibly with some titular royalty such as that of the under-kingdom of Kent.

This story is probably apocryphal, though in 854-855 Alfred almost certainly did accompany his father on a pilgrimage to Rome, spending some time at the court of Charles the Bald, King of the Franks. In 858, Ethelwulf died.

During the short reigns of his two eldest brothers, Ethelbald and Ethelbert, nothing is heard of Alfred. But with the accession of the third brother, Ethelred, in 866 the public life of Alfred begins, and he enters on his great work of
delivering England from the Danes. It is in this reign that Asser applies to Alfred the unique title of secundarius, which seems to indicate a position analogous to that of the Celtic tanist, a recognized successor, closely associated with the
reigning prince. It is probable that this arrangement was definitely sanctioned by the Witenagemot , to guard against the danger of a disputed succession should Aethelred fall in battle. The arrangement of crowning a successor as co-king,
however, is well-known among continental Germanic peoples, including the Franks, with whom the Anglo-Saxons had close ties.

In 868 Alfred married Ealhswith, daughter of Aethelred Mucill, who is called ealdorman of the Gaini , an unidentified district. She was the granddaughter of a former King of Mercia, and they had five or six children, including a daughter,
Ethelfleda, who would become ruler of Mercia in her own right.

The same year Alfred, fighting beside his brother Ethelred, made an unsuccessful attempt to relieve Mercia from the pressure of the Danes. For nearly two years Wessex had a respite. But at the end of 870 the storm burst; and the year which
followed has been rightly called "Alfred's year of battles."

Nine general engagements were fought with varying fortunes, though the place and date of two of them have not been recorded. A successful skirmish at Englefield, Berkshire (December 31, 870), was followed by a severe defeat at Reading (January
4, 871), and this, four days later, by the brilliant victory of Ashdown, near Compton Beauchamp in Shrivenham Hundred.

On January 22 the English were again defeated at Basing, and on March 22 at Marton, Wiltshire, the two unidentified battles having perhaps occurred in the interval.

In April Ethelred died, and Alfred succeeded to the whole burden of the contest. While he was busied with a funeral and associated ceremonies for his brother, the Danes defeated the English in his absence at an unnamed spot, and once more in
his presence at Wilton in May. After this peace was made, and for the next five years the Danes were occupied in other parts of England, Alfred merely keeping a force of observation on the frontier. But in 876, the Danes, under a new leader,
Guthrum, managed to slip past him and attacked Wareham. From there, early in 877 and under the pretext of negotiations, they made a dash westwards and seized Exeter, England . Here Alfred blockaded them, and a relieving fleet having been
scattered by a storm, the Danes had to submit and withdrew to Mercia. But in January 878 they made a sudden swoop on Chippenham , a royal stronghold in which Alfred had been keeping his Christmas, "and most of the people they reduced, except
the King Alfred, and he with a little band made his way ... by wood and swamp, and after Easter he ... made a fort at Athelney, and from that fort kept fighting against the foe" (Chronicle).

A legend tells how, while a fugitive in the marshes of Athelney near Bridgwater in Somerset , after the initial Danish invasion, he was given shelter by a peasant woman who, ignorant of his identity, left him to watch some cakes she had left
cooking on the fire. Preoccupied with the problems of the realm, Alfred allowed the cakes to burn, and was taken to task by the woman on her return. The idea that Alfred, during his retreat at Athelney, was a helpless fugitive rests upon the
legend of the cakes. In reality he was organizing victory. At around the same time, he is supposed to have disguised himself as a harpist in order to gain entry to Guthrum's camp and discover his plans.

By the middle of May, his preparations were complete and he moved out of Athelney, being joined on the way by the levies of Somerset, Wiltshire and Hampshire. The Danes on their side moved out of Chippenham, and the two armies met at Edington
in Wiltshire. The result was a decisive victory for Alfred. The Danes submitted. Guthrum, the Danish king, and twenty-nine of his chief men accepted baptism. As a result, England became divided into two territories, the south-western half
retained by the Saxons and the north-eastern half becoming known as the Danelaw. By the next year (879) not only Wessex, but Mercia, west of Watling Street, was cleared of the invader. This is the arrangement known to historians as the peace of
Wedmore (878), though no document embodying its provisions is in existence.

Though for the present the north-eastern half of England, including London , remained in the hands of the Danes, in reality the tide had turned. For the next few years there was peace, the Danes being kept busy on the continent. A landing in
Kent in 884 or 885 , though successfully repelled, encouraged the East Anglian Danes to revolt. The measures taken by Alfred to repress this revolt culminated in the capture of London in 885 or 886 , and the treaty known as Alfred and Guthrum's
peace, whereby the boundaries of the treaty of Wedmore (with which this is often confused) were materially modified in Alfred's favour.

Once more for a time there was a lull; but in the autumn of 892 or 893 the final storm burst. The Danes, finding their position on the continent becoming more and more precarious, crossed to England in two divisions, amounting in the aggregate
to 330 sail, and entrenched themselves, the larger body at Appledore, England and the lesser under Haesten at Milton in Kent. The fact that the new invaders brought their wives and children with them shows that this was no mere raid, but a
deliberate attempt, in concert with the Northumbrian and East Anglian Danes, to conquer England. Alfred, in 893 or 894, took up a position whence he could observe both forces. While he was negotiating with Haesten the Danes at Appledore broke
out and struck north-westwards, but were overtaken by Alfred's eldest son, Edward, and defeated in a general engagement at Farnham, and driven to take refuge in Thorney Island in the Hertfordshire Colne, where they were blockaded and ultimately
compelled to submit. They then fell back on Essex, and after suffering another defeat at Benfleet coalesced with Haesten's force at Shoebury.

Alfred had been on his way to relieve his son at Thorney when he heard that the Northumbrian and East Anglian Danes were besieging Exeter and an unnamed fort on the coast of North Devon . Alfred at once hurried westwards and raised the siege of
Exeter; the fate of the other place is not recorded. Meanwhile the force under Haesten set out to march up the Thames valley, possibly with the idea of assisting their friends in the west. But they were met by a large force under the three
great ealdormen of Mercia, Wiltshire and Somerset, and forced to head off to the north-west, being finally overtaken and blockaded at Buttington, which some identify with Buttington Tump at the mouth of the Wye River, others with Buttington
near Welshpool . An attempt to break through the English lines was defeated with loss; those who escaped retreated to Shoebury. Then after collecting reinforcements they made a sudden dash across England and occupied the ruined Roman walls of
Chester . The English did not attempt a winter blockade, but contented themselves with destroying all the supplies in the neighbourhood. And early in 894 (or 895) want of food obliged the Danes to retire once more to Essex. At the end of this
year and early in 895 (or 896 ) the Danes drew their ships up the Thames and Lea and fortified themselves twenty miles above London. A direct attack on the Danish lines failed, but later in the year Alfred saw a means of obstructing the river
so as to prevent the egress of the Danish ships. The Danes realized that they were out-maneuvred. They struck off north-westwards and wintered at Bridgenorth. The next year, 896 (or 897 ), they abandoned the struggle. Some retired to
Northumbria, some to East Anglia; those who had no connections in England withdrew to the continent. The long campaign was over.

The result testifies to the confidence inspired by Alfred's character and generalship, and to the efficacy of the military reforms initiated by him. These were (1) the division of the fyrd or national militia into two parts, relieving each
other at fixed intervals, so as to ensure continuity in military operations; (2) the establishment of fortified posts (burgs) and garrisons at certain points; (3) the enforcement of the obligations of thanehood on all owners of five hides of
land, thus giving the king a nucleus of highly equipped troops.

After the final dispersal of the Danish invaders Alfred turned his attention to the increase of the Royal Navy , and ships were built according to the king's own designs, partly to repress the ravages of the Northumbrian and East Anglian Danes
on the coasts of Wessex, partly to prevent the landing of fresh hordes. This is not, as often asserted, the beginning of the English navy. There had been earlier naval operations under Alfred. One naval engagement was certainly fought under
Aethelwulf (in 851), and earlier ones, possibly in 833 and 840 . Nor were the new ships a great success, as we hear of them grounding in action and foundering in a storm. Much, too, was needed in the way of civil re-organization, especially in
the districts ravaged by the Danes. In the parts of Mercia acquired by Alfred, the shire system seems now to have been introduced for the first time. This is the one grain of truth in the legend that Alfred was the inventor of shires, hundreds
and tithings. The finances also needed attention; but the subject is obscure, and we cannot accept Asser's description of Alfred's appropriation of his revenue as more than an ideal sketch. Alfred's care for the administration of justice is
testified both by history and legend; and the title "protector of the poor" was his by unquestioned right. Of the action of the Witangemot we do not hear very much under Alfred. That he was anxious to respect its rights is conclusively proved,
but both the circumstances of the time and the character of the king would tend to throw more power into his hands. The legislation of Alfred probably belongs to the later part of the reign, after the pressure of the Danes had relaxed.

Asser speaks grandiosely of Alfred's relations with foreign powers, but little definite information is available. He certainly corresponded with Elias III, the patriarch of Jerusalem, and probably sent a mission to India. Embassies to Rome
conveying the English alms to the Pope were fairly frequent; while Alfred's interest in foreign countries is shown by the insertions which he made in his translation of Orosius.

Around 890 Wulfstan of Haithabu undertook a journey from Haithabu on Jutland along the Baltic Sea to the Prussian trading town Truso. Wulfstan reported details of his trip to Alfred the Great.

His relations to the Celtic princes in the southern half of the island are clearer. Comparatively early in his reign the Welsh princes, owing to the pressure on them of North Wales and Mercia, commended themselves to Alfred. Later in the reign
the North Welsh followed their example, and the latter co-operated with the English in the campaign of 893 (or 894). That Alfred sent alms to Irish as well as to continental monasteries may be accepted on Asser's authority; the visit of the
three pilgrim "Scots" (i.e., Irish) to Alfred in 891 is undoubtedly authentic; the story that he himself in his childhood was sent to Ireland to be healed by St. Modwenna, though mythical, may point to Alfred's interest in that island.

The history of the church under Alfred is most obscure. The Danish inroads had told heavily upon it; the monasteries had been special points of attack, and though Alfred founded two or three monasteries and imported foreign monks, there was no
general revival of monasticism under him. To the ruin of learning and education wrought by the Danes, and the practical extinction of the knowledge of Latin even among the clergy, the preface to Alfred's translation into Old English of Pope
Gregory's Pastoral Care bears eloquent testimony. It was to remedy these evils that he established a court school, after the example of Charlemagne; for this he imported scholars like Grimbald and John the Saxon from the continent and Asser
from South Wales; for this, above all, he put himself to school, and made the series of translations for the instruction of his clergy and people, most of which still survive. These belong unquestionably to the later part of his reign, not
improbably to the last four years of it, during which the chronicles are almost silent. Apart from the lost Handboc or Encheiridion, which seems to have been merely a commonplace-book kept by the king, the earliest work to be translated was the
Dialogues of Gregory, a book enormously popular in the Middle Ages. In this case the translation was made by Alfred's great friend Werferth, Bishop of Worcester, the king merely furnishing a preface. The next work to be undertaken was Gregory's
Pastoral Care, especially for the benefit of the parish clergy. In this Alfred keeps very close to his original; but the introduction which he prefixed to it is one of the most interesting documents of the reign, or indeed of English history.
The next two works taken in hand were historical, the Universal History of Orosius and Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People. The priority should probably be assigned to the Orosius, but the point has been much debated. In the
Orosius, by omissions and additions, Alfred so remodels his original as to produce an almost new work; in the Bede the author's text is closely adhered to, no additions being made, though most of the documents and some other less interesting
matters are omitted. Of late years doubts have been raised as to Alfred's authorship of the Bede translation. But the sceptics cannot be regarded as having proved their point.

We come now to what is in many ways the most interesting of Alfred's works, his translation of Anicius Manlius Severinus Boëthius' Consolation of Philosophy, the most popular philosophical manual of the middle ages. Here again Alfred deals very
freely with his original and though the late Dr. G. Schepss showed that many of the additions to the text are to be traced not to Alfred himself, but to the glosses and commentaries which he used, still there is much in the work which is solely
Alfred's and highly characteristic of his genius. It is in the Boethius that the oft-quoted sentence occurs: "My will was to live worthily as long as I lived, and after my life to leave to them that should come after, my memory in good works."
The book has come down to us in two manuscripts only. In one of these the poems with which the original is interspersed are rendered into prose, in the other into alliterating verse. The authorship of the latter has been much disputed; but
probably they also are by Alfred. Of the authenticity of the work as a whole there has never been any doubt. The last of Alfred's works is one to which he gave the title Blostman, i.e., "Blooms" or Anthology. The first half is based mainly on
the Soliloquies of St Augustine of Hippo , the remainder is drawn from various sources, and contains much that is Alfred's own and highly characteristic of him. The last words of it may be quoted; they form a fitting epitaph for the noblest of
English kings. "Therefore he seems to me a very foolish man, and very wretched, who will not increase his understanding while he is in the world, and ever wish and long to reach that endless life where all shall be made clear."

Besides these works of Alfred's, the Saxon Chronicle almost certainly, and a Saxon Martyrology, of which fragments only exist, probably owe their inspiration to him. A prose version of the first fifty Psalms has been attributed to him; and the
attribution, though not proved, is perfectly possible.

How Alfred died is unknown. Even the year is uncertain. The day was the 26th of October, and the year is now generally thought to have been 899, not 900 or 901 as was previously accepted.

[Alfred jewel.JPG]

The Alfred jewel is an object about 2-1/2" long, made of filigreed gold, cloisonne-enameled and with a rock crystal covering; it is thought to have been the handle for a pointer that would have fit into the hole at its base and been used while
reading a book. It is inscribed, "AELFRED MEC HEHT GEWYRCAN," ("Alfred had me made"). It may be one of the "aestels" Alfred had sent to each bishopric with a copy of his translation of Pope Gregory the Great's book Pastoral Care.

The jewel was found about four miles from Athelney, where Alfred founded a monastery that lasted until the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1539, under King Henry VIII of England. A replica of the jewel can be found in the church of North
Petherton, near Bridgwater.

ALTHOUGH I HAVE KING ALFRED THE GREAT LISTED AS BALDWIN' S F ATHER, THE DATES ARE OFF, AND IT IS POSSIBLE THAT ALFRE D I S HIS GREAT GRANDFATHER OR GREAT-GREAT GRANDFATHER. SOM EWH ERE ALONG THE LINE, BALDWIN IS RELATED TO KING ALFRED T HE G REAT.

koning van Wessex (Westsaxons)

koning van Wessex (Westsaxons)

!DESCENT: Frederick Lewis Weis and Walter Lee Sheppard, Jr., Ancestral Roots
of Certain American Colonists Who Came to America Before 1700, 7th ed., at 2
(1992). Line 1-15.

Alfred, the most justly celebrated of all Anglo-Saxon rulers, was King of Wessex from 871 until 899. Alfred was born at Wantage in 849, the youngest son of King Æthelwulf of Wessex. The short reigns and early deaths of his elder brothers ¥thelbald (858-60), ¥thelbert (860-65) and ¥thelred I (865-71) brought Alfred to the throne of Wessex at the age of about twenty-two in 871.

Alfred's lifetime was overshadowed by the Danish invasions of England. Between 865 and 870 the Danes had conquered the kingdoms of East Anglia and Northumbria and had forced Mercia into submission. In 870 they decided to move against Wessex and established themselves in winter quarters at Reading. Five battles were fought in the winter and early spring of 870-71, at Englefield, Reading, Ashdown, Basing and the unidentified Meretun. Of these only Ashdown was a West Saxon victory. Shortly after the last battle the Danes were reinforced by another Viking army. At the time of Alfred's accession in April 871 the advantage lay firmly with the invaders. For the new king the outlook was bleak, and it was to remain so for some time. In May Alfred was defeated again, at Wilton, after which he decided to capitulate as the Mercians had done. A contemporary put the best interpretation on it that he could: 'the Saxons made peace with the Vikings on condition that they would leave them; and this they did.' What this almost certainly means is that Alfred paid them to go away; what later generations were to call paying Danegeld.

The Danes kept their word. Between 871 and 875 they busied themselves with Mercia and Northumbria. A second invasion of Wessex occurred in 876-77. Under their leader Guthrum, the Danes struck deeper than ever before into Wessex, and established themselves first at Wareham in Dorset and then at Exeter. Once more Alfred was forced to buy peace from them and they withdrew across the Mercian border in the summer of 877 to a new base at Gloucester. A third invasion followed soon. In January 878 the Danes entered Wessex, settled at Chippenham and subjected large areas of the kingdom to their authority. Alfred was taken completely unawares and could offer no resistance. With only a small following he fled to the west and found refuge at ¥thelney in Somerset, in the marshy country of the Parrett valley. (The episode of Alfred and the cakes, first committed to writing about a century after his death, was located during the retreat at ¥thelney.) Had the king died at this point he would be remembered, if at all, only as a failure.

But Alfred survived and prospered. During the spring of 878 he quietly mustered troops and from the fortress which he had constructed at ¥thelney he waged guerrilla war upon the Danes. By May he was ready to challenge them openly. He advanced eastwards, gathering support from the county levies of Somerset, Wiltshire and Hampshire as he went. They encountered Guthrum's army at Edington in Wiltshire and decisively defeated it, pursuing the survivors as far as their stronghold at Chippenham. After a fortnight the Danes surrendered. Their leader Guthrum was baptized a Christian in June and they swore to leave Wessex in peace, a promise which they carried out later in the year. Alfred had won the struggle for survival.

Towards the end of 884 part of a Viking army which had been campaigning in Francia crossed the Channel to Kent and laid siege to
Rochester. Alfred relieved the town and eventually managed to chase the intruders back to the Continent. Guthrum's followers, settled in East Anglia since 880, had assisted the Vikings from the Continent, and it was in an attempt to neutralize them that Alfred sent a naval force against East Anglia in the summer of 885, which had mixed success, and in 886 occupied London. Shortly afterwards he made a peace-treaty with Guthrum. Apart from these events, during the fourteen years between 878 and 892 Wessex was unmolested. These were the creative years in which Alfred initiated his programme of military reform and cultural revival.

In 892 the Danes returned in force and Alfred's defensive measures were put to the test. The war of 892-96 is reported at considerable length in the contemporary record of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. Without following the campaigns in detail we may say that once more the Danish strategy rested upon the occupation of bases from which raids could be launched. However, there were contrasts with the earlier crises of 870-71 and 875-78. Whereas the earlier invaders had repeatedly penetrated into the heart of Alfred's kingdom (e.g. Wilton 871, Wareham 876) those of 892-96 got into Wessex only once, in 893. Whereas the earlier invaders had won victory after victory, particularly in the years 870-71, the Danes who broke into Wessex in 893 were defeated by the king's son Edward at Fareham before they had got very far. Furthermore, although the Danes were difficult to pin down and bring to battle, the English forces could on occasion do this. They matched the mobility of the Danes, pursuing them right up the valley of the Severn in 893. They could dislodge them from their bases, as at Chester in 894 and in the valley of the river Lea near London in 895. They could sometimes corner and defeat them, as ealdorman ¥thelred of Mercia, Alfred's son-in-law, did at Buttington in 893. They could also by now engage the Danes by sea as well as on land, as in 896, with at least fair success. By the summer of 896 the Danish leaders had realized that Wessex was too well-defended for them. Their army dispersed, some to East Anglia or Northumbria, some to further campaigning across the Channel in Francia. The remaining three years of Alfred's reign are ill-documented but were apparently peaceful. He died on 26 October 899, aged about fifty, and was buried at Winchester.

Even from so brief a sketch as this it will be apparent that we know far more about Alfred than we do about even the greatest of earlier Anglo-Saxon rulers such as Edwin or Offa. The sources which bear upon his life and reign are abundant (by early medieval standards), diverse, absorbing and problematical. The best introduction to Alfred is to read the sources relating to him: nearly all of them are available in translations. In the first place there is the biography of Alfred by his friend, teacher and bishop, the Welshman Asser, composed in 893.

Then there is the set of vernacular annals known as the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. The Chronicle's account of the reign of Alfred is full if not always completely frank and was probably put together in the 890s. In other words, the Chronicle, like Asser, is a contemporary authority.

There has been much debate about the origins and authorship of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. This work seems to be an 'official 'production, the composition of men who had close connections with the royal court and worked under the patronage of the King - though this is a view which not all scholars accept. Thirdly, the code of laws issued by the King perhaps about 890 sheds light not only on the institutions and social life of Alfred's Wessex but also on his interpretation of his role as a Christian ruler. Further revelations of Alfred's thought and aspirations are furnished, in the fourth place, by the King's own writings. Finally, some official documents survive from his reign. These. include such texts as the treaty with Guthrum, King Alfred's will, records relating to the building of fortresses, a small amount of diplomatic correspondence and a handful of charters recording grants of land. Finally there remains a certain amount of physical, archaeological evidence which includes such diverse items as specimens of Alfred's coins, the famous 'Alfred Jewel', treasure-hoards such as those of Croydon or Trewhiddle, the recently recovered evidence of the replanning of Winchester, the ramparts of some fortresses and a small number of manuscripts. All in all, it is a fairly impressive array.

These sources can be used to shed light on Alfred's major achievement, the transformation of the military capacities of Wessex in the years of relative peace between 878 and 892. We have already seen that there are several points of contrast between the fighting of 870-78 and that of 892-96. The main reason why the Danes found it so much harder to break into Wessex in the 890s was that the kingdom was by then protected by a ring of fortresses known as burhs. A document known as the Burghal Hidage, which in its original form probably dated from Alfred's reign, lists thirty such fortresses round the frontiers and in the interior of Wessex, and furnishes statistics which make it possible to calculate both the length of the ramparts and the size of the garrison which defended them. Excavation has shown in several instances that there was an almost exact correspondence between the size of the fortress as built and the size stipulated in the Burghal Hidage, the government's 'blueprint.' This is a very important point, for it establishes that Alfred's government could achieve on the ground what it planned in the council-chamber. Not all governments can. If we can take the figures for measurement seriously it follows that we can take the manpower figures seriously too. They show that some 27,000 men were assigned to the maintenance and defence of the burhs. Of course, these men were not all serving at once and they were scattered from east Sussex to north Devon. Yet it remains an astonishing number of troops in the light of what we know, or think we know, of ninth-century warfare.

The burhs were of various types. Some were former Roman towns or forts (Chichester, Portchester), some were fortified royal estates (Wilton, Eashing), some involved the strengthening of positions of natural defensive potential (Lydford), some were new fortified settlements on open and vulnerable sites (Cricklade, Wallingford). It is difficult to date their construction at all closely. Shaftesbury was fortified in 880. Asser makes it plain that several had been completed by 893 (e.g. Lyng, Wareham), while a famous entry in the Chronicle shows that at least one was 'only half-made' in 892. The programme of fortification was certainly incomplete at the end of the reign: the crown did not acquire the Roman fort at Portchester until 904.

Slow though it may have been, the process of fortification remains a remarkable achievement. But it was only one of Alfred's military reforms. A system of fortresses geared to static defence can only operate effectively in conjunction with a mobile army in the field. Alfred needed a striking force, not necessarily very big, but well-equipped and above all well-mounted. Early Anglo-Saxon military organization remains fairly mysterious, but it is accepted that by the ninth century at the latest military service was exacted from landholders in respect of assessments reckoned in numbers of 'hides' of land. Levies were mustered by counties under the command of the ealdorman of the shire. The army raised in this fashion was called the fyrd. In a much-discussed passage the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle tells us that by 893 'the king had divided his army into two, so that always half its men were at home, half out on service.' Exactly what is meant is not clear. One possible interpretation of these words is that Alfred had pooled the resources due from the assessments in order to levy a smaller but more effective fighting force. An example will make the point clearer. In 892 Alfred granted an estate assessed at ten hides at North Newnton in Wiltshire to ¥thelhelm the ealdorman of Wiltshire. Let us suppose - and there are some grounds for the supposition - that every unit of five hides was required to send one warrior to the king's army. Under the pre-reform system North Newnton would have been liable for the service of two men. After Alfred's reform only one man would have been due, but he would have been supported by the resources of the whole estate. In this fashion the king could raise an army of half the traditional size, but better equipped in weapons, armour, horse, saddlery and provisions - an army of specialist soldiers.

Alfred also challenged the Danes on the element where they had long enjoyed mastery - the sea. The Chronicle tells us in its annal for 896 that the king ordered long-ships to be built with which to oppose the Viking warships. They were almost twice as long as the others. Some had sixty oars, some more. They were both swifter and more stable and also higher than the others.

Earlier Anglo-Saxon rulers had disposed of ships, for example Ecgfrith of Northumbria, so Alfred was not, as long-cherished national mythology maintains, 'the founder of the English navy.' Furthermore, his fleet was less effective than he might have hoped. Nevertheless, sea-power was an important element in the armory of his tenth-century successors such as Edgar, and it is the case that a royal navy has had a continuous history in England from Alfred's day until our own.

Frisian seamen distinguished enough to rate an obituary notice in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle were in Alfred's service in 896 and their presence in England is confirmed by Asser. The King's debt to them as shipwrights and captains may have been considerable. It is likely that this was only one of several debts which Alfred owed to his neighbors across the Channel. The military reforms outlined above are paralleled in ninth-century Francia. Of course, rulers confronted by similar problems are apt to try to solve them in similar ways without necessarily borrowing ideas or techniques one from another. Nevertheless, one may usefully speculate on the nature of Alfred's overseas relations and the repercussions on West Saxon institutions and practices that they might have had.

Alfred was probably a good deal more aware of the continent of Europe than have been at least some among nineteenth and twentieth-century historians who have devoted their attentions to him. He had visited Rome as a boy in the company of his father. He regularly sent alms to Rome and received at least one letter from Pope John VIII. His sister ¥thelswith, the wife of King Burgred of Mercia who was deposed by the Danes in 874, spent her later years in Italy until her death in 888. Alfred's father ¥thelwulf, we should recall, had had a Frankish secretary and had married as his second wife a Frankish princess.
Alfred's wife Ealhswith - they were married in 868 - was English, a noblewoman descended from the Mercian royal dynasty. Of the five children of their marriage who lived to maturity, one of the daughters, ¥lfthryth, married Baldwin II, Count of Flanders, between 893 and 899. Alfred corresponded with Archbishop Fulk of Rheims, and attracted scholars from Francia to his court such as Grimbald and John. The compiler of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle was knowledgeable about Frankish affairs. We can sense a web of contact between Alfred's Wessex and the western European continent that may have been a good deal more dense than the surviving evidence allows us to see.

It was not only in the military field that Alfred may have been indebted to his Frankish neighbors. Consider these other and diverse pieces of evidence. First, there is the code of laws which was probably drawn up about 890. We cannot be certain that any English ruler had issued laws since King Ine of Wessex nearly two centuries earlier. (The theory that Offa of Mercia had issued laws is now regarded as ill-founded). Frankish rulers of the ninth century, especially Charles the Bald (d. 877) whose court Alfred had visited, had been tireless, one might almost say frenzied legislators. If we were to seek immediate precedents for Alfred's role as a legislator we should find them in western Francia. It is of interest that some of the individual clauses in Alfred's laws betray the influence of Frankish practice, for example the requirement that his subjects should swear an oath of loyalty to him. Secondly, there is the exquisite Alfred Jewel, now preserved in the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. It was found in 1693 at North Petherton in Somerset, not far from the Alfredian burh at Lyng and the Alfredian monastery at ¥thelney. It bears an inscription reading 'Alfred ordered Ine to be made.' Whatever the function of the jewel, about which there has been much debate, there can be no doubt that the patron referred to was the King. Some of the decorative techniques it displays are not Anglo-Saxon but Frankish. Asser indeed tells us that the king 'assembled craftsmen in almost countless quantity from many races.' In the third place there is the remodelling of Winchester. During the 880s, in all probability, the town of Winchester was comprehensively replanned inside its refurbished Roman defences. A new grid-pattern of streets was laid down, bounded by a road which ran round the inside of the walls. This operation involved the laying of at least five miles of road and their surfacing with nearly 8000 tons of flint cobbles. Only a king could have mobilized the resources for such a task: the initiative must have been Alfred's. The purpose was not simply defensive. Winchester included a royal palace, a cathedral and its community, a new monastery probably planned by Alfred though not completed until after his death and a nunnery founded by Queen Ealhswith. It also housed a royal mint, merchants on whose services the court depended and residences for the counsellors in attendance on the King. Alfred's Winchester was not exactly a capital city in our sense of the term, but it was the closest thing to one in Wessex - a favoured royal residence, a place of ceremonial, prayer and liturgy, a fit setting for solemn acts of state and a mausoleum where kings would rest and be remembered after their deaths. Surely its inspiration, at least in part, was Frankish. Alfred's Winchester was to Wessex what Charlemagne's Aachen was to the kingdom of the Franks.

Like Frankish rulers such as Charlemagne or Charles the Bald, though on a more modest scale, Alfred was a patron of learning. Unlike them he personally contributed to the intellectual revival which he sponsored and it is this activity which is his most enduring claim to fame. Alfred regarded his attempts to rehabilitate English learning as part and parcel of his kingly responsibilities. The connection may not be obvious to us but it was clear to Alfred. The Danish invasions were a sign of divine displeasure. In the last resort it would be only with the help of God that the English could resist them. God would extend his help only to a devout people. Learning was one path to godliness. Alfred himself put the matter thus:

Remember what punishment befell us in this world when we did not cherish learning nor transmit it to others.

It was, then, a central part of a Christian ruler's duties to encourage learning. To this end Alfred recruited a number of learned men. They included Plegmund, a native of Mercia who became Archbishop of Canterbury in 890; the Welshman Asser, who became Bishop of Sherborne; another Mercian, Bishop Werferth of Worcester; a Flemish monk, Grimbald of St. Bertin's; and a monk from continental Saxony named John who was made Abbot of Alfred's monastic foundation at ¥thelney. One is reminded of the circle of scholars headed by Alcuin whom Charlemagne had gathered about him at Aachen. Through the efforts of these five men, and doubtless of others whose names we do not know, the ground was prepared for the intellectual achievements of the tenth century.

Alfred's own contribution to the revival of learning was to translate from Latin into Old English 'certain books', in his own words, 'which are the most necessary for all men to know.' He had learned to read the vernacular as a child and went on to learn Latin as a grown man: he seems to have become proficient in Latin by 887. Alfred personally translated three works. The earliest, perhaps done about 890, was the Liber Regulae Pastoralis ('Book of Pastoral Rule') of Pope Gregory I. The work had been intended by its author as a guide to good conduct for bishops but by Alfred's day, largely under the influence of Frankish scholarship, its precepts were being applied to the office of a king.

Alfred composed an important preface to his translation in which he outlined his intellectual and educational ideals. The other two works were the Soliloquies of St. Augustine of Hippo and the Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius. The latter work was for the early Middle Ages the classic account of endurance in the face of adversity and the pursuit of wisdom as a means of rising above earthly misfortune. Augustine's Soliloquies dwelt on the immortality of the soul. Alfred's very free rendering of this text enabled him in the course of reflecting on this topic to produce a kind of spiritual self-portrait. In addition to these three works the King began but did not live to complete a translation of the Psalter into Old English. Alfred was helped in his translations by members of his team of scholars. They in their turn translated other works, the most important of which was the Ecclesiastical History of Bede.

These works were not chosen at random. Together they formed a coherent body of literature designed to expound righteousness to a troubled society: the understanding of God's actions in history, the responsibilities of authority and the Christian aspirations of man-kind.
The Alfredian translations, together with the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle and the king's code of law, constituted an intellectual 'survival-kit' for an embattled nation. They were intended for his people's comfort and instruction, and the King did his best to ensure that they were widely disseminated.

Alfred was first called 'the Great' by the thirteenth-century chronicler Matthew Paris. It has been acutely observed that 'we hold that Alfred was a great and glorious king in part because he rightly implies this.' In other words the sources on which our knowledge of his doings is based were for the most part put together directly or indirectly at his instigation. Asser's biography and the Chronicle have provided as it were a frame in which we have unavoidably to see their portrait or image of the King. It was the chronicler who contrived to obscure the extreme fragility of Alfred's position in the years 871-77. It was Asser who rendered unforgettably those aspects of Alfred's character which so appealed to the Victorians: his moral uprightness, his warm family life, his struggles against ill- health, his earnest self-improvement. It is not easy to step outside this frame and try to see the King from a different angle. The few hints that we do have are enough to suggest, unsurprisingly, that the reality was more complicated than the image. Alfred was not above laying hands on ecclesiastical endowments to supplement his revenues: so much is suggested by a surviving letter from Pope John VIII to Archbishop ¥thelred of Canterbury and by Alfred's posthumous reputation as a seizer of church property with the monks of Abingdon. The King who in 885 sent his ships to East Anglia 'full of warriors in search of plunder' was behaving more like his Viking enemies than like the temperate statesman of later mythology. The ruler who incurred unpopularity by imposing a vast programme of forced labor on his subjects thought it prudent to lay down Draconian penalties for plotting against the King's life. Alfred was a man of robustly traditional tastes - a warrior, a hunter, a ring-giver - as well as the scholar and seeker after knowledge revealed in his writings.

He was a man of his time, like everyone else. His achievements rested in some degree on foundations laid by his father ¥thelwulf and on lessons learned from his Frankish neighbors. He was uniquely fortunate, among English monarchs, in his propagandists. His insular countrymen have too readily forgotten that there were ninth-century kings in France, Duitsland, Spain and Italy who likewise successfully defended their kingdoms from invasion.

All this may be said, and it is not - and certainly not intended -to detract from his achievement. Our abiding impression of Alfred is of a man who was quite singularly interesting. He had an orderly mind (see Asser on his organization of his revenues) and he was fertile in practical expedient (whether in the construction of ships or of lantern-clocks). Unlike many practical people he was also endowed with a speculative mind, charged with intellectual vitality. How many kings have taught themselves Latin at the age of thirty-eight? In his writings we can eavesdrop on his thoughts: observe his intellectual curiosity and his capacity for wonder (for example, his fascination with Ottar's account of his voyage round the North Cape); witness his anxious self-examination and reflections on his responsibilities as a Christian king. And all this, we should remember, from a man who suffered from bodily infirmity and all the tribulations of the cares of state.

(XXXXX@XXXX.XXX)

["The British Monarchy", www.royal.gov.uk]

From the late 8th century, attacks by Vikings from Scandinavia increased. After a major invasion in 865, the kingdoms of Northumbria and Mercia were rapidly overrun, and in 871 the Danish army attacked Wessex. The Wessex forces under the command of Alfred (reigned 871-99), then aged 21, defeated the Danes at the Battle of Edington in 878. The Danes withdrew to an area north of a frontier running from London to Chester and known as 'Danelaw'.
This victory did not finish the Danish threat, and Alfred reorganized the Wessex defences by organizing his army on a rota basis, so he could raise a 'rapid reaction force' to deal with raiders whilst still enabling his thegns and peasants to tend their farms. Second, Alfred started a building programme of well-defended settlements across southern England as a defence in depth against Danish raiders. Alfred also ordered the building of a navy of new fast ships to patrol the coasts and meet invaders before they penetrated inland.

Other reforms included establishing a legal code (assembled from the laws of his predecessors and of the kingdoms of Mercia and Kent), and reforming the coinage. Illiterate in Latin until the age of 38, Alfred promoted literacy, religion and education, and directed the translation of works of religious instruction, philosophy and history into the vernacular; this was partly so that people could read his orders and legislation. The energetic royal authority demonstrated in Alfred's policies presaged the Wessex kings' rule of all England during the next century.

Alfred reigned as King of England from 871-899. He defeated the Danish in their attempt to conquer England at Edington in 878. He enabled the Danes to keep conquered territories in Mercia and East Anglia if the Danes' King Guthrum converted to Christianity. He then fortified against futher Danish invasion by building a navy of ships to defend himself along the southern coast as well as forts along Wessex. This apparently was needed from the years of 885-886 and again in 892-896. In 886, he gained London as a territory of England. He controlled all of England except for the territories held by Danes.

Alfred reigned as King of England from 871-899. He defeated the Danish in their attempt to conquer England at Edington in 878. He enabled the Danes to keep conquered territories in Mercia and East Anglia if the Danes' King Guthrum converted to Christianity. He then fortified against futher Danish invasion by building a navy of ships to defend himself along the southern coast as well as forts along Wessex. This apparently was needed from the years of 885-886 and again in 892-896. In 886, he gained London as a territory of England. He controlled all of England except for the territories held by Danes.

ALFRED 'THE GREAT' (r. 871-899)

Born at Wantage, Berkshire, in 849, Alfred was the fifth son of Aethelwulf, king of the West Saxons. At their father's behest and by mutual agreement, Alfred's elder brothers succeeded to the kingship in turn, rather than endanger the kingdom by passing it to under-age children at a time when the country was threatened by worsening Viking raids from Denmark.

Since the 790s, the Vikings had been using fast mobile armies, numbering thousands of men embarked in shallow-draught longships, to raid the coasts and inland waters of England for plunder.

Such raids were evolving into permanent Danish settlements; in 867, the Vikings seized York and established their own kingdom in the southern part of Northumbria. The Vikings overcame two other major Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, East Anglia and Mercia, and their kings were either tortured to death or fled.

Finally, in 870 the Danes attacked the only remaining independent Anglo-Saxon kingdom, Wessex, whose forces were commanded by King Aethelred and his younger brother Alfred. At the battle of Ashdown in 871, Alfred routed the Viking army in a fiercely fought uphill assault. However, further defeats followed for Wessex and Alfred's brother died.

As King of Wessex at the age of 21, Alfred (reigned 871-99) was a strongminded but highly strung battle veteran at the head of remaining resistance to the Vikings in southern England.

In early 878, the Danes led by King Guthrum seized Chippenham in Wiltshire in a lightning strike and used it as a secure base from which to devastate Wessex. Local people either surrendered or escaped (Hampshire people fled to the Isle of Wight), and the West Saxons were reduced to hit and run attacks seizing provisions when they could.

With only his royal bodyguard, a small army of thegns (the king's followers) and Aethelnoth earldorman of Somerset as his ally, Alfred withdrew to the Somerset tidal marshes in which he had probably hunted as a youth. (It was during this time that Alfred, in his preoccupation with the defence of his kingdom, allegedly burned some cakes which he had been asked to look after; the incident was a legend dating from early twelfth century chroniclers.)

A resourceful fighter, Alfred reassessed his strategy and adopted the Danes' tactics by building a fortified base at Athelney in the Somerset marshes and summoning a mobile army of men from Wiltshire, Somerset and part of Hampshire to pursue guerrilla warfare against the Danes. In May 878, Alfred's army defeated the Danes at the battle of Edington.

