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Alfred the Great (Old English: Ælfrǣd [ˈæɫvˌræːd]; c. 849 – 26 October 899) was King of the West Saxons from 871 to 886, and King of the Anglo-Saxons from 886 until his death in 899. He was the youngest son of King Æthelwulf and his first wife Osburh, who both died when Alfred was young.
- Æthelred I
Æthelred I (alt. Aethelred, Ethelred; Old English:...
- Æthelwulf, King of Wessex
Æthelwulf (Old English: [ˈæðelwuɫf]; [1] Old English for...
- King of The West Saxons
The chart shows their (claimed) descent from the traditional...
- Edward The Elder
Edward the Elder (870s? – 17 July 924) was King of the...
- Son of Alfred
Æthelweard (died 920 or 922) was the younger son of King...
- Æthelflæd, Lady of The Mercians
Æthelflæd (c. 870 – 12 June 918) ruled as Lady of the...
- Ælfthryth, Countess of Flanders
She was the youngest daughter of Alfred the Great, [1] the...
- King of The Anglo-Saxons
Alfred styled himself king of the Anglo-Saxons from about...
- Æthelred I
- King Alfred
- Revival and Fight Back
- Personal Qualities of Alfred The Great
- Myth of Alfred and The Burnt Cakes
- Legacy
In April 871, King Æthelred died and Arthur was crowned the King of Wessex. But, almost immediately, the kingdom came under further attack from a rampaging Viking army (or Great Heathen Army as it was known to the Anglo-Saxons) Given his lack of military strength, Alfred sued for a temporary peace and paid off the Vikings (known as Danegeld) to ret...
In 878, King Alfred emerged from his semi-hiding and raised local noblemen and soldiers who remained loyal to Wessex. It was a testament to his leadership and character that he was able to summon troops and retain loyalty – even though it looked an almost lost cause against the all-conquering Vikings. Alfred’s armies met the Vikings and won a decis...
Unusually for a King of that time, Alfred was interested in education, and he personally translated several Latin works into English. He was also concerned that his own subjects should gain an education – a revolutionary idea for the time. Alfred also was a committed Christain, who not only paid lip-service to the new religion but sought to live ac...
An enduring myth relating to Alfred was an incident that occurred during his years of wandering in the marshes. On one occasion he sought refuge in the house of an ordinary woman who was baking cakes. Completely unaware of who Alfred was, she left him in charge of her loaves of bread in the oven. Alfred was so absorbed in the problems of his kingdo...
Many regarded him as the greatest Western European ruler since Charlemagne. He is the only British king to gain the epithet ‘Great’ and is widely admired for the unusual combination of military strength – used in the defence of his country, but also a sense of justice, compassion, wisdom and fairness. English historian, Edward Freeman writes of Alf...
Alfred the Great © King of the southern Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Wessex and one of the outstanding figures of English history, as much for his social and educational reforms as for his military...
Apr 24, 2018 · Alfred the Great (r. 871-899 CE) was the king of Wessex in Britain but came to be known as King of the Anglo-Saxons after his military victories over Viking adversaries and later successful negotiations with them.
- Joshua J. Mark
Oct 3, 2024 · Alfred, 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. Learn more about Alfred’s life and rule.
- Dorothy Whitelock
- Alfred spent much of his reign defending his kingdom of Wessex from Danish invaders. He won a great victory at the Battle of Edington in 878 but co...
- Alfred administered Wessex well and was a studious lawgiver. He promulgated an important code of laws after studying the principles of lawgiving fr...
- Alfred considered learning and literacy to be crucial for the acquisition of wisdom and therefore necessary for men to live in accordance with God’...
Oct 26, 2021 · Alfred the Great is famous for his victories against the Vikings, and is the only English monarch known as 'the Great'. But how much do you know about him? Barbara Yorke, professor emerita of early medieval history at the University of Winchester, brings you the facts about the Anglo-Saxon king
Alfred the Great (Old English Ælfræd: c. 849 - 26 October 899) was King of Wessex from 871 to 899. He was the first king from the British Isles to call himself the 'King of the Anglo-Saxons ' and so he is sometimes said to be the first English king. Alfred started the Royal Navy in the 9th century.