According to his contemporary biographer Bishop Asser, 'Alfred attacked the whole pagan army fighting ferociously in dense order, and by divine will eventually won the victory, made great slaughter among them, and pursued them to their fortress (Chippenham) ... After fourteen days the pagans were brought to the extreme depths of despair by hunger, cold and fear, and they sought peace'. This unexpected victory proved to be the turning point in Wessex's battle for survival.

Realising that he could not drive the Danes out of the rest of England, Alfred concluded peace with them in the treaty of Wedmore. King Guthrum was converted to Christianity with Alfred as godfather and many of the Danes returned to East Anglia where they settled as farmers. In 886, Alfred negotiated a partition treaty with the Danes, in which a frontier was demarcated along the Roman Watling Street and northern and eastern England came under the jurisdiction of the Danes - an area known as 'Danelaw'. Alfred therefore gained control of areas of West Mercia and Kent which had been beyond the boundaries of Wessex.

To consolidate alliances against the Danes, Alfred married one of his daughters, Aethelflaed, to the ealdorman of Mercia. Alfred himself had married Eahlswith, a Mercian noblewoman, and another daughter, Aelfthryth, to the Count of Flanders, a strong naval power at a time when the Vikings were settling in eastern England.

The Danish threat remained, and Alfred reorganised the Wessex defences in recognition that efficient defence and economic prosperity were interdependent. First, he organised his army (the thegns, and the existing militia known as the fyrd) on a rota basis, so he could raise a 'rapid reaction force' to deal with raiders whilst still enabling his thegns and peasants to tend their farms.

Second, Alfred started a building programme of well-defended settlements across southern England. These were fortified market places ('borough' comes from the Old English burh, meaning fortress); by deliberate royal planning, settlers received plots and in return manned the defences in times of war. (Such plots in London under Alfred's rule in the 880s shaped the streetplan which still exists today between Cheapside and the Thames.)

This obligation required careful recording in what became known as 'the Burghal Hidage', which gave details of the building and manning of Wessex and Mercian burhs according to their size, the length of their ramparts and the number of men needed to garrison them.

Centred round Alfred's royal palace in Winchester, this network of burhs with strongpoints on the main river routes was such that no part of Wessex was more than 20 miles from the refuge of one of these settlements. Together with a navy of new fast ships built on Alfred's orders, southern England now had a defence in depth against Danish raiders.

Alfred's concept of kingship extended beyond the administration of the tribal kingdom of Wessex into a broader context. A religiously devout and pragmatic man who learnt Latin in his late thirties, he recognised that the general deterioration in learning and religion caused by the Vikings' destruction of monasteries (the centres of the rudimentary education network) had serious implications for rulership. For example, the poor standards in Latin had led to a decline in the use of the charter as an instrument of royal government to disseminate the king's instructions and legislation.

In one of his prefaces, Alfred wrote 'so general was its [Latin] decay in England that there were very few on this side of the Humber who could understand their rituals in English or translate a letter from Latin into English ... so few that I cannot remember a single one south of the Thames when I came to the throne.'

To improve literacy, Alfred arranged, and took part in, the translation (by scholars from Mercia) from Latin into Anglo-Saxon of a handful of books he thought it 'most needful for men to know, and to bring it to pass ... if we have the peace, that all the youth now in England ... may be devoted to learning'.

These books covered history, philosophy and Gregory the Great's 'Pastoral Care' (a handbook for bishops), and copies of these books were sent to all the bishops of the kingdom. Alfred was patron of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (which was copied and supplemented up to 1154), a patriotic history of the English from the Wessex viewpoint designed to inspire its readers and celebrate Alfred and his monarchy.

Like other West Saxon kings, Alfred established a legal code; he assembled the laws of Offa and other predecessors, and of the kingdoms of Mercia and Kent, adding his own administrative regulations to form a definitive body of Anglo-Saxon law.

'I ... collected these together and ordered to be written many of them which our forefathers observed, those which I liked; and many of those which I did not like I rejected with the advice of my councillors ... For I dared not presume to set in writing at all many of my own, because it was unknown to me what would please those who should come after us ... Then I ... showed those to all my councillors, and they then said that they were all pleased to observe them' (Laws of Alfred, c.885-99).

By the 890s, Alfred's charters and coinage (which he had also reformed, extending its minting to the burhs he had founded) referred to him as 'king of the English', and Welsh kings sought alliances with him. Alfred died in 899, aged 50, and was buried in Winchester, the burial place of the West Saxon royal family.

By stopping the Viking advance and consolidating his territorial gains, Alfred had started the process by which his successors eventually extended their power over the other Anglo-Saxon kings; the ultimate unification of Anglo-Saxon England was to be led by Wessex.

It is for his valiant defence of his kingdom against a stronger enemy, for securing peace with the Vikings and for his farsighted reforms in the reconstruction of Wessex and beyond, that Alfred - alone of all the English kings and queens - is known as 'the Great'.

Alfred came to the throne "after Easter" 871, following the death (from unknown causes) of his brother Æthelred, during a campaign against a Danish army which had invaded Wessex at the end of 870.Alfred's biographer, Asser, claims that "... Alfred, who had been up to that time only of secondary rank, whilst his brothers were alive, now, by God's permission, undertook the government of the whole kingdom, amid the acclamations of all the people; and if he had chosen, he might have done so before, whilst his brother above-named was still alive; for in wisdom and other qualities he surpassed all his brothers, and moreover, was warlike and victorious in all his wars."In the spring of 871, the original army had been reinforced by new arrivals from overseas. Asser writes that Alfred: "... when he had reigned one month, almost against his will, for he did not think he could alone sustain the multitude and ferocity of the pagans, though even during his brothers' lives, he had borne the woes of many - he fought a battle with a few men, and on very unequal terms, against all the army of the pagans, at a hill called Wilton, on the south bank of the river Wily, from which river the whole of that district is named, and after a long and fierce engagement, the pagans, seeing the danger they were in, and no longer able to bear the attack of their enemies, turned their backs and fled. But, oh, shame to say, they deceived their too audacious pursuers, and again rallying, gained the victory. Let no one be surprised that the Christians had but a small number of men, for the Saxons had been worn out by eight battles in one year, against the pagans, of whom they had slain one king, nine dukes, and innumerable troops of soldiers, besides endless skirmishes, both by night and by day, in which the oft-named Alfred, and all his chieftains, with their men, and several of his ministers, were engaged without rest or cessation against the pagans. How many thousand pagans fell in these numberless skirmishes God alone knows, over and above those who were slain in the eight battles above-mentioned....The 'Anglo-Saxon Chronicle' says: "This year were nine general battles fought with the army in the kingdom south of the Thames". Asser has omitted from his account a battle, recorded by the 'Chronicle', at an unidentified site called Meretun..... In the same year the Saxons made [i.e. bought] peace with the pagans, on condition that they should take their departure, and they did so." VIn 874, the Danes drove out Burgred, king of Mercia (he spent the rest of his life in Rome), and placed a 'puppet' king on the throne. In the autumn of that year, they divided their forces. Part, under the leadership of Halfdan, went to Northumbria and established the Kingdom of York. The remainder, under three kings - Guthrum, Oscytel and Anund - spent the following year in Cambridge.In the summer of 875, the 'Anglo-Saxon Chronicle' notes that "... King Alfred went out to sea with an armed fleet, and fought with seven ship-rovers, one of whom he took, and dispersed the others." Towards the end of that year, the Danish faction which had been based at Cambridge "... stole into Wareham [in Dorset], a fort of the West-Saxons." In 876 Alfred "made peace" with the Danes, but, presumably because of their reduced numbers, he was in a stronger negotiating position. Asser: "With this army Alfred made a solemn treaty, to the effect that they should depart out of the kingdom, and for this they made no hesitation to give as many hostages as he named; also they swore an oath over the Christian relics ....The 'Chronicle' says that they "... swore with oaths on the holy ring, which they would not before to any nation ..." The mid 13th century 'Eyrbyggja Saga': "... there stood a stall in the midst of the floor in the fashion of an altar, and thereon lay a ring without a join that weighed twenty ounces, and on that must men swear all oaths; and that ring must the chief have on his arm at all man-motes.".... which with king Alfred were next in veneration after the Deity himself, that they would depart speedily from the kingdom. But they again practised their usual treachery, and caring nothing for the hostages or their oaths, they broke the treaty, and sallying forth by night, slew all the horsemen that the king had round him, and turning off into Devon, to another place called in Saxon "Exauceaster" [Exeter], but in British "Cair-wise", which means in Latin, the city of the Ex, situated on the eastern bank of the river Wise, they directed their course suddenly towards the south sea, which divides Britain and Gaul, and there passed the winter [of 876/7]... The number of that disorderly crew increased every day, so that, if thirty thousand of them were slain in one battle, others took their places to double the number. Then King Alfred commanded boats and galleys, i.e. long ships, to be built throughout the Kingdom, in order to offer battle by sea to the enemy as they were coming. On board of these he placed seamen, and appointed them to watch the seas. Meanwhile he went himself to Exeter, where the pagans were, wintering, and having shut them up within the walls, laid siege to the town. He also gave orders to his sailors to prevent them from obtaining any supplies by sea; and his sailors were encountered by a fleet of a hundred and twenty ships full of armed soldiers, who were come to help their countrymen. As soon as the king's men knew that they were fitted with pagan soldiers, they leaped to their arms, and bravely attacked those barbaric tribes: but the pagans, who had now for almost a month been tossed and almost wrecked among the waves of the sea, fought vainly against them; their bands were discomfited in a moment, and all were sunk and drowned in the sea, at a place called Suanewic [Swanage]."The 'Anglo-Saxon Chronicle' makes it clear that the ships were sunk by a severe storm.Weakened by the loss of their fleet, the Danes were obliged to come to terms with Alfred, and "... in the month of August [877], that army went into Mercia, and gave part of that country to one Ceolwulf, a weak-minded man, and one of the king's ministers; the other part they divided among themselves."Roughly speaking, the Danes settled the eastern half of Mercia, leaving the west to the Anglo-Saxons.It appears, however, that not all of the Danes were happy to settle in Mercia, and, early in January 878, a surprise invasion of Wessex was launched. The 'Anglo-Saxon Chronicle': "... about mid-winter, after twelfth-night, the Danish army stole out to Chippenham, and rode over the land of the West-Saxons; where they settled, and drove many of the people over sea; and of the rest the greatest part they rode down, and subdued to their will - all but Alfred the king. He, with a little band, uneasily sought the woods and fastnesses of the moors."It seems likely that one Wulfhere (probably ealdorman of Wiltshire) was one of those who capitulated to the Danes. A later charter notes that he forfeited lands for treasonous conduct. As will be seen, the ealdormen of Devon and Somerset were among those who remained loyal to Alfred.At this point, in Asser's 'Life of King Alfred', appears a famous yarn, which it is assumed was incorporated by Archbishop Matthew Parker, for his edition, published in 1574: "Alfred, king of the West-Saxons, with a few of his nobles, and certain soldiers and vassals, used to lead an unquiet life among the woodlands of the country of Somerset, in great tribulation; for he had none of the necessaries of life, except what he could forage openly or stealthily, by frequent sallies, from the pagans, or even from the Christians who had submitted to the rule of the pagans, and as we read in the Life of St.Neot, at the house of one of his cowherds. But it happened on a certain day, that the countrywoman, wife of the cowherd, was preparing some loaves to bake, and the king, sitting at the hearth, made ready his bow and arrows and other warlike instruments. The unlucky woman espying the cakes burning at the fire, ran up to remove them, and rebuking the brave king, exclaimed:
"Ca'sn thee mind the ke-aks, man, an' doossen zee 'em burn?I'm boun thee's eat 'em vast enough, az zoon az 'tiz the turn."The translator, Dr. J.A. Giles (published 1847), makes the following note: "The original here is in Latin verse, and may therefore be rendered into English verse, but such as every housewife in Somersetshire would understand."The blundering woman little thought that it was king Alfred, who had fought so many battles against the pagans, and gained so many victories over them. But the Almighty not only granted to the same glorious king victories over his enemies, but also permitted him to be harassed by them, to be sunk down by adversities, and depressed by the low estate of his followers, to the end that he might learn that there is one Lord of all things, to whom every knee doth bow, and in whose hand are the hearts of kings; who puts down the mighty from their seat and exalteth the humble; who suffers his servants when they are elevated at the summit of prosperity to be touched by the rod of adversity, that in their humility they may not despair of God's mercy, and in their prosperity they may not boast of their honours, but may also know, to whom they owe all the things which they possess. We may believe that the calamity was brought upon the king aforesaid, because, in the beginning of his reign, when he was a youth, and influenced by youthful feelings, he would not listen to the petitions which his subjects made to him for help in their necessities, or for relief from those who oppressed them; but he repulsed them from him, and paid no heed to their requests. This particular gave much annoyance to the holy man St.Neot, who was his relation, and often foretold to him, in the spirit of prophecy, that he would suffer great adversity on this account; but Alfred neither attended to the reproof of the man of God, nor listened to his true prediction. Wherefore, seeing that a man's sins must be corrected either in this world or the next, the true and righteous Judge was willing that his sin should not go unpunished in this world, to the end that he might spare him in the world to come. From this cause, therefore, the aforesaid Alfred often fell into such great misery, that sometimes none of his subjects knew where he was or what had become of him.Asser takes up the story: "In the same year [878] the brother of Hingwar [Ivar 'the Boneless'] and Halfdene [Halfdan], with twenty-three ships ....
Æthelweard says that there were thirty ships..... after much slaughter of the Christians, came from the country of Demetia [south-west Wales], where he had wintered, and sailed to Devon, where, with twelve hundred others, he met with a miserable death, being slain while committing his misdeeds, by the king's servants, before the castle of Cynuit [Countisbury], into which many of the king's servants, with their followers, had fled for safety....Asser appears to have misread the number of dead. The 'Anglo-Saxon Chronicle' says that Ivar and Halfdan's brother "... was slain, and eight hundred men with him, and forty of his army." The "forty of his army" were presumably from his personal retinue..... The pagans, seeing that the castle was altogether unprepared and unfortified, except that it had walls in our own fashion, determined not to assault it, because it was impregnable and secure on all sides, except on the eastern, as we ourselves have seen, but they began to blockade it, thinking that those who were inside would soon surrender either from famine or want of water, for the castle had no spring near it....Æthelweard says that it was Odda, the "dux" (i.e. ealdorman) of Devon who was besieged in the castle..... But the result did not fall out as they expected; for the Christians, before they began to suffer from want, inspired by Heaven, judging it much better to gain victory or death, attacked the pagans suddenly in the morning, and from the first cut them down in great numbers, slaying also their king, so that few escaped to their ships; and there they gained a very large booty, and amongst other things the standard called Raven; for they say that the three sisters of Hingwar and Hubba [Ubbi], daughters of Lodobroch [Ragnar Lothbrok], wove that flag and got it ready in one day. They say, moreover, that in every battle, wherever that flag went before them, if they were to gain the victory a live crow would appear flying on the middle of the flag; but if they were doom to be defeated it would hang down motionless, and this was often proved to be so. The same year [878], after Easter, king Alfred, with a few followers, made for himself a stronghold in a place called Athelney, and from thence sallied with his vassals and the nobles of Somersetshire, to make frequent assaults upon the pagans....Æthelweard identifies Æthelnoth as "dux" of Somerset. Later, Alfred had a monastery built at Athelney. From Asser's description, it becomes apparent why Alfred chose the site as a base for his guerilla operations: "... Athelney, which is a place surrounded by impassable marshes and rivers, where no one can enter but by boats, or by a bridge laboriously constructed between two other heights; at the western end of which bridge was erected a strong tower, of beautiful work, by command of the aforesaid king; and in this monastery he collected monks of all kinds, from every quarter, and placed them therein.".... Also, in the seventh week after Easter, he rode to the stone of Egbert [Ecgberht], which is in the eastern part of the wood which is called Selwood, which means in Latin Silva Magna, the Great Wood, but in British Coit-mawr. Here he was met by all the neighbouring folk of Somersetshire, and Wiltshire, and Hampshire, who had not, for fear of the pagans, fled beyond the sea; and when they saw the king alive after such great tribulation, they received him, as he deserved, with joy and acclamations, and encamped there for one night. When the following day dawned, the king struck his camp, and went to Okely, where he encamped for one night. The next morning he removed to Edington, and there fought bravely and perseveringly against all the army of the pagans, whom, with the divine help, he defeated with great slaughter, and pursued them flying to their fortification. Immediately he slew all the men, and carried off all the booty that he could find without the fortress, which he immediately laid siege to with all his army; and when he had been there fourteen days, the pagans, driven by famine, cold, fear, and last of all by despair, asked for peace, on the condition that they should give the king as many hostages as he pleased, but should receive none of him in return, in which form they had never before made a treaty with any one. The king, hearing that, took pity upon them, and received such hostages as he chose; after which the pagans swore, moreover, that they would immediately leave the kingdom; and their king, Gothrun [Guthrum], promised to embrace Christianity, and receive baptism at king Alfred's hands. For after seven weeks Gothrun, king of the pagans, with thirty men chosen from the army, came to Alfred at a place called Aller, near Athelney, and there King Alfred, receiving him as his son by adoption, raised him up from the holy laver of baptism ..."The 'Anglo-Saxon Chronicle' says that it was actually after three weeks, and not seven, that Guthrum went to Aller. Perhaps Asser was recalling "the seventh week after Easter" that Alfred went to Ecgberht's Stone.Guthrum received the baptismal name of Æthelstan, and his "chrism-loosing" took place at Wedmore.A white fillet was anointed with consecrated oil (chrism). This was bound around the head at baptism, and ceremonially removed on the eighth day afterwards. According to Æthelweard, Æthelnoth, the ealdorman of Somerset "... purified the same king after his baptism, at a place called Wedmore ..."As the 'Chronicle' notes, Guthrum was "... twelve nights with the king, who honoured him and his attendants with many presents." Late in 878 "... went the army from Chippenham to Cirencester [in Mercia], and sat there a year." In late 879 they travelled "... from Cirencester into East-Anglia, where they settled, and divided the land." King Guthrum ruled East Anglia until his death, in 890.As Guthrum's army was leaving Wessex, in the autumn of 878, so another Viking army sailed up the Thames and overwintered at Fulham. In the autumn of 879 they sailed from Britain, and camped at Ghent. Their progress on the Continent was carefully monitored.Æthelweard: "After a year they attempted to proceed farther; but the armies of the Franks assaulted them so vigorously that they gained the victory, while the barbarians were put to flight. After the lapse of a year the above-mentioned army passed into the higher districts of the river Meuse, and established their camp at Ascloha."Asser: "In the same year [882] Alfred, king of the Anglo-Saxons, fought a battle by sea against the pagan fleet, of which he captured two ships, having slain all who were on board; and the two commanders of two other ships, with all their crews, distressed by the battle and the wounds which they had received, laid down their arms and submitted to the king."Æthelweard: "In the following year the above-named army set out for the districts above the Scheldt, at a place called Conde, and there fixed their winter quarters. After the expiration of a single year a violent slaughter committed by the aforesaid army broke out on the higher districts of the Somme, near the town of Amiens, and there they pitched their camp for the winter."Towards the end of 884, as Asser records "... the aforesaid army divided into two parts; one body of them went into East France ....
Æthelweard says they besieged Louvain..... and the other coming to Britain entered Kent, where they besieged a city called in Saxon Rochester, and situated on the eastern bank of the river Medway. Before the gate of the town the pagans suddenly erected a strong fortress, but yet they were unable to take the city, because the citizens defended themselves bravely, until king Alfred came up to help them with a large army. Then the pagans abandoned their fortress, and all their horses which they had brought with them out of France, and leaving behind them in the fortress the greater part of their prisoners, on the arrival of the king, fled immediately to their ships, and the Saxons immediately seized on the prisoners and horses left by the pagans; and so the pagans, compelled by stern necessity, returned the same summer [885] to France." According to Æthelweard, not all of these raiders left Britain. He says: "Some of them retreated beyond the sea. In the course of that year they renewed their treaty by giving hostages to the Angles, and twice in the year they divided the spoil obtained by fraud in the densely wooded district close to the southern borders of the river Thames. The filthy crew which then held within its power the East Angles furnished their supplies, and then they suddenly sought an outward course toward Bamfleet. There the united bands divided with ill-omened movements: some remained, and some departed beyond the sea." This passage is unique to Æthelweard, and it does explain Alfred's next move, as told by Asser: "... Alfred, king of the Anglo-Saxons, led his fleet, full of fighting men, out of Kent to the country of the East-Angles, for the sake of plunder; and, when they had arrived at the mouth of the river Stour, immediately thirteen ships of the pagans met them, prepared for battle; a fierce fight ensued, and all the pagans, after a brave resistance, were slain; all the ships, with all their money, were taken. After this, while the royal fleet were reposing, the pagans, who lived in the eastern part of England, assembled their ships, met the same royal fleet at sea in the mouth of the same river, and, after a naval battle, the pagans gained the victory... In the same year also [885] the army of pagans, which dwelt among the East Angles, disgracefully broke the peace which they had concluded with king Alfred." The following year (886), as reported by Asser "... Alfred, King of the Anglo-Saxons, after the burning of the cities and the slaying of the people, honourably rebuilt the city of London, and made it again habitable. He gave it into the custody of his son-in-law, Ethered [Æthelred], earl [ealdorman] of Mercia ..."Sir Frank Stenton ('Anglo-Saxon England') suggests that a Danish garrison may have occupied London since 872. Æthelred appears in 883 as ruler of the Anglo-Saxon portion (i.e. western half) of Mercia, but owing fealty to Alfred. At some stage before the end of the 880s, Æthelred married Alfred's eldest child, Æthelflæd.The 'Anglo-Saxon Chronicle' states: "King Alfred fortified the city of London; and the whole English nation turned to him, except that part of it which was held captive by the Danes."Asser notes that, previously, several Welsh rulers had also submitted to Alfred's overlordship. He writes: "Nor was it in vain that all these princes gained the friendship of the king. For those who desired to augment their worldly power, obtained power; those who desired money, gained money; and in like way, those who desired his friendship, or both money and friendship, succeeded in getting what they wanted. But all of them gained his love and guardianship and defence from every quarter, even as the king with his men could protect himself."It was probably at this time that Alfred concluded a famous treaty with Guthrum. Amongst other things, the treaty defines the border between their territories.Asser writes: "Now the king was pierced with many nails of tribulation, though placed in the royal seat; for from the twentieth year of his age to the present year, which is his fortieth [i.e. 888], he has been constantly afflicted with most severe attacks of an unknown complaint, so that he has not a moment's ease either from suffering the pain which it causes, or from the gloom which is thrown over him by the apprehension of its coming. Moreover, the constant invasions of foreign nations, by which he was continually harassed by land and sea, without any interval of quiet, were a just cause of disquiet. What shall I say of his repeated expeditions against the pagans, his wars, and incessant occupations of government? Of the daily embassies sent to him by foreign nations, from the Tyrrhenian sea to the farthest end of Ireland? For we have seen and read letters, accompanied with presents, which were sent to him by Abel the patriarch of Jerusalem. What shall I say of the cities and towns which he restored, and of others which he built, where none had been before? Of the royal halls and chambers, wonderfully erected by his command, with stone and wood? Of the royal vills constructed of stone, removed from their old site, and handsomely rebuilt by the king's command in more fitting places? Besides the disease above mentioned, he was disturbed by the quarrels of his friends, who would voluntarily endure little or no toil, though it was for the common necessity of the kingdom; but he alone, sustained by the divine aid, like a skilful pilot, strove to steer his ship, laden with much wealth, into the safe and much desired harbour of his country, though almost all his crew were tired, and suffered them not to faint or hesitate, though sailing amid the manifold waves and eddies of this present life."The year 892 saw the arrival in Britain of another Danish army: The Danish Invasion of 892.Although the main body of the invading army dispersed in the summer of 896, Wessex continued to be harassed by pirate raids from Northumbria and East Anglia. The 'Anglo-Saxon Chronicle' reports that, in order to counter the superior Viking warships, Alfred ordered the building of vessels "... which were full-nigh twice as long as the others. Some had sixty oars, some more; and they were both swifter and steadier, and also higher ....Michael Swanton, in his translation of the 'Chronicle' (first published 1996) prefers to interpret the Anglo-Saxon word 'hierran' as 'more responsive', rather than 'higher'..... than the others. They were not shaped either after the Frisian or the Danish model, but so as he himself thought that they might be most serviceable." The 'Chronicle' then tells how nine of Alfred's new ships were sent after six Danish ships which were raiding the south coast. Alfred's ships trapped the Danes in an estuary. Three of the Danish vessels were beached whilst their occupants were ashore. Alfred's ships engaged the other three, capturing two at the river-mouth, and killing the occupants, whilst "... the third veered off, but all the men were slain except five; and they too were severely wounded." The situation became somewhat farcical. The retreating tide had grounded all of Alfred's ships. Three of them were on the same side of the river as the beached Danes, whilst the rest were stranded on the other side. The Danes, from their remaining three ships, attacked Alfred's three isolated vessels. In the ensuing battle, the death toll from Alfred's force was sixty-two, whilst a hundred and twenty Danes were killed.Alfred had attracted people of many nationalities to his service. Asser writes: "Many Franks, Frisians, Gauls, pagans, Britons, Scots, and Armoricans, noble and ignoble, submitted voluntarily to his dominion; and all of them, according to their nation and deserving, were ruled, loved, honoured, and enriched with money and power." In the above engagement, Alfred's force consisted of both English and Frisian men.As the tide came in, the Danes managed to get their ships afloat first, and they rowed out to sea, however "... they were so crippled, that they could not row them beyond the coast of Sussex: there two of them the sea drove ashore; and the crew were led to Winchester to the king, who ordered them to be hanged. The men who escaped in the single ship came to East-Anglia, severely wounded." That summer (896) the Danes "... lost no less than twenty ships, and the men withal, on the southern coast."It wasn't only the navy which Alfred improved. He organised the manning of the militia (fyrd) on a rota basis. This meant that, whilst there were always troops ready to deal with emergency situations, there were also men free to tend the land. A scheme to provide a planned network of fortified settlements (The word 'borough' is derived from 'burh', meaning fortress) in Sussex, Surrey and Wessex (east of the Tamar) was probably conceived by Alfred (which does not mean that some isolated burhs were not in existence prior to his reign), though it was not completed before the reign of his son, Edward. (Details of this scheme are known from a document from Edward's reign known as the 'Burghal Hidage'). Alfred was not only concerned with military matters. He promoted literacy, religion and education. Although he may not have been directly responsible for initiating the project, compilation of what is now known as the 'Anglo-Saxon Chronicle' began during his reign. Despite being illiterate until he was at least twelve, he personally translated works of religious instruction, philosophy and history into Anglo-Saxon. Alfred also issued a code of laws based around, not only, those of his predecessor, Ine, but also those of Æthelberht of Kent and Offa of Mercia. (No copy of Offa's laws has survived). Alfred died on 26th October 899. The 'Anglo-Saxon Chronicle' says: "He was king over all the English nation, except that part that was under the power of the Danes."

http://www.stephen.j.murray.btinternet.co.uk/wessex.htm#alfred

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(Research):Alfred "the Great", King of Wessex (871-99), cr Kingston-upon-Thames, *Wantage, Dorset 849, +Winchester 26.10.899, bur Newminster Abbey but later transferred to Hyde Abbey, Winchester; m.Winchester 868/9 Ethelswitha (*ca 850/5, +as a nun at St.Mary’s Abbey, Winchester 5/8.12.905, bur there later at Winchester Cathedral), dau.of Ethelred Mucel, Ealdorman of the Gainas

Alfred came to the throne "after Easter" 871, following the death (from unknown causes) of his brother Æthelred, during a campaign against a Danish army which had invaded Wessex at the end of 870.Alfred's biographer, Asser, claims that "... Alfred, who had been up to that time only of secondary rank, whilst his brothers were alive, now, by God's permission, undertook the government of the whole kingdom, amid the acclamations of all the people; and if he had chosen, he might have done so before, whilst his brother above-named was still alive; for in wisdom and other qualities he surpassed all his brothers, and moreover, was warlike and victorious in all his wars."In the spring of 871, the original army had been reinforced by new arrivals from overseas. Asser writes that Alfred: "... when he had reigned one month, almost against his will, for he did not think he could alone sustain the multitude and ferocity of the pagans, though even during his brothers' lives, he had borne the woes of many - he fought a battle with a few men, and on very unequal terms, against all the army of the pagans, at a hill called Wilton, on the south bank of the river Wily, from which river the whole of that district is named, and after a long and fierce engagement, the pagans, seeing the danger they were in, and no longer able to bear the attack of their enemies, turned their backs and fled. But, oh, shame to say, they deceived their too audacious pursuers, and again rallying, gained the victory. Let no one be surprised that the Christians had but a small number of men, for the Saxons had been worn out by eight battles in one year, against the pagans, of whom they had slain one king, nine dukes, and innumerable troops of soldiers, besides endless skirmishes, both by night and by day, in which the oft-named Alfred, and all his chieftains, with their men, and several of his ministers, were engaged without rest or cessation against the pagans. How many thousand pagans fell in these numberless skirmishes God alone knows, over and above those who were slain in the eight battles above-mentioned....The 'Anglo-Saxon Chronicle' says: "This year were nine general battles fought with the army in the kingdom south of the Thames". Asser has omitted from his account a battle, recorded by the 'Chronicle', at an unidentified site called Meretun..... In the same year the Saxons made [i.e. bought] peace with the pagans, on condition that they should take their departure, and they did so." VIn 874, the Danes drove out Burgred, king of Mercia (he spent the rest of his life in Rome), and placed a 'puppet' king on the throne. In the autumn of that year, they divided their forces. Part, under the leadership of Halfdan, went to Northumbria and established the Kingdom of York. The remainder, under three kings - Guthrum, Oscytel and Anund - spent the following year in Cambridge.In the summer of 875, the 'Anglo-Saxon Chronicle' notes that "... King Alfred went out to sea with an armed fleet, and fought with seven ship-rovers, one of whom he took, and dispersed the others." Towards the end of that year, the Danish faction which had been based at Cambridge "... stole into Wareham [in Dorset], a fort of the West-Saxons." In 876 Alfred "made peace" with the Danes, but, presumably because of their reduced numbers, he was in a stronger negotiating position. Asser: "With this army Alfred made a solemn treaty, to the effect that they should depart out of the kingdom, and for this they made no hesitation to give as many hostages as he named; also they swore an oath over the Christian relics ....The 'Chronicle' says that they "... swore with oaths on the holy ring, which they would not before to any nation ..." The mid 13th century 'Eyrbyggja Saga': "... there stood a stall in the midst of the floor in the fashion of an altar, and thereon lay a ring without a join that weighed twenty ounces, and on that must men swear all oaths; and that ring must the chief have on his arm at all man-motes.".... which with king Alfred were next in veneration after the Deity himself, that they would depart speedily from the kingdom. But they again practised their usual treachery, and caring nothing for the hostages or their oaths, they broke the treaty, and sallying forth by night, slew all the horsemen that the king had round him, and turning off into Devon, to another place called in Saxon "Exauceaster" [Exeter], but in British "Cair-wise", which means in Latin, the city of the Ex, situated on the eastern bank of the river Wise, they directed their course suddenly towards the south sea, which divides Britain and Gaul, and there passed the winter [of 876/7]... The number of that disorderly crew increased every day, so that, if thirty thousand of them were slain in one battle, others took their places to double the number. Then King Alfred commanded boats and galleys, i.e. long ships, to be built throughout the Kingdom, in order to offer battle by sea to the enemy as they were coming. On board of these he placed seamen, and appointed them to watch the seas. Meanwhile he went himself to Exeter, where the pagans were, wintering, and having shut them up within the walls, laid siege to the town. He also gave orders to his sailors to prevent them from obtaining any supplies by sea; and his sailors were encountered by a fleet of a hundred and twenty ships full of armed soldiers, who were come to help their countrymen. As soon as the king's men knew that they were fitted with pagan soldiers, they leaped to their arms, and bravely attacked those barbaric tribes: but the pagans, who had now for almost a month been tossed and almost wrecked among the waves of the sea, fought vainly against them; their bands were discomfited in a moment, and all were sunk and drowned in the sea, at a place called Suanewic [Swanage]."The 'Anglo-Saxon Chronicle' makes it clear that the ships were sunk by a severe storm.Weakened by the loss of their fleet, the Danes were obliged to come to terms with Alfred, and "... in the month of August [877], that army went into Mercia, and gave part of that country to one Ceolwulf, a weak-minded man, and one of the king's ministers; the other part they divided among themselves."Roughly speaking, the Danes settled the eastern half of Mercia, leaving the west to the Anglo-Saxons.It appears, however, that not all of the Danes were happy to settle in Mercia, and, early in January 878, a surprise invasion of Wessex was launched. The 'Anglo-Saxon Chronicle': "... about mid-winter, after twelfth-night, the Danish army stole out to Chippenham, and rode over the land of the West-Saxons; where they settled, and drove many of the people over sea; and of the rest the greatest part they rode down, and subdued to their will - all but Alfred the king. He, with a little band, uneasily sought the woods and fastnesses of the moors."It seems likely that one Wulfhere (probably ealdorman of Wiltshire) was one of those who capitulated to the Danes. A later charter notes that he forfeited lands for treasonous conduct. As will be seen, the ealdormen of Devon and Somerset were among those who remained loyal to Alfred.At this point, in Asser's 'Life of King Alfred', appears a famous yarn, which it is assumed was incorporated by Archbishop Matthew Parker, for his edition, published in 1574: "Alfred, king of the West-Saxons, with a few of his nobles, and certain soldiers and vassals, used to lead an unquiet life among the woodlands of the country of Somerset, in great tribulation; for he had none of the necessaries of life, except what he could forage openly or stealthily, by frequent sallies, from the pagans, or even from the Christians who had submitted to the rule of the pagans, and as we read in the Life of St.Neot, at the house of one of his cowherds. But it happened on a certain day, that the countrywoman, wife of the cowherd, was preparing some loaves to bake, and the king, sitting at the hearth, made ready his bow and arrows and other warlike instruments. The unlucky woman espying the cakes burning at the fire, ran up to remove them, and rebuking the brave king, exclaimed:
"Ca'sn thee mind the ke-aks, man, an' doossen zee 'em burn?I'm boun thee's eat 'em vast enough, az zoon az 'tiz the turn."The translator, Dr. J.A. Giles (published 1847), makes the following note: "The original here is in Latin verse, and may therefore be rendered into English verse, but such as every housewife in Somersetshire would understand."The blundering woman little thought that it was king Alfred, who had fought so many battles against the pagans, and gained so many victories over them. But the Almighty not only granted to the same glorious king victories over his enemies, but also permitted him to be harassed by them, to be sunk down by adversities, and depressed by the low estate of his followers, to the end that he might learn that there is one Lord of all things, to whom every knee doth bow, and in whose hand are the hearts of kings; who puts down the mighty from their seat and exalteth the humble; who suffers his servants when they are elevated at the summit of prosperity to be touched by the rod of adversity, that in their humility they may not despair of God's mercy, and in their prosperity they may not boast of their honours, but may also know, to whom they owe all the things which they possess. We may believe that the calamity was brought upon the king aforesaid, because, in the beginning of his reign, when he was a youth, and influenced by youthful feelings, he would not listen to the petitions which his subjects made to him for help in their necessities, or for relief from those who oppressed them; but he repulsed them from him, and paid no heed to their requests. This particular gave much annoyance to the holy man St.Neot, who was his relation, and often foretold to him, in the spirit of prophecy, that he would suffer great adversity on this account; but Alfred neither attended to the reproof of the man of God, nor listened to his true prediction. Wherefore, seeing that a man's sins must be corrected either in this world or the next, the true and righteous Judge was willing that his sin should not go unpunished in this world, to the end that he might spare him in the world to come. From this cause, therefore, the aforesaid Alfred often fell into such great misery, that sometimes none of his subjects knew where he was or what had become of him.Asser takes up the story: "In the same year [878] the brother of Hingwar [Ivar 'the Boneless'] and Halfdene [Halfdan], with twenty-three ships ....
Æthelweard says that there were thirty ships..... after much slaughter of the Christians, came from the country of Demetia [south-west Wales], where he had wintered, and sailed to Devon, where, with twelve hundred others, he met with a miserable death, being slain while committing his misdeeds, by the king's servants, before the castle of Cynuit [Countisbury], into which many of the king's servants, with their followers, had fled for safety....Asser appears to have misread the number of dead. The 'Anglo-Saxon Chronicle' says that Ivar and Halfdan's brother "... was slain, and eight hundred men with him, and forty of his army." The "forty of his army" were presumably from his personal retinue..... The pagans, seeing that the castle was altogether unprepared and unfortified, except that it had walls in our own fashion, determined not to assault it, because it was impregnable and secure on all sides, except on the eastern, as we ourselves have seen, but they began to blockade it, thinking that those who were inside would soon surrender either from famine or want of water, for the castle had no spring near it....Æthelweard says that it was Odda, the "dux" (i.e. ealdorman) of Devon who was besieged in the castle..... But the result did not fall out as they expected; for the Christians, before they began to suffer from want, inspired by Heaven, judging it much better to gain victory or death, attacked the pagans suddenly in the morning, and from the first cut them down in great numbers, slaying also their king, so that few escaped to their ships; and there they gained a very large booty, and amongst other things the standard called Raven; for they say that the three sisters of Hingwar and Hubba [Ubbi], daughters of Lodobroch [Ragnar Lothbrok], wove that flag and got it ready in one day. They say, moreover, that in every battle, wherever that flag went before them, if they were to gain the victory a live crow would appear flying on the middle of the flag; but if they were doom to be defeated it would hang down motionless, and this was often proved to be so. The same year [878], after Easter, king Alfred, with a few followers, made for himself a stronghold in a place called Athelney, and from thence sallied with his vassals and the nobles of Somersetshire, to make frequent assaults upon the pagans....Æthelweard identifies Æthelnoth as "dux" of Somerset. Later, Alfred had a monastery built at Athelney. From Asser's description, it becomes apparent why Alfred chose the site as a base for his guerilla operations: "... Athelney, which is a place surrounded by impassable marshes and rivers, where no one can enter but by boats, or by a bridge laboriously constructed between two other heights; at the western end of which bridge was erected a strong tower, of beautiful work, by command of the aforesaid king; and in this monastery he collected monks of all kinds, from every quarter, and placed them therein.".... Also, in the seventh week after Easter, he rode to the stone of Egbert [Ecgberht], which is in the eastern part of the wood which is called Selwood, which means in Latin Silva Magna, the Great Wood, but in British Coit-mawr. Here he was met by all the neighbouring folk of Somersetshire, and Wiltshire, and Hampshire, who had not, for fear of the pagans, fled beyond the sea; and when they saw the king alive after such great tribulation, they received him, as he deserved, with joy and acclamations, and encamped there for one night. When the following day dawned, the king struck his camp, and went to Okely, where he encamped for one night. The next morning he removed to Edington, and there fought bravely and perseveringly against all the army of the pagans, whom, with the divine help, he defeated with great slaughter, and pursued them flying to their fortification. Immediately he slew all the men, and carried off all the booty that he could find without the fortress, which he immediately laid siege to with all his army; and when he had been there fourteen days, the pagans, driven by famine, cold, fear, and last of all by despair, asked for peace, on the condition that they should give the king as many hostages as he pleased, but should receive none of him in return, in which form they had never before made a treaty with any one. The king, hearing that, took pity upon them, and received such hostages as he chose; after which the pagans swore, moreover, that they would immediately leave the kingdom; and their king, Gothrun [Guthrum], promised to embrace Christianity, and receive baptism at king Alfred's hands. For after seven weeks Gothrun, king of the pagans, with thirty men chosen from the army, came to Alfred at a place called Aller, near Athelney, and there King Alfred, receiving him as his son by adoption, raised him up from the holy laver of baptism ..."The 'Anglo-Saxon Chronicle' says that it was actually after three weeks, and not seven, that Guthrum went to Aller. Perhaps Asser was recalling "the seventh week after Easter" that Alfred went to Ecgberht's Stone.Guthrum received the baptismal name of Æthelstan, and his "chrism-loosing" took place at Wedmore.A white fillet was anointed with consecrated oil (chrism). This was bound around the head at baptism, and ceremonially removed on the eighth day afterwards. According to Æthelweard, Æthelnoth, the ealdorman of Somerset "... purified the same king after his baptism, at a place called Wedmore ..."As the 'Chronicle' notes, Guthrum was "... twelve nights with the king, who honoured him and his attendants with many presents." Late in 878 "... went the army from Chippenham to Cirencester [in Mercia], and sat there a year." In late 879 they travelled "... from Cirencester into East-Anglia, where they settled, and divided the land." King Guthrum ruled East Anglia until his death, in 890.As Guthrum's army was leaving Wessex, in the autumn of 878, so another Viking army sailed up the Thames and overwintered at Fulham. In the autumn of 879 they sailed from Britain, and camped at Ghent. Their progress on the Continent was carefully monitored.Æthelweard: "After a year they attempted to proceed farther; but the armies of the Franks assaulted them so vigorously that they gained the victory, while the barbarians were put to flight. After the lapse of a year the above-mentioned army passed into the higher districts of the river Meuse, and established their camp at Ascloha."Asser: "In the same year [882] Alfred, king of the Anglo-Saxons, fought a battle by sea against the pagan fleet, of which he captured two ships, having slain all who were on board; and the two commanders of two other ships, with all their crews, distressed by the battle and the wounds which they had received, laid down their arms and submitted to the king."Æthelweard: "In the following year the above-named army set out for the districts above the Scheldt, at a place called Conde, and there fixed their winter quarters. After the expiration of a single year a violent slaughter committed by the aforesaid army broke out on the higher districts of the Somme, near the town of Amiens, and there they pitched their camp for the winter."Towards the end of 884, as Asser records "... the aforesaid army divided into two parts; one body of them went into East France ....
Æthelweard says they besieged Louvain..... and the other coming to Britain entered Kent, where they besieged a city called in Saxon Rochester, and situated on the eastern bank of the river Medway. Before the gate of the town the pagans suddenly erected a strong fortress, but yet they were unable to take the city, because the citizens defended themselves bravely, until king Alfred came up to help them with a large army. Then the pagans abandoned their fortress, and all their horses which they had brought with them out of France, and leaving behind them in the fortress the greater part of their prisoners, on the arrival of the king, fled immediately to their ships, and the Saxons immediately seized on the prisoners and horses left by the pagans; and so the pagans, compelled by stern necessity, returned the same summer [885] to France." According to Æthelweard, not all of these raiders left Britain. He says: "Some of them retreated beyond the sea. In the course of that year they renewed their treaty by giving hostages to the Angles, and twice in the year they divided the spoil obtained by fraud in the densely wooded district close to the southern borders of the river Thames. The filthy crew which then held within its power the East Angles furnished their supplies, and then they suddenly sought an outward course toward Bamfleet. There the united bands divided with ill-omened movements: some remained, and some departed beyond the sea." This passage is unique to Æthelweard, and it does explain Alfred's next move, as told by Asser: "... Alfred, king of the Anglo-Saxons, led his fleet, full of fighting men, out of Kent to the country of the East-Angles, for the sake of plunder; and, when they had arrived at the mouth of the river Stour, immediately thirteen ships of the pagans met them, prepared for battle; a fierce fight ensued, and all the pagans, after a brave resistance, were slain; all the ships, with all their money, were taken. After this, while the royal fleet were reposing, the pagans, who lived in the eastern part of England, assembled their ships, met the same royal fleet at sea in the mouth of the same river, and, after a naval battle, the pagans gained the victory... In the same year also [885] the army of pagans, which dwelt among the East Angles, disgracefully broke the peace which they had concluded with king Alfred." The following year (886), as reported by Asser "... Alfred, King of the Anglo-Saxons, after the burning of the cities and the slaying of the people, honourably rebuilt the city of London, and made it again habitable. He gave it into the custody of his son-in-law, Ethered [Æthelred], earl [ealdorman] of Mercia ..."Sir Frank Stenton ('Anglo-Saxon England') suggests that a Danish garrison may have occupied London since 872. Æthelred appears in 883 as ruler of the Anglo-Saxon portion (i.e. western half) of Mercia, but owing fealty to Alfred. At some stage before the end of the 880s, Æthelred married Alfred's eldest child, Æthelflæd.The 'Anglo-Saxon Chronicle' states: "King Alfred fortified the city of London; and the whole English nation turned to him, except that part of it which was held captive by the Danes."Asser notes that, previously, several Welsh rulers had also submitted to Alfred's overlordship. He writes: "Nor was it in vain that all these princes gained the friendship of the king. For those who desired to augment their worldly power, obtained power; those who desired money, gained money; and in like way, those who desired his friendship, or both money and friendship, succeeded in getting what they wanted. But all of them gained his love and guardianship and defence from every quarter, even as the king with his men could protect himself."It was probably at this time that Alfred concluded a famous treaty with Guthrum. Amongst other things, the treaty defines the border between their territories.Asser writes: "Now the king was pierced with many nails of tribulation, though placed in the royal seat; for from the twentieth year of his age to the present year, which is his fortieth [i.e. 888], he has been constantly afflicted with most severe attacks of an unknown complaint, so that he has not a moment's ease either from suffering the pain which it causes, or from the gloom which is thrown over him by the apprehension of its coming. Moreover, the constant invasions of foreign nations, by which he was continually harassed by land and sea, without any interval of quiet, were a just cause of disquiet. What shall I say of his repeated expeditions against the pagans, his wars, and incessant occupations of government? Of the daily embassies sent to him by foreign nations, from the Tyrrhenian sea to the farthest end of Ireland? For we have seen and read letters, accompanied with presents, which were sent to him by Abel the patriarch of Jerusalem. What shall I say of the cities and towns which he restored, and of others which he built, where none had been before? Of the royal halls and chambers, wonderfully erected by his command, with stone and wood? Of the royal vills constructed of stone, removed from their old site, and handsomely rebuilt by the king's command in more fitting places? Besides the disease above mentioned, he was disturbed by the quarrels of his friends, who would voluntarily endure little or no toil, though it was for the common necessity of the kingdom; but he alone, sustained by the divine aid, like a skilful pilot, strove to steer his ship, laden with much wealth, into the safe and much desired harbour of his country, though almost all his crew were tired, and suffered them not to faint or hesitate, though sailing amid the manifold waves and eddies of this present life."The year 892 saw the arrival in Britain of another Danish army: The Danish Invasion of 892.Although the main body of the invading army dispersed in the summer of 896, Wessex continued to be harassed by pirate raids from Northumbria and East Anglia. The 'Anglo-Saxon Chronicle' reports that, in order to counter the superior Viking warships, Alfred ordered the building of vessels "... which were full-nigh twice as long as the others. Some had sixty oars, some more; and they were both swifter and steadier, and also higher ....Michael Swanton, in his translation of the 'Chronicle' (first published 1996) prefers to interpret the Anglo-Saxon word 'hierran' as 'more responsive', rather than 'higher'..... than the others. They were not shaped either after the Frisian or the Danish model, but so as he himself thought that they might be most serviceable." The 'Chronicle' then tells how nine of Alfred's new ships were sent after six Danish ships which were raiding the south coast. Alfred's ships trapped the Danes in an estuary. Three of the Danish vessels were beached whilst their occupants were ashore. Alfred's ships engaged the other three, capturing two at the river-mouth, and killing the occupants, whilst "... the third veered off, but all the men were slain except five; and they too were severely wounded." The situation became somewhat farcical. The retreating tide had grounded all of Alfred's ships. Three of them were on the same side of the river as the beached Danes, whilst the rest were stranded on the other side. The Danes, from their remaining three ships, attacked Alfred's three isolated vessels. In the ensuing battle, the death toll from Alfred's force was sixty-two, whilst a hundred and twenty Danes were killed.Alfred had attracted people of many nationalities to his service. Asser writes: "Many Franks, Frisians, Gauls, pagans, Britons, Scots, and Armoricans, noble and ignoble, submitted voluntarily to his dominion; and all of them, according to their nation and deserving, were ruled, loved, honoured, and enriched with money and power." In the above engagement, Alfred's force consisted of both English and Frisian men.As the tide came in, the Danes managed to get their ships afloat first, and they rowed out to sea, however "... they were so crippled, that they could not row them beyond the coast of Sussex: there two of them the sea drove ashore; and the crew were led to Winchester to the king, who ordered them to be hanged. The men who escaped in the single ship came to East-Anglia, severely wounded." That summer (896) the Danes "... lost no less than twenty ships, and the men withal, on the southern coast."It wasn't only the navy which Alfred improved. He organised the manning of the militia (fyrd) on a rota basis. This meant that, whilst there were always troops ready to deal with emergency situations, there were also men free to tend the land. A scheme to provide a planned network of fortified settlements (The word 'borough' is derived from 'burh', meaning fortress) in Sussex, Surrey and Wessex (east of the Tamar) was probably conceived by Alfred (which does not mean that some isolated burhs were not in existence prior to his reign), though it was not completed before the reign of his son, Edward. (Details of this scheme are known from a document from Edward's reign known as the 'Burghal Hidage'). Alfred was not only concerned with military matters. He promoted literacy, religion and education. Although he may not have been directly responsible for initiating the project, compilation of what is now known as the 'Anglo-Saxon Chronicle' began during his reign. Despite being illiterate until he was at least twelve, he personally translated works of religious instruction, philosophy and history into Anglo-Saxon. Alfred also issued a code of laws based around, not only, those of his predecessor, Ine, but also those of Æthelberht of Kent and Offa of Mercia. (No copy of Offa's laws has survived). Alfred died on 26th October 899. The 'Anglo-Saxon Chronicle' says: "He was king over all the English nation, except that part that was under the power of the Danes."

http://www.stephen.j.murray.btinternet.co.uk/wessex.htm#alfred

I do not have verification on all information that you have downloaded. Please feel free to contact me @ (XXXXX@XXXX.XXX) for errors/corrections/ or any additional information, especially if you are willing to share information

(Research):Alfred "the Great", King of Wessex (871-99), cr Kingston-upon-Thames, *Wantage, Dorset 849, +Winchester 26.10.899, bur Newminster Abbey but later transferred to Hyde Abbey, Winchester; m.Winchester 868/9 Ethelswitha (*ca 850/5, +as a nun at St.Mary’s Abbey, Winchester 5/8.12.905, bur there later at Winchester Cathedral), dau.of Ethelred Mucel, Ealdorman of the Gainas

Facts about this person:
Alt. Born849

http://www.peterwestern.f9.co.uk/maximilia/pafg72.htm#865
Alfred the GREAT King of England [Parents] [scrapbook] was born 850 in Wantage Berks. He died 26 Oct 899 and was buried in Winchester Old Minster Hampshire. Alfred married Ealhswith of the GAINI on 867. Alfred was baptized in Reigned Apr 871 to 26 Oct 899.
Scrapbook at http://www.peterwestern.f9.co.uk/maximilia/images/sb361.htm
1 NAME Aelfred //
ALFRED THE GREAT (849-899) was king of the West Saxons in southwestern England. He saved his kingdom, Wessex, from the Danish Vikings and laid the basis for the unification of England under the West Saxon monarchy. He also led a revival of learning and literature. He was such an outstanding leader in war and peace that he is the only English king known as "the Great."
Alfred was born in Wantage, now in Oxfordshire, England. He was the youngest son of King Ethelwulf of Wessex. According to the Welsh writer Asser, who wrote a biography of Alfred shortly after his death, Alfred was always eager to learn. Asser says that Alfred's mother offered a book of Anglo-Saxon poems as a prize to the first of her sons who could read it. Alfred won. As a boy, Alfred twice went to Rome, where the pope acknowledged the status of the royal house of Wessex. The journeys also showed Alfred the contrast between England and the more advanced parts of Europe.
Alfred became king in 871 at the death of his brother Ethelred. The West Saxons had been at war with the Danes for many years. After several losing battles, Alfred made peace with the invaders. But the Danes renewed their attacks and defeated Alfred at the Battle of Chippenham in 877. Alfred then defeated the Danes at the Battle of Edington in 878. The Danish leader, Guthrum, agreed to be baptized a Christian. He also agreed to stay north and east of the River Thames, in an area called the Danelaw. However, the Danes broke the peace, and Alfred renewed the war. He won London in 886. All the English people not subject to the Danes recognized Alfred as their ruler and paid him homage. The old, independent Anglo-Saxon kingdoms began to merge under the rule of Wessex.
Alfred built forts and boroughs (fortified towns) at strategic points. He stationed his fleet along the coast as protection against further invasions. He also issued a code of laws to restore peaceful government.
Before Alfred, education had declined in England because the Danes had looted monasteries and churches, the centers of learning. Alfred revived learning by bringing teachers and writers from Wales and continental Europe. He encouraged the translation of famous Christian books from Latin into Old English. Under his influence, the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle began to be compiled. It is now the main source for Anglo-Saxon history up to 1154.
Most famous of all the West Saxon Kings, Alfred saved England from its Danish invaders, laid a basis for national unity, and promoted learning. Architect of his brother Ethelred's victory at Ashdown (8 Jan 871), Berks. Alfred was almost overwhelmed by a Jan 878 Danish winter onslaught on Wessex; he retreated into the Somerset Athelney marshes, gathered an army, and crushed the Danes at the Battle of Ethandune (near Edington, Wilts. May 878). Later, he captured London (886) and repulsed a great Danish seaborne invasion (892-6).
Alfred built power by raising 30 forts (burghs), probably including Oxford and Hastings, reorganising the fyred (army), and founding the first long-term English navy. All outside Danish-ruled England recognised Alfred as king.
Alfred was a wise and just ruler. He introduced a major new law code and split parts of Mercia into shires. Boyhood visits to Rome (853 and 855) had helped him become a devout Christian and scholar. He invited foreign scholars to visit his court, translating five major books from Latin, and encouraging the reading and writing of English.
? ? 878 = King Alfred of Wessex burns the cakes
Asser (Chaplain to Alfred) tracedAlfred's pedigree back from Cerdic to Wodin and the old Germanic gods.

[alfred_descendants10gen_fromrootsweb_bartont.FTW]

"Alike for what he did and what he was, there is none to equal Alfred in the whole line of English sovereigns; and no monarch in history as well deserved the title of 'The Great.' "
(From article on Alfred by Rev. Charles Plummer, Encyclopeadia Britiannica.
"Alfred was one of the greatest men in history. He was crowned king at Winchester, 871; founded the British Navy, organized the militia, compiled a code of laws, buildt schools and monasteries, and invited scholars to live at his court. He was a good scholar and translated many books. (ASC 853, 871, 891, 894, 897901; DNB, I 152-162; Asser; Life of Alfred)." (Weis, 5th. ed.).[alfred_ancestors10generations_fromrootsweb_bartont.FTW]

[anc of thomas tracy from ancestry.FTW]

Alfred was the 6th King of England.
*Reference: "The Tracy Family" compiled by Scott Lee Boyd, Santa
Barbara, CA, April, 1933.
From Brian Tompsett's Royal Genealogy:

Reigned 871-899. He prevented the Danish conquest of England, defeating them at Edington (878) after a campaign of guerrila warfare. After his victory he allowed the Danes to keep their conquests in Mercia and East Anglia provided that Guthrum, their King, was converted to Christianity. Alfred built a navy of warships to defend the south coast against further Danish invasions (885-886; 892-896) and protected Wesses with a chain of fortifications. He took London (886), thus gaining control of all England except the Danish areas.[Eldad_Grannis.FTW]

[SPARKMAN DATABASE.FTW]

The course of English history would have been very different had it notbeen for Alfred The Gr eat. He won renown both as a statesman and as awarrior and is justly called "the Great". Th e England of Alfred's timewas a country of four small Saxon kingdoms. The strongest of whic h wasWessex, in the south. Born about 849, Alfred was the youngest son ofAethlwulf, King o f Wessex. Each of Alfred's three older brothers, inturn, ruled the kingdom. Alfred was by t emperment a scholar, and hishealth was never robust. Regardless, in his early youth he fough t withhis brother Ethelred against Danish invaders. Alfred was justtwenty-three years of ag e when Ethelred died, but he had already won theconfidence of the army and was at one proclai med king in 871. by thistime the Danes, or Vikings, had penetrated all parts of the Island . Threeof the Saxon kingdoms Northumbria, Mercia, and East anglia had one afteranother falle n to the Danish invaders.
Under the leadership of Alfred, the Saxons onceagain found courage . The worst crisis came in the winter of 877, whenthe Danish King, Guthrum, invaded Wessex w ith his army. in 878 Alfredwas defeated at Chippenham, where he was celebrating Christmas, a nd wasforced to go into hiding. A few months later he forced Guthrum tosurrender at Chippen ham. the Danes agreed to make the River thames andthe old roman road known as Watling Stree t the boundary between Alfred'skingdom and the Danish lands to the north. The treaty, howeve r, did notassure that peace would be permanent. The Danes assaulted London and thecoastal to wns repeatedly. In about 896 they finally admitted defeat andceased their struggle for a foo thold in southern England. Alfred wasmuch more than the defender of his country. He too k a keen interest inlaw and order and was concerned with the improvement of the culturalstand ards of his people. He encouraged industries of all kinds andrebuilt London, which had bee n partly destroyed by the Danes. Hecollected and revised the old laws of the kingdom, invite d learned menfrom other countries to instruct the people because even the clergy ofWessex n o longer knew Latin, the International language of the church.Alfred established a school sim ilar to the Palace School of Charlemagne.Two of the most notable of the teachers were the Wel sh Monk Asser[flourished 885-909] and the Irish born philosopher and theologian JohnScotus Er igena.
The books most necessary for all to know, weretranslated from Lati n into English so that the people might read them.Alfred himself took part in preparing the t ranslations. The Anglo SaxonChronicle was most probably under his direction.
At about the age of fifty-one, Alfred died[899]. He was in no sens e a true king of England, for he ruled less thanhalf of the island. After his death, however , his capable son, Edwardthe Elder, and his grandsons extended their rule over all of England . [1][2]
================================================================
[1] Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia, copyright, 1993, 1994 Compton'sNewMedia, Inc.
[2] 1993 Funk & Wagnall, "Alfred" Encarta

[anc of thomas tracy from ancestry.FTW]

Alfred was the 6th King of England.
*Reference: "The Tracy Family" compiled by Scott Lee Boyd, Santa
Barbara, CA, April, 1933.
From Brian Tompsett's Royal Genealogy:

Reigned 871-899. He prevented the Danish conquest of England, defeating them at Edington (878) after a campaign of guerrila warfare. After his victory he allowed the Danes to keep their conquests in Mercia and East Anglia provided that Guthrum, their King, was converted to Christianity. Alfred built a navy of warships to defend the south coast against further Danish invasions (885-886; 892-896) and protected Wesses with a chain of fortifications. He took London (886), thus gaining control of all England except the Danish areas.[Eldad_Grannis.FTW]

[SPARKMAN DATABASE.FTW]

The course of English history would have been very different had it notbeen for Alfred The Gr eat. He won renown both as a statesman and as awarrior and is justly called "the Great". Th e England of Alfred's timewas a country of four small Saxon kingdoms. The strongest of whic h wasWessex, in the south. Born about 849, Alfred was the youngest son ofAethlwulf, King o f Wessex. Each of Alfred's three older brothers, inturn, ruled the kingdom. Alfred was by t emperment a scholar, and hishealth was never robust. Regardless, in his early youth he fough t withhis brother Ethelred against Danish invaders. Alfred was justtwenty-three years of ag e when Ethelred died, but he had already won theconfidence of the army and was at one proclai med king in 871. by thistime the Danes, or Vikings, had penetrated all parts of the Island . Threeof the Saxon kingdoms Northumbria, Mercia, and East anglia had one afteranother falle n to the Danish invaders.
Under the leadership of Alfred, the Saxons onceagain found courage . The worst crisis came in the winter of 877, whenthe Danish King, Guthrum, invaded Wessex w ith his army. in 878 Alfredwas defeated at Chippenham, where he was celebrating Christmas, a nd wasforced to go into hiding. A few months later he forced Guthrum tosurrender at Chippen ham. the Danes agreed to make the River thames andthe old roman road known as Watling Stree t the boundary between Alfred'skingdom and the Danish lands to the north. The treaty, howeve r, did notassure that peace would be permanent. The Danes assaulted London and thecoastal to wns repeatedly. In about 896 they finally admitted defeat andceased their struggle for a foo thold in southern England. Alfred wasmuch more than the defender of his country. He too k a keen interest inlaw and order and was concerned with the improvement of the culturalstand ards of his people. He encouraged industries of all kinds andrebuilt London, which had bee n partly destroyed by the Danes. Hecollected and revised the old laws of the kingdom, invite d learned menfrom other countries to instruct the people because even the clergy ofWessex n o longer knew Latin, the International language of the church.Alfred established a school sim ilar to the Palace School of Charlemagne.Two of the most notable of the teachers were the Wel sh Monk Asser[flourished 885-909] and the Irish born philosopher and theologian JohnScotus Er igena.
The books most necessary for all to know, weretranslated from Lati n into English so that the people might read them.Alfred himself took part in preparing the t ranslations. The Anglo SaxonChronicle was most probably under his direction.
At about the age of fifty-one, Alfred died[899]. He was in no sens e a true king of England, for he ruled less thanhalf of the island. After his death, however , his capable son, Edwardthe Elder, and his grandsons extended their rule over all of England . [1][2]
================================================================
[1] Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia, copyright, 1993, 1994 Compton'sNewMedia, Inc.
[2] 1993 Funk & Wagnall, "Alfred" Encarta

Alfred, called The Great (849-99), king of the West Saxons (871-99), and one of the outstanding figures of English history. Born in Wantage in southern England, Alfred was the youngest of five sons of King Ethelwulf. On the death of his brother Ethelred Alfred became king, coming to the throne during a Danish invasion. Although he succeeded in making peace with the Danes, they resumed their marauding expeditions five years later, and by early 878 they were successful almost everywhere. About Easter of 878, however, Alfred established himself at Athelney and began assembling an army. In the middle of that year he defeated the Danes and captured their stronghold, probably at present-day Edington. During the following 14 years Alfred was able to devote himself to the internal affairs of his kingdom. By 886 he had captured the city of London, and soon afterward he was recognized as the king of all England.
In 893 the Danes invaded England again, and the following four years were marked by warfare; eventually, the Danes were forced to withdraw from Alfred's domain. The only ruler to resist Danish invasions successfully, Alfred made his kingdom the rallying point for all Saxons, thus laying the foundation for the unification of England.
Alfred was a patron of learning and did much for the education of his people. He began a court school and invited British and foreign scholars, notably the Welsh monk Asser and the Irish-born philosopher and theologian John Scotus Erigena, to come there. Alfred translated such works as The Consolation of Philosophy by the Roman statesman and philosopher Boethius, The History of the World by the Spanish priest Paulus Orosius, and Pastoral Care by Pope Gregory I. Alfred's laws, the first promulgated in more than a century, were the first that made no distinction between the English and the Welsh peoples.

"Alfred," Microsoft Encarta 96 Encyclopedia. 1993-1995 Microsoft Corporation. Funk & Wagnalls Corporation.

[3062] King of Wessex (871-899), sometimes called Alfred the Great. He shared his father's piety. When his brother AEthelred took the Wessex throne (865), Alfred aided him in battles against the Danes, who threatened to overrun England. Unable to establish a clear victry, Alfred rid Wessex of the Danes by paying the Danegeld when he became king in 871. In 878, however, the Danes returned, and Alfred's flight to Somerset at that time is the basis for the legend about the king and a peasant woman's burned cakes. In May 878, Alfred triumphed over the Danes at Edington. This victory produced relative security, and Alfred began to institute reforms, including a code of laws combining Christian doctrine with a strong, centralized monarchy. His greatest achievements were the creation of a navy, the revival of learning among clergy, the education of youths and nobles at court, the establishment of Old English literary prose, his own English translation of Latin works and his influence on the extant form of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. - Encyclopedia, p.20

As far as is known, King Alfred was the first English ruler to plan an ordered scheme of national defence, and after forty years' experience of Danish ravages there were many of his subjects who refused to work under him for a common end - p. 243, Anglo-Saxon England, Sir Frank Stenton

Defeated Danes, fortified London - RULERS.ENG (Compuserve)

also AElfred

[3063] [S15] WSHNGT.ASC

PAGE: # 69801158 = 14703814 = 3678738

[3046] [S3] "Domesday, A Search ..."

PAGE: p. 30

[3047] [S4] "Anglo-Saxon England"

PAGE: p. 245

[3048] [S5] COMYN4.TAF

PAGE: p. 4

[3049] [S13] "Britain's Royal Families: the Complete Genealogy"

PAGE: p 9

NOTE:
[3050] b at Wantage, Dorset

[3051] [S4] "Anglo-Saxon England"

PAGE: p. 269

[3052] [S6] COMYNR.TAF

PAGE: p. 2

NOTE:
[3053] says ABT 900

[3054] [S7] RULERS.ENG (Compuserve)

[3055] [S8] "Ancestral Roots of Sixty Colonists ..."

NOTE:
[3056] 28 Oct 901

[3057] [S9] EDWARD3.DOC

NOTE:
[3058] 901

[3059] [S10] CULVER31.TXT

NOTE:
[3060] 901

[3061] [S11] ROYALS.GED

Kinship II - A collection of family, friends and U.S. Presidents
URL: http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=:2902060&id=I575148750
ID: I575148750
Name: Alfred "The Great" King Of ENGLAND
Given Name: Alfred "The Great" King Of
Surname: ENGLAND
Sex: M
Birth: Abt 0848 in Of, Wantage, Berkshire, England
Death: 26 Oct 0901 in , Winchester, Hampshire, England
Change Date: 23 Mar 2003 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Note: Ancestral File Number: GS4H-XF

Father: Ethelwulf King Of WESSEX b: Abt 0806 in Of, , Wessex, England
Mother: Osburh Queen Of WESSEX b: Abt 0810 in Of, , Wessex, England

Marriage 1 Ealhswith Queen Of ENGLAND b: Abt 0852 in , Mercia, , England
Married: 0868
Note: _UID0DC04D44908C6647BC0BF4CA1BB3B6F222B3
Children
Ethelwerd Prince Of ENGLAND b: Abt 0879 in Of, , Wessex, England
Ethelfleda Princess Of ENGLAND b: Abt 0869 in , , Wessex, England
Edmund Prince Of ENGLAND b: Abt 0873 in , , Wessex, England
Ethelgiva Princess Of ENGLAND b: Abt 0875 in , , Wessex, England
Edward I "The Elder" King Of ENGLAND b: Abt 0871 in , , Wessex, England
Elfridam Princess Of ENGLAND b: Abt 0877 in Of, , Wessex, England

Sources:
Author: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Title: Ancestral File (R)
Publication: Copyright (c) 1987, June 1998, data as of 5 January 1998
Repository:

==============================================

HUMAN FAMILY PROJECT
Events
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Notes

Acceded to the throne in 871 at death of his last surviving brother during one of their battles with the invading Danes. He is the only English king (Canute was Danish) to have been designated "the Great" He is known by some as King of England, but is more properly designated as King of Wessex.[Geoffrey De Normandie, Gedcom BSJTK Smith Family Tree.ged]

Sources: RC 141, 233, 235, 238; Coe; A. Roots 1-15, 44; Warrior Kings; AF;
Pfafman; Kra entzler 1470; The Earliest English Kings by D.P. Kirby; Young;
Hilliam.
King of England, 871-899; and Wessex. Had his royal seat at Chippingham.
K: Alfred the Great, King of Wessex and Kent.
Young: Alfred, died 899, King of Wessex, p rotector of the English Danelaw,
overlord of the Welsh princes.
Roots: Alfred the Great, King of England, King of England 871-899, born
Wantage, Berkshire, 849; died 26 Oct. 899; married 868, Ealhswith (Alswitha),
died about 905. Alf red was one of the greatest men in history. He was crowned
king at Winchester, 871; founded the British Navy, organized the militia,
compiled a code of laws , built schools and monasteries, and invited scholars
to live at his court. He was a good scholar and translated many books.
Hilliam: Alfred the Great, King of Wessex. Reigned 871-899. See page 815.
All descendants of Roots lines 162 to 169 belong to the posterity of King
Alfred the Great.

Note: Alfred ruled 871-899. Alfred was born in 849, and became King of Wessexat the age of 22. He was married to Ealswyth and had five children:Aetheflaed, Eadward, Aethelgeofu, Aelfthryth, Aethelweard.

DeadGIVN Alfred "The Great" King of
SURN England
AFN GS4H-XF
_PRIMARY Y
EVEN Bretwalda
TYPE Elected
DATE 871
PLAC England
EVEN England
TYPE Ruled
DATE 23 Apr 871 and 899
PLAC Kingston-upon Thames,Surrey
EVEN at Winchester
TYPE Coronation
DATE 871
EVEN Danes
TYPE Battle of
DATE BET 871 AND 897
PLAC England
EVEN Compiled English Law
TYPE Achievements
EVEN Defeated the Danish conquest
TYPE Achievements
DATE 878
PLAC Edington,England
EVEN Built Navy warships to protect southern coast
TYPE Achievements
DATE 885
EVEN Built Fortifications to protect Wessex
TYPE Achievements
DATE BET 892 AND 896
EVEN London
TYPE Captured
DATE 886
PLAC London,England
DATE 10 SEP 2000
TIME 07:02:57

EVEN
TYPE Acceded
DATE 23 APR 871
PLAC Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey, EnglandKing of Wessex 871-899.
Reigned 871-899. He prevented the Danish conquest of England, defeating them at Edington(878) after a campaign of guerrila warfare. After his victory he allowed the Danes to keep their conquests in
Mercia nd East Anglia provided that Guthrum, their King, was converted to Christianity. Alfred built a navy of Warships to defend the south coast against further Danish invasions (885-86;892-96) and
protected Wessex with a chain of fortifications. He took London (886), this gaining control of all England except the Danish areas.

See Historical Document.

See Historical Document.

See Historical Document.

See Historical Document.

TITL World Family Tree Vol. 4, Ed. 1
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TITL World Family Tree Vol. 4, Ed. 1
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TEXT Date of Import: Oct 20, 1999Alfred the Great is probably the most famous of all of the Anglo-Saxon kings. Much of his fame is based on legend, not historic fact. However, based solely on the
facts known to us today, he still ranks as one of the most important early kings of the British Isle. He is the only English King to be known as 'The Great'.
The Vikings, or Danes, had invaded England in 793. They controlled East Anglia, Northumbria and Mercia and they were moving to take control of Wessex. Alfred defeated the invading Danes at the battle
of Edlington in 878; however, allowed the Danes to keep the territories they had previously won in Mercia and East Anglia provided that Guthrum, King of Denmark, converted to Christianity (Treaty of
Wedmore). The dividing line between English and Danish territory was roughly a line running northwest
from London to Chester; Alfred ruled south of this line and was recognized as overlord of the area to the north that became known as the Danelaw.
King Alfred built a Navy to defend the coasts against further Danish invasions; he protected Wessex by building a chain of fortified towns called 'burghs'. These towns were located such that no one
lived more
than twenty miles from one of them (there were 30 of these burghs manned by about 900 military men for a total defensive army of 27, 000). In 886 he took control of London thus gaining control of all
of England
except for that portion controlled by the Danes, yet was recognized as King of all England by both the Saxons and the Danes. Alfred reformed and codified Saxon law. Being well-educated himself, he
promoted a revival in learning, and instigated the compilation of the famous ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE, a 1,200-year history of the people of England from before Julius Caesar's invasion of the British
Isles in 55 BC.
-----------
Youngest son of King ¡thelwulf, Alfred became King of Wessex during a time of constant Viking attack. He was driven into hiding by a Viking raid into Wessex, led by the Dane, Guthorm, and took refuge
in the
Athelney marshes in Somerset. There, he recovered sufficient strength to be able to defeat the Danes decisively at the battle of Eddington. As a condition of the peace treaty which followed, Guthorm
received Christian baptism and withdrew his forces from Wessex, with Alfred recognizing the Danish control over East Anglia and parts of Mercia. This partition of England, called the "Danelaw", was
formalized by another treaty in 886.
Alfred created a series of fortifications whose purpose was to surround his kingdom and provide needed security from invasion. The Anglo-Saxon word for these forts, "burhs", has come down to us in
the common place-name suffix, "bury." He also constructed a fleet of ships to augment his other defenses, and in the doing became known as the "Father of the English Navy." The reign of Alfred was
known for more than military success. He was a codifier of law, a promoter of education and a supporter of the arts. He, himself, was a scholar and translated Latin books into the Anglo-Saxon
tongue. The definitive contemporary work on Alfred's life is an unfinished account in Latin by Asser, a Welshman, bishop of Sherbourne and Alfred's counselor. After his death, he was buried in his
capital city of Winchester, and is the only English monarch in history to carry the title, "the Great."
Source:
www.britannia.com

Williamson says he may have died of the royal malady, porphyria.
King of Wessex.

Williamson says he may have died of the royal malady, porphyria.
King of Wessex.

HIST THE MOST FAMOUS OF ANGLO-SAXON KINGS. THOUGH MUCH OF HIS HISTORY IS BASED ON LEGEND, HE IS STILL THE ONLY ENGLISH KING KNOWN AS 'THE GREAT'.
HIST THE VIKINGS, OR DANES, INVADED ENGLAND IN 793. THEY CONTROLLED EAST ANGLIA, NORTHUMBRIA AND MERCIA. THEY WERE IN THE VERGE OF OVERTAKING WESSEX. ALFRED DEFEATED THE DANES AT THE BATTLE OF
EDLINGTON IN 878, BUT ALLOWED THE DANES TO KEEP
HIST ALFRED CREATED THE NAVY TO DEFEND THE COASTS AND BUILT FORTIFIED TOWNS CALLED 'BURGHS' TO PROTECT INLAND.
HIST ALFRED REFORMED AND CODEFIED THE SAXON LAW, INSTITUTED THE REVIVAL IN LEARNING, AND HELP COMPILE A 1,200-YEAR HISTORY OF ENGLAND CALLED THE SAXON CHRONICLE. HE ALSO TRANSLATED LATIN TEXTS INTO
THE SAXON TONGUE (OLD ENGLISH).
DATE 22 MAY 2000GIVN Alfred "The Great" King of
SURN England
AFN GS4H-XF
_PRIMARY Y
EVEN Bretwalda
TYPE Elected
DATE 871
PLAC England
EVEN England
TYPE Ruled
DATE 23 Apr 871 and 899
PLAC Kingston-upon Thames,Surrey
EVEN at Winchester
TYPE Coronation
DATE 871
EVEN Danes
TYPE Battle of
DATE BET 871 AND 897
PLAC England
EVEN Compiled English Law
TYPE Achievements
EVEN Defeated the Danish conquest
TYPE Achievements
DATE 878
PLAC Edington,England
EVEN Built Navy warships to protect southern coast
TYPE Achievements
DATE 885
EVEN Built Fortifications to protect Wessex
TYPE Achievements
DATE BET 892 AND 896
EVEN London
TYPE Captured
DATE 886
PLAC London,England
DATE 10 SEP 2000
TIME 07:02:57

EVEN
TYPE Acceded
DATE 23 APR 871
PLAC Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey, EnglandKing of Wessex 871-899.
Reigned 871-899. He prevented the Danish conquest of England, defeating them at Edington(878) after a campaign of guerrila warfare. After his victory he allowed the Danes to keep their conquests in
Mercia nd East Anglia provided that Guthrum, their King, was converted to Christianity. Alfred built a navy of Warships to defend the south coast against further Danish invasions (885-86;892-96) and
protected Wessex with a chain of fortifications. He took London (886), this gaining control of all England except the Danish areas.

See Historical Document.

See Historical Document.

See Historical Document.

See Historical Document.

TITL World Family Tree Vol. 4, Ed. 1
AUTH Broderbund Software, Inc.
PUBL Release date: August 23, 1996
Customer pedigree.
REPO
CALN
MEDI Family Archive CD
PAGE Tree #1222
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TEXT Date of Import: Aug 19, 1997
TITL pennington.FTW
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PUBL Release date: August 23, 1996

TEXT Date of Import: Oct 20, 1999Alfred the Great is probably the most famous of all of the Anglo-Saxon kings. Much of his fame is based on legend, not historic fact. However, based solely on the
facts known to us today, he still ranks as one of the most important early kings of the British Isle. He is the only English King to be known as 'The Great'.
The Vikings, or Danes, had invaded England in 793. They controlled East Anglia, Northumbria and Mercia and they were moving to take control of Wessex. Alfred defeated the invading Danes at the battle
of Edlington in 878; however, allowed the Danes to keep the territories they had previously won in Mercia and East Anglia provided that Guthrum, King of Denmark, converted to Christianity (Treaty of
Wedmore). The dividing line between English and Danish territory was roughly a line running northwest
from London to Chester; Alfred ruled south of this line and was recognized as overlord of the area to the north that became known as the Danelaw.
King Alfred built a Navy to defend the coasts against further Danish invasions; he protected Wessex by building a chain of fortified towns called 'burghs'. These towns were located such that no one
lived more
than twenty miles from one of them (there were 30 of these burghs manned by about 900 military men for a total defensive army of 27, 000). In 886 he took control of London thus gaining control of all
of England
except for that portion controlled by the Danes, yet was recognized as King of all England by both the Saxons and the Danes. Alfred reformed and codified Saxon law. Being well-educated himself, he
promoted a revival in learning, and instigated the compilation of the famous ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE, a 1,200-year history of the people of England from before Julius Caesar's invasion of the British
Isles in 55 BC.
-----------
Youngest son of King ¡thelwulf, Alfred became King of Wessex during a time of constant Viking attack. He was driven into hiding by a Viking raid into Wessex, led by the Dane, Guthorm, and took refuge
in the
Athelney marshes in Somerset. There, he recovered sufficient strength to be able to defeat the Danes decisively at the battle of Eddington. As a condition of the peace treaty which followed, Guthorm
received Christian baptism and withdrew his forces from Wessex, with Alfred recognizing the Danish control over East Anglia and parts of Mercia. This partition of England, called the "Danelaw", was
formalized by another treaty in 886.
Alfred created a series of fortifications whose purpose was to surround his kingdom and provide needed security from invasion. The Anglo-Saxon word for these forts, "burhs", has come down to us in
the common place-name suffix, "bury." He also constructed a fleet of ships to augment his other defenses, and in the doing became known as the "Father of the English Navy." The reign of Alfred was
known for more than military success. He was a codifier of law, a promoter of education and a supporter of the arts. He, himself, was a scholar and translated Latin books into the Anglo-Saxon
tongue. The definitive contemporary work on Alfred's life is an unfinished account in Latin by Asser, a Welshman, bishop of Sherbourne and Alfred's counselor. After his death, he was buried in his
capital city of Winchester, and is the only English monarch in history to carry the title, "the Great."
Source:
www.britannia.com

Williamson says he may have died of the royal malady, porphyria.
King of Wessex.

Williamson says he may have died of the royal malady, porphyria.
King of Wessex.

HIST THE MOST FAMOUS OF ANGLO-SAXON KINGS. THOUGH MUCH OF HIS HISTORY IS BASED ON LEGEND, HE IS STILL THE ONLY ENGLISH KING KNOWN AS 'THE GREAT'.
HIST THE VIKINGS, OR DANES, INVADED ENGLAND IN 793. THEY CONTROLLED EAST ANGLIA, NORTHUMBRIA AND MERCIA. THEY WERE IN THE VERGE OF OVERTAKING WESSEX. ALFRED DEFEATED THE DANES AT THE BATTLE OF
EDLINGTON IN 878, BUT ALLOWED THE DANES TO KEEP
HIST ALFRED CREATED THE NAVY TO DEFEND THE COASTS AND BUILT FORTIFIED TOWNS CALLED 'BURGHS' TO PROTECT INLAND.
HIST ALFRED REFORMED AND CODEFIED THE SAXON LAW, INSTITUTED THE REVIVAL IN LEARNING, AND HELP COMPILE A 1,200-YEAR HISTORY OF ENGLAND CALLED THE SAXON CHRONICLE. HE ALSO TRANSLATED LATIN TEXTS INTO
THE SAXON TONGUE (OLD ENGLISH).
DATE 22 MAY 2000
Dead

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BRITAINNIA, MONARCHS OF BRITAIN
URL: http://www.britannia.com/history/h6f.html
Alfred, the Great
(871-900 AD)
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Youngest son of King Æthelwulf, Alfred became King of Wessex during a time of constant Viking attack. He was driven into hiding by a Viking raid into Wessex, led by the Dane, Guthorm, and took refuge in the Athelney marshes in Somerset. There, he recovered sufficient strength to be able to defeat the Danes decisively at the Battle of Eddington. As a condition of the peace treaty which followed, Guthorm received Christian baptism and withdrew his forces from Wessex, with Alfred recognizing the Danish control over East Anglia and parts of Mercia. This partition of England, called the "Danelaw", was formalized by another treaty in 886.

Alfred created a series of fortifications to surround his kingdom and provide needed security from invasion. The Anglo-Saxon word for these forts, "burh", has come down to us in the common place-name suffix, "bury." He also constructed a fleet of ships to augment his other defenses, and in so doing became known as the "Father of the English Navy." The reign of Alfred was known for more than military success. He was a codifier of law, a promoter of education and a suppor|er of the arts. He, himself, was a scholar and translated Latin books into the Anglo-Saxon tongue. The definitive contemporary work on Alfred's life is an unfinished account in Latin by Asser, a Welshman, bishop of Sherbourne and Alfred's counsellor. After his death, he was buried in his capital city of Winchester, and is the only English monarch in history to carry the title, "the Great."

Youngest son of King Æthelwulf, Alfred became King of Wessex during a time of constant Viking attacks. He was driven into hiding by a Viking raid into Wessex, led by the Dane, Guthorm, and took refuge in the Athelney marshes in Somerset. There, he recovered sufficient strength to be able to defeat the Danes decisively at the Battle of Eddington in 878. As a condition of the peace treaty which followed, Guthorm received Christian baptism and withdrew his forces from Wessex, with Alfred recognizing the Danish control over East Anglia and parts of Mercia. This partition of England, called the "Danelaw", was formalized by another treaty in 886. Alfred created a series of fortifications to surround his kingdom and provide needed security from invasion. The Anglo-Saxon word for these forts, "burhs", has come down to us in the common place-name suffix, "bury." He also constructed a fleet of ships to augment his other defenses, and in so doing became known as the "Father of the English Navy." The reign of Alfred was known for more than military success. He was a codifier of law, a promoter of education and a suppor|er of the arts. He, himself, was a scholar and translated Latin books into the Anglo-Saxon tongue. The definitive contemporary work on Alfred's life is an unfinished account in Latin by Asser, a Welshman, bishop of Sherbourne and Alfred's counsellor. After his death, he was buried in his capital city of Winchester, and is the only English monarch in history to carry the title, "the Great."

!Name is; Alfred "The Great", King Of /ENGLAND/

He was an accomplished scholar, a zealous patron of learning, and a wise ruler.

Alfred (Old English: lfrēd) (849? ? 26 October 899) was king of the southern Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Wessex from 871 to 899. Alfred is famous for his defence of the kingdom against the Danes (Vikings), becoming as a result the only English monarch to be awarded the epithet "the Great" by his people. Alfred was the first King of Wessex to style himself "King of England". Details of his life are known as a result of a work by the Welsh scholar, Asser. A learned man, Alfred encouraged education and improved the kingdom`s law system. Childhood Alfred was born sometime between AD 847 and 849 at Wantage in the present-day ceremonial county of Oxfordshire (though historically speaking in the traditional county of Berkshire). He was the fourth son of King Ethelwulf of Wessex (þelwulf), most likely by his first wife, Osburh. He seems to have been a child of singular attractiveness and promise, and tales of his boyhood were remembered. At five years old, in 853, he is

Alfred the Great (Old English: Ælfred, "elf-advice"; alternative form: Ælfræd; 849 - 26 October 899), was king of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Wessex from 871 to 899. Alfred is noted for his defence of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of southern England against the Vikings, becoming the only English king to be given the epithet "the Great". Alfred was the first King of the West Saxons to style himself "King of the Anglo-Saxons". Details of his life are described in a work by the Welsh scholar and Bishop, Asser. Alfred was a learned man who encouraged education and improved his kingdom's legal system and military structure.
Alfred was born in 849 at Wantage, Oxfordshire (in the historic county of Berkshire). He was the youngest son of King Æthelwulf of Wessex, by his first wife, Osburga. In 868 Alfred married Ealhswith, daughter of Æthelred Mucil.
At the age of five years, Alfred is said to have been sent to Rome where, according to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, he was confirmed by Pope Leo IV who "anointed him as king". Victorian writers interpreted this as an anticipatory coronation in preparation for his ultimate succession to the throne of Wessex. However, his succession could not have been foreseen at the time, as Alfred had three living elder brothers. A letter of Leo IV shows that Alfred was made a "consul"; a misinterpretation of this investiture, deliberate or accidental, could explain later confusion] It may also be based on Alfred's later having accompanied his father on a pilgrimage to Rome where he spent some time at the court of Charles the Bald, King of the Franks, around 854-855. On their return from Rome in 856, Æthelwulf was deposed by his son Æthelbald. With civil war looming, the magnates of the realm met in council to hammer out a compromise. Æthelbald would retain the western shires (i.e., traditional Wessex), and Æthelwulf would rule in the east. King Æthelwulf died in 858; meanwhile Wessex was ruled by three of Alfred's brothers in succession.
Bishop Asser tells the story of how as a child Alfred won a prize of a volume of poetry in English, offered by his mother to the first of her children able to memorise it. This story may be true, or it may be a myth intended to illustrate the young Alfred's love of learning.
During the short reigns of his two eldest brothers, Æthelbald of Wessex and Æthelbert of Wessex, Alfred is not mentioned. However, his public life began with the accession of the third brother, Æthelred of Wessex, in 866. It is during this period that Bishop Asser applies to him the unique title of "secundarius", which may indicate a position akin to that of the Celtic tanist, a recognized successor closely associated with the reigning monarch. It is possible that this arrangement was sanctioned by Alfred's father, or by the Witan, to guard against the danger of a disputed succession should Æthelred fall in battle. The arrangement of crowning a successor as royal prince and military commander is well known among other Germanic tribes, such as the Swedes, with whom the Anglo-Saxons were closely related.
In 868, Alfred is recorded as fighting beside his brother Æthelred, in an unsuccessful attempt to keep the invading Danes out of the adjoining Kingdom of Mercia. For nearly two years, Wessex was spared attacks because Alfred paid the Vikings to leave him alone. However, at the end of 870 the Danes arrived in his homeland. The year which followed has been called "Alfred's year of battles". Nine engagements were fought with varying fortunes, though the place and date of two of these battles have not been recorded. In Berkshire a successful skirmish at the Battle of Englefield, on 31 December 870, was followed by a severe defeat at the siege and Battle of Reading on 5 January 871; and then, four days later, Alfred won a brilliant victory at the Battle of Ashdown on the Berkshire Downs, possibly near Compton or Aldworth. Alfred is particularly credited with the success of this latter battle. However, later that month, on 22 January, the English were again defeated at Basing and, on the 22 March at the Battle of Merton (perhaps Marden in Wiltshire or Martin in Dorset), in which Ethelred was killed. The two unidentified battles may also have occurred in between.
In April 871 King Æthelred died, and Alfred succeeded to the throne of Wessex and the burden of its defence, despite the fact that Æthelred left two under-age sons, Æthelhelm and Æthelwold. This was in accordance with the agreement that King Æthelred and Alfred had made earlier that year in an assembly at Swinbeorg. The brothers had agreed that whichever of them lived longest would inherit the personal property that King Æthelwulf in his will had left jointly to his sons. The deceased's sons would receive only whatever property and riches their father had settled upon them and whatever additional lands their uncle had acquired. The unstated premise was that the surviving brother would be king. Given the ongoing Danish invasion and the youth of his nephews, Alfred's succession probably went uncontested. Tensions between Alfred and his nephews, however, would arise later in his reign.
While he was busy with the burial ceremonies for his brother, the Danes defeated the English in his absence at an unnamed spot, and then again in his presence at Wilton in May. The defeat at Wilton smashed any remaining hope that Alfred could drive the invaders from his kingdom. He was forced, instead, to ‘make peace’ with them. The sources do not tell us what the terms of the peace were. Bishop Asser, spinning gold out of straw, trumpets that the 'pagans' agreed to vacate the realm and made good their promise; and, indeed, the Viking army did withdraw from Reading in the fall of 871 to take up winter quarters in Mercian London. Although not mentioned by Asser or by the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, Alfred probably also paid the Vikings cash to leave, much as the Mercians were to do in the following year. Hoards dating to the Viking occupation of London in 871/2 have been excavated at Croydon, Gravesend, and Waterloo Bridge; these finds hint at the cost involved in making peace with the Vikings. For the next five years, the Danes occupied other parts of England. However, in 876 under their new leader, Guthrum, the Danes slipped past the English army and attacked and occupied Wareham in Dorset. Alfred blockaded them but was unable to take Wareham by assault. Accordingly, he negotiated a peace which involved an exchange of hostages and oaths, which the Danes swore on a "holy ring" associated with the worship of Thor. The Danes, however, broke their word and, after killing all the hostages, slipped away under cover of night to Exeter in Devon. There, Alfred blockaded them, and with a relief fleet having been scattered by a storm, the Danes were forced to submit. They withdrew to Mercia but, in January 878, made a sudden attack on Chippenham, a royal stronghold in which Alfred had been staying over Christmas, "and most of the people they reduced, except the King Alfred, and he with a little band made his way by wood and swamp, and after Easter he made a fort at Athelney in the marshes of Somerset, and from that fort kept fighting against the foe". From his fort at Athelney, an island in the marshes near North Petherton, Alfred was able to mount an effective resistance movement, rallying the local militias from Somerset, Wiltshire and Hampshire.
A popular legend, originating from 12th century chronicles, tells how when he first fled to the Somerset Levels Alfred was given shelter by a peasant woman who, unaware of his identity, left him to watch some cakes she had left cooking on the fire. Preoccupied with the problems of his kingdom, Alfred accidentally let the cakes burn and was taken to task by the woman upon her return. Upon realizing the king's identity the woman apologized profusely, but Alfred insisted that he was the one who needed to apologize. Another story relates how Alfred disguised himself as a minstrel in order to gain entry to Guthrum's camp and discover his plans. These stories emphasize not only the piety and Christian humility attributed to Alfred but also the desperate straits to which he may have been reduced.
This was the low-water mark in the history of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. With all the other kingdoms having fallen to the Vikings, and the other Anglo-Saxon leaders having consequently perished, Wessex alone was still resisting. There would be other defeats, most notably under Ethelred the Unready; but at no other point would the fortunes of the royal house sink so low. It was Alfred's great achievement that he preserved the culture - and, most importantly, the language - of the Anglo-Saxons, at this nadir of their fortunes, when he was the last surviving Anglo-Saxon king. And it is for this great achievement that he is principally remembered.
In the seventh week after Easter [4-10 May 878], around Whitsuntide, Alfred rode to ‘Egbert’s Stone’ east of Selwood, where he was met by "all the people of Somerset and of Wiltshire and of that part of Hampshire which is on this side of the sea [that is, west of Southampton Water], and they rejoiced to see him". Alfred’s emergence from his marshland stronghold was part of a carefully planned offensive that entailed raising the fyrds of three shires. This meant not only that the king had retained the loyalty of ealdormen, royal reeves and king’s thegns (who were charged with levying and leading these forces), but that they had maintained their positions of authority in these localities well enough to answer Alfred’s summons to war. Alfred’s actions also suggest a finely-honed system of scouts and messengers. Alfred won a decisive victory in the ensuing Battle of Ethandun, which may have been fought near Westbury, Wiltshire. He then pursued the Danes to their stronghold at Chippenham and starved them into submission. One of the terms of the surrender was that Guthrum convert to Christianity; and three weeks later the Danish king and 29 of his chief men were baptized at Alfred's court at Aller, near Athelney, with Alfred receiving Guthrum as his spiritual son. The "unbinding of the chrism" took place with great ceremony eight days later at the royal estate at Wedmore in Somerset, after which Guthrum fulfilled his promise to leave Wessex. There is no contemporary evidence that Alfred and Guthrum agreed upon a formal treaty at this time; the so-called Treaty of Wedmore is an invention of modern historians. The Treaty of Alfred and Guthrum preserved in Old English in Corpus Christi College Cambridge (Manuscript 383), and in a Latin compilation known as Quadripartitus, was negotiated later, perhaps in 879 or 880, when King Ceolwulf II of Mercia was deposed. That treaty divided up the kingdom of Mercia. By its terms the boundary between Alfred’s and Guthrum’s kingdoms was to run up the Thames, to the Lea River; follow the Lea to its source (near Luton); from there extend in a straight line to Bedford; and from Bedford follow the Ouse River to Watling Street. In other words, Alfred succeeded to Ceolwulf’s kingdom, consisting of western Mercia; and Guthrum incorporated the eastern part of Mercia into an enlarged kingdom of East Anglia (henceforward known as the Danelaw). By terms of the treaty, moreover, Alfred was to have control over the Mercian city of London and its mints - at least for the time being. The disposition of Essex, held by West Saxon kings since the days of Egbert, is unclear from the treaty, though, given Alfred’s political and military superiority, it would have been surprising if he had conceded any disputed territory to his godson.
For the next few years there was peace, with the Danes being kept busy in Francia. A raid on Kent in 884 or 885 close to Plucks Gutter, though successfully repelled, encouraged the East Anglian Danes to rise up. The measures taken by Alfred to repress this uprising culminated in the taking (or more probably, retaking) of London 886. Alfred apparently regarded this as a turning point in his reign. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle says that "all of the English people (all Angelcyn) not subject to the Danes submitted themselves to King Alfred."Asser added that "Alfred, king of the Anglo-Saxons, restored the city of London splendidly ... and made it habitable once more."Alfred's "restoration" entailed reoccupying and refurbishing the nearly deserted Roman walled city, building quays along the Thames, and laying a new city street plan. It is probably at this point that Alfred assumed the new royal style 'King of the Anglo-Saxons.'
After another lull, in the autumn of 892 or 893, the Danes attacked again. Finding their position in Europe precarious, they crossed to England in 330 ships in two divisions. They entrenched themselves, the larger body at Appledore, Kent, and the lesser, under Haesten, at Milton also in Kent. The invaders brought their wives and children with them, indicating a meaningful attempt at conquest and colonization. Alfred, in 893 or 894, took up a position from whence he could observe both forces. While he was in talks with Haesten, the Danes at Appledore broke out and struck northwestwards. They were overtaken by Alfred's oldest son, Edward, and were defeated in a general engagement at Farnham in Surrey. They were obliged to take refuge on an island in the Hertfordshire Colne, where they were blockaded and were ultimately compelled to submit. The force fell back on Essex and, after suffering another defeat at Benfleet, coalesced with Haesten's force at Shoebury.
Alfred had been on his way to relieve his son at Thorney when he heard that the Northumbrian and East Anglian Danes were besieging Exeter and an unnamed stronghold on the North Devon shore. Alfred at once hurried westward and raised the Siege of Exeter. The fate of the other place is not recorded. Meanwhile the force under Haesten set out to march up the Thames Valley, possibly with the idea of assisting their friends in the west. But they were met by a large force under the three great ealdormen of Mercia, Wiltshire and Somerset, and made to head off to the northwest, being finally overtaken and blockaded at Buttington. Some identify this with Buttington Tump at the mouth of the River Wye, others with Buttington near Welshpool. An attempt to break through the English lines was defeated. Those who escaped retreated to Shoebury. Then after collecting reinforcements they made a sudden dash across England and occupied the ruined Roman walls of Chester. The English did not attempt a winter blockade but contented themselves with destroying all the supplies in the neighbourhood. Early in 894 (or 895), want of food obliged the Danes to retire once more to Essex. At the end of this year and early in 895 (or 896), the Danes drew their ships up the Thames and Lea and fortified themselves twenty miles (32 km) north of London. A direct attack on the Danish lines failed but, later in the year, Alfred saw a means of obstructing the river so as to prevent the egress of the Danish ships. The Danes realised that they were outmanoeuvred. They struck off northwestwards and wintered at Cwatbridge near Bridgnorth. The next year, 896 (or 897), they gave up the struggle. Some retired to Northumbria, some to East Anglia. Those who had no connections in England withdrew back to Europe.
The near-disaster of the winter of 878, even more than the victory in the spring, left its mark on the king and shaped his subsequent policies. Over the last two decades of his reign, Alfred undertook a radical reorganization of the military institutions of his kingdom, strengthened the West Saxon economy through a policy of monetary reform and urban planning and strove to win divine favour by resurrecting the literary glories of earlier generations of Anglo-Saxons. Alfred pursued these ambitious programmes to fulfill, as he saw it, his responsibility as king. This justified the heavy demands he made upon his subjects' labour and finances. It even excused the expropriation of strategically located Church lands. Recreating the fyrd into a standing army, ringing Wessex with some thirty garrisoned fortified towns, and constructing new and larger ships for the royal fleet were costly endeavours that provoked resistance from noble and peasant alike. But they paid off. When the Vikings returned in force in 892 they found a kingdom defended by a standing, mobile field army and a network of garrisoned fortresses that commanded its navigable rivers and Roman roads.
Alfred analyzed the defects of the military system that he had inherited and implemented changes to remedy them. Alfred's military reorganization of Wessex consisted of three elements: the building of thirty fortified and garrisoned towns (burhs) along the rivers and Roman roads of Wessex; the creation of a mobile (horsed) field force, consisting of his nobles and their warrior retainers, which was divided into two contingents, one of which was always in the field; and the enhancement of Wessex's seapower through the addition of larger ships to the existing royal fleet. Each element of the system was meant to remedy defects in the West Saxon military establishment exposed by the Viking invasions. If under the existing system he could not assemble forces quickly enough to intercept mobile Viking raiders, the obvious answer was to have a standing field force. If this entailed transforming the West Saxon fyrd from a sporadic levy of king's men and their retinues into a mounted standing army, so be it. If his kingdom lacked strongpoints to impede the progress of an enemy army, he would build them. If the enemy struck from the sea, he would counter them with his own naval power. Characteristically, all of Alfred's innovations were firmly rooted in traditional West Saxon practice, drawing as they did upon the three so-called ‘common burdens' of bridge work, fortress repair and service on the king's campaigns that all holders of bookland and royal loanland owed the Crown. Where Alfred revealed his genius was in designing the field force and ‘burhs' (boroughs), as these fortified sites were called, to be parts of a coherent military system. Neither Alfred's reformed fyrd nor his burhs alone would have afforded a sufficient defence against the Vikings; together, however, they robbed the Vikings of their major strategic advantages: surprise and mobility.
Alfred, in effect, had created what modern strategists call a defence-in-depth system, and one that worked. Alfred's boroughs were not grand affairs like the massive stone late Roman shore forts that still dot the southern coast of England (e.g. Pevensey and Richborough 'Castle'). Rather, the borough defences consisted mainly of massive earthworks, large earthen walls surrounded by wide ditches. The earthen wall probably were surmounted with wooden palisades, which, by the tenth century were giving way to stone walls. (The Alfredian defences are well preserved at Wareham, a town on the southern coast of England.) The size of the boroughs varied greatly, from tiny fortifications such as Pilton to large towns like Winchester. Many of the boroughs were, in fact, twin towns built on either side of a river and connected by a fortified bridge-much like Charles the Bald's fortifications a generation before. Such a double-borough would block passage on the river; the Vikings would have to row under a garrisoned bridge, risking being pelted with stones, spears, or shot with arrows, in order to go upstream. Alfred's thirty boroughs were distributed widely throughout the West Saxon kingdom and situated in such a manner that no part of the kingdom was more than twenty miles, a day's march, from a fortified centre. They were also sited near fortified royal villas, to permit the king better control over his strongholds. What has not been recognized sufficiently, is how these boroughs dominated the kingdom's lines of communication, the navigable rivers, Roman roads, and major trackways. Alfred seems to have had "highways" (hereweges--"army roads") linking the boroughs to one another. An extensive beacon system to warn of approaching Viking fleets and armies was probably also instituted at this time. In short, the thirty boroughs formed an integrated system of fortification.
The presence of well-garrisoned boroughs along the major travel routes of Wessex presented an obstacle for Viking invaders, especially those laden with booty. They also served as places of refuge for the populations of the surrounding countryside. But these fortresses were not mere static points of defence. They were designed to operate in conjunction with Alfred's mobile standing army. The army and the boroughs together deprived the Vikings of their major strategic advantages: surprise and mobility. It was dangerous for the Vikings to leave a borough intact astride their lines of communication, but it was equally dangerous to attempt to take one. Lacking siege equipment or a developed doctrine of siegecraft, the Vikings could not take these fortresses by storm. Rather, they reduced to the expedient of starving them into submission, which gave the king time to come to their relief with his mobile field army, or for the garrisons of neighbouring boroughs to come to the aid of the besieged town. In a number of instances, the hunter became the hunted, as borough garrison and field force joined together to pursue the would-be raiders. In fact, the only recorded success Viking forces had against boroughs in the ninth century occurred in 892, when a Viking stormed a half-made, poorly garrisoned fortress up the Lympne estuary in Kent.
Alfred's burghal system was revolutionary in its strategic conception and potentially expensive in its execution. As Alfred’s biographer Asser makes clear, many nobles were reluctant to comply with what must have seemed to them outrageous and unheard of demands-even if they were for ‘the common needs of the kingdom’, as Asser reminded them. The cost of building the burhs was great in itself, but this paled before the cost of upkeep for these fortresses and the maintenance of their standing garrisons. A remarkable early tenth-century document, known as the Burghal Hidage, provides a formula for determining how many men were needed to garrison a borough, based on one man for every 5.5 yards of wall. This provided a theoretical total of 27,071 soldiers, which is unlikely to have ever been achieved in practice. Even if we assume that the mobile forces of Alfred were small, perhaps 3,000 or so horsemen, the manpower costs of his military establishment were considerable.
To obtain the needed garrison troops and workers to build and maintain the burhs' defences, Alfred regularized and vastly expanded the existing (and, one might add, quite recent) obligation of landowners to provide ‘fortress work’ on the basis of the hidage assessed upon their lands. The allotments of the Burghal Hidage represent the creation of administrative districts for the support of the burhs. The landowners attached to Wallingford, for example, were responsible for producing and feeding 2,400 men, the number sufficient for maintaining 9,900 feet of wall. Each of the larger burhs became the centre of a territorial district of considerable size, carved out of the neighbouring countryside in order to support the town. In one sense, Alfred conceived nothing truly new here. The shires of Wessex went back at least to the reign of King Ine, who probably also imposed a hidage assessment upon each for food rents and other services owed the Crown. But, it is equally clear that Alfred did not allow the past to bind him. With the advice of his witan, he freely reorganized and modified what he had inherited. The result was nothing short of an administrative revolution, a reorganization of the West Saxon shire system to accommodate Alfred’s military needs. Even if one rejects the thesis crediting the "Burghal Hidage" to Alfred, what is undeniable is that, in the parts of Mercia acquired by Alfred from the Vikings, the shire system seems now to have been introduced for the first time. This is probably what prompted the legend that Alfred was the inventor of shires, hundreds and tithings.
Alfred also tried his hand at naval design. In 897 he ordered the construction of a small fleet, perhaps a dozen or so longships, that, at 60 oars, were twice the size of Viking warships. This was not, as the Victorians were wont to believe, the birth of the English Navy. Wessex possessed a royal fleet before this. Alfred's brother King Athelstan of Kent and Ealdorman Eahlhere had defeated a Viking fleet in 851, capturing nine ships, and Alfred himself had conducted naval actions in 882 and 884. But clearly the author of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle and probably Alfred himself regarded 897 as marking an important development in the naval power of Wessex. The chronicler flattered his royal patron by boasting that Alfred's ships were not only larger, but swifter, steadier, and rode higher in the water than either Danish or Frisian ships. (It is probable that, under the classical tutelage of Asser, Alfred utilised the design of Grecian and Roman warships, with high sides, designed for fighting rather than for navigation.) Alfred had seapower in mind: if he could intercept raiding fleets before they landed, he could spare his kingdom from ravaging. In conception Alfred's ships may have been superior, but in practice they left a bit to be desired. His ships proved to be too large to manoeuvre well in the close waters of estuaries and rivers, the only places in which a 'naval' battle could occur. (The warships of the time were not designed to be ship killers but troop carriers. A naval battle entailed a ship coming alongside an enemy vessel, at which point the crew would lash the two ships together and board the enemy. The result was a land battle at sea.)
In the one recorded naval engagement in the year 897, Alfred's new fleet intercepted six Viking ships in the mouth of an unidentified river along the south of England. The Danes had beached half their ships, either to rest their rowers or to forage for food. Alfred's ships immediately moved to block their escape to the sea. The three Viking ships afloat attempted to break through the English lines. Only one made it. Alfred's ships intercepted the other two. Lashing the Viking boats to their own, the English crew boarded the enemy's vessels and proceeded to kill everyone on board. The one ship that escaped managed to do so only because all of Alfred's heavy ships became mired when the tide went out. What ensued was a land battle between the crews of the grounded ships. The Danes, heavily outnumbered, would have been wiped out if the tide had not risen. When that occurred, the Danes rushed back to their boats, which being lighter, with shallower drafts, were freed before Alfred's ships. Helplessly, the English watched as the Vikings rowed past them. But the pirates had suffered so many casualties (120 dead according to the Chronicle), that they had difficulties putting out to sea. Two of the three ships were driven against the Sussex coast. The shipwrecked sailors were brought before Alfred at Winchester and hanged.
In the late 880s or early 890s Alfred issued a long domboc or law code consisting of his "own" laws followed by a code issued by his late seventh-century predecessor King Ine of Wessex. Together these laws are arranged into 120 chapters. In his introduction Alfred explains that he gathered together the laws he found in many 'synod-books' and "ordered to be written many of the ones that our forefathers observed--those that pleased me; and many of the ones that did not please me I rejected with the advice of my councillors, and commanded them to be observed in a different way." Alfred singled out in particular the laws that he "found in the days of Ine, my kinsman, or Offa, king of the Mercians, or King Æthelbert of Kent, who first among the English people received baptism." It is difficult to know exactly what Alfred meant by this. He appended rather than integrated the laws of Ine into his code, and although he included, as had Æthelbert, a scale of payments in compensation for injuries to various body parts, the two injury tariffs are not aligned. And Offa is not known to have issued a law code,leading historian Patrick Wormald to speculate that Alfred had in mind the legatine capitulary of 786 that was presented to Offa by two papal legates.
About a fifth of the law code is taken up by Alfred's introduction, which includes translations into English of the Decalogue, a few chapters from the Book of Exodus, and the so-called 'Apostolic Letter' from Acts of the Apostles (15:23-29). The Introduction may best be understood as Alfred's meditation upon the meaning of Christian law. It traces the continuity between God's gift of Law to Moses to Alfred's own issuance of law to the West Saxon people. By doing so it links the holy past to the historical present and represents Alfred's law-giving as a type of divine legislation. This is the reason that Alfred divided his code into precisely 120 chapters: 120 was the age at which Moses died and, in the number-symbolism of early medieval biblical exegetes, 120 stood for law. The link between the Mosaic Law and Alfred's code is the 'Apostolic Letter,' which explained that Christ "had come not to shatter or annul the commandments but to fulfill them; and he taught mercy and meekness" (Intro, 49.1). The mercy that Christ infused into Mosaic Law underlies the injury tariffs that figure so prominently in barbarian law codes, since Christian synods "established, through that mercy which Christ taught, that for almost every misdeed at the first offence secular lords might with their permission receive without sin the monetary compensation, which they then fixed.". The only crime that could not be compensated with a payment of money is treachery to a lord, "since Almighty God adjudged none for those who despised Him, nor did Christ, the Son of God, adjudge any for the one who betrayed Him to death; and He commanded everyone to love his lord as Himself." Alfred's transformation of Christ's commandment from "Love your neighbour as yourself" (Matt. 22:39-40) to love your secular lord as you would love the Lord Christ himself underscores the importance that Alfred placed upon lordship, which he understood as a sacred bond instituted by God for the governance of man.
When one turns from the domboc's introduction to the laws themselves, it is difficult to uncover any logical arrangement. The impression one receives is of a hodgepodge of miscellaneous laws. The law code as it has been preserved is singularly unsuitable for use in lawsuits. In fact, several of Alfred's laws contradict the laws of Ine that form an integral part of the code. Patrick Wormald's explanation is that Alfred's law code should be understood not as a legal manual but as an ideological manifesto of kingship, "designed more for symbolic impact than for practical direction." In practical terms, the most important law in the code may well be the very first: "We enjoin, what is most necessary, that each man keep carefully his oath and his pledge," which expresses a fundamental tenet of Anglo-Saxon law.
Alfred devoted considerable attention and thought to judicial matters. Asser underscores his concern for judicial fairness. Alfred, according to Asser, insisted upon reviewing contested judgments made by his ealdormen and reeves, and "would carefully look into nearly all the judgements which were passed in his absence anywhere in the realm, to see whether they were just or unjust." A charter from the reign of his son Edward the Elder depicts Alfred as hearing one such appeal in his chamber, while washing his hands. Asser represents Alfred as a Solomonic judge, painstaking in his own judicial investigations and critical of royal officials who rendered unjust or unwise judgments. Although Asser never mentions Alfred's law code, he does say that Alfred insisted that his judges be literate, so that they could apply themselves "to the pursuit of wisdom." The failure to comply with this royal order was to be punished by loss of office. It is uncertain how seriously we should take this; Asser was more concerned to represent Alfred as a wise ruler than to report actual royal policy.
Asser speaks grandiosely of Alfred's relations with foreign powers, but little definite information is available. His interest in foreign countries is shown by the insertions which he made in his translation of Orosius. He certainly corresponded with Elias III, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, and possibly sent a mission to India in honour of Saint Thomas the Apostle, whose tomb was believed to lie in that country. Contact was also made with the Caliph in Baghdad. Embassies to Rome conveying the English alms to the Pope were fairly frequent. Around 890, Wulfstan of Haithabu undertook a journey from Haithabu on Jutland along the Baltic Sea to the Prussian trading town of Truso. Alfred ensured he reported to him details of his trip.
Alfred's relations with the Celtic princes in the western half of Britain are clearer. Comparatively early in his reign, according to Asser, the southern Welsh princes, owing to the pressure on them from North Wales and Mercia, commended themselves to Alfred. Later in the reign the North Welsh followed their example, and the latter cooperated with the English in the campaign of 893 (or 894). That Alfred sent alms to Irish as well as to European monasteries may be taken on Asser's authority. The visit of the three pilgrim "Scots" (i.e. Irish) to Alfred in 891 is undoubtedly authentic. The story that he himself in his childhood was sent to Ireland to be healed by Saint Modwenna, though mythical, may show Alfred's interest in that island.
In the 880s, at the same time that he was 'cajoling and threatening' his nobles to build and man the burhs, Alfred, perhaps inspired by the example of Charlemagne a century before, undertook an equally ambitious effort to revive learning. It entailed the recruitment of clerical scholars from Mercia, Wales and abroad to enhance the tenor of the court and of the episcopacy; the establishment of a court school to educate his own children, the sons of his nobles, and intellectually promising boys of lesser birth; an attempt to require literacy in those who held offices of authority; a series of translations into the vernacular of Latin works the king deemed 'most necessary for all men to know'; the compilation of a chronicle detailing the rise of Alfred's kingdom and house; and the issuance of a law code that presented the West Saxons as a new people of Israel and their king as a just and divinely-inspired law-giver.
Very little is known of the church under Alfred. The Danish attacks had been particularly damaging to the monasteries, and though Alfred founded monasteries at Athelney and Shaftesbury, the first new monastic houses in Wessex since the beginning of the eighth century, and enticed foreign monks to England, monasticism did not revive significantly during his reign.[citation needed] Alfred undertook no systematic reform of ecclesiastical institutions or religious practices in Wessex. For him the key to the kingdom's spiritual revival was to appoint pious, learned, and trustworthy bishops and abbots. As king he saw himself as responsible for both the temporal and spiritual welfare of his subjects. Secular and spiritual authority were not distinct categories for Alfred. He was equally comfortable distributing his translation of Gregory the Great's Pastoral Care to his bishops so that they might better train and supervise priests, and using those same bishops as royal officials and judges. Nor did his piety prevent him from expropriating strategically sited church lands, especially estates along the border with the Danelaw, and transferring them to royal thegns and officials who could better defend them against Viking attacks.
The Danish raids had also a devastating impact on learning in England. Alfred lamented in the preface to his translation of Pope Gregory I's Pastoral Care that "learning had declined so thoroughly in England that there were very few men on this side of the Humber who could understand their divine services in English, or even translate a single letter from Latin into English: and I suppose that there were not many beyond the Humber either." Alfred undoubtedly exaggerated for dramatic effect the abysmal state of learning in England during his youth. That Latin learning had not been obliterated is evidenced by the presence in his court of learned Mercian and West Saxon clerics such as Plegmund, Wæferth, and Wulfsige. But one should not discount entirely Alfred's account. Manuscript production in England dropped off precipitously around the 860s when the Viking invasions began in earnest, not to be revived until the end of the century. Numerous Anglo-Saxon manuscripts burnt up along with the churches that housed them. And a solemn diploma from Christ Church, Canterbury dated 873 is so poorly constructed and written that historian Nicholas Brooks posited a scribe who was either so blind he could not read what he wrote or who knew little or no Latin. "It is clear," Brooks concludes, "that the metropolitan church [of Canterbury] must have been quite unable to provide any effective training in the scriptures or in Christian worship."
Following the example of Charlemagne, Alfred established a court school for the education of his own children, those of the nobility. and "a good many of lesser birth." There they studied books in both English and Latin and "devoted themselves to writing, to such an extent .... they were seen to be devoted and intelligent students of the liberal arts."He recruited scholars from the Continent and from Britain to aid in the revival of Christian learning in Wessex and to provide the king personal instruction. Grimbald and John the Saxon came from Francia; Plegmund (whom Alfred appointed archbishop of Canterbury in 890), Bishop Werferth of Worcester, Æthelstan, and the royal chaplains Werwulf, from Mercia; and Asser, from St. David's in southwestern Wales.
Alfred's educational ambitions seem to have extended beyond the establishment of a court school. Believing that without Christian wisdom there can be neither prosperity nor success in war, Alfred aimed "to set to learning (as long as they are not useful for some other employment) all the free-born young men now in England who have the means to apply themselves to it."Conscious of the decay of Latin literacy in his realm, Alfred proposed that primary education be taught in English, with those wishing to advance to holy orders to continue their studies in Latin. The problem, however, was that there were few "books of wisdom" written in English. Alfred sought to remedy this through an ambitious court-centred programme of translating into English the books he deemed "most necessary for all men to know."It is unknown when Alfred launched this programme, but it may have been during the 880s when Wessex was enjoying a respite from Viking attacks.
Apart from the lost Handboc or Encheiridion, which seems to have been a commonplace book kept by the king, the earliest work to be translated was the Dialogues of Gregory the Great, a book greatly popular in the Middle Ages. The translation was undertaken at Alfred's command by Werferth, Bishop of Worcester, with the king merely furnishing a preface. Remarkably, Alfred, undoubtedly with the advise and aid of his court scholars, translated four works himself: Gregory the Great's Pastoral Care, Boethius's Consolation of Philosophy, St. Augustine's Soliloquies, and the first fifty psalms of the Psalter. One might add to this list Alfred's translation, in his law code, of excerpts from the Vulgate Book of Exodus. The Old English versions of Orosius's Histories against the Pagans and Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People are no longer accepted by scholars as Alfred's own translations because of lexical and stylistic differences. Nonetheless, the consensus remains that they were part of the Alfredian programme of translation. Simon Keynes and Michael Lapidge suggest this also for Bald's Leechbook and the anonymous Old English Martyrology.
Alfred's first translation was of Pope Gregory the Great's Pastoral Care, which he prefaced with an introduction explaining why he thought it necessary to translate works such as this one from Latin into English. Although he described his method as translating "sometimes word for word, sometimes sense for sense," Alfred's translation actually keeps very close to his original, although through his choice of language he blurred throughout the distinction between spiritual and secular authority. Alfred meant his translation to be used and circulated it to all his bishops. The Consolation of Philosophy of Boethius was the most popular philosophical handbook of the Middle Ages. Unlike his translation of the Pastoral Care, Alfred here deals very freely with his original and though the late Dr. G. Schepss showed that many of the additions to the text are to be traced not to Alfred himself, but to the glosses and commentaries which he used, still there is much in the work which is solely Alfred's and highly characteristic of his genius. It is in the Boethius that the oft-quoted sentence occurs: "My will was to live worthily as long as I lived, and after my life to leave to them that should come after, my memory in good works." The book has come down to us in two manuscripts only. In one of these the writing is prose, in the other a combination of prose and alliterating verse. The latter manuscript was severely damaged in the 18th and 19th centuries, and the authorship of the verse has been much disputed; but likely it also is by Alfred. In fact, he writes in the prelude that he first created a prose work and then used it as the basis for his poem, the Lays of Boethius, his crowning literary achievement. He spent a great deal of time working on these books, which he tells us he gradually wrote through the many stressful times of his reign to refresh his mind. Of the authenticity of the work as a whole there has never been any doubt.
The last of Alfred's works is one to which he gave the name Blostman, i.e., "Blooms" or Anthology. The first half is based mainly on the Soliloquies of St Augustine of Hippo, the remainder is drawn from various sources, and contains much that is Alfred's own and highly characteristic of him. The last words of it may be quoted; they form a fitting epitaph for the noblest of English kings. "Therefore he seems to me a very foolish man, and truly wretched, who will not increase his understanding while he is in the world, and ever wish and long to reach that endless life where all shall be made clear."
Alfred appears as a character in the twelfth- or thirteenth-century poem The Owl and the Nightingale, where his wisdom and skill with proverbs is praised. The Proverbs of Alfred, a thirteenth-century work, contains sayings that are not likely to have originated with Alfred but attest to his posthumous medieval reputation for wisdom.
The Alfred jewel, discovered in Somerset in 1693, has long been associated with King Alfred because of its Old English inscription "AELFRED MEC HEHT GEWYRCAN" (Alfred ordered me to be made). The jewel is about 2½ inches (6.1 cm) long, made of filigreed gold, enclosing a highly polished piece of quartz crystal beneath which is set a cloisonné enamel plaque, with an enamelled image of a man holding floriate sceptres, perhaps personifying Sight or the Wisdom of God. It was at one time attached to a thin rod or stick based on the hollow socket at its base. The jewel certainly dates from Alfred's reign. Although its function is unknown, it has been often suggested that the jewel was one of the æstels-pointers for reading-that Alfred ordered sent to every bishopric accompanying a copy of his translation of the Pastoral Care. Each æstel was worth the princely sum of 50 mancuses, which fits in well with the quality workmanship and expensive materials of the Alfred jewel.
Historian Richard Abels sees Alfred's educational and military reforms as complementary. Restoring religion and learning in Wessex, Abels contends, was to Alfred's mind as essential to the defence of his realm as the building of the burhs. As Alfred observed in the preface to his English translation of Gregory the Great's Pastoral Care, kings who fail to obey their divine duty to promote learning can expect earthly punishments to befall their people. The pursuit of wisdom, he assured his readers of the Boethius, was the surest path to power: "Study Wisdom, then, and, when you have learned it, condemn it not, for I tell you that by its means you may without fail attain to power, yea, even though not desiring it". The portrayal of the West-Saxon resistance to the Vikings by Asser and the chronicler as a Christian holy war was more than mere rhetoric or 'propaganda'. It reflected Alfred's own belief in a doctrine of divine rewards and punishments rooted in a vision of a hierarchical Christian world-order in which God is the Lord to whom kings owe obedience and through whom they derive their authority over their followers. The need to persuade his nobles to undertake work for the 'common good' led Alfred and his court scholars to strengthen and deepen the conception of Christian kingship that he had inherited by building upon the legacy of earlier kings such as Offa as well as clerical writers such as Bede, Alcuin and the other luminaries of the Carolingian renaissance. This was not a cynical use of religion to manipulate his subjects into obedience, but an intrinsic element in Alfred's world-view. He believed, as did other kings in ninth-century England and Francia, that God had entrusted him with the spiritual as well as physical welfare of his people. If the Christian faith fell into ruin in his kingdom, if the clergy were too ignorant to understand the Latin words they butchered in their offices and liturgies, if the ancient monasteries and collegiate churches lay deserted out of indifference, he was answerable before God, as Josiah had been. Alfred's ultimate responsibility was the pastoral care of his people.
Alfred is venerated as a saint by the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church and is regarded as a hero of the Christian Church in the Anglican Communion, with a feast day of 26 October, and may often be found depicted in stained glass in Church of England parish churches.
868, Alfred married Ealhswith, daughter of Ealdorman of the Gaini (who is also known as Aethelred Mucil), who was from the Gainsborough region of Lincolnshire. She appears to have been the maternal granddaughter of a King of Mercia. They had five or six children together, including Edward the Elder, who succeeded his father as king, Æthelflæd, who would become Queen of Mercia in her own right, and Ælfthryth who married Baldwin II the Count of Flanders. His mother was Osburga daughter of Oslac of the Isle of Wight, Chief Butler of England. Asser, in his Vita Ælfredi asserts that this shows his lineage from the Jutes of the Isle of Wight. This is unlikely as Bede tells us that they were all slaughtered by the Saxons under Cædwalla. However, ironically Alfred could trace his line via the House of Wessex itself, from King Wihtred of Kent, whose mother was the sister of the last island king, Arwald.
Alfred died on 26 October. The actual year is not certain, but it was not necessarily 901 as stated in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. How he died is unknown, although he suffered throughout his life with a painful and unpleasant illness - possibly Crohn's disease, which seems to have been inherited by his grandson King Edred. He was originally buried temporarily in the Old Minster in Winchester, then moved to the New Minster (perhaps built especially to receive his body). When the New Minster moved to Hyde, a little north of the city, in 1110, the monks transferred to Hyde Abbey along with Alfred's body and those of his wife and children. Soon after the dissolution of the abbey in 1539, during the reign of Henry VIII the church was demolished, leaving the graves intact. The royal graves and many others were probably rediscovered by chance in 1788 when a prison was being constructed by convicts on the site. Coffins were stripped of lead, bones were scattered and lost, and no identifiable remains of Alfred have subsequently been found. Further excavations in 1866 and 1897 were inconclusive.
A number of educational establishments are named in Alfred's honour. These include:
The University of Winchester was named 'King Alfred's College, Winchester' between 1840 and 2004, whereupon it was re-named "University College Winchester".
Alfred University and Alfred State College located in Alfred, NY, are both named after the king.
In honour of Alfred, the University of Liverpool created a King Alfred Chair of English Literature.
King Alfred's College, a secondary school in Wantage, Oxfordshire, the birthplace of Alfred.
King's Lodge School, in Chippenham, Wiltshire is so named because King Alfred's hunting lodge is reputed to have stood on or near the site of the school.
The King Alfred School & Specialist Sports Academy, Burnham Road, Highbridge is so named due to its rough proximity to Brent Knoll (a Beacon site) and Athelney.
The King Alfred School in Barnet, North London, UK.
King Alfred's Middle School, Shaftesbury, Dorset [Now defunct after reorganisation]
A statue of Alfred the Great, situated in the Wantage market place, was sculpted by Count Gleichen, a relative of Queen Victoria's, and unveiled on 14 July, 1877 by the Prince and Princess of Wales.
The statue was vandalised on New Year's Eve 2007, losing part of its right arm and axe. After the arm and axe were replaced the statue was again vandalised on Christmas Eve 2008, once more losing its axe.

Alfred, the Great
(871-900 AD)

Youngest son of King Æthelwulf, Alfred became King of Wessex during a time of constant Viking attack. He was driven into hiding by a Viking raid into Wessex, led by the Dane, Guthorm, and took refuge in the Athelney marshes in Somerset. There, he recovered sufficient strength to be able to defeat the Danes decisively at the Battle of Eddington. As a condition of the peace treaty which followed, Guthorm received Christian baptism and withdrew his forces from Wessex, with Alfred recognizing the Danish control over East Anglia and parts of Mercia. This partition of England, called the "Danelaw", was formalized by another treaty in 886.

Alfred created a series of fortifications to surround his kingdom and provide needed security from invasion. The Anglo-Saxon word for these forts, "burhs", has come down to us in the common place-name suffix, "bury." He also constructed a fleet of ships to augment his other defenses, and in so doing became known as the "Father of the English Navy." The reign of Alfred was known for more than military success. He was a codifier of law, a promoter of education and a supporter of the arts. He, himself, was a scholar and translated Latin books into the Anglo-Saxon tongue. The definitive contemporary work on Alfred's life is an unfinished account in Latin by Asser, a Welshman, bishop of Sherbourne and Alfred's counsellor. After his death, he was buried in his capital city of Winchester, and is the only English monarch in history to carry the title, "the Great."

Source: Britannia.com

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_the_Great

Alfred (Old English: Ælfr?d) (849? – 26 October 899) was king of the southern Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Wessex from 871 to 899. Alfred is famous for his defence of the kingdom against the Danes (Vikings), becoming as a result the only English monarch to be awarded the epithet "the Great" by his people. Alfred was the first King of Wessex to style himself "King of England". Details of his life are known as a result of a work by the Welsh scholar, Asser. A learned man, Alfred encouraged education and improved the kingdom's law system.

Childhood
Alfred was born sometime between 847 and AD 849 at Wantage in present-day Oxfordshire, the fourth son of King Ethelwulf of Wessex (Æ?elwulf), most likely by his first wife, Osburh. He succeeded his brother, Ethelred I (Æ?elræd I), as King of Wessex and Mercia in 871.
He seems to have been a child of singular attractiveness and promise, and tales of his boyhood were remembered. At five years old, in 853, he is said to have been sent to Rome, where he was confirmed by Pope Leo IV, who is also said to have "anointed him as king." Later writers took this as an anticipatory crowning in preparation for his ultimate succession to the throne of Wessex. That, however, could not have been foreseen in 853, as Alfred had three elder brothers living. It is likely to be understood either of investiture with the consular insignia or possibly with some titular royalty such as that of the under-kingdom of Kent.
This tale is likely apocryphal, though in 854–855 Alfred almost certainly did go with his father on a pilgrimage to Rome, spending some time at the court of Charles the Bald, King of the Franks. In 858, Ethelwulf died.
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Public life
During the short reigns of his two eldest brothers, Ethelbald and Ethelbert, nothing is heard of Alfred. But with the accession of the third brother, Ethelred, in 866 the public life of Alfred began, and he began his great work of delivering England from the Danes. It is in this reign that Asser applies to Alfred the unique title of secundarius, which seems to show a position akin to that of the Celtic tanist, a recognized successor, closely associated with the reigning prince. It is likely that this arrangement was sanctioned by the Witenagemot, to guard against the danger of a disputed succession should Aethelred fall in battle. The arrangement of crowning a successor as co-king, however, is well-known among Germanic tribes, such as the Swedes, and the Franks, with whom the Anglo-Saxons had close ties (see diarchy and Germanic king).

Statue of Alfred the Great at Winchester
In 868 Alfred married Ealhswith, daughter of Aethelred Mucill, who is called ealdorman of the Gaini, a folk who dwelt in Lincolnshire about Gainsborough. She was the granddaughter of a former King of Mercia, and they had five or six children, one a daughter, Ethelfleda, who would become queen of Mercia in her own right.
The same year Alfred, fighting beside his brother Ethelred, made an unsuccessful attempt to relieve Mercia from the pressure of the Danes. For nearly two years Wessex had a respite. But at the end of 870 the storm burst; and the year which followed has been rightly called "Alfred's year of battles."
Nine general engagements were fought with varying fortune, though the place and date of two of them have not been recorded. A successful skirmish at Battle of Englefield, Berkshire (31 December 870), was followed by a severe defeat at the Battle of Reading (4 January 871), and this, four days later, by the brilliant victory of Battle of Ashdown, near Compton Beauchamp in Shrivenham Hundred.
On 22 January 871 the English were again defeated at Basing, and on 22 March 871 at Marton, Wiltshire, the two unidentified battles having perhaps occurred in the interval.
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Accession
In April 871 Ethelred died, and Alfred succeeded to the whole burden of the contest. While he was busied with the burial and associated ceremonies for his brother, the Danes defeated the English in his absence at an unnamed spot, and once more in his presence at Wilton in May. After this peace was made, and for the next five years the Danes were occupied in other parts of England, Alfred merely keeping a force of observation on the border. But in 876, the Danes, under a new leader, Guthrum, slipped past him and attacked Wareham. From there, early in 877 and under the pretext of talks, they made a dash westwards and took Exeter. Here Alfred blockaded them, and a relieving fleet having been scattered by a storm, the Danes had to submit and withdraw to Mercia. But in January 878 they made a sudden swoop on Chippenham, a royal stronghold in which Alfred had been keeping his Christmas, "and most of the people they reduced, except the King Alfred, and he with a little band made his way… by wood and swamp, and after Easter he… made a fort at Athelney, and from that fort kept fighting against the foe" (Chronicle).

Alfred the Great's birthplace Wantage boasts a statue of its greatest son.
A legend tells how, while a fugitive in the marshes of Athelney near North Petherton in Somerset, after the first Danish invasion, he was given shelter by a peasant woman who, ignorant of his identity, left him to watch some cakes she had left cooking on the fire. Preoccupied with the problems of the kingdom, Alfred let the cakes burn, and was taken to task by the woman on her return. Upon realizing the king's identity, the woman apologized profusely, but Alfred insisted that he was the one who needed to apologize. The thought that Alfred, during his retreat at Athelney, was a helpless fugitive rests upon the legend of the cakes. In truth he was organizing victory. At about the same time, he is supposed to have disguised himself as a harpist to gain entry to Guthrum's camp and discover his plans.
By the middle of May, Alfred's preparations were complete and he moved out of Athelney, being joined on the way by the levies of Somerset, Wiltshire and Hampshire. The Danes on their side moved out of Chippenham, and the two armies met at the Battle of Edington in Wiltshire. The result was a decisive victory for Alfred. The Danes submitted. Guthrum, the Danish king, and twenty-nine of his chief men took baptism, recorded by Asser as occurring at Wedmore. As a result, England became split into two, the south-western half kept by the Saxons and the north-eastern half becoming known as the Danelaw. By the next year (879) not only Wessex, but also Mercia, west of Watling Street, were cleared of the invaders.
Though for the time being the north-eastern half of England, including London, was in the hands of the Danes, in truth the tide had turned. For the next few years there was peace, the Danes being kept busy in Europe. A landing in Kent in 884 or 885, though successfully repelled, encouraged the East Anglian Danes to rise up. The measures taken by Alfred to repress this uprising culminated in the taking of London in 885 or 886, following which an agreement was reached between Alfred and Guthrum, the Treaty of Alfred and Guthrum.
Once more for a time there was a lull; but in the fall of 892 or 893 the last storm burst. The Danes, finding their position in Europe becoming more and more precarious, crossed to England in two divisions, amounting in the aggregate to 330 sail, and entrenched themselves, the larger body at Appledore, Kent, and the lesser under Haesten at Milton also in Kent. The fact that the new invaders brought their wives and children with them shows that this was no mere raid, but a meaningful attempt, in concert with the Northumbrian and East Anglian Danes, to conquer England. Alfred, in 893 or 894, took up a position whence he could observe both forces. While he was in talks with Haesten the Danes at Appledore broke out and struck north-westwards, but were overtaken by Alfred's eldest son, Edward, and defeated in a general engagement at Farnham, and driven to take refuge on an island in the Hertfordshire Colne, where they were blockaded and ultimately compelled to submit. They then fell back on Essex, and after suffering another defeat at Benfleet coalesced with Haesten's force at Shoebury.
Alfred had been on his way to relieve his son at Thorney when he heard that the Northumbrian and East Anglian Danes were besieging Exeter and an unnamed stronghold on the North Devon shore. Alfred at once hurried westward and raised the siege of Exeter; the fate of the other place is not recorded. Meanwhile the force under Haesten set out to march up the Thames Valley, possibly with the idea of assisting their friends in the west. But they were met by a large force under the three great ealdormen of Mercia, Wiltshire and Somerset, and made to head off to the northwest, being finally overtaken and blockaded at Buttington, which some identify with Buttington Tump at the mouth of the Wye River, others with Buttington near Welshpool. An attempt to break through the English lines was defeated with loss; those who escaped retreated to Shoebury. Then after collecting reinforcements they made a sudden dash across England and occupied the ruined Roman walls of Chester. The English did not attempt a winter blockade, but contented themselves with destroying all the supplies in the neighbourhood. And early in 894 (or 895) want of food obliged the Danes to retire once more to Essex. At the end of this year and early in 895 (or 896) the Danes drew their ships up the Thames and Lea and fortified themselves twenty miles above London. A direct attack on the Danish lines failed, but later in the year Alfred saw a means of obstructing the river so as to prevent the egress of the Danish ships. The Danes realized that they were out-maneuvred. They struck off northwestwards and wintered at Bridgenorth. The next year, 896 (or 897), they gave up the struggle. Some retired to Northumbria, some to East Anglia; those who had no connections in England withdrew to the continent. The long campaign was over.
The result testifies to the confidence inspired by Alfred's character and generalship, and to the efficacy of the military reforms initiated by him. These were:
1. the division of the fyrd or national militia into two, relieving each other at set intervals, so as to ensure continuity in military operations;
2. the building of strongholds (burgs) and garrisons at certain points;
3. the enforcement of the obligations of thanehood on all owners of five hides of land, thus giving the king a nucleus of highly equipped troops.
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Reorganization
After the dispersal of the Danish invaders Alfred turned his attention to the increase of the royal navy, and ships were built according to the king's own designs, partly to repress the ravages of the Northumbrian and East Anglian Danes on the coasts of Wessex, partly to prevent the landing of fresh hordes. This is not, as often asserted, the beginning of the English navy. There had been earlier naval operations under Alfred. One naval engagement was certainly fought under Æthelwulf (in 851), and earlier ones, possibly in 833 and 840. The partisan Anglo-Saxon Chronicle credits Alfred with the construction of a new type of boat, 'swifter, steadier and also higher/more responsive (hierran) than the others'; but these new ships were not a great success, as we hear of them grounding in action and foundering in a storm. Nevertheless both the Royal Navy and the United States Navy claim Alfred as the founder of their traditions. The first vessel ever commissioned into the United States Navy was USS Alfred.
Alfred's main fighting force was separated into two, 'so that there was always half at home and half out' (Anglo-Saxon Chronicle). The level of organisation required to mobilise his large army in two shifts of which one was feeding the other must have been considerable. The complexity which Alfred's administration had attained by 892 is demonstrated by a reasonably reliable charter whose witness list includes a thesaurius, cellararius and pincerna—treasurer, food-keeper and butler. Despite the irritation which Alfred must have felt in 893, when one division, which had 'completed their call-up (stemn)' gave up the siege of a Danish army even as Alfred was moving to relieve them, this system seems to have worked remarkably well on the whole.
One of the weaknesses of pre-Alfredian defences had been that, in the absence of a standing army, fortresses were largely left unoccupied, making it very possible for a Viking force quickly to secure a strong strategic position. Alfred substantially upgraded the state of many of Wessex's fortresses, as has been demonstrated by systematic excavation of four West Saxon boroughs (at Wareham, Cricklade, Lydford and Wallingford]) that "in every case the rampart associated by the excavators with the borough of the Alfredian period was the primary defence on the site" (N.P. Brooks The Development of Military Obligations in Eighth and Ninth Century England). We know that such defences were not constructed by the occasional Danish occupiers, thanks to surviving transcripts of the formidable 11th Century administrative manuscript known as the Burghal Hidage, dated within 20 years of Alfred's death—it may well date to Alfred's reign, and it almost certainly reflects Alfredian policy. This documents the established position of these four burhs, among many others, as permanently garrisoned and maintained fortress-towns. By comparing town plans of Wallingford and Wareham with that of Winchester, one can see 'that they were laid out in the same scheme' (P. Wormald in J. Campbell, ed., The Anglo-Saxons). This supports the proposition that these newly established burhs were planned as centres of habitation and trade as well as a place of safety in moments of immediate danger.
The "Burghal Hidage" sets out the obligations for the upkeep and defence of these towns; in this way, the English population and its wealth was drawn into towns where it was not only safer from Viking soldiers, but also taxable by the King.
Alfred is thus credited with a significant degree of civil reorganization, especially in the districts ravaged by the Danes. Even if one rejects the thesis crediting the 'Burghal Hidage' to Alfred, what is undeniable is that, in the parts of Mercia acquired by Alfred from the Vikings, the shire system seems now to have been introduced for the first time. This is at least one grain of truth in the legend that Alfred was the inventor of shires, hundreds and tithings. The finances also needed attention; but the subject is obscure, and we cannot accept Asser's description of Alfred's appropriation of his revenue as more than an ideal sketch. Alfred's care for the administration of justice is testified both by history and legend; and the title "protector of the poor" was his by unquestioned right. Of the action of the Witangemot we do not hear very much under Alfred. That he was anxious to respect its rights is conclusively proved, but both the circumstances of the time and the character of the king would tend to throw more power into his hands. The legislation of Alfred probably belongs to the later part of the reign, after the pressure of the Danes had relaxed.
[edit]

Foreign relations
Asser speaks grandiosely of Alfred's relations with foreign powers, but little definite information is available. He certainly corresponded with Elias III, the patriarch of Jerusalem, and probably sent a mission to India. Embassies to Rome conveying the English alms to the Pope were fairly frequent; while Alfred's interest in foreign countries is shown by the insertions which he made in his translation of Orosius.
Around 890 Wulfstan of Haithabu undertook a journey from Haithabu on Jutland along the Baltic Sea to the Prussian trading town Truso. Wulfstan reported details of his trip to Alfred the Great.
His relations to the Celtic princes in the southern half of the island are clearer. Comparatively early in his reign the Welsh princes, owing to the pressure on them of North Wales and Mercia, commended themselves to Alfred. Later in the reign the North Welsh followed their example, and the latter co-operated with the English in the campaign of 893 (or 894). That Alfred sent alms to Irish as well as to European monasteries may be taken on Asser's authority; the visit of the three pilgrim "Scots" (i.e., Irish) to Alfred in 891 is undoubtedly authentic; the story that he himself in his childhood was sent to Ireland to be healed by St. Modwenna, though mythical, may show Alfred's interest in that island.
[edit]

Christianity and His Writings
The history of the church under Alfred is most obscure. The Danish inroads had tolled heavily upon it; the monasteries had been special points of attack, and though Alfred founded two or three monasteries and imported foreign monks, there was no general revival of monasticism under him.
To the ruin of learning and education wrought by the Danes, and the practical extinction of the knowledge of Latin even among the clergy, the preface to Alfred's translation into Old English of Pope Gregory's Pastoral Care bears eloquent witness. It was to remedy these evils that he established a court school, after the example of Charlemagne; for this he imported scholars like Grimbald and John the Saxon from Europe and Asser from South Wales; for this, above all, he put himself to school, and made the series of translations for the instruction of his clergy and people, most of which yet survive. These belong unquestionably to the latter of his reign, likely to the last four years, during which the chronicles are almost silent.
Apart from the lost Handboc or Encheiridion, which seems to have been merely a commonplace-book kept by the king, the earliest work to be translated was the Dialogues of Gregory, a book greatly popular in the Middle Ages. In this case the translation was made by Alfred's great friend Werferth, Bishop of Worcester, the king merely furnishing a foreword. The next work to be undertaken was Gregory's Pastoral Care, especially for the good of the parish clergy. In this Alfred keeps very close to his original; but the introduction which he prefixed to it is one of the most interesting documents of the reign, or indeed of English history. The next two works taken in hand were historical, the Universal History of Orosius and Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People. The priority should likely be given to the Orosius, but the point has been much debated. In the Orosius, by omissions and additions, Alfred so remodels his original as to produce an almost new work; in the Bede the author's text is closely stuck to, no additions being made, though most of the documents and some other less interesting matters are omitted. Of late years doubts have been raised as to Alfred's authorship of the Bede translation. But the sceptics cannot be regarded as having proved their point.
We come now to what is in many ways the most interesting of Alfred's works, his translation of The Consolation of Philosophy of Boethius, the most popular philosophical handbook of the middle ages. Here again Alfred deals very freely with his original and though the late Dr. G. Schepss showed that many of the additions to the text are to be traced not to Alfred himself, but to the glosses and commentaries which he used, still there is much in the work which is solely Alfred's and highly characteristic of his genius. It is in the Boethius that the oft-quoted sentence occurs: "My will was to live worthily as long as I lived, and after my life to leave to them that should come after, my memory in good works." The book has come down to us in two manuscripts only. In one of these the writing is prose, in the other alliterating verse. The authorship of the latter has been much disputed; but likely they also are by Alfred. In fact, he writes in the prelude that he first created a prose work and then used it as the basis for his poem, the Lays of Boethius, his crowning literary achievement. He spent a great deal of time working on these books, which he tells us he gradually wrote through the many stressful times of his reign to refresh his mind. Of the authenticity of the work as a whole there has never been any doubt.
The last of Alfred's works is one to which he gave the name Blostman, i.e., "Blooms" or Anthology. The first half is based mainly on the Soliloquies of St Augustine of Hippo, the remainder is drawn from various sources, and contains much that is Alfred's own and highly characteristic of him. The last words of it may be quoted; they form a fitting epitaph for the noblest of English kings. "Therefore he seems to me a very foolish man, and truly wretched, who will not increase his understanding while he is in the world, and ever wish and long to reach that endless life where all shall be made clear."
Beside these works of Alfred's, the Saxon Chronicle almost certainly, and a Saxon Martyrology, of which fragments only exist, probably owe their inspiration to him. A prose version of the first fifty Psalms has been attributed to him; and the attribution, though not proved, is perfectly possible. Additionally, Alfred appears as a character in The Owl and the Nightingale, where his wisdom and skill with proverbs is attested. Additionally, The Proverbs of Alfred, which exists for us in a 13th century manuscript contains sayings that very likely have their origins partly with the king.
[edit]

Death
Alfred died on 26 October 899, though the year is uncertain — but not 900 or 901 as were previously accepted. How he died is unknown. He was originally buried in the Old Minster, then moved to the New Minster, and then transferred to Hyde Abbey in the year 1110.
[edit]

Appearance in Culture
In honour of Alfred, the University of Liverpool now has a King Alfred Chair of English Literature.
Thomas Augustine Arne's Masque of Alfred (known for "Rule Britannia") was a masque about Alfred the Great (first public performance: 1745).
G K Chesterton's poetical epic The Ballad of the White Horse describes Alfred uniting the fragmented Kingdoms of Britain to chase the northern invaders away from the island. Like Shakespeare's Henry V, it deals with the theme of a divinely oriented leader waging
The historical fiction author Joan Wolf wrote a novel, The Edge of Light, on the life and times of Alfred the Great. It was published in 1990.
The historical fiction author Bernard Cornwell started, in the early 21st century, a retelling saga The Saxon Stories about Alfred's life and his struggle against the Vikings. A biography of Alfred by Justin Pollard was published in 2005.
Alfred was played by David Hemmings in the 1969 film Alfred the Great, which co-starred Michael York as Guthrum [1].
Alfred University, located in Alfred, NY, is named after him.
[edit]

See also
• Doom book
• British military history
• University College, Oxford
• Kingdom of England
• Lays of Boethius
• Alfred Jewel
[edit]

References
• This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
• Sir Francis Palgrave, History of the Anglo-Saxons (1876), pg. 102
[edit]

External links
• Alfred the Great from the official website of the British Monarchy
• King Alfred the Great and Alfred Jewel by Ken Roberts
• Ron Schuler's Parlour Tricks: Alfred the Great
• Lays of Boethius

[Kopi av ROYALS.FTW]

One of the outstanding figures in English history, Alfred's laws were the
first that made no distinction between the English and the Welsh peoples.
He was the only ruler to resist Danish invasions successfully and laid
the foundation for the unification of England.One of the outstanding figures in English history, Alfred's laws were the
first that made no distinction between the English and the Welsh peoples.
He was the only ruler to resist Danish invasions successfully and laid
the foundation for the unification of England.
[Brit. Enc.] king of Wessex 871-899. [ Pat(ricia) Boren, pboren - at -
rand.org]: An email pal sent me a copy of some charts from 'Ancestral
Peregrinations' by Richard B. McConnell. The front page of the copy
(which was a second printing by Charles Fleetwood in 1979) says, 'This
charming and interesting work pertained to the BOHUN family of England
and South Carolina...very limited edition of 100 copies.' I'll be
posting several lines of descent that I'd like comments on and
verification. The sources include: JW: Magna Carta by John Wurts.
CC: Royal Ancestors of Magna Carta Barons by Carr P. Collins. FW:
Ancestral Roots (1950s edition). Of course, these are secondary sources,
dating about 1955. Anyway, here's the first I'd like yeps or nopes
about.
1. Alfred the Great = Lady Alswitha.
2. Lady Ethelfreda = Ethelred, earl of Mercia (son of Hugh the earl of
Mercia).
3. Lady Elfwina = Edulf (son of Ordgar, earl of Devon).
4. Leofwine = Lady Alward (dau of Athelstan, the Danish duke of East
Anglia).
5. Leofric = Lady Godiva (dau of the Earl of Lincoln). // [Alan Wilson
, qoting Weis 7th ed., 1992, and others]
..848/849 - 26 Oct 899.[Brit. Enc.] king of Wessex 871-899. [ Pat(ricia) Boren, pboren - at -
rand.org]: An email pal sent me a copy of some charts from 'Ancestral
Peregrinations' by Richard B. McConnell. The front page of the copy
(which was a second printing by Charles Fleetwood in 1979) says, 'This
charming and interesting work pertained to the BOHUN family of England
and South Carolina...very limited edition of 100 copies.' I'll be
posting several lines of descent that I'd like comments on and
verification. The sources include: JW: Magna Carta by John Wurts.
CC: Royal Ancestors of Magna Carta Barons by Carr P. Collins. FW:
Ancestral Roots (1950s edition). Of course, these are secondary sources,
dating about 1955. Anyway, here's the first I'd like yeps or nopes
about.
1. Alfred the Great = Lady Alswitha.
2. Lady Ethelfreda = Ethelred, earl of Mercia (son of Hugh the earl of
Mercia).
3. Lady Elfwina = Edulf (son of Ordgar, earl of Devon).
4. Leofwine = Lady Alward (dau of Athelstan, the Danish duke of East
Anglia).
5. Leofric = Lady Godiva (dau of the Earl of Lincoln). // [Alan Wilson
, qoting Weis 7th ed., 1992, and others]
..848/849 - 26 Oct 899.One of the outstanding figures in English history, Alfred's laws were the
first that made no distinction between the English and the Welsh peoples.
He was the only ruler to resist Danish invasions successfully and laid
the foundation for the unification of England.
[Brit. Enc.] king of Wessex 871-899. [ Pat(ricia) Boren, pboren - at -
rand.org]: An email pal sent me a copy of some charts from 'Ancestral
Peregrinations' by Richard B. McConnell. The front page of the copy
(which was a second printing by Charles Fleetwood in 1979) says, 'This
charming and interesting work pertained to the BOHUN family of England
and South Carolina...very limited edition of 100 copies.' I'll be
posting several lines of descent that I'd like comments on and
verification. The sources include: JW: Magna Carta by John Wurts.
CC: Royal Ancestors of Magna Carta Barons by Carr P. Collins. FW:
Ancestral Roots (1950s edition). Of course, these are secondary sources,
dating about 1955. Anyway, here's the first I'd like yeps or nopes
about.
1. Alfred the Great = Lady Alswitha.
2. Lady Ethelfreda = Ethelred, earl of Mercia (son of Hugh the earl of
Mercia).
3. Lady Elfwina = Edulf (son of Ordgar, earl of Devon).
4. Leofwine = Lady Alward (dau of Athelstan, the Danish duke of East
Anglia).
5. Leofric = Lady Godiva (dau of the Earl of Lincoln). // [Alan Wilson
, qoting Weis 7th ed., 1992, and others]
..848/849 - 26 Oct 899.[Brit. Enc.] king of Wessex 871-899. [ Pat(ricia) Boren, pboren - at -
rand.org]: An email pal sent me a copy of some charts from 'Ancestral
Peregrinations' by Richard B. McConnell. The front page of the copy
(which was a second printing by Charles Fleetwood in 1979) says, 'This
charming and interesting work pertained to the BOHUN family of England
and South Carolina...very limited edition of 100 copies.' I'll be
posting several lines of descent that I'd like comments on and
verification. The sources include: JW: Magna Carta by John Wurts.
CC: Royal Ancestors of Magna Carta Barons by Carr P. Collins. FW:
Ancestral Roots (1950s edition). Of course, these are secondary sources,
dating about 1955. Anyway, here's the first I'd like yeps or nopes
about.
1. Alfred the Great = Lady Alswitha.
2. Lady Ethelfreda = Ethelred, earl of Mercia (son of Hugh the earl of
Mercia).
3. Lady Elfwina = Edulf (son of Ordgar, earl of Devon).
4. Leofwine = Lady Alward (dau of Athelstan, the Danish duke of East
Anglia).
5. Leofric = Lady Godiva (dau of the Earl of Lincoln). // [Alan Wilson
, qoting Weis 7th ed., 1992, and others]
..848/849 - 26 Oct 899.[Brit. Enc.] king of Wessex 871-899. [ Pat(ricia) Boren, pboren - at -
rand.org]: An email pal sent me a copy of some charts from 'Ancestral
Peregrinations' by Richard B. McConnell. The front page of the copy
(which was a second printing by Charles Fleetwood in 1979) says, 'This
charming and interesting work pertained to the BOHUN family of England
and South Carolina...very limited edition of 100 copies.' I'll be
posting several lines of descent that I'd like comments on and
verification. The sources include: JW: Magna Carta by John Wurts.
CC: Royal Ancestors of Magna Carta Barons by Carr P. Collins. FW:
Ancestral Roots (1950s edition). Of course, these are secondary sources,
dating about 1955. Anyway, here's the first I'd like yeps or nopes
about.
1. Alfred the Great = Lady Alswitha.
2. Lady Ethelfreda = Ethelred, earl of Mercia (son of Hugh the earl of
Mercia).
3. Lady Elfwina = Edulf (son of Ordgar, earl of Devon).
4. Leofwine = Lady Alward (dau of Athelstan, the Danish duke of East
Anglia).
5. Leofric = Lady Godiva (dau of the Earl of Lincoln). // [Alan Wilson
, qoting Weis 7th ed., 1992, and others]
..848/849 - 26 Oct 899.

Dorset ?

[Jeremiah Brown.FTW]

[from Ancestry.com 139798.GED]

Alfred became king of Wessex more by circumstance than birth. Alfred has been acknowledged as having four elder brothers and one sister. All the brothers except Aethelstan, who died about 850, reigned in turn from second to last born following the death of their father Aethelwulf in 855. The only sister was named Aethelswith.

Aethelbald reigned 855-860
Aethelbert reigned 860-866
Aethelred reigned 866-871

Alfred reigned 871-899. He prevented the Danish conquest of England, defeating them at Edington in 878 after a campaign of guerilla warfare. After his victory he allowed the Danes to keep their conquests in Mercia and East Anglia provided that Guthrum, their king, was converted to Christianity. Alfred built the English Navy.

Young Alfred, according to the historian Asser, Bishop of Sherborne, was a comely person and of a sweeter disposition than is older brothers and consequently became the favorite of both his parents and was sent by them to Rome, while still a child in order that he might be anointed king by the Pope. But though Ethelwulf showed this especial instance of regard for his son, he altogether neglected his education, and the young prince in his twelfth year had not learned to read or write. But if he could not read for himself he nevertheless loved to listen to the rude but inspiring strains of Saxon poetry when recited by others, and had he not been a king and statesman, he might easily have been a poet. Alfred succeeded as king at a period when the whole country was suffering under the ravages of the Danes and the general misery was yet further increased by a raging pestilence, along with the general dissensions of the people.

Alfred began as second in command to his elder brother, Aethelred I. There were no jealousies between them, but a marked difference of temperament. Aethelred inclined toward a religious viewpoint that faith and prayer were the prime agencies by which the heathen would be overcome. Alfred, though also devout, laid the emphasis upon policy and arms. He became King at age 23. He married lady Alswitha (Ealhswith), daughter of Ethelan, the Earl of Mercia, lineally descended from Crioda, first Earl of Mercia who died in 594.

Alfred was driven into hiding by a Viking raid into Wessex led by Guthorm, taking refuge in the Athelny marshes in Somerset. However, he gathered his forces and defeated the Danes at the battle of Eddington in 878. In the peace that followed, Guthorm received Christian baptism and Alfred recognized Danish control over East Anglia and parts of Mercia. This partition of England became known as the Danelaw. By 866, when he took London, Alfred was in control of all non-Danish England. more than a military leader, Alfred was a codifier of law, promoter of education and supporter of the arts.

Alfred was regarded as one of the noblest monarchs in British history. No name in English history is so justly popular as his. That he taught his people to defend themselves and defeat their enemies is the least of the many claims to our grateful admiration; he did much more than this. He launched his people upon a great advance of civilization and showed a horde of untaught countrymen that there were other and worthier pursuits than war or the pleasure of the table. "He was indeed one of those highly gifted men that would seem to be especially raised up by Providence to protect and advance his people." [Wurts, Vol I, p 171]

#Générale#inhumation : Winchester Hampshire Uk c

#Générale#Profession : Roi de Wessex de 871 à 878,
Roi des Anglo-Saxons de 878 à 899.

{geni:about_me} https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p066tn9v
----
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1abrpj
----
“Therefore a man never attains virtue and excellence through his power; rather he attains power and authority through his virtue… Study wisdom, therefore, and when you have learned it, do not neglect it, for I say to you without hesitation that you can attain authority through wisdom”. Alfred the Great
----
Alfred the Great (Old English: Ælfrēd[a], Ælfrǣd[b], "elf counsel" or "wise elf"; 849 – 26 October 899) was King of Wessex from 871 to 899.

Alfred successfully defended his kingdom against the Viking attempt at conquest, and by the time of his death had become the dominant ruler in England.[1] He is one of only two English monarchs to be given the epithet "the Great", the other being the Scandinavian Cnut the Great. He was also the first King of the West Saxons to style himself "King of the Anglo-Saxons". Details of Alfred's life are described in a work by the 10th-century Welsh scholar and bishop Asser.

Alfred had a reputation as a learned and merciful man of a gracious and level-headed nature who encouraged education, proposing that primary education be taught in English, and improved his kingdom's legal system, military structure and his people's quality of life. In 2002, Alfred was ranked number 14 in the BBC's poll of the 100 Greatest Britons.

In 868, Alfred married Ealhswith, daughter of a Mercian nobleman, Æthelred Mucil, Ealdorman of the Gaini. The Gaini were probably one of the tribal groups of the Mercians. Ealhswith's mother, Eadburh, was a member of the Mercian royal family.[126]

They had five or six children together, including Edward the Elder who succeeded his father as king, Æthelflæd who became Lady (ruler) of the Mercians in her own right, and Ælfthryth who married Baldwin II the Count of Flanders. His mother was Osburga daughter of Oslac of the Isle of Wight, Chief Butler of England. Asser, in his Vita Ælfredi asserts that this shows his lineage from the Jutes of the Isle of Wight. This is unlikely as Bede tells us that they were all slaughtered by the Saxons under Cædwalla. In 2008 the skeleton of Queen Eadgyth, granddaughter of Alfred the Great was found in Magdeburg Cathedral in Duitsland. It was confirmed in 2010 that these remains belong to her — one of the earliest members of the English royal family.[127]

Osferth was described as a relative in King Alfred's will and he attested charters in a high position until 934. A charter of King Edward's reign described him as the king's brother, "mistakenly" according to Keynes and Lapidge, but in the view of Janet Nelson, he probably was an illegitimate son of King Alfred.[128][129]

===Source
*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_the_Great

===Further Reading:
*http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/ENGLAND,%20AngloSaxon%20&%20Danish%20Kings.htm#Alfreddied899B
*http://www.friesian.com/perifran.htm#saxons1
*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_the_Great
*http://genealogics.org/getperson.php?personID=I00000123&tree=LEO
*http://archaeology.org/issues/100-features/lost-tombs/1091-alfred-old-minster-hyde-abbey-st-bartholemew
*http://www.britroyals.com/kings.asp?id=alfred
*http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Who_was_Alfred_the_Great
*http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01309d.htm
*http://satucket.com/lectionary/Alfred.htm
*http://historymedren.about.com/od/alfredthegreat/a/bio_alfred.htm
*http://archive.org/details/asserslifeofking00asseiala

===Videos
* [ Time Team S01-E01 The Guerrilla Base of the King]
* [ Time Team S10-E08 Athelney,.Somerset]

Born at Wantage, Berkshire, in 849, Alfred was the fifth son of
A ethelwulf, king of the West Saxons. At their father's behest and by
mutual ag reement, Alfred's elder brothers succeeded to the kingship in
turn, rather th an endanger the kingdom by passing it to under-age
children at a time when th e country was threatened by worsening Viking
raids from Denmark.
Since the 7 90s, the Vikings had been using fast mobile armies, numbering
thousands of me n embarked in shallow-draught longships, to raid the
coasts and inland waters of England for plunder. Such raids were evolving
into permanent Danish settl ements; in 867, the Vikings seized York and
established their own kingdom in the southern part of Northumbria. The
Vikings overcame two other major Anglo- Saxon kingdoms, East Anglia and
Mercia, and their kings were either tortured to death or fled. Finally,
in 870 the Danes attacked the only remaining indep endent Anglo-Saxon
kingdom Wessex, whose forces were commanded by King Aeth elred and his
younger brother Alfred. At the battle of Ashdown in 871, Alfred routed
the Viking army in a fiercely fought phill assault. However, further
defeats followed for Wessex and Alfred's brother died.
As king of Wessex at the age of 21, Alfred (reigned 871-99) was a
strongminded but highly strung b attle veteran at the head of remaining
resistance to the Vikings in southern England. In early 878, the Danes
led by King Guthrum seized Chippenham in Wil tshire in a lightning strike
and used it as a secure base from which to devas tate Wessex. Local people
either surrendered or escaped (Hampshire people fle d to the Isle of
Wight), and the West Saxons were reduced to hit and run atta cks seizing
provisions when they could. With only his royal bodyguard, a smal l army
of thegns (the king's followers) and Aethelnoth earldorman of Somerset as
his ally, Alfred withdrew to the Somerset tidal marshes in which he had
probably hunted as a youth. (It was during this time that Alfred, in his
pre occupation with the defence of his kingdom, allegedly burned some
cakes which he had been asked to look after; the incident was a legend
dating from early twelfth century chroniclers.)
A resourceful fighter, Alfred reassessed his st rategy and adopted the
Danes' tactics by building a fortified base at Athelne y in the Somerset
marshes and summoning a mobile army of men from Wiltshire, Somerset and
part of Hampshire to pursue guerrilla warfare against the Danes . In May
878, Alfred's army defeated the Danes at the battle of Edington.
A ccording to his contemporary biographer Bishop Asser, 'Alfred attacked
the wh ole pagan army fighting ferociously in dense order, and by divine
will eventu ally won the victory, made great slaughter among them, and
pursued them to th eir fortress (Chippenham) ... After fourteen days the
pagans were brought to the extreme depths of despair by hunger, cold and
fear, and they sought peace '. This unexpected victory proved to be the
turning point in Wessex's battle for survival.
Realising that he could not drive the Danes out of the rest of E ngland,
Alfred concluded peace with them with the treaty of Wedmore. King Gut hrum
was converted to Christianity with Alfred as godfather and many of the
Danes returned to East Anglia where they settled as farmers. In 886,
Alfred negotiated a partition treaty with the Danes, in which a frontier
was demarca ted along the Roman Watling Street and northern and eastern
England came unde r the jurisdiction of the Danes an area known as
'Danelaw'. Alfred therefor e gained control of areas of West Mercia and
Kent which had been beyond the b oundaries of Wessex. To consolidate
alliances against the Danes, Alfred marri ed one of his daughters
Aethelflaed to the ealdorman of Mercia (Alfred himse lf had married
Eahlswith, a Mercian noblewoman), and another daughter Aelfthr yth to the
count of Flanders, a strong naval poAlfred the Great, King of Englandfrom 871 to his death in 899
Born in 849 at Wantage, Berkshire
Died on October 28, 899 and interred at Hyde Abbey, Winchester
Alfred prevented the Danish conquest of England, defeating them atEdington in 878 after a campaign of guerrila warfare. After his victoryhe allowed the Danes to keep their conquests in Mercia and East Angliaprovided that Guthrum, their king, was converted to Christianity. Alfredbuilt a navy of Warships to defend the south coast against further Danishinvasions (885 - 886; 892 - 896) and protected Wessex with a chain offortifications. He took London in 886, thereby gaining control of allEngland except the Danish areas.

Alfred married in 868 to Ealhswith, a Mercian noblewoman, daughter ofÆthelred Mucil "the Great", Ealdorman of the Gainas and his wife Eadburghof the Royal House of Mercia. This marriage revived the ties betweenSessex and Mercia; and provided Alfred with a powerful ally north of theThames.
Alfred and Ealhswith had the following children:

Æthelflæd (869 - 919) who married Æthelred II Ealdorman of Mercia.
Edmund, born about 870, died young.
Edward the Elder, King of England, born 869
Æfthryth who married Baldwin II "the Bald", Count of Flanders. Click onBaldwin the Bald. Their greatX4 granddaughter was Mathilda of Flanderswho married William the Conqueror.
Æthelgeofu, Abbess of Shaftesbury
Æthelweard (880 - 922)

Reigned 871-899. Prevented the Danish conquest of England, defeating themat Eddington (878) after a campaign of guerilla warfare. After thevictory he allowed the Danes to keep their conquests in East Anglia &Mercia provided that Guthrum, their king, was converted to Christianity.Alfred built a navy of warships to defend the south coast aginst furtherDanish invasions (885-886, 892-896) & protected Wessex with a chain offortifications. He took London (886) thus gaining control of all Englandexcept the Danish areas. Quote from Winston Churchill: ("Alfred theGreat", chapter 7 of volume 1 of his "History of the English-SpeakingPeoples". An appreciation of "the greatest Englishman that ever lived").Quote from Maurice Ashley in "Great Britain to 1688" about Alfred: "Hewas the greatest Englishman in early history" (p. 41). Banner was agolden dragon (the golden dragon was the banner of the kingdom of Wessex,Alfred's personal banner was the White Horse). Since Alfred was the fifthson, it was never thought he would be King, and thus unlike his olderbrothers who have the royal mark of the ruling house of Wessex "AEthel"(or "Ethel") as a part of their names, Alfred was instead named after hismother's folk).

REF: The Newsletter of Anglo-Saxon Studies at The University of GeorgiaVol I, Number 3 (Spring, 1994): "ALFRED'S MILITARY ACHIEVEMENTS", AlexBruce

Alfred the Great is remembered for his two great victories--his success in
re-establishing learning in his kingdom of Wessex (see Matheliende 1.2),
and his success in defeating the seemingly unstoppable forces of theinvading Danes. No matter how much we venerate the revival of educationunder Alfred, the latter of these successes is, however, the greater;there would have been no possibility of restoring the centers of learninghad Alfred not brought peace to his land. When Alfred became king of theWest Saxons in 871, he was already an experienced military leader, as hehad participated in several campaigns against the invading Danes. TheDanes had been present in the British Isles since at least 789, but untilthe time of Alfred they had concentrated their efforts on subjugating theeastern lands of Britain. However, in 865 a great army of Danes hungryfor land and wealth moved quickly through the kingdoms of East Anglia andNorthumbria. After these two kingdoms capitulated and paid tribute to theinvaders, the Danes turned to Mercia. There, in 868, they met bothMercians and West Saxons; the two nations had formed an alliance that hadbeen strengthened that very year by the marriage of Alfred and Ealhswith,daughter of a Mercian ealdorman (see
Asser ch. 29). Alfred and his elder brother King Aethelred personally led
the Wessex contingent, yet not even the combined forces of the Merciansand
the West Saxons could keep the Danes at bay. The Mercians, like the East
Anglians and Northumbrians, had to "make peace"--that is, pay tribute.
In 871 Alfred's brother Aethelred died, making Alfred, last son of King
Aethelwulf, the new king of the West Saxons. In that year as well theDanes
turned their attention to Alfred's kingdom, and for the next four years,
until 875, Alfred bought peace for his people by paying tribute to the
Danes. At first the invaders seemed satisfied, but in 875 they began
altering the terms of the peace.
That year, after collecting their tribute, the Danes did not leaveWessex
as they had before, but lived there, peacefully but at the expense of the
West Saxons, until 878. Then, in their desire to subjugate completely the
people of Wessex, the Danes went on the offensive. Alfred fought back, yet
in March of that year he and his followers were forced into hiding, andthe
hope of the West Saxons was fading. But that May Alfred met the Danish
force at Edington; "there he fought against the entire host, and put it to
flight, and pursued it up to the fortification [probably Chippenham] and
laid siege there a fortnight; and then the host gave him preliminary
hostages and solemn oaths that they would leave his kingdom, and promised
him in addition that their king would receive baptism; and they fulfilled
this promise" (Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, year 878). Alfred had defeated the
invading Danes, forcing them to submit to his terms. They subsequentlyleft
Alfred and Wessex, turning to the continent for new lands to plunder. Yetthough this particular force left, Danes still inhabited Britain;Northumbria, East Anglia, and parts of Mercia were all still under theDanelaw. Alfred felt constantly threatened, and had to fight skirmisheswith the Danes for many years. To help preserve his hard-earned peaceAlfred developed stronger defenses for his land of Wessex. In thesouthern part of Britain he established several new fortified cities,better than the smaller forts, where great groups of people could gatherfor protection. He reorganized his army so that at any one time half ofit was prepared for war. Finally, in 886, Alfred took the initiativehimself and attacked the Danish-held city of London in an attempt todiminish the lands ruled under the Danelaw. He succeeded, and for hisefforts all the "Angles and Saxons--those who had formerly been scatteredeverywhere and were not in captivity with the Danes--turned willingly toKing Alfred and submitted themselves to his lordship" (Asser ch. 83). Atthis point Alfred seems to have come closest to rightly earning the title"King of England," though in
reality he governed perhaps a quarter of the land now known as England.Once he had brought peace to his land Alfred began to implement hisreforms. He encouraged learning and the keeping of the Anglo-SaxonChronicle; he also established a code of law, based on the Bible, which"shows how the king sought to maintain social order" (Introduction to"Extracts from the laws of King Alfred," Alfred the Great 163). Law codeswere certainly not new to the people of Wessex; what was different aboutAlfred's code was that by basing his laws so clearly on Biblical law,"Alfred places his own activity as a law-giver in what he regards as itsproper context, effectively implying that the legislation which followsstands in the same tradition and represents that of the new chosenpeople" (Introduction to Alfred the Great 39). In 892-3 Alfred's peacewas disturbed by the violent return of the Danes. These invaders, drivenoff the continent, seemed intent upon "the final conquest and settlementof England" (McElwee 32). During these campaigns Alfred won praise fromthe writer of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (perhaps not very surprising,considering who the sponsor was!) for his forethought and stratagems. Hisstanding army was able to fight off the invaders while the peopleremained safe in his fortified cities. Alfred also employed new tactics;he scouted out the enemy and destroyed them at sea using larger war-shipsof his own design. The Danes were thwarted at every turn, and were forcedto retreat, unfulfilled, from the island of Britain. The last years ofAlfred's life were more peaceful and devoted to scholarly pursuits. WhenAlfred died on October 26, 899, he left a culture which had perhapsalready seen its best days, but, thanks to Alfred's care and
courage, would be remembered for centuries to come.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Alfred the Great: Asser's Life of King Alfred and other Contemporary
Sources. Trans. with an introduction and notes by Simon Keynes and Michael
Lapidge. New York: Penguin Books, 1983.

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. Trans., ed., and introduced by G. N.Garmonsway. London: J. M. Dent & Sons Ltd., 1972.

Asser. Life of King Alfred. In Alfred the Great: Asser's Life of King
Alfred and other Contemporary Sources. Trans. with an introduction and
notes by Simon Keynes and Michael Lapidge. New York: Penguin Books, 1983.

McElwee, William. A Short History of England, from the Time of King Alfred
to the Present Day. New York: Frederick A. Praeger, 1968.

The Oxford History of Britain. Revised edition. Ed. Kenneth O. Morgan.
Oxford: The Oxford University Press, 1988.

Plummer, Charles. The Life and Times of Alfred the Great. New York: Haskel
House Productions Ltd., 1902.

REF: The Newsletter of Anglo-Saxon Studies at The University of GeorgiaVol I, Number 2 (Winter, 1994) "ALFRED THE EDUCATOR" Kirk Appletoft:Alfred the Great, considered the first king of England, is known forsaving his land from decimation by the invading Danes and thereby givinghis countrymen a sense of nationalism. Yet Alfred achieved more thanmilitary and political successes during his reign from 871-901; hisdedication to the teaching of the liberal arts helped preserve theliterary tradition of the Anglo-Saxons. Alfred's appreciation foreducation began very early in his life. In 853, at the age of four,Alfred was sent by his father, King Aethelwulf, to Pope Leo IV in Romefor instruction. This instruction, no doubt, focused on religion ratherthan on the liberal arts. But this trip to Rome, as well as the oneAlfred made two years later, certainly helped Alfred recognize the roleof the Church in education. Alfred would fully acknowledge this role whenhe became king. Alfred's interest in the liberal arts was encouraged byhis stepmother Judith, who was the first to pique his interest inreading. Alfred's contemporary biographer, Asser, a bishop from Wales,records that Judith offered a book of Saxon poems to the first ofAethelwulf's four sons who could recite the book to her. To win the book,Alfred, who could not read, had an instructor read the book to him untilhe had memorized every word. According to Asser, this "desire for wisdom,more than anything else, together with the nobility of his birth, . . .characterized the nature of his noble mind" (Asser 75). Not until afterhe became king in 871 did Alfred learn to read and write. Asser, whomAlfred had called to serve in his court, seems to have been responsiblefor this feat. Asser would copy passages from the Bible for Alfred tostudy; Alfred would then eagerly translate them into English. The dutiesof being the king, however, constantly interrupted Alfred's education.His entire reign was spent in a religious war with the Danes. He believedthat the invaders represented punishment from God for the decay ofeducation, and the corresponding lack of understanding of Latinmanuscripts and psalms. So, for Alfred, his war became not a matter ofthe English fighting the Danes; it was the Christians fighting theheathens. This
belief was one of the primary reasons for the large number of religious
translations and the increasing interest in education during Alfred'sreign. As well, Alfred supported education because he recognized that "aking's raw material and instruments of rule are a well peopled land, andhe must have men of prayer, men of war, and men of work . . . [for]without these tools he cannot perform any of the tasks entrusted to him"(Plummer 153). In order to have these tools at his disposal he broughtmany Latin scholars from the continent to teach at his institutions. Healso, even when his war with the Danes was at its height, took time totranslate several Latin works on his own, including Pope Gregory theGreat's Pastoral Care, Boethius's Consolation of Philosophy and St.Augustine's Soliloquies. So important to Alfred was the ability to readthat he began to de Mand that other nobles of the land be able to read.Asser recounts Alfred's admonishments to a group of judges who werepoorly educated; they were told "either to relinquish immediately [their]offices of worldly power . . . or else to apply [them]selves much moreattentively to the pursuit of wisdom." (Asser 110) Needless to say theychose the latter option.
The effect of all of Alfred's educational reforms was that we, more than1000 years later, have a wealth of Anglo- Saxon prose and poetry to readand study. Without his dedication to learning we would all have beenpoorer.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Asser. Life of King Alfred. In Alfred the Great: Asser's Life of King
Alfred and other Contemporary Sources. Trans. with an introduction and
notes by Simon Keynes and Michael Lapidge. New York: Penguin Books, 1983.

Bosworth, George F. Alfred the Great: His Life and Times. London:Macmillan
and County, Ltd., 1914.

Loyn, H. R. Alfred the Great. New York: Oxford University Press, 1967.

Plummer, Charles. The Life and Times of Alfred the Great. New York: Haskel
House Productions Ltd., 1902.

REF: *The Chronicle of Fabius Ethelwerd, From the Beginning of the World
to the Year of Our Lord 975*, translated by J A Giles in *Six Old English
Chronicles*, London (Bohn), 1848, p 28, 37.: "Lastly, in the same year,king Alfred departed out of this world, that immoveable pillar of theWestern Saxons, that man full of justice, bold in arms, learned inspeech, and, above all other things, imbued with the divine instructions.For he had translated into his own language, out of Latin, unnumberedvolumes, of so varied a nature, and so excellently, that the sorrowfulbook of Boethius seemed, not only to the learned, but even to those whoheard it read, as it were, brought to life again. The monarch died on theseventh day before the solemnity of All Saints, and his body rests inpeace in the city of Winston. Pray, O reader, to Christ our Redeemer,that he will save his soul!"

REF: Weis & Sheppard, *Ancestral Roots ... *, 7th Edition, 1992, p 2 :Alfred the Great, King of England, 871-899, b. Wantage, Berkshire, 849;d. 26 Oct. 899; m. 868, Ealhsith (Alswitha), d. ca. 905, dau. of EarlAethelred of Mercia and Eadburgh. Alfred was one of the greatest men inhistory. He was crowned king at Winchester, 871; founded the BritishNavy, organized the militia, compiled a code of laws, built schools andmonasteries, and invited scholars to live at his court. He was a goodscholar and translated many books."

SRCE: Asser of Saint David, *Annals of the Reign of Alfred the Great,from
A.D. 849 to A.D. 887* (or *Life of Alfred*), translated by J A Giles,1848, p 43-44. Giles says in the preface, p vi: In the year of our Lord'sincarnation 849, was born Alfred, king of the Anglo-Saxons, at the royalvillage of Wanating [Wantage], in Berkshire, which country has its namefrom the wood of Berrod, where the box-tree grows most abundantly. Hisgenealogy is traced in the following order. King Alfred was the son ofKing Ethelwild, who was the son of Egbert, who was the son, of Elmund,who was son of Eafa, who was the son of Eoppa, who was the son of Ingild.Ingild, and Ina, the famous king of the West-Saxons, were two brothers.Ina went to Rome, and there ending this life honourably, entered theheavenly kingdom, to reign there for ever with Christ. Ingild and Inawere the sons of Coenred, who was the son of Ceolwald, who was the son ofCudam, who was the son of Cuthwin, who was the son of Ceawlin, who wasthe son of Cynric, who was the son of Creoda, who was the son of Cerdic,who was the son of Elesa, who was the son of Gewis, from whom the Britonsname all that nation Gewis [FOOTNOTE: The Gewissae, generally understoodto be the West-Saxons.], who was the son of Brond, who was the son ofBeldeg, who was the son of Woden, who was the son of Frithowald, who wasthe son of Frealaf, who was the son of Frithuwulf, who was the son ofFinn of Godwulf, who was the son of Geat, which Geat the pagans longworshipped as a god. Sedulius makes mention of him in his metricalPaschal poem, as follows:--
When gentile poets with their fictions vain,
In tragic language and bombastic strain,
To their god Geat, comic deity,
Loud praises sing, &c.
"Geat was the son of Taetwa, who was the son of Beaw, who was the son of
Sceldi [= SCELDWA in trans. by Keynes & Lapidge], who was the son ofHeremod, who was the son of Itermon, who was the son of Hathra, who wasthe son of Gula [= HWALA in trans. by K & L], who was the son of Bedwig,who was the son of Shem [= SETH in trans. by K & L, but this is probablyan error], who was the son of Noah, who was the son of Lamech, who wasthe son of Methusalem [=METHUSALAH], who was the son of Enoch, who wasthe son of Malaleel [= MAHALALEEL], who was the son of Cainian [= CAINANin trans. by K & L], who was the son of Enos, who was the son of Seth,who was the son of Adam."

REF: William of Malmesbury, *Chronicle of the Kings of England*, c 1135,
tr John Allen Giles, London (Henry G Bohn) 1847, p 113-122 passim: He was
married to Ealhswith of the Gani in 868."Received the royal unction andcrown from pope Leo the fourth at Rome, acceded to the sovereignty andretained it with the greatest difficulty, but with equal valour,twenty-eight years and a half. ..... For nine successive years battlingwith his enemies, sometimes deceived by false treaties, and sometimeswreaking his vengeance on the deceivers, he was at last reduced to suchextreme distress, that scarcely three counties, that is to say,Hampshire, Wiltshire, and Somersetshire, stood fast by their allegiance,as he was compelled to retreat to a certain island called Athelney, whichfrom its marshy situation was hardly accessible. ..... [However, later]Alfred had reduced the whole island to his power, with the exception ofwhat the Danes possessed. ..... After England had rejoiced for 13 yearsin the tranquility of peace and in the fertility of her soil, thenorthern pest of barbarians again returned. With them returned war andslaughter ..... The king himself was, with his usual activity, present inevery action, ever daunting the invaders, and at the same timeinspiriting his subjects, with the signal display of his courage. Hewould oppose himself singly to the enemy; and by his own personalexertions rally his declining forces. The very places are yet pointed outby the inhabitants where he felt the vicissitudes of good and evilfortune. ..... His children by Elswitha, the daughter of earl Athelred,were Ethelswitha, Edward who reigned after him; Ethel fled who wasmarried to Ethered earl of the Mercians; Ethelwerd, whom they celebrateas being extremely learned; Elfred and Ethelgiva, virgins. His [Alfred's]health was so bad that he was constantly disquited either by the piles orsome disorder of the intestines. It is said, however, that he entreatedthis from God, in his supplications, in order that, by the admonition ofpain, he might be less anxious after earthly delights.
"Yet amid these circumstances the private life of the king is to beadmired and celebrated with the highest praise. For although, as some onehas said, "Laws must give way amid the strife of arms," yet he, amid thesound of trumpets and the din of war, enacted statures by which hispeople might equally familiarise themselves to religious worship and tomilitary discipline. And since, from the example of the barbarians, thenatives themselves began to lust after rapine, insomuch that there was nosafe intercourse without a military guard, he appointed centuries, whichthey call "hundreds," and decennaries, that is to say, "tythings," sothat every Englishman, living according to law, must be a member of both.If any one was accused of a crime, he was obliged immediately to producepersons from the hundred and tything to become his surety; and whosoeverwas unable to find such surety, must dread the severity of the laws. Ifany who was impleaded made his escape either before or after he had foundsurety, all persons of the hundred and tything paid a fine to the king.By this regulation he diffused such peace throughout the country that heordered golden bracelets, which might mock the eager desires of thepassengers while no one durst take them away, to be hung up on the publiccauseways, where the roads crossed each other. ..... He erectedmonasteries wherever he deemed it fitting ..... [Alfred sent forGrimmald] that by his activity he might awaken the study of literature inEngland, which was now slumbering and almost expiring. ..... Confiding inthese auxiliaries [Grimmald, Asser, Werefrith, Johannes Scotus], the kinggave his whole soul to the cultivation of the liberal arts, insomuch thatno Englishman was quicker in comprehending, or more elegant intranslating. ..... He translated into English the greater part of theRoman authors ..... Moreover he infused a great regard for literatureinto his countrymen, stimulating them both with rewards and punishments,allowing no ignorant person to aspire to any dignity in the court. Hedied just as he had begun a translation of the Psalms. ..... He had oneunusual and unheard of custom, which was, that he always carried in hisbosom a book in which the daily order of the Psalms was contained, forthe purpose of carefully perusing it, if at any time he had leisure. Inthis way he passed his life, much respected by neighboring princes, andgave his daughter Ethelswitha in marriage to Baldwin earl of Flanders, bywhom he had Arnulf and Ethelwulf; the former received from his father thecounty of Boulogne, from the other at this day are descended the earls ofFlanders. [Footnote by Giles: "Matilda, queen of William the First, wasdaughter of Baldwin earl of Flanders, the fifth in descent fromEthelswitha."]
"Alfred, paying the debt of nature, was buried at Winchester, in themonastery which he had founded ..... They report that Alfred was first was
first buried in the cathedral, because the monaster was unfinished, butthat
afterwards, on account of the folly of the canons, who asserted that the
royal spirit, resuming its carcass, wandered nightly through thebuildings,
Edward, his son and successor, removed the remains of his father, and gave
them a quiet resting-place in the new minster. [Footnote by Giles: "On its
removal called Hyde Abbey."] These and similar superstitions, such as that
the dead body of a wicked man runs about, after death, by the agency ofthe
devil, the English hold with almost inbred credulity, borrowing them from
the heathens, according to the expression of Virgil, "Forms such as flit,they say, when life is gone." [Virg. Aeneid, x. 641.]

REF: British Monarchy Official Website: From the late 8th century, therewere attacks by Vikings from Scandinavia. The kingdoms of Northumbria andMercia were rapidly over-run and in 871 the Danish army attacked Wessex.After initial setbacks, Alfred, King of Wessex (reigned 871-99) defeatedthe Danes at the Battle of Edington in 878. The Danes withdrew to an areanorth of a frontier running from London to Chester, which became known asthe 'Danelaw'. Alfred then began a programme of reforms, includingestablishing a legal code, improving education and learning, andreforming the coinage. He also started
a building programme of well-defended towns ('borough' comes from the OldEnglish burgh, a fortress) and a new navy.

Ruled England 871-899; Born at Wantage 849; Buried at Winchester TheWitan, so it turned out, chose well, for Alfred, seasoned by manybattles, proved also to be a great ruler. Though he was not, so it issaid, a man of any great physical strength, yet he was a considerablewarrior. He defeated the Danish onslaught, led by Guthrum in 878, at thefamous battle of Ethandun. In 884 Alfred received the submission not onlyof the English, but also of many Welsh princes, and, after 897, theDanes, too, had learnt not to give him further trouble. Maraudings weresuccessfully combated by enlarging the navy, in the defences of thecountry were improved by fortifying townships and by building forts. Butgreat though Alfred's military achievements were, his real greatness laynot in war, which only destroys, but in the arts of peace. Much ofAlfred's work, like his culinary misfortune, is probably fabulous, but hedid three great things which must be noted, for they alone are enough toraise him high above others of his age: he started, after the fashion ofCharles the Great, a court school to educate the nobility; he encouragedthe greatest scholars of the day to come to England; and he translatedand 'published' three medieval' best sellers', Bede's History, Boethius'sConsolation of Philosophy, and Gregory's Paaatoral Care.

Konge av Wessex fra 871-899.

Alfred, called The Great (849-99), king of the West Saxons (871-99), and one of the outstanding figures of English history. Born in Wantage in southern England, Alfred was the youngest of five sons of King Ethelwulf. On the death of his brother Ethelred Alfred became king, coming to the throne during a Danish invasion. Although he succeeded in making peace with the Danes, they resumed their marauding expeditions five years later, and by early 878 they were successful almost everywhere. About Easter of 878, however, Alfred established himself at Athelney and began assembling an army. In the middle of that year he defeated the Danes and captured their stronghold, probably at present-day Edington. During the following 14 years Alfred was able to devote himself to the internal affairs of his kingdom. By 886 he had captured the city of London, and soon afterward he was recognized as the king of all England.
In 893 the Danes invaded England again, and the following four years were marked by warfare; eventually, the Danes were forced to withdraw from Alfred's domain. The only ruler to resist Danish invasions successfully, Alfred made his kingdom the rallying point for all Saxons, thus laying the foundation for the unification of England.
Alfred was a patron of learning and did much for the education of his people. He began a court school and invited British and foreign scholars, notably the Welsh monk Asser and the Irish-born philosopher and theologian John Scotus Erigena, to come there. Alfred translated such works as The Consolation of Philosophy by the Roman statesman and philosopher Boethius, The History of the World by the Spanish priest Paulus Orosius, and Pastoral Care by Pope Gregory I. Alfred's laws, the first promulgated in more than a century, were the first that made no distinction between the English and the Welsh peoples."Alfred," Microsoft (R) Encarta. Copyright (c) 1994 Microsoft Corporation. Copyright (c) 1994 Funk & Wagnall's Corporation.

Ancestral Roots of Certain American Colonists, 7th Ed., Weis (Line 1)

Danes Invade England

The new invaders were Scandinavians from Norway and Denmark (see Vikings). The English called them Danes. Summer after summer these bold pirates rowed up the rivers in their longboats, plundered the rich monasteries, and went home with the gold and gems. Soon after 850 a great force remained in England, bent on conquest. Then permanent settlers poured in. The Danes were farmers and traders as well as warriors. When they founded a town usually a port they fortified it and opened a market. All of eastern England north of the Thames passed under the rule of the Danish jarls, or earls, and came to be known as the Danelaw, the part under Danish law.

The Danes would probably have wiped out Christianity in England if it had not been for Alfred the Great, king of Wessex. Alfred defeated the Danes' great army at Chippenham in 878 and forced the Danish leader to sign a treaty agreeing to leave Wessex free. The Danes promised also to be baptized, and many did become Christians. Alfred began English prose literature by translating Latin books into Anglo-Saxon. He also built schools and ordered the 'Anglo-Saxon Chronicle', the first historical record of England, to be begun. (See also Alfred the Great.)

A century after Alfred's time the Danes started once more to raid England's shores. In 991 the incompetent Ethelred the Unready tried to buy them off by paying them yearly a large sum in silver, called the Danegeld, or Dane tax, which was raised by a heavy tax on the people. Nevertheless the Danes came again, and in 1016 Canute, the king of Norway and Denmark, made himself king of England also. He proved to be a wise and strong ruler, but after his death his empire fell apart, and in 1042 the Danish dynasty in England ended. (See also Canute the Great.)

The English line then returned to the throne with Edward, son of Ethelred. He had been reared by French monks and was called The Confessor.
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ALFRED THE GREAT: CONSIDERED ONE THE GREATEST MEN IN ENGLIS

--Other Fields

Ref Number: 323

Alfred is the only English king [Canute was Danish] to have been desinated 'the Great' and also the first to have a contemporary biographer in the person of Asser, the Welsh-born Bishop of Sherborne. Alfred was born at the royal manor of Wantage in Berkshire [now re-located in Oxfordshire] in 849, according to Asser, but elsewhere he is stated to have been twenty-three years old at his accession, implying a date of 847 or 848, which seems more likely in view of his early prowess against the Danes.
Alfred's great love of learning, which was to be manifested in later life, is said to have been inculcated by his mother who showed her sons a beautifully illuminated book of poetry and promised to give it to the first one to learn to read it. Alfred was the winner. While still in his teens, Alfred became the right hand of his brother King Ethelred and proved himself an able commander in the struggle against the Vikings. In 868 he married Ealhswith, the daughter of Ethelred Mucil, Ealdorman of the Gaini [a Mercian tribal group], and Eadburh [or Eadburga, a descendant of the Royal House ofMercia. She bore him a large family, of whom two sons and three daughters survived infancy.
When Alfred succeeded his brother Ethelwulf as king in April 871, the country was largely overrun by Danish invaders. A month after his accession he won a victory at Wilton and followed it up with anumber of other successful skirmishes in the south of England, but within two years the Danes had most of Mercia and Northumbria in their grasp. Alfred's brother-in-law, King Burhed of Mercia, was driven out and went to Rome, where he died. After winning a sea battle in 875, Alfred concluded an uneasy and short-lived peace treaty with the invaders in 876. Further incursions into Devon soon followed and 'the host', as the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle terms the invaders, took refuge in Exeter where more peace negotiations took place. They withdrew to Mercia in the autumn of 877.
Alfred retired with his army into the island of Athelney, an inaccessible marshy area of Somerset. To this period belongs the story of Alfred disguising himself as a wandering harper and entering the Danish camp to gain vital knowledge of the enemy. Also attributed to this time is the story of the King taking refuge in a swineherd's hut and being soundly berated by the swineherd's wife for burning the cakes she had set him to watch.
Alfred left Athelney in May 878 and led his army into Wiltshire, being joined by large contingents from Somerset, Wiltshire and Hampshire. He met the Danes at Ethandune [Edington] and gained a resounding victory, driving the enemy back into their stronghold at Chippenham. The peace terms were settled a few weeks later, the Danes agreeing to withdraw from Wessex and return into East Anglia, Mercia, and Northumbria, which were ceded to them and became known as the Danelaw. Their leader, Guthrum, accepted Christianity and Alfred stood sponsor at his baptism, giving him the name of Athelstan.
Over the next few years Alfred consolidated his kingdom, strengthening the defences, encouraging learning and religion and codifying laws. Alfred was a polymath and could turn his hand to most things, including the translation of classical texts and the invention of a candle-clock. For the better government of the realm he called together a great council of bishops, ealdormen and thanes to meettwice a year, the first embryo parliament.
Asser tells us that Alfred was afflicted with a mysterious illness which attacked him periodically causing great pain. The late Sir Iain Moncreiffe of that Ilk had suggested that this might be an early reference to the 'royal malady', porphyria. Alfred died on 26 October 899 and was buried at Winchester. His wife Ealhswith survived until 5 December 902.
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SOURCE NOTES:
http://www3.dcs.hull.ac.uk/cgi-bin/gedlkup/n=royal?royal01964
http://home.att.net/~a.junkins/anglo1.html#X128

Acceded 871-899.

Alfred
From the late 8th century, attacks by Vikings from Scandinavia increased.After a major invasion in 865, the kingdoms of Northumbria and Merciawere rapidly overrun, and in 871 the Danish army attacked Wessex. TheWessex forces under the command of Alfred (reigned 871-99), then aged 21,defeated the Danes at the Battle of Edington in 878. The Danes withdrewto an area north of a frontier running from London to Chester and knownas 'Danelaw'.

This victory did not finish the Danish threat, and Alfred reorganised theWessex defences by organising his army on a rota basis, so he could raisea 'rapid reaction force' to deal with raiders whilst still enabling histhegns and peasants to tend their farms. Second, Alfred started abuilding programme of well-defended settlements across southern Englandas a defence in depth against Danish raiders. Alfred also ordered thebuilding of a navy of new fast ships to patrol the coasts and meetinvaders before they penetrated inland.

Other reforms included establishing a legal code (assembled from the lawsof his predecessors and of the kingdoms of Mercia and Kent), andreforming the coinage. Illiterate in Latin until the age of 38, Alfredpromoted literacy, religion and education, and directed the translationof works of religious instruction, philosophy and history into thevernacular; this was partly so that people could read his orders andlegislation. The energetic royal authority demonstrated in Alfred'spolicies presaged the Wessex kings' rule of all England during the nextcentury.
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Reigned 871-899. Prevented the Danish conquest of England, defeatingthem at Eddington (878) after a campaign of guerilla warfare. After thevictory he allowed the Danes to keep their conquests in East Anglia &Mercia provided that Guthrum, their king, was converted to Christianity.Alfred built a navy of warships to defend the south coast aginst furtherDanish invasions (885-886, 892-896) & protected Wessex with a chain offortifications. He took London (886) thus gaining control of all Englandexcept the Danish areas. Quote from Winston Churchill: ("Alfred theGreat", chapter 7 of volume 1 of his "History of the English-SpeakingPeoples". An appreciation of "the greatest Englishman that everlived"). Quote from Maurice Ashley in "Great Britain to 1688" aboutAlfred: "He was the greatest Englishman in early history" (p. 41).Banner was a golden dragon (the golden dragon was the banner of thekingdom of Wessex, Alfred's personal banner was the White Horse). SinceAlfred was the fifth son, it was never thought he would be King, and thusunlike his older brothers who have the royal mark of the ruling house ofWessex "AEthel" (or "Ethel") as a part of their names, Alfred was insteadnamed after his mother's folk).

REF: The Newsletter of Anglo-Saxon Studies at The University of GeorgiaVol I, Number 3 (Spring, 1994): "ALFRED'S MILITARY ACHIEVEMENTS", AlexBruce

Alfred the Great is remembered for his two great victories--his success in
re-establishing learning in his kingdom of Wessex (see Matheliende 1.2),
and his success in defeating the seemingly unstoppable forces of theinvading Danes. No matter how much we venerate the revival of educationunder Alfred, the latter of these successes is, however, the greater;there would have been no possibility of restoring the centers of learninghad Alfred not brought peace to his land. When Alfred became king of theWest Saxons in 871, he was already an experienced military leader, as hehad participated in several campaigns against the invading Danes. TheDanes had been present in the British Isles since at least 789, but untilthe time of Alfred they had concentrated their efforts on subjugating theeastern lands of Britain. However, in 865 a great army of Danes hungryfor land and wealth moved quickly through the kingdoms of East Anglia andNorthumbria. After these two kingdoms capitulated and paid tribute to theinvaders, the Danes turned to Mercia. There, in 868, they met bothMercians and West Saxons; the two nations had formed an alliance that hadbeen strengthened that very year by the marriage of Alfred and Ealhswith,daughter of a Mercian ealdorman (see
Asser ch. 29). Alfred and his elder brother King Aethelred personally led
the Wessex contingent, yet not even the combined forces of the Merciansand
the West Saxons could keep the Danes at bay. The Mercians, like the East
Anglians and Northumbrians, had to "make peace"--that is, pay tribute.
In 871 Alfred's brother Aethelred died, making Alfred, last son ofKing
Aethelwulf, the new king of the West Saxons. In that year as well theDanes
turned their attention to Alfred's kingdom, and for the next four years,
until 875, Alfred bought peace for his people by paying tribute to the
Danes. At first the invaders seemed satisfied, but in 875 they began
altering the terms of the peace.
That year, after collecting their tribute, the Danes did not leaveWessex
as they had before, but lived there, peacefully but at the expense of the
West Saxons, until 878. Then, in their desire to subjugate completely the
people of Wessex, the Danes went on the offensive. Alfred fought back, yet
in March of that year he and his followers were forced into hiding, andthe
hope of the West Saxons was fading. But that May Alfred met the Danish
force at Edington; "there he fought against the entire host, and put it to
flight, and pursued it up to the fortification [probably Chippenham] and
laid siege there a fortnight; and then the host gave him preliminary
hostages and solemn oaths that they would leave his kingdom, and promised
him in addition that their king would receive baptism; and they fulfilled
this promise" (Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, year 878). Alfred had defeated the
invading Danes, forcing them to submit to his terms. They subsequentlyleft
Alfred and Wessex, turning to the continent for new lands to plunder. Yetthough this particular force left, Danes still inhabited Britain;Northumbria, East Anglia, and parts of Mercia were all still under theDanelaw. Alfred felt constantly threatened, and had to fight skirmisheswith the Danes for many years. To help preserve his hard-earned peaceAlfred developed stronger defenses for his land of Wessex. In thesouthern part of Britain he established several new fortified cities,better than the smaller forts, where great groups of people could gatherfor protection. He reorganized his army so that at any one time half ofit was prepared for war. Finally, in 886, Alfred took the initiativehimself and attacked the Danish-held city of London in an attempt todiminish the lands ruled under the Danelaw. He succeeded, and for hisefforts all the "Angles and Saxons--those who had formerly been scatteredeverywhere and were not in captivity with the Danes--turned willingly toKing Alfred and submitted themselves to his lordship" (Asser ch. 83). Atthis point Alfred seems to have come closest to rightly earning the title"King of England," though in
reality he governed perhaps a quarter of the land now known as England.Once he had brought peace to his land Alfred began to implement hisreforms. He encouraged learning and the keeping of the Anglo-SaxonChronicle; he also established a code of law, based on the Bible, which"shows how the king sought to maintain social order" (Introduction to"Extracts from the laws of King Alfred," Alfred the Great 163). Law codeswere certainly not new to the people of Wessex; what was different aboutAlfred's code was that by basing his laws so clearly on Biblical law,"Alfred places his own activity as a law-giver in what he regards as itsproper context, effectively implying that the legislation which followsstands in the same tradition and represents that of the new chosenpeople" (Introduction to Alfred the Great 39). In 892-3 Alfred's peacewas disturbed by the violent return of the Danes. These invaders, drivenoff the continent, seemed intent upon "the final conquest and settlementof England" (McElwee 32). During these campaigns Alfred won praise fromthe writer of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (perhaps not very surprising,considering who the sponsor was!) for his forethought and stratagems. Hisstanding army was able to fight off the invaders while the peopleremained safe in his fortified cities. Alfred also employed new tactics;he scouted out the enemy and destroyed them at sea using larger war-shipsof his own design. The Danes were thwarted at every turn, and were forcedto retreat, unfulfilled, from the island of Britain. The last years ofAlfred's life were more peaceful and devoted to scholarly pursuits. WhenAlfred died on October 26, 899, he left a culture which had perhapsalready seen its best days, but, thanks to Alfred's care and
courage, would be remembered for centuries to come.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Alfred the Great: Asser's Life of King Alfred and other Contemporary
Sources. Trans. with an introduction and notes by Simon Keynes and Michael
Lapidge. New York: Penguin Books, 1983.

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. Trans., ed., and introduced by G. N.Garmonsway. London: J. M. Dent & Sons Ltd., 1972.

Asser. Life of King Alfred. In Alfred the Great: Asser's Life of King
Alfred and other Contemporary Sources. Trans. with an introduction and
notes by Simon Keynes and Michael Lapidge. New York: Penguin Books, 1983.

McElwee, William. A Short History of England, from the Time of King Alfred
to the Present Day. New York: Frederick A. Praeger, 1968.

The Oxford History of Britain. Revised edition. Ed. Kenneth O. Morgan.
Oxford: The Oxford University Press, 1988.

Plummer, Charles. The Life and Times of Alfred the Great. New York: Haskel
House Productions Ltd., 1902.

REF: The Newsletter of Anglo-Saxon Studies at The University of GeorgiaVol I, Number 2 (Winter, 1994) "ALFRED THE EDUCATOR" Kirk Appletoft:Alfred the Great, considered the first king of England, is known forsaving his land from decimation by the invading Danes and thereby givinghis countrymen a sense of nationalism. Yet Alfred achieved more thanmilitary and political successes during his reign from 871-901; hisdedication to the teaching of the liberal arts helped preserve theliterary tradition of the Anglo-Saxons. Alfred's appreciation foreducation began very early in his life. In 853, at the age of four,Alfred was sent by his father, King Aethelwulf, to Pope Leo IV in Romefor instruction. This instruction, no doubt, focused on religion ratherthan on the liberal arts. But this trip to Rome, as well as the oneAlfred made two years later, certainly helped Alfred recognize the roleof the Church in education. Alfred would fully acknowledge this role whenhe became king. Alfred's interest in the liberal arts was encouraged byhis stepmother Judith, who was the first to pique his interest inreading. Alfred's contemporary biographer, Asser, a bishop from Wales,records that Judith offered a book of Saxon poems to the first ofAethelwulf's four sons who could recite the book to her. To win the book,Alfred, who could not read, had an instructor read the book to him untilhe had memorized every word. According to Asser, this "desire for wisdom,more than anything else, together with the nobility of his birth, . . .characterized the nature of his noble mind" (Asser 75). Not until afterhe became king in 871 did Alfred learn to read and write. Asser, whomAlfred had called to serve in his court, seems to have been responsiblefor this feat. Asser would copy passages from the Bible for Alfred tostudy; Alfred would then eagerly translate them into English. The dutiesof being the king, however, constantly interrupted Alfred's education.His entire reign was spent in a religious war with the Danes. He believedthat the invaders represented punishment from God for the decay ofeducation, and the corresponding lack of understanding of Latinmanuscripts and psalms. So, for Alfred, his war became not a matter ofthe English fighting the Danes; it was the Christians fighting theheathens. This
belief was one of the primary reasons for the large number of religious
translations and the increasing interest in education during Alfred'sreign. As well, Alfred supported education because he recognized that "aking's raw material and instruments of rule are a well peopled land, andhe must have men of prayer, men of war, and men of work . . . [for]without these tools he cannot perform any of the tasks entrusted to him"(Plummer 153). In order to have these tools at his disposal he broughtmany Latin scholars from the continent to teach at his institutions. Healso, even when his war with the Danes was at its height, took time totranslate several Latin works on his own, including Pope Gregory theGreat's Pastoral Care, Boethius's Consolation of Philosophy and St.Augustine's Soliloquies. So important to Alfred was the ability to readthat he began to demand that other nobles of the land be able to read.Asser recounts Alfred's admonishments to a group of judges who werepoorly educated; they were told "either to relinquish immediately [their]offices of worldly power . . . or else to apply [them]selves much moreattentively to the pursuit of wisdom." (Asser 110) Needless to say theychose the latter option.
The effect of all of Alfred's educational reforms was that we, more than1000 years later, have a wealth of Anglo- Saxon prose and poetry to readand study. Without his dedication to learning we would all have beenpoorer.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Asser. Life of King Alfred. In Alfred the Great: Asser's Life of King
Alfred and other Contemporary Sources. Trans. with an introduction and
notes by Simon Keynes and Michael Lapidge. New York: Penguin Books, 1983.

Bosworth, George F. Alfred the Great: His Life and Times. London:Macmillan
and Co., Ltd., 1914.

Loyn, H. R. Alfred the Great. New York: Oxford University Press, 1967.

Plummer, Charles. The Life and Times of Alfred the Great. New York: Haskel
House Productions Ltd., 1902.

REF: *The Chronicle of Fabius Ethelwerd, From the Beginning of the World
to the Year of Our Lord 975*, translated by J A Giles in *Six Old English
Chronicles*, London (Bohn), 1848, p 28, 37.: "Lastly, in the same year,king Alfred departed out of this world, that immoveable pillar of theWestern Saxons, that man full of justice, bold in arms, learned inspeech, and, above all other things, imbued with the divine instructions.For he had translated into his own language, out of Latin, unnumberedvolumes, of so varied a nature, and so excellently, that the sorrowfulbook of Boethius seemed, not only to the learned, but even to those whoheard it read, as it were, brought to life again. The monarch died onthe seventh day before the solemnity of All Saints, and his body rests inpeace in the city of Winston. Pray, O reader, to Christ our Redeemer,that he will save his soul!"

REF: Weis & Sheppard, *Ancestral Roots ... *, 7th Edition, 1992, p 2 :Alfred the Great, King of England, 871-899, b. Wantage, Berkshire, 849;d. 26 Oct. 899; m. 868, Ealhsith (Alswitha), d. ca. 905, dau. of EarlAethelred of Mercia and Eadburgh. Alfred was one of the greatest men inhistory. He was crowned king at Winchester, 871; founded the BritishNavy, organized the militia, compiled a code of laws, built schools andmonasteries, and invited scholars to live at his court. He was a goodscholar and translated many books."

SRCE: Asser of Saint David, *Annals of the Reign of Alfred the Great,from
A.D. 849 to A.D. 887* (or *Life of Alfred*), translated by J A Giles,1848, p 43-44. Giles says in the preface, p vi: In the year of our Lord'sincarnation 849, was born Alfred, king of the Anglo-Saxons, at the royalvillage of Wanating [Wantage], in Berkshire, which country has its namefrom the wood of Berrod, where the box-tree grows most abundantly. Hisgenealogy is traced in the following order. King Alfred was the son ofKing Ethelwild, who was the son of Egbert, who was the son, of Elmund,who was son of Eafa, who was the son of Eoppa, who was the son ofIngild. Ingild, and Ina, the famous king of the West-Saxons, were twobrothers. Ina went to Rome, and there ending this life honourably,entered the heavenly kingdom, to reign there for ever with Christ. Ingildand Ina were the sons of Coenred, who was the son of Ceolwald, who wasthe son of Cudam, who was the son of Cuthwin, who was the son of Ceawlin,who was the son of Cynric, who was the son of Creoda, who was the son ofCerdic, who was the son of Elesa, who was the son of Gewis, from whom theBritons name all that nation Gewis [FOOTNOTE: The Gewissae, generallyunderstood to be the West-Saxons.], who was the son of Brond, who was theson of Beldeg, who was the son of Woden, who was the son of Frithowald,who was the son of Frealaf, who was the son of Frithuwulf, who was theson of Finn of Godwulf, who was the son of Geat, which Geat the paganslong worshipped as a god. Sedulius makes mention of him in his metricalPaschal poem, as follows:--
When gentile poets with their fictions vain,
In tragic language and bombastic strain,
To their god Geat, comic deity,
Loud praises sing, &c.
"Geat was the son of Taetwa, who was the son of Beaw, who was the son of
Sceldi [= SCELDWA in trans. by Keynes & Lapidge], who was the son ofHeremod, who was the son of Itermon, who was the son of Hathra, who wasthe son of Gula [= HWALA in trans. by K & L], who was the son of Bedwig,who was the son of Shem [= SETH in trans. by K & L, but this is probablyan error], who was the son of Noah, who was the son of Lamech, who wasthe son of Methusalem [=METHUSALAH], who was the son of Enoch, who wasthe son of Malaleel [= MAHALALEEL], who was the son of Cainian [= CAINANin trans. by K & L], who was the son of Enos, who was the son of Seth,who was the son of Adam."

REF: William of Malmesbury, *Chronicle of the Kings of England*, c 1135,
tr John Allen Giles, London (Henry G Bohn) 1847, p 113-122 passim: He was
married to Ealhswith of the Gani in 868."Received the royal unction andcrown from pope Leo the fourth at Rome, acceded to the sovereignty andretained it with the greatest difficulty, but with equal valour,twenty-eight years and a half. ..... For nine successive years battlingwith his enemies, sometimes deceived by false treaties, and sometimeswreaking his vengeance on the deceivers, he was at last reduced to suchextreme distress, that scarcely three counties, that is to say,Hampshire, Wiltshire, and Somerset, stood fast by their allegiance, as hewas compelled to retreat to a certain island called Athelney, which fromits marshy situation was hardly accessible. ..... [However, later]Alfred had reduced the whole island to his power, with the exception ofwhat the Danes possessed. ..... After England had rejoiced for 13 yearsin the tranquility of peace and in the fertility of her soil, thenorthern pest of barbarians again returned. With them returned war andslaughter ..... The king himself was, with his usual activity, presentin every action, ever daunting the invaders, and at the same timeinspiriting his subjects, with the signal display of his courage. Hewould oppose himself singly to the enemy; and by his own personalexertions rally his declining forces. The very places are yet pointedout by the inhabitants where he felt the vicissitudes of good and evilfortune. ..... His children by Elswitha, the daughter of earl Athelred,were Ethelswitha, Edward who reigned after him; Ethel fled who wasmarried to Ethered earl of the Mercians; Ethelwerd, whom they celebrateas being extremely learned; Elfred and Ethelgiva, virgins. His[Alfred's] health was so bad that he was constantly disquited either bythe piles or some disorder of the intestines. It is said, however, thathe entreated this from God, in his supplications, in order that, by theadmonition of pain, he might be less anxious after earthly delights.
"Yet amid these circumstances the private life of the king is to beadmired and celebrated with the highest praise. For although, as someone has said, "Laws must give way amid the strife of arms," yet he, amidthe sound of trumpets and the din of war, enacted statures by which hispeople might equally familiarise themselves to religious worship and tomilitary discipline. And since, from the example of the barbarians, thenatives themselves began to lust after rapine, insomuch that there was nosafe intercourse without a military guard, he appointed centuries, whichthey call "hundreds," and decennaries, that is to say, "tythings," sothat every Englishman, living according to law, must be a member ofboth. If any one was accused of a crime, he was obliged immediately toproduce persons from the hundred and tything to become his surety; andwhosoever was unable to find such surety, must dread the severity of thelaws. If any who was impleaded made his escape either before or after hehad found surety, all persons of the hundred and tything paid a fine tothe king. By this regulation he diffused such peace throughout thecountry that he ordered golden bracelets, which might mock the eagerdesires of the passengers while no one durst take them away, to be hungup on the public causeways, where the roads crossed each other. ..... Heerected monasteries wherever he deemed it fitting ..... [Alfred sent forGrimmald] that by his activity he might awaken the study of literature inEngland, which was now slumbering and almost expiring. ..... Confiding inthese auxiliaries [Grimmald, Asser, Werefrith, Johannes Scotus], the kinggave his whole soul to the cultivation of the liberal arts, insomuch thatno Englishman was quicker in comprehending, or more elegant intranslating. ..... He translated into English the greater part of theRoman authors ..... Moreover he infused a great regard for literatureinto his countrymen, stimulating them both with rewards and punishments,allowing no ignorant person to aspire to any dignity in the court. Hedied just as he had begun a translation of the Psalms. ..... He had oneunusual and unheard of custom, which was, that he always carried in hisbosom a book in which the daily order of the Psalms was contained, forthe purpose of carefully perusing it, if at any time he had leisure. Inthis way he passed his life, much respected by neighboring princes, andgave his daughter Ethelswitha in marriage to Baldwin earl of Flanders, bywhom he had Arnulf and Ethelwulf; the former received from his father thecounty of Boulogne, from the other at this day are descended the earls ofFlanders. [Footnote by Giles: "Matilda, queen of William the First, wasdaughter of Baldwin earl of Flanders, the fifth in descent fromEthelswitha."]
"Alfred, paying the debt of nature, was buried at Winchester, in themonastery which he had founded ..... They report that Alfred was firstwas
first buried in the cathedral, because the monaster was unfinished, butthat
afterwards, on account of the folly of the canons, who asserted that the
royal spirit, resuming its carcass, wandered nightly through thebuildings,
Edward, his son and successor, removed the remains of his father, and gave
them a quiet resting-place in the new minster. [Footnote by Giles: "Onits
removal called Hyde Abbey."] These and similar superstitions, such asthat
the dead body of a wicked man runs about, after death, by the agency ofthe
devil, the English hold with almost inbred credulity, borrowing them from
the heathens, according to the expression of Virgil, "Forms such as flit,they say, when life is gone." [Virg. Aeneid, x. 641.]

REF: British Monarchy Official Website: From the late 8th century, therewere attacks by Vikings from Scandinavia. The kingdoms of Northumbria andMercia were rapidly over-run and in 871 the Danish army attacked Wessex.After initial setbacks, Alfred, King of Wessex (reigned 871-99) defeatedthe Danes at the Battle of Edington in 878. The Danes withdrew to an areanorth of a frontier running from London to Chester, which became known asthe 'Danelaw'. Alfred then began a programme of reforms, includingestablishing a legal code, improving education and learning, andreforming the coinage. He also started
a building programme of well-defended towns ('borough' comes from the OldEnglish burgh, a fortress) and a new navy.

[large-G675.FTW]

Reigned 871-899. Prevented the Danish conquest of England, defeatingthem at Eddington (878) after a campaign of guerilla warfare. After thevictory he allowed the Danes to keep their conquests in East Anglia &Mercia provided that Guthrum, their king, was converted to Christianity.Alfred built a navy of warships to defend the south coast aginst furtherDanish invasions (885-886, 892-896) & protected Wessex with a chain offortifications. He took London (886) thus gaining control of all Englandexcept the Danish areas. Quote from Winston Churchill: ("Alfred theGreat", chapter 7 of volume 1 of his "History of the English-SpeakingPeoples". An appreciation of "the greatest Englishman that everlived"). Quote from Maurice Ashley in "Great Britain to 1688" aboutAlfred: "He was the greatest Englishman in early history" (p. 41).Banner was a golden dragon (the golden dragon was the banner of thekingdom of Wessex, Alfred's personal banner was the White Horse). SinceAlfred was the fifth son, it was never thought he would be King, and thusunlike his older brothers who have the royal mark of the ruling house ofWessex "AEthel" (or "Ethel") as a part of their names, Alfred was insteadnamed after his mother's folk).

REF: The Newsletter of Anglo-Saxon Studies at The University of GeorgiaVol I, Number 3 (Spring, 1994): "ALFRED'S MILITARY ACHIEVEMENTS", AlexBruce

Alfred the Great is remembered for his two great victories--his success in
re-establishing learning in his kingdom of Wessex (see Matheliende 1.2),
and his success in defeating the seemingly unstoppable forces of theinvading Danes. No matter how much we venerate the revival of educationunder Alfred, the latter of these successes is, however, the greater;there would have been no possibility of restoring the centers of learninghad Alfred not brought peace to his land. When Alfred became king of theWest Saxons in 871, he was already an experienced military leader, as hehad participated in several campaigns against the invading Danes. TheDanes had been present in the British Isles since at least 789, but untilthe time of Alfred they had concentrated their efforts on subjugating theeastern lands of Britain. However, in 865 a great army of Danes hungryfor land and wealth moved quickly through the kingdoms of East Anglia andNorthumbria. After these two kingdoms capitulated and paid tribute to theinvaders, the Danes turned to Mercia. There, in 868, they met bothMercians and West Saxons; the two nations had formed an alliance that hadbeen strengthened that very year by the marriage of Alfred and Ealhswith,daughter of a Mercian ealdorman (see
Asser ch. 29). Alfred and his elder brother King Aethelred personally led
the Wessex contingent, yet not even the combined forces of the Merciansand
the West Saxons could keep the Danes at bay. The Mercians, like the East
Anglians and Northumbrians, had to "make peace"--that is, pay tribute.
In 871 Alfred's brother Aethelred died, making Alfred, last son ofKing
Aethelwulf, the new king of the West Saxons. In that year as well theDanes
turned their attention to Alfred's kingdom, and for the next four years,
until 875, Alfred bought peace for his people by paying tribute to the
Danes. At first the invaders seemed satisfied, but in 875 they began
altering the terms of the peace.
That year, after collecting their tribute, the Danes did not leaveWessex
as they had before, but lived there, peacefully but at the expense of the
West Saxons, until 878. Then, in their desire to subjugate completely the
people of Wessex, the Danes went on the offensive. Alfred fought back, yet
in March of that year he and his followers were forced into hiding, andthe
hope of the West Saxons was fading. But that May Alfred met the Danish
force at Edington; "there he fought against the entire host, and put it to
flight, and pursued it up to the fortification [probably Chippenham] and
laid siege there a fortnight; and then the host gave him preliminary
hostages and solemn oaths that they would leave his kingdom, and promised
him in addition that their king would receive baptism; and they fulfilled
this promise" (Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, year 878). Alfred had defeated the
invading Danes, forcing them to submit to his terms. They subsequentlyleft
Alfred and Wessex, turning to the continent for new lands to plunder. Yetthough this particular force left, Danes still inhabited Britain;Northumbria, East Anglia, and parts of Mercia were all still under theDanelaw. Alfred felt constantly threatened, and had to fight skirmisheswith the Danes for many years. To help preserve his hard-earned peaceAlfred developed stronger defenses for his land of Wessex. In thesouthern part of Britain he established several new fortified cities,better than the smaller forts, where great groups of people could gatherfor protection. He reorganized his army so that at any one time half ofit was prepared for war. Finally, in 886, Alfred took the initiativehimself and attacked the Danish-held city of London in an attempt todiminish the lands ruled under the Danelaw. He succeeded, and for hisefforts all the "Angles and Saxons--those who had formerly been scatteredeverywhere and were not in captivity with the Danes--turned willingly toKing Alfred and submit

The Great

AFN:GS4H-XF

Founded the House of Wessex
Stuart Roderick, W.
Royalty for Commoners, 3rd Edit. Published, Genealogical Publishing Co, Inc. Baltomore, MD. 1998,
ISBN-0-8063-1561-X Text 324-40

Engelsk kung 871-899.

Alfred (født ca. 849, død 26. november 899) var konge av England fra 871 til sin død. Han hersket aldri over hele dagens England, men regnes som en av de mest sentrale personer i samlingen av England og forsvaret av riket mot danene. Han har derfor fått tilnavnet ?den store?. Han var også den første kongen som i sin levetid hadde tittelen ?konge av England?. I motsetning til andre tidlige engelske konger vet man mye om hans liv, ettersom Asser, biskop av Sherborne, skrev en biografi.

Unge år
Alfred ble født i Wantage, som dengang lå i Berkshire, men som siden 1974 har tilhørt Oxfordshire. Han var fjerde sønn av kong Ethelwulf av Wessex. Moren var antagelig Ethelwulfs første kone Osburga. Hans tre eldre brødre var Ethelbald, Ethelbert og Ethelred.

Som barn skal han ha vært vakker og lovende. Som femåring ble han angivelig sendt til Roma, hvor han ble konfirmert av pave Leo IV. Paven skal også ha ?salvet ham som konge?. Senere historikere har tatt dette som en kroning utført på forskudd. Det er lite trolig at paven mente å gjøre det, ettersom alle de tre eldre brødrene var i live på det tidspunktet. Det dreier seg antagelig om en spesiell velsignelse eller i høyden om en bekreftelse av en tittel som underkonge i et av rikene som var underlagt Wessex. Høyst sannsynlig er hele historien apokryf, men det er sikkert at Alfred reiste til Roma i 854-855 sammen med sin far. De tilbrakte da noe tid hos Karl den skallede, frankernes konge.

Faren døde allerede i 858, da Alfred var omkring ni år gammel.

Offentlig liv
De to eldste brødrene, Ethelbald og Ethelbert, styrte i ganske kort tid; henholdsvis 856-860 og 860-865. I denne perioden opptrer ikke Alfred i kildene. Men da Ethelred overtok tronen i 865 trer Alfred frem som en militærleder. Asser bruker ordet secundarius om ham, hvilket antyder at han var den åpenbare arving etter Ethelred, en ordning som ligner det skotske tanisteriet hvor det ikke nødvendigvis er eldste sønn av kongen som arver, men den som er best egnet til å styre. Det er grunn til å tro at dette var en arverekkefølge som ble bekreftet av Witenagemot, slik at man hadde rekkefølgen klar dersom Ethelred skulle dø plutselig.

I 868 giftet Alfred seg med Eahlswith, en datter av Ethelred Mucill som var ealdorman blant gainerne, et folk som levde i området rundt, og har gitt navn til, dagens Gainsborough i Lincolnshire. Hun var barnebarn av en konge av Mercia, og en av deres døtre, Ethelfleda, ble selv regjerende dronning av Mercia.

Samme år som han giftet seg, kjempet Alfred sammen med Ethelred mot danene i et mislykket forsøk på å sikre Mercia mot dansk press. Deretter fulgte to nokså fredelige år, men i 870 begynte det som er kalt ?Alfreds slagår?.

I løpet av 870 og 871 kjempet han i en rekke slag, med forskjellige utfall. To av slagene er ikke kjent verken ved dato eller sted. De som er kjent er:

31. desember 870 - Slaget ved Englesfield (Alfred seiret)
4. januar 871 - Slaget ved Reading (Alfred led et alvorlig nederlag)
8. januar 871 - Slaget ved Ashdown (Alfred seiret)
22. januar 871 - Slaget ved Basing (Alfred led nederlag)
22. mars 871 - Slaget ved Marton (Alfred led nederlag)

På tronen
I april 871 døde Ethelred, og Alfred overtok tronen. Mens han var opptatt med brorens begravelse seiret danene i et slag, hvor er ikke kjent, og i mai seiret de over Alfred i slaget ved Wilton. Etter dette ble det inngått en fredsavtale, og danene fokuserte på andre deler av England. Alfred kunne da nøye seg med en mindre observasjonsstyrke ved grensen.

I 876 angrep danene Wareham. De var da ledet av Guthrum. De ga så inntrykk av å ville forhandle, men snek seg vestover og tok Exeter. Alfred blokkerte danehæren der, og etter at en dansk flåte ble spredt av en storm måtte de overgi seg og trekke seg tilbake til Mercia. I januar 878 angrep de igjen, denne gang i Chippenham, som var en kongelig festningsby hvor Alfred kort tid i forveien hadde feiret jul. Alfred måtte flykte med en liten gruppe soldater, og ved påsketider 878 bygde de opp et fort ved Athelney og begynte arbeidet med å stoppe danene.

Omkring midten av mai 878 var Alfred ferdig med sine forberedelser, og dro ut fra Athelney. Han tok med seg styrker som var skrevet ut i Somerset, Wiltshire og Hampshire. Danene forlot Chippenham, og de to styrkene møttes i slaget ved Edington. Alfred vant der en avgjørende seier. Danene underkastet seg, og Guthrum og 29 av hans menn lot seg døpe. England ble dermed delt i to ved freden i Wedmore, med en sørvestlig del styrt av sakserne og en nordøstlig del kjent som Danelagen. Innen 879 hadde Alfred renset Wessex og den delen av Mercia som var vest for Watling Street for daner.

Selv om store deler av England, inkludert London, fortsatt var på danske hender, hadde maktbalansen tippet over i Alfreds favør. De neste årene var det rolig, ikke minst fordi danene var opptatt av andre kriger på kontinentet. I 884 eller 885 ble en landstigning i Kent slått tilbake, men dette invasjonsforsøket oppmuntret danene i East Anglia til å gjøre opprør. Under kampen for å slå ned dette opprøret tok Alfred London, i 885 eller 886, og grensen ble trukket opp på nytt, til Alfreds fordel.

Igjen kom en rolig periode, fulgt av den siste store stormen i 892 eller 893. Danene på kontinentet befant seg i en presset situasjon, og mange dro over til England. De kom i to flåter på tilsammen omkring 330 skip, og slo leir i Appledore og ved Milton i Kent. De hadde med seg kvinner og barn, hvilket understreket at det ikke var et raid, men et forsøk på en permanent erobring. De ble støttet av daner i East Anglia og Northumbria. Alfred stilte i 893 eller 894 opp styrker på et sted hvor begge daneleirene kunne observeres. Mens han diskuterte med lederen i Milton, Haesten, slo danene i Appledore seg ut og gikk nordvestover. De ble tatt igjen av Alfreds sønn Edvard, som seiret i slaget ved Farnham. Danene som overlevde måtte søke tilflukt på øya Thorney i Hertfordshire Colne. Der ble de stengt inne, og måtte til slutt overgi seg. De dro så til Essex, hvor de igjen ble slått i slaget ved Benfleet. De sluttet seg så til Haestens styrke ved Shorbury.

Alfred var på vei til Thorney for å hjelpe Edvard da han fikk vite at danene fra Northumbria og East Anglia beleiret Exeter og en annen befestet stilling i Devon. Han snudde derfor og klarte å bryte beleiringen av Exeter. Hvordan det gikk med det andre stedet er ikke nevnt i kildene. Samtidig marsjerte Haestens styrke oppover Thames Valley, muligens for å hjelpe sine frender i vest. De møtte en stor engelsk styrke og ble tvunget til å vende nordvestover. Ved Buttington, enten Buttington Tump ved elven Wye eller Buttington i Powys, ble de tilslutt stengt inne. Et forsøk på å bryte ut lyktes ikke, og de overlevende måtte tilslutt trekke seg tilbake til Shoebury. Der samlet de forsterkninger og gikk raskt over England til Chester, hvor de tok ruinene av de romerske bymurene. Engelskmennene forsøkte ikke å blokkere dem om vinteren, men nøyde seg med å ødelegge forsyninger i området. Tidlig i 894 eller 895 måtte danene på grunn av matmangel trekke seg tilbake til Essex igjen.

Mot slutten av dette året, og begynnelsen av 895 eller 896 trakk danene skipene sine opp Themsen og Lea og bygde en befestet stilling omkring 30 km oppstrøms fra London. Et angrep på de danske linjene lyktes ikke, men Alfred fant ut at han ved å demme opp elven kunne hindre danene i å bruke skipene sine. Danene innså at de hadde tapt, og trakk seg tilbake til Bridgnorth. Året etter, 896 eller 897, ga de opp uten kamp. Noen trakk seg tilbake til Northumbria og andre til East Anglia, mens de som ikke hadde familie i England vendte tilbake til kontinentet.

Alfreds seier skyldtes ikke bare hans karakter og lederevner, men også tre viktige militærreformer han innførte:

Den nasjonale styrken ble delt i to deler som avløste hverandre i intervaller, slik at man hadde en stående styrke som ikke var for krigstrett.
Det ble reist festningsverker og opprettet garnisoner på strategiske punkter.
Alle som eide mer enn fem huder jord måtte stille med væpnede styrker, slik at kongen fikk en kjerne av godt utstyrte menn og ikke bare en utrent bondehær.

Død
Alfred døde 26. oktober 899. Dødsåret er riktignok noe usikkert, men det er blitt fastslått med sikkerhet at det ikke var i 900 eller 901 slik man har trodd tidligere, og 899 er nå akseptert av langt de fleste som riktig år. Dødsårsaken er ukjent.

Han ble gravlagt i Winchesterkatedralen

GJ

GJ=Gary Jacobson www.garyjacobson.org/ahnentafel.html

Alfred the Great Alfred, [Image] Corbis-Bettmann [Image] also spelled AELFRED, byname ALFRED THE GREAT (b. 849--d. 899), king of Wessex (871-899), a Saxon kingdom in southwestern England. He prevented England from falling to the Danes and promoted learning and literacy. Compilation of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle began during his reign, c. 890. (see also Index: Denmark) When he was born, it must have seemed unlikely that Alfred would become king, since he had four older brothers; he said that he never desired royal power. Perhaps a scholar's life would have contented him. His mother early aroused his interest in English poetry, and from his boyhood he also hankered after Latin learning, possibly stimulated by visits to Rome in 853 and 855. It is possible also that he was aware of and admired the great Frankish king Charlemagne, who had at the beginning of the century revived learning in his realm. Alfred had no opportunity to acquire the education he sought, however, until much later in life. He probably received the education in military arts normal for a young man of rank. He first appeared on active service in 868, when he and his brother, King Aethelred (Ethelred) I, went to help Burgred of Mercia (the kingdom between the Thames and the Humber) against a great Danish army that had landed in East Anglia in 865 and taken possession of Northumbria in 867. The Danes refused to give battle, and peace was made. In this year Alfred married Ealhswith, descended through her mother from Mercian kings. Late in 871, the Danes invaded Wessex, and Aethelred and Alfred fought several battles with them. Aethelred died in 871 and Alfred succeeded him. After an unsuccessful battle at Wilton he made peace. It was probably the quality of the West Saxon resistance that discouraged Danish attacks for five years. In 876 the Danes again advanced on Wessex: they retired in 877 having accomplished little, but a surprise attack in January 878 came near to success. The Danes established themselves at Chippenham, and the West Saxons submitted "except King Alfred." He harassed the Danes from a fort in the Somerset marshes, and until seven weeks after Easter he secretly assembled an army, which defeated them at the Battle of Edington. They surrendered, and their king, Guthrum, was baptized, Alfred standing as sponsor; the following year they settled in East Anglia. Wessex was never again in such danger. Alfred had a respite from fighting until 885, when he repelled an invasion of Kent by a Danish army, supported by the East Anglian Danes. In 886 he took the offensive and captured London, a success that brought all the English not under Danish rule to accept him as king. The possession of London also made possible the reconquest of the Danish territories in his son's reign, and Alfred may have been preparing for this, though he could make no further advance himself. He had to meet a serious attack by a large Danish force from the European continent in 892, and it was not until 896 that it gave up the struggle. The failure of the Danes to make any more advances against Alfred was largely a result of the defensive measures he undertook during the war. Old forts were strengthened and new ones built at strategic sites, and arrangements were made for their continual manning. Alfred reorganized his army and used ships against the invaders as early as 875. Later he had larger ships built to his own design for use against the coastal raids that continued even after 896. Wise diplomacy also helped Alfred's defense. He maintained friendly relations with Mercia and Wales; Welsh rulers sought his support and supplied some troops for his army in 893. Alfred succeeded in government as well as at war. He was a wise administrator, organizing his finances and the service due from his thanes (noble followers). He scrutinized the administration of justice and took steps to ensure the protection of the weak from oppression by ignorant or corrupt judges. He promulgated an important code of laws, after studying the principles of lawgiving in the Book of Exodus and the codes of Aethelbert of Kent, Ine of Wessex (688-694), and Offa of Mercia (757-796), again with special attention to the protection of the weak and dependent. While avoiding unnecessary changes in custom, he limited the practice of the blood feud and imposed heavy penalties for breach of oath or pledge. Alfred is most exceptional, however, not for his generalship or his administration but for his attitude toward learning. He shared the contemporary view that Viking raids were a divine punishment for the people's sins, and he attributed these to the decline of learning, for only through learning could men acquire wisdom and live in accordance with God's will. Hence, in the lull from attack between 878 and 885, he invited scholars to his court from Mercia, Wales, and the European continent. He learned Latin himself and began to translate Latin books into English in 887. He directed that all young freemen of adequate means must learn to read English, and, by his own translations and those of his helpers, he made available English versions of "those books most necessary for all men to know," books that would lead them to wisdom and virtue. The Ecclesiastical History of the English People, by the English historian Bede, and the Seven Books of Histories Against the Pagans, by Paulus Orosius, a 5th-century theologian--neither of which was translated by Alfred himself, though they have been credited to him--revealed the divine purpose in history. Alfred's translation of the Pastoral Care of St. Gregory I, the great 6th-century pope, provided a manual for priests in the instruction of their flocks, and a translation by Bishop Werferth of Gregory's Dialogues supplied edifying reading on holy men. Alfred's rendering of the Soliloquies of the 5th-century theologian St. Augustine of Hippo, to which he added material from other works of the Fathers of the Church, discussed problems concerning faith and reason and the nature of eternal life. This translation deserves to be studied in its own right, as does his rendering of Boethius' Consolation of Philosophy. In considering what is true happiness and the relation of providence to faith and of predestination to free will, Alfred does not fully accept Boethius' position but depends more on the early Fathers. In both works, additions include parallels from contemporary conditions, sometimes revealing his views on the social order and the duties of kingship. Alfred wrote for the benefit of his people, but he was also deeply interested in theological problems for their own sake and commissioned the first of the translations, Gregory's Dialogues, "that in the midst of earthly troubles he might sometimes think of heavenly things." He may also have done a translation of the first 50 psalms. Though not Alfred's work, the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, one of the greatest sources of information about Saxon England, which began to be circulated about 890, may have its origin in the intellectual interests awakened by the revival of learning under him. His reign also saw activity in building and in art, and foreign craftsmen were attracted to his court. (see also Index: "Pastoral Care," ) In one of his endeavours, however, Alfred had little success; he tried to revive monasticism, founding a monastery and a nunnery, but there was little enthusiasm in England for the monastic life until after the revivals on the European continent in the next century. Alfred, alone of Anglo-Saxon kings, inspired a full-length biography, written in 893, by the Welsh scholar Asser. This work contains much valuable information, and it reveals that Alfred laboured throughout under the burden of recurrent, painful illness; and beneath Asser's rhetoric can be seen a man of attractive character, full of compassion, able to inspire affection, and intensely conscious of the responsibilities of kingly office. This picture is confirmed by Alfred's laws and writings. Alfred was never forgotten: his memory lived on through the Middle Ages and in legend as that of a king who won victory in apparently hopeless circumstances and as a wise lawgiver. Some of his works were copied as late as the 12th century. Modern studies have increased knowledge of him but have not altered in its essentials the medieval conception of a great king. ( D.W.) BIBLIOGRAPHY. Simon Keynes and Michael Lapidge (trans. and eds.), Alfred the Great: Asser's Life of King Alfred and Other Contemporary Sources (1983), provides much information about the reign and the personality of the king. Eleanor Shipley Duckett, Alfred the Great (1956, reissued 1970; also published as Alfred the Great and His England, 1957), is an accessible biography. Allen J. Frantzen, King Alfred (1986), studies Alfred's literary work and includes a brief biography. Other sources on the period include F.M. Stenton, Anglo-Saxon England, 3rd ed. (1971, reprinted 1990); G.N. Garmonsway (trans. and ed.), The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, new ed. (1972, reissued 1994); and Dorothy Whitelock (ed.), English Historical Documents, c. 500-1042, 2nd ed. (1979).

KNOWN AS ALFRED "THE GREAT"; KING OF WESSEX (THEN ALL ENGLAND) 4/871-899;
DEFEATED DANES; FORTIFIED LONDON

Konge. Født 849. Død 28.10.901.
Alfred den Store var konge av Wessex og Kent 873 - 901.
Etter farens død hjalp han sine eldre brødre i kampen mot de normanniske vikingers innfall.
For angelsakserne var første halvdel av 800-tallet en grusom tid. De hedenske mennene fra nord benyttet seg av de stadige indre urolighetene i smårikene i Øst-England og underla seg etter hvert hele denne delen av landet, brente kirker og klostre og slo uten barmhjertighet i hjel både munker og nonner. En vikinghøvding hugget med egen hånd ned en gammel ærverdig abbed som sto for høyalteret og leste messen, og fra bøndene tok de buskap og hester og spente eierne selv for plogen.
Angelsaksernes redningsmann i nøden ble kong Alfred av Wessex, det sydligste av de angelsaksiske smårikene. Han ble konge i 873 da han var 23 år gammel. Etter utallige forbitrede kamper med daneneĐ, som vikingene gjerne ble kalt, var angelsaksernes krefter nå nesten uttømt, og det så ut som om hele England skulle komme i de fremmedes vold. Alfred måtte flykte og holde seg skjult i skog og myrer. I 878 forskanset han seg på øya Ætelney. Han opplevde mange eventyr som folkesagnene har romantisert og utbrodert. En tid bodde han forkledd i en gjeterhytte. Men i hemmelighet sendte han bud til alle som ville ta opp kampen mot undertrykkerne at de skulle møte fullt væpnet på et bestemt sted. En dag hadde gjeterens kone satt ham til å passe noen brød som hun holdt på å steke, mens hun stelte med noe annet arbeid. Men da hun kom tilbake var brødene brent. Din latstokk,Đ ropte hun forarget og slo til ham med bakstefløyten, spise brødet vårt, det kan du, men passe det duger du ikke til.Đ I det samme trådte Alfreds sendebud inn og meddelte sin konge at de angelsaksiske frivillige nå var samlet og bare ventet på sin anfører. Og nå fikk kona til sin forferdelse vite hvem det var hun hadde behandlet så lite ærbødig. Men Alfred bare smilte, takket vertsfolkene sine og gikk.
Danenes hær lå i en befestet leir. For å skaffe seg rede på fiendens styrke og forsvarstiltak skal Alfred selv ha gitt seg i vei dit, forkledd som en omvandrende harpespiller. Danene ble så begeistret for spillemannen som sang og spilte så vakkert, at de holdt ham tilbake i flere dager. Men da Alfred hadde utforsket alle svake punkter i fiendens leir, smøg han seg tilbake til sine egne. Neste dag førte ha dem mot danene og tilføyde fienden et så grundig nederlag at de måtte overgi seg på nåde og unåde. Vikingene ga ham gisler som sikkerhet for at de skulle la Wessex i fred, og høvdingen deres lot seg døpe sammen med tredve av sine fornemste menn. Noen år senere brøt de riktignok freden, og nå hadde de fått forsterkninger av nye vikingflokker hjemmefra, men Alfred beseiret dem igjen etter en hard kamp.
Ved å bygge krigsfartøy og møte vikingene ute på havet, sparte han sitt folk for mange lidelser og satte seg også i større respekt hos fienden enn noen av hans forgjengere eller de frankiske kongene hadde maktet. Og med tiden smeltet også de nordboerne som hadde bosatt seg i England og angelsakserne sammen til ett folk.
Så snart Alfred hadde avsluttet sin heltemodige og beundringsverdig utholdende kamp for å vinne sitt rike tilbake, begynte han av all kraft å arbeide for å styrke forsvaret både til lands og til vanns, og her tok han lærdom av fienden han hadde kjempet mot i så mange år. Fred og orden trygget han med et stort lovverk, hvor han som ledende prinsipp satte ordene: Alt det som Dere ikke vil at menneskene skal gjøre mot Dere, skal Dere heller ikke gjøre mot dem!Đ Krig og leirliv hadde ikke brutalisert Alfreds humane livssyn. Sin skildring av hvordan en konge bør være, har han innledet med følgende ord: Makt er i og for seg intet gode, men blir det bare så sant dens innehaver selv er god.Đ
I hele sin ferd som hersker minner Alfred meget om frankernes største konge, hvis veldige materielle ressurser riktignok var mange ganger større enn angelsakserens. Som Karl den StoreĐ elsket Alfred de gamle saksiske sangene og kronet sin kongegjerning med et iherdig arbeid for å gjenopprette den angelsaksiske kulturen som hadde gått sterkt tilbake under danenes herjinger. Alfred var også vitebegjærlig og full av kunnskapstørst og satte seg som mål å utbre lese- og skriveferdigheten blant sine undersåtter ved å opprette skoler. Hans ganglige virksomhet på alle områder skaffet ham hans landsmenns takknemlighet både i samtid og ettertid og innbrakte ham også hedersnavnet den StoreĐ. For engelskmennene er den engelske nasjons skaperĐ blitt nasjonalhelten fremfor noen og hans liv er av deres kjæreste historiske minner. Den vise kongenĐ er i folketradisjonen blitt til en engelsk Salomo, hvis ry for ubestikkelig rettferdighet er slått fast på en temmelig drastisk måte i fortellingen om hvordan han på en og samme dag hengte 44 urettferdige dommere. Dette er bare en av alle de anekdotene som i tidens løp er blitt knyttet til minnet om den gode og folkekjære fyrsten som på en gang var konge, far og oppdrager for sitt folkĐ, for å sitere en berømt engelsk historiker.
Alfred døde sannsynligvis i år 900. Hans sønn og sønnesønner fortsatte det verket han hadde påbegynt og fullførte det ved å underlegge seg flere andre engelske småriker og skape et stort samlet rike med London som hovedstad. Men i sin sønnesønns sønnesønn, Ethelred II med tilnavnet den RådvilleĐ fikk Alfred derimot en uverdig etterfølger.

Alfred (den store) av ENGLAND
Yrke: Kung av Wessex, England 871-900
Far:
Mor:

Kung Alfred på ett mynt från British Museum. (Källa: Bonnier Lexikon)

Händelse Datum Plats Källa
Födelse omkr 849 England University of Hull
Död omkr 900 England, Wessex Bra Böckers Lexikon

Familj med Ealhswith av GAINI (850 - )
Barn: Edvard (den äldre) av ENGLAND (869 - 924)

Noteringar
Invasionen år 866 av de s.k. Lodbrokssönerna ledde till att stora områden i sydöstra England lades under dansk överhöghet, men ett försök att införliva även Wessex stoppades av Alfred 'den store', och danskarna tillerkändes den s.k. Danelagen. Alfred tillträdde tronen 871 och inledde sin regeringstid med att i hårda strider försvara riket mot de danska vikingarna. Efter en seger 878 vann han några års fred, innan de danska vikingarna gick till förnyat anfall 885. Alfred gick då till motoffensiv och erövrade 886 London samt lade därmed hela England under sitt välde. Han var en lärd och framsynt man, som gjorde en stor kulturinsats och anses vara en av Englands främsta medeltidskungar. Han översatte själv flera historiska och filosofiska verk från latin, bl.a. en världshistoria, som han utökade med att skildra två sjöfärder till Norden. (Källa: Bra Böcker)

Danelagen är den del av England som i vikingatidens mitt löd under dansk lag. Det omfattade Northumberland, East Anglia, halva Mercia och delar av Essex. Engelsmännen återerövrade så småningom områdena och vid mitten av 900-talet var hela Danelagen åter under engelsk överhöghet. (Källa: Bra Böcker)

Alfred
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Alfred, known as Alfred the Great (849—99)

King of Wessex (871—99), born in Wantage, Berkshire, S England, UK, the fifth son of King Ethelwulf. When he came to the throne, the Danes had already conquered much of Northumbria, parts of Mercia, and East Anglia, and threatened to subdue Wessex itself. He inflicted on them their first major reverse at the Battle of Edington, Wiltshire (878), and began to win back Danish-occupied territory by capturing the former Mercian town of London (886). He stole the military initiative from the Danes by reorganizing his forces into a standing army, building a navy, and establishing a network of burhs (fortified centres). These developments were complemented by his revival of religion and learning, a programme designed to win God's support for victory over the pagan Danes and to consolidate loyalty to himself as a Christian king. He personally translated several edifying Latin works into English. He forged close ties with other English peoples not under Danish rule, and provided his successors with the means to reconquer the Danelaw and secure the unity of England. The famous story of his being scolded by a peasant woman for letting her cakes burn has no contemporary authority, and is first recorded in the 11th-century.

887309058. Kong Alfred den Store ETHELWULFSØN England(22060) was born in 849. (22061) He was a Konge in 871 in England. (22062) He died on 28 Oct 901. (22063) Efter fraens død hjalp han sine eldre brødre i kampen mot de normanniske vikingers innfald, som angrep hovedstaden Wessex, da han besteg tronrn i 871. Kampene fortsattes og vinteren 877 måtte han skjule sig i de store skoger. 979 forskanset han sig på øen Ætelney og samlet sine tro menn. Det lyktes ham å bringe vikingene nederlag og slutte fred med dem.Derefter organiserte han landet. akerburk og handel gjenreistes og der blev skaffet en flåte. Ellers var Alfred en allsidig og interessert konge, også religiøst, historisk og sproglig. han står som en av verdenshistoriens edleste skikkelser, begavet som dikter, lerd, en engelsk Karl den Store unen dennes uheldige egenskaper.

King of England 871-901. Born at Wantage, Co. Berkshire, 849 and died 28Oct. 901. Married 868, Eahlswith (Alswitha); who died about 905;daughter of Æthelred, Earl of Mercia, and his wife Eadburh. Alfred wasone of the greatest men in history. He was crowned King at Winchester in871, founded the British Navy, organized the militia, compiled a code oflaws, built schools and monasteries, and invited scholars to live at hiscourt. He was a good scholar himself, and translated many books.

Konge av England fra 871.

!SOURCES:
1. Anglo-Saxon Bishops, Kings & Nobles, Eng. 104, p. 300, 342, 343
2. Royal Line of Succession, A16-A225, p. 6
3. Hist. Eng. P, 1949, pref. p. 151
4. George's Hist. Tab., Eng. 102, Tab. 1
5. Keiser und Koenig Hist., Gen. Hist. 25, pt. 1, p. 96, 97
6. Anderson's Royal Genealogies, Eng. 130, p. 738
7. The Plantagenet Ancestry, Eng. 116, p. 21
!HISTORICAL NOTES:
Alfred ascended to the throne in 871 at the age of 23. After a series of battles, he succeeded in liberating England from the Danes, Europe's most terriblewarriors, who surrendered in 878 with a solemn oath to quit Wessex and accept baptism. During the following years of peace, Alfred rebuilt cities, erected fortresses, trained militia, and encouraged the arts and learning. He reformed the administration of justice so effectively that "a purse of money, or a pair of golden bracelets might...be exposed for weeks in complete safety on the common highways." In an era of ignorance and barbarism, Alfred was an accomplised scholar and a zealous patron of learning. He translated many historical and philosophicalworks. Both for what he did and for what he was, Alfred has become known to allgenerations of Englishmen as their best and greatest king. On his death bed, hespoke this message: "This I can now most truly say, that I have sought to live worthily while I lived, and after my life to leave to men who come after me a remembering of me in good works." His five axioms were: (1) A wise God governs. (2)All suffering may be accounted blessing. (3) God is the chiefest good. (4) Onlythe good are happy. (5) The fore-knowledge of God does not conflict with man'sfree will.

322px-Statue_d'Alfred_le_Grand_à_Winchester
http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=image&guid=4d2b518b-ea34-4d69-b0c5-e038882ea80b&tid=10145763&pid=-654827055

322px-Statue_d'Alfred_le_Grand_à_Winchester
http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=image&guid=4d2b518b-ea34-4d69-b0c5-e038882ea80b&tid=10145763&pid=-654827055

Alfred, King of England
Alfred, b. 849, d. Oct. 26, 899, succeeded his brother Æthelred as king of Wessex in April 871. Both he and his brother were sons of King Æthelwulf. The only English king called "the Great," Alfred is renowned both for his ability as a war leader and for his love of learning. He can be counted, with Charlemagne, as one of the two most outstanding rulers of the 9th century. Alfred was the first English monarch to plan systematically for the defense of his realm against the Danes, with whom he was almost constantly at war from 876 until the end of his life. He was also the first monarch of an English kingdom to become a symbol and focus of national unity. Although effective ruler only of Wessex and English Mercia, he was regarded as the protector of all the English living under Danish rule. His capture of London in 886, which marked the farthest extent of his essentially defensive territorial expansion, led to general English recognition of his leadership. After his death, however, Wessex and Mercia were still unable to expel the Danes from England. A learned layman, Alfred tried to ensure that his countrymen had the opportunity to become literate. To that end, he relied upon the bishops of the Anglo-Saxon church both to teach and to seek out students. Alfred himself translated into Anglo-Saxon the Pastoral Care of Pope Gregory I, Orosius�s Seven Books of History Against the Pagans, Boethius�s Consolation of Philosophy, (possibly) the Ecclesiastical History of the Venerable Bede, and part of Saint Augustine of Hippo�s Soliloquies. To each of these except the fourth he added his own commentary. Alfred�s military victories saved English culture and national identity from destruction, and his intellectual activities began the education of his people in the Latin heritage. James W. Alexander

Bibliography: Duckett, Eleanor S., Alfred the Great (1956); Dumville, David, Wessex and England from Alfred to Edgar (1992); Frantzen, Allen, King Alfred (1986); Mapp, Alf Johnson, The Golden Dragon (1974; repr. 1991); Smyth, Alfred P., King Alfred the Great (1996); Stevenson, W. H., ed., Asser�s Life of King Alfred (1904; repr. 1959); Sturdy, David, Alfred the Great (1995); Woodruff, Douglas, The Life and Times of Alfred the Great (1974). [Grolier�s Online Encyclopedia]

Alfred, the Great (c. 849-c. 901)
King of Wessex from 871. He defended England against Danish invasion, founded the first English navy, and put into operation a legal code. He encouraged the translation of works from Latin (some he translated himself), and promoted the development of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle http://www.britannia.com/history/docs/asintro2.html. Alfred was born at Wantage, Oxfordshire, the youngest son of Ethelwulf (died 858), king of the West Saxons. In 870 Alfred and his brother Ethelred fought many battles against the Danes. He gained a victory over the Danes at Ashdown 871, and succeeded Ethelred as king April 871 after a series of defeats. Five years of uneasy peace followed while the Danes were occupied in other parts of England. In 876 the Danes attacked again, and in 878 Alfred was forced to retire to the stronghold of *Athelney, from where he finally emerged to win the victory of Edington, Wiltshire. By the Peace of Wedmore 878 the Danish leader Guthrum (died 890) agreed to withdraw from Wessex and from Mercia west of Watling Street. A new landing in Kent encouraged a revolt of the East Anglian Danes, which was suppressed 884-86, and after the final foreign invasion was defeated 892-96, Alfred strengthened the navy to prevent fresh incursions. © Copyright Helicon Publishing Ltd 1996 [The Hutchinson Encyclopedia]

Alfred [Old Eng. Ælfred], 849-899, king of Wessex (871-99), sometimes called Alfred the Great, b. Wantage, Berkshire. Youngest of the four sons of King Æthelwulf, he was sent in 853 and again in 855 to Rome, where the pope invested him with the honorary dignity of a Roman consul. He lacked adequate instruction and learned to read English only after he was 12. His adolescence was marked by ill-health and deep religious devotion, both of which persisted for the rest of his life. Little is known of him during the end of his father�s reign and the reigns of his older brothers, Æthelbald and Æthelbert, but when Æthelred took the throne (865), Alfred became his secundarius (viceroy?) and aided his brother in subsequent battles against the Danes, who now threatened to overrun all England. When the Danes turned from the east and north regions late in 870 to Wessex, Æthelred and Alfred resisted with varying fortunes in a victory at Ashdown, Berkshire, a defeat at Basing, and several indecisive engagements. Upon his brother�s death after Easter in 871, Alfred became king of the West Saxons and overlord of Kent, Surrey, Sussex, and Essex. Faced by an enemy too powerful to defeat decisively, Alfred cleared the Danes from Wessex by a heavy payment of tribute (see Danegeld) in 871. In 876 and 877 the Danes returned to ravage for several months and finally, halted by Alfred�s army, swore to leave Wessex forever. However, in a surprise invasion early in 878 the Danes crushed Alfred�s forces, and he fled to Athelney in the fens of Somerset, from which he continued to wage guerrilla war. The famous legend of Alfred and the cakes, in which he appears as an unrecognized king, exposed to the scolding of a peasant woman, probably reflects this period of his life. Alfred rallied his army to win a complete victory at Edington. He then dictated the Peace of Chippenham (or Wedmore) by which Guthrum, the Danish leader, accepted baptism and probably agreed to seperate England into English and Danish "spheres of influence." The Danes moved into East Anglia and E Mercia, and Alfred established his overlordship in W Mercia. In later campaigns, scantily recorded, Alfred captured London and again defeated the Danes. Another treaty with Guthrum in 886 marked off the Danelaw E and N of the Thames, the Lea, the Ouse, and Watling Street, leaving the south and west of England to Alfred; established the relative indemnities of Englishmen and Danes in law; and attempted to prevent border raids.

Alfred�s Achievements. Security gave Alfred his chance. He instituted reforms. Against further probable attacks by the Danes, he reorganized the militia or fyrd about numerous garrisoned forts throughout Wessex and commanded the construction of a fleet. Drawing from the old codes of Æthelbert of Kent, Ine of Wessex, and Offa of Mercia, he issued his own code of laws, marked at once by Christian doctrine and measures for a stronger centralized monarchy. He reformed the administrations of justice and energetically participated in it. He came eventually to be considered the overlord of all England, although this title was not realized in concrete political administration. His greatest achievements were the revival of learning and the establishment of Old English literary prose. Alfred gathered together a group of eminent scholars, including the Welshman Asser. They strengthened the Church by reviving learning among the clergy and organized a court school like that of Charlemagne, in which not only youths and clerics but also mature nobles were taught. Alfred himself between 887 and 892 learned Latin and translated several Latin works into English -- Gregory the Great�s Pastoral Care, Bede�s Ecclesiastical History, Orosius�s universal history, Boethius�s Consolation of Philosophy, and St. Augustine�s Soliloquies. The adaptation of Boethius is most remarkable for the liberal interpolation of his own thoughts. The Orosius is interesting for the addition of accounts of voyages made by the Norse explorers, Ohthere and Wulfstan. Although he did not write it, Alfred greatly influenced the extant form of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle http://www.britannia.com/history/docs/asintro2.html. All these pursuits were interrupted, but not ended, by new Danish invasions between 892 and 896. The struggle was severe because Alfred�s military reforms had not been completed and because the invading forces were joined by settlers from the Danelaw. He received strong support from his son Edward the Elder, his daughter Æthelflæd, and her husband, Æthelred of Mercia, and in the critical year of 893 the great Danish fort at Benfleet was successfully stormed. One Danish expedition attempting conquest by way of the Thames and Severn was defeated at Buttington; another occupying Chester was besieged and forced back to Essex. In 896 the Danes slowly dispersed to the Danelaw or overseas, and Alfred�s new long ships fought with varying success against pirate raids on the south coast. Alfred�s career was later embroidered by many heroic legends, but history alone justifies the inscription on the statue at his birthplace: "Alfred found learning dead, and he restored it; the laws powerless, and he gave them force; the Church debased, and he raised it; the land ravaged by a fearful enemy, from which he delivered it. Alfred�s name shall live as long as mankind shall respect the past." Our knowledge of Alfred�s life depends upon the biography by Asser, the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle http://www.britannia.com/history/docs/asintro2.html, the royal charters, and Alfred�s own writings. See the various editions of Alfred�s works; R. H. Hodgkin, A History of the Anglo-Saxons, Vol. II (1935); biography by E. S. Duckett (1956). [The Illustrated Columbia Encyclopedia, Third ed., 1969]

Alfred the Great (849-901), king of the West Saxons in England, was born at Wantage in Berkshire. He was the youngest son of King Ethelwulf; but when his brother Ethelred died, in 871, Alfred was declared king by universal consent in the midst of a Danish invasion. He practically founded the British navy; reorganized the national defences; raised public buildings and reclaimed waste lands; and revised all existing laws, combining those which he found good into a single code. He established schools, encouraged literature in the native tongue, and improved the services of the church.

Alfred�s principal writings are as follows: A translation of the Universal History of Orosius; a translation of Bede�s Ecclesiastical History; a translation of the De Consolatione Philosophioe of Boëtius; and a close translation of Gregory�s Cura Pastoralis and Dialogues. There are Lives of Alfred by Asser, Reinhold Pauli, Thomas Hughes, Plummer, and Draper. Consult also Turk�s Legal Code of Alfred the Great; Snell�s Age of Alfred (1912).
[World Wide Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1935]

Notes on King Alfred the Great Alfred was born in Wantage (now in Oxfordshire) and in 853 was taken to Rome, where he was confirmed by Pope Leo IV. Alfred assumed the crown in 871. He was the staunchest defender of his country�s soil against the Danish invaders who had begun to harass England during his Father�s and brother�s reigns. He was at first driven into obscure quarters in the Isle of Athelney in the Somerset levels, where legend has it that he burnt the cakes of the housewife who was providing him with shelter. In 878, however, Alfred overthrew the Danes at Ethandune or Edington in Wiltshire and compelled them to accept the Treaty of Wedmore. Alfred then ruled England South of the Thames and most of Mercia. In 866 he captured and fortified London. At about that time Northumbria made submission to Alfred making him overlord of all-England. Alfred is surnamed the Great and is renowned for his martial abilities, as Founder of the Navy and for his efforts to further the causes of law, education and culture. He died on 26 or 28 Oct 899 (or 900, or 901) and was succeeded by his second son, Edward. {Burke�s Peerage and Chamber�s Biographical Dictionary} [GADD.GED]

King of All England 871-899. Also has death date of 26 Oct 899. [ROWLEYHR.GED]

Additional information: Britannia.com http://britannia.com/history/monarchs/mon6.html

Also have death as 28 Oct 899.

Alfred was the first King of the West Saxons to style himself "King of the Anglo-Saxons". (...) Alfred
was a learned man, and encouraged education and improved his kingdom's law system as well as its
military structure.

!SOURCES:
1. Anglo-Saxon Bishops, Kings & Nobles, Eng. 104, p. 300, 342, 343
2. Royal Line of Succession, A16-A225, p. 6
3. Hist. Eng. P, 1949, pref. p. 151
4. George's Hist. Tab., Eng. 102, Tab. 1
5. Keiser und Koenig Hist., Gen. Hist. 25, pt. 1, p. 96, 97
6. Anderson's Royal Genealogies, Eng. 130, p. 738
7. The Plantagenet Ancestry, Eng. 116, p. 21
!HISTORICAL NOTES:
Alfred ascended to the throne in 871 at the age of 23. After a series of battles, he succeeded in liberating England from the Danes, Europe's most terrible warriors, who surrendered in 878 with a solemn oath to quit Wessex and accept baptism. During the following years of peace, Alfred rebuilt cities, erected fortresses, trained militia, and encouraged the arts and learning. He reformed the administration of justice so effectively that "a purse of money, or a pair of golden bracelets might...be exposed for weeks in complete safety on the common highways." In an era of ignorance and barbarism, Alfred was an accomplised scholar and a zealous patron of learning. He translated many historical and philosophical works. Both for what he did and for what he was, Alfred has become known to all generations of Englishmen as their best and greatest king. On his death bed, he spoke this message: "This I can now most truly say, that I have sought to live worthily while I lived, and after my life to leave to men who come after me a remembering of me in good works." His five axioms were: (1) A wise God governs. (2) All suffering may be accounted blessing. (3) God is the chiefest good. (4) Only the good are happy. (5) The fore-knowledge of God does not conflict with man's free will.

From THE RUFUS PARKS PEDIGREE by Brian J.L. Berry, chart pg 45.

Page 50:

14. Alfred the Great, b. Wantage, Berks., in 849; d. 28 oct 901; King of the English 871-901. He was one of the greatest men in history. crowned at Winchester 871, he founded the British Navy, organized the militia, compiled a code of laws, founded the town of Oxford and possibly University College there, built monasteries and schools, brought scholars to live in his court, became a scholar himself and translated many books into the English of his time. He may have written portions of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. Though he proved his military leadership again and again, he managed to contain the Danes than to defeat them. When he d. the Danes, by treaty and conquest, held a considerable part of Britain. He mar. 860 Eahlswith, d. 905, dau. of Ethelred Mucel, Ealdorman of the Ganae, of the Royal House of Mercia, and Eadburh. Children were Ethelflaed who mar. Ethelred, Ealdorman of the Mercians; Edward the Elder, the next king: Edmund who d. young: Ethelgifu, Abbess of Shaftsbury, a nunnery which Alfred built; Aelfryth who mar. Baldwin II the Bald, Count of Flanders, and Ethelweard.

Alfred I de Grote koning van Wessex Geslacht : Man Geboren : Ca 849 Overleden : 28 Okt 901 Vader : Aethelwulf Koning van Wessex Moeder : Osburga van Wight Relatie : Huwelijk : Ca 865 Ealswith van Gainas (Gainsborough)

King of the West Saxons

He is one of the outstanding figures of English history. On the deathof his brother Athelred, Alfred became king, coming to the throneduring a Danish invasion. Although he succeeded in making peace withthe Danes, they resumed their marauding expeditions five years later,and by early 878 they were successful almost everywhere. About Easterof 878, however, Alfred established himself at Athelney and beganassembling an army. In the middle of that year he defeated the Danesand captured their stronghold, probably at present-day Edington.During the following 14 years Alfred was able to devote himself to theinternal affairs of his kingdom. By 886 he had captured the city ofLondon, and soon afterward he was recognized as the king of allEngland. In 893 the Danes invaded England again, and the followingfour years were marked by warfare; eventually, the Danes were forcedto withdraw from Alfred's domain. The only ruler to resist Danishinvasions successfully, Alfred made his kingdom the rallying point forall Saxons, thus laying the foundation for the unification of England.Alfred was a patron of learning and did much for the education of hispeople. He began a court school and invited British and foreignscholars, notably the Welsh monk Asser (flourished 885-909) and theIrish-born philosopher and theologian John Scotus Erigena, to comethere. Alfred translated such works as The Consolation of Philosophyby the Roman statesman and philosopher Boethius, The History of theWorld by the Spanish priest Paulus Orosius (circa 385-420), andPastoral Care by Pope Gregory I. Alfred's laws, the first promulgatedin more than a century, were the first that made no distinctionbetween the English and the Welsh peoples.

He is one of the outstanding figures of English history. On the death of
his brother Æthelred Alfred became king, coming to the throne during a
Danish invasion. Although he succeeded in making peace with the Danes,
they resumed their marauding expeditions five years later, and by early
878 they were successful almost everywhere. About Easter of 878, however,
Alfred established himself at Athelney and began assembling an army. In
the middle of that year he defeated the Danes and captured their
stronghold, probably at present-day Edington. During the following 14
years Alfred was able to devote himself to the internal affairs of his
kingdom. By 886 he had captured the city of London, and soon afterward he
was recognized as the king of all England.

In 893 the Danes invaded England again, and the following four years were
marked by warfare; eventually, the Danes were forced to withdraw from
Alfred's domain. The only ruler to resist Danish invasions successfully,
Alfred made his kingdom the rallying point for all Saxons, thus laying the
foundation for the unification of England.

Alfred was a patron of learning and did much for the education of his
people. He began a court school and invited British and foreign scholars,
notably the Welsh monk Asser (flourished 885-909) and the Irish-born
philosopher and theologian John Scotus Erigena, to come there. Alfred
translated such works as The Consolation of Philosophy by the Roman
statesman and philosopher Boethius, The History of the World by the
Spanish priest Paulus Orosius (circa 385-420), and Pastoral Care by Pope
Gregory I. Alfred's laws, the first promulgated in more than a century,
were the first that made no distinction between the English and the Welsh
peoples.

Alfred (849 – 26 October ) (sometimes spelt Ælfred) was king of the southern Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Wessex from 871 to 899 . Alfred is famous for his defence of the kingdom against the Danes (Vikings ), becoming as a result the only English monarch to be awarded the epithet "the Great" by his people. Details of his life are known as a result of a work by the Welsh scholar, Asser _Bishop_of_Sherborne>. A learnèd man, Alfred encouraged education and improved the kingdom's law system.
the fourth son of King Ethelwulf of Wessex (or Æthelwulf), most likely by his first wife, Osburh. He succeeded his brother, Ethelred I , as King of Wessex and Mercia in 871 .

The Great

AFN:GS4H-XF

BIOGRAPHY: Anglo-Saxon king 871–899 who defended England against Danish invasion and founded the first English navy. He succeeded his brother Aethelred to the throne of Wessex in 871, and a new legal code came into force during his reign. He encouraged the translation of scholarly works from Latin (some he translated himself), and promoted the development of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. This ensured that his deeds were recorded in history as legends and we know more about him than any other Anglo Saxon King.

Alfred was born at Wantage, Oxfordshire, the youngest son of Ethelwulf (d. 858), king of the West Saxons. In 870 Alfred and his brother Ethelred fought many battles against the Danes. Alfred gained a victory over the Danes at Ashdown in 871, and succeeded Ethelred as king in April 871 after a series of battles in which the Danes had been defeated. Not all his campaigns were so successful; on a number of occasions he had to resort to buying off the Danes for a brief respite. Five years of uneasy peace followed while the Danes were occupied in other parts of England. In 876 the Danes attacked again, and in 878 Alfred was forced to retire to the stronghold of Athelney. The legend of him burning the cakes probaly comes from this period.

His come back and great victory at Edington in 878 secured the survival of Wessex, and the Treaty of Wedmore with the Danish king Guthrum in 886 established a boundary between the Danelaw, east of Watling Street, and the Saxons to the west. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle says that following his capture of London in 886 'all the English people submitted to him, except those who were in captivity to the Danes'. In some respects, therefore, Alfred could be considered the first king of England. A new landing in Kent encouraged a revolt of the East Anglian Danes, which was suppressed 884–86, and after the final foreign invasion was defeated 892–96, Alfred strengthened the navy to prevent fresh incursions.

During periods of peace Alfred reformed and improved his military organization. He divided his levies into two parts with one half at home and the other on active service, giving him a relief system he could call on to continue a campaign. He also began to build burhs (fortified strongpoints) throughout the kingdom to form the basis of an organized defensive system. Alfred is popularly credited as being the founder of the Royal Navy; he did build a fleet of improved ships manned by Frisians and on several occasions successfully challenged the Danes at sea.

-- http://www.begent.net/history

!SOURCES:
1. Anglo-Saxon Bishops, Kings & Nobles, Eng. 104, p. 300, 342, 343
2. Royal Line of Succession, A16-A225, p. 6
3. Hist. Eng. P, 1949, pref. p. 151
4. George's Hist. Tab., Eng. 102, Tab. 1
5. Keiser und Koenig Hist., Gen. Hist. 25, pt. 1, p. 96, 97
6. Anderson's Royal Genealogies, Eng. 130, p. 738
7. The Plantagenet Ancestry, Eng. 116, p. 21
!HISTORICAL NOTES:
Alfred ascended to the throne in 871 at the age of 23. After a series of battles, he succeeded in liberating England from the Danes, Europe's most terriblewarriors, who surrendered in 878 with a solemn oath to quit Wessex and accept baptism. During the following years of peace, Alfred rebuilt cities, erected fortresses, trained militia, and encouraged the arts and learning. He reformed the administration of justice so effectively that "a purse of money, or a pair of golden bracelets might...be exposed for weeks in complete safety on the common highways." In an era of ignorance and barbarism, Alfred was an accomplised scholar and a zealous patron of learning. He translated many historical and philosophicalworks. Both for what he did and for what he was, Alfred has become known to allgenerations of Englishmen as their best and greatest king. On his death bed, hespoke this message: "This I can now most truly say, that I have sought to live worthily while I lived, and after my life to leave to men who come after me a remembering of me in good works." His five axioms were: (1) A wise God governs. (2)All suffering may be accounted blessing. (3) God is the chiefest good. (4) Onlythe good are happy. (5) The fore-knowledge of God does not conflict with man'sfree will.

RESEARCH NOTES:
King of the West Saxons; 6th King of England (871-901/899)
defeated the Danes; fortified London

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Wessex_family_tree

He was originally King of Wessex. He united England and prevented viking conquest of England. He was crowned at Winchester. He ruled from 871 to 899.

He was originally King of Wessex. He united England and prevented viking conquest of England. He was crowned at Winchester. He ruled from 871 to 899.

!SOURCES:
1. Anglo-Saxon Bishops, Kings & Nobles, Eng. 104, p. 300, 342, 343
2. Royal Line of Succession, A16-A225, p. 6
3. Hist. Eng. P, 1949, pref. p. 151
4. George's Hist. Tab., Eng. 102, Tab. 1
5. Keiser und Koenig Hist., Gen. Hist. 25, pt. 1, p. 96, 97
6. Anderson's Royal Genealogies, Eng. 130, p. 738
7. The Plantagenet Ancestry, Eng. 116, p. 21
!HISTORICAL NOTES:
Alfred ascended to the throne in 871 at the age of 23. After a series of battles, he succeeded in liberating England from the Danes, Europe's most terriblewarriors, who surrendered in 878 with a solemn oath to quit Wessex and accept baptism. During the following years of peace, Alfred rebuilt cities, erected fortresses, trained militia, and encouraged the arts and learning. He reformed the administration of justice so effectively that "a purse of money, or a pair of golden bracelets might...be exposed for weeks in complete safety on the common highways." In an era of ignorance and barbarism, Alfred was an accomplised scholar and a zealous patron of learning. He translated many historical and philosophicalworks. Both for what he did and for what he was, Alfred has become known to allgenerations of Englishmen as their best and greatest king. On his death bed, hespoke this message: "This I can now most truly say, that I have sought to live worthily while I lived, and after my life to leave to men who come after me a remembering of me in good works." His five axioms were: (1) A wise God governs. (2)All suffering may be accounted blessing. (3) God is the chiefest good. (4) Onlythe good are happy. (5) The fore-knowledge of God does not conflict with man'sfree will.

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Wessex_family_tree

1 NAME Alfred "the Great", King of /Wessex/
2 GIVN Alfred "the Great", King of
2 SURN Wessex

1 NAME Alfred the Great /England/ 2 SOUR S033320 3 DATA 4 TEXT Date of Import: Jan 17, 2001 1 BIRT 2 DATE 849 2 PLAC Wantage, Berkshire, England 2 SOUR S033320 3 DATA 4 TEXT Date of Import: Jan 17, 2001 1 DEAT 2 DATE 26 OCT 899 2 PLAC ,Winchester, Hampshire, England 2 SOUR S033320 3 DATA 4 TEXT Date of Import: Jan 17, 2001

[De La Pole.FTW]
Sources: RC 141, 233, 235, 238; Coe; A. Roots 1-15, 44; Warrior Kings; AF; Pfafman; Kraentzler 1470; The Earliest English Kings by D.P. Kirby; Young; Hilliam. King of England, 871-899; and Wessex. Had his royal seat at Chippingham.
K: Alfred the Great, King of Wessex and Kent. Young: Alfred, died 899, King of Wessex, protector of the English Danelaw, overlord of the Welsh princes. Roots: Alfred the Great, King of England, King of England 871-899, born Wantage, Berkshire, 849; died 26 Oct. 899; married 868, Ealhswith (Alswitha), died about 905. Alfred was one of the greatest men in history. He was crowned king at Winchester, 871; founded the British Navy, organized the militia, compiled a code of laws, built schools and monasteries, and invited scholars to live at his court. He was a good scholar and translated many books. Hilliam: Alfred the Great, King of Wessex. Reigned 871-899. See page 815. All descendants of Roots lines 162 to 169 belong to the posterity of King Alfred the Great.

1 NAME Alfred "the Great", King of /Wessex/
2 GIVN Alfred "the Great", King of
2 SURN Wessex

1 NAME Alfred the Great /England/ 2 SOUR S033320 3 DATA 4 TEXT Date of Import: Jan 17, 2001 1 BIRT 2 DATE 849 2 PLAC Wantage, Berkshire, England 2 SOUR S033320 3 DATA 4 TEXT Date of Import: Jan 17, 2001 1 DEAT 2 DATE 26 OCT 899 2 PLAC ,Winchester, Hampshire, England 2 SOUR S033320 3 DATA 4 TEXT Date of Import: Jan 17, 2001

[De La Pole.FTW]
Sources: RC 141, 233, 235, 238; Coe; A. Roots 1-15, 44; Warrior Kings; AF; Pfafman; Kraentzler 1470; The Earliest English Kings by D.P. Kirby; Young; Hilliam. King of England, 871-899; and Wessex. Had his royal seat at Chippingham.
K: Alfred the Great, King of Wessex and Kent. Young: Alfred, died 899, King of Wessex, protector of the English Danelaw, overlord of the Welsh princes. Roots: Alfred the Great, King of England, King of England 871-899, born Wantage, Berkshire, 849; died 26 Oct. 899; married 868, Ealhswith (Alswitha), died about 905. Alfred was one of the greatest men in history. He was crowned king at Winchester, 871; founded the British Navy, organized the militia, compiled a code of laws, built schools and monasteries, and invited scholars to live at his court. He was a good scholar and translated many books. Hilliam: Alfred the Great, King of Wessex. Reigned 871-899. See page 815. All descendants of Roots lines 162 to 169 belong to the posterity of King Alfred the Great.

1 NAME Alfred "the Great", King of /Wessex/
2 GIVN Alfred "the Great", King of
2 SURN Wessex

1 NAME Alfred the Great /England/ 2 SOUR S033320 3 DATA 4 TEXT Date of Import: Jan 17, 2001 1 BIRT 2 DATE 849 2 PLAC Wantage, Berkshire, England 2 SOUR S033320 3 DATA 4 TEXT Date of Import: Jan 17, 2001 1 DEAT 2 DATE 26 OCT 899 2 PLAC ,Winchester, Hampshire, England 2 SOUR S033320 3 DATA 4 TEXT Date of Import: Jan 17, 2001

[De La Pole.FTW]
Sources: RC 141, 233, 235, 238; Coe; A. Roots 1-15, 44; Warrior Kings; AF; Pfafman; Kraentzler 1470; The Earliest English Kings by D.P. Kirby; Young; Hilliam. King of England, 871-899; and Wessex. Had his royal seat at Chippingham.
K: Alfred the Great, King of Wessex and Kent. Young: Alfred, died 899, King of Wessex, protector of the English Danelaw, overlord of the Welsh princes. Roots: Alfred the Great, King of England, King of England 871-899, born Wantage, Berkshire, 849; died 26 Oct. 899; married 868, Ealhswith (Alswitha), died about 905. Alfred was one of the greatest men in history. He was crowned king at Winchester, 871; founded the British Navy, organized the militia, compiled a code of laws, built schools and monasteries, and invited scholars to live at his court. He was a good scholar and translated many books. Hilliam: Alfred the Great, King of Wessex. Reigned 871-899. See page 815. All descendants of Roots lines 162 to 169 belong to the posterity of King Alfred the Great.

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