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- BBC Bitesize. Why was Alfred called ‘Great’? One of the most famous Anglo-Saxon kings was Alfred, one of the only kings in British history to be called 'Great'. His father was king of...
Apr 1, 2019 · His most important achievement was to prevent an island-wide invasion from the Danes and establish a united Anglo-Saxon culture. Alfred’s father was King Aethelwulf, which translates from Old English as “Noble Wolf”, King of the West Saxons.
- Alfred The Great: Fast Facts
- Restored His Depleted Army to Fight Against The Vikings
- Alfred The Great Defeated The Great Heathen Army at The Battle of Edington
- Signed The Treaty of Alfred and Guthrum
- Restructured Wessex’s Military Defenses
- Built Larger and Faster Warships
- Improved His Kingdom’s Administration Using The Burghal System
- Issued The Doom Book
- Alfred The Great Promoted Learning and Education
- Built Court Schools
Date of Birth: 849 Place of Birth: Wantage, Berkshire Date of Death: 899 Burial place: Winchester Parents: Æthelwulf and Osburh Siblings: Æthelbald, Æthelberht and Æthelred, Spouse: Ealhswith Children: Æthelflaed, Edward the Elder (future king), Æthelgifu, Æthelweard, and Ælfhryth. Reign: 871 – 899 Title: King of the West Saxons (871- c. 886), King...
In May 878, Alfred the Great marched his army to Egbert’s Stone and was received by a thundering applause from his people. The king was in the process of marshalling an offensive against the Great Heathen Army of the Danes. He expertly drew support from a number of lords and community leaders from various towns (burhs). Alfred successfully secured ...
With a sizable number of arms and men that were financed by the contributions from the various lords, Alfred the Great marched against the Great Heathen Army at the Battle of Edingtonin May 878. It is generally held that the Battle of Edington took place in the town of Edington in present-day Wiltshire. The Great Heathen Army was led by a Dane know...
Following his historic win against the Great Heathen Army, Alfred forced Guthrum and other high-ranking members of the Danes to be baptized at the king’s court at Aller. Under the terms of the Treaty of Wedmore, Guthrum was also obliged to leave Wessex. Alfred took in Guthrum as a son, allowing the Dane to rule the kingdoms (East Anglia) he had ear...
Much of his restructuring came during the peaceful times he had with the Danes. This was around the time that Guthrum was king of the Danes in Danelaw. It’s been stated that King Alfred picked little bits of military strategy from Charles the Bald while he was on a visit to Rome. Alfred came out with an improved way of taxing his people. He then us...
King Alfred invested quite a lot in ships that could easily navigate the estuaries and rivers. In the mid-890s, he started building a small fleet that comprised long ships. Alfred’s ships were built to about twice the size of the warships of the Vikings. He was following in the footstep of a rich tradition of shipbuilding by the Anglo-Saxons. Alfre...
All in all, there were about 33 towns (burhs) that Alfred made sure to fortify. He built the system in such a way that the army could easily be deployed from one burh to another to fend off any invasion. The burhs were so interconnected that only about 19 miles (30 kilometers) separated them apart. The spine of Alfred’s Burghal system was the Burgh...
Also known as the Legal Cod of Alfred, the Doom Book was a set of codes compiled around 880s/890s by Alfred the Great. The codes were largely based on codes from the reigns of three Christian Saxon kings: King Ine of Wessex, King Æthelberht of Kent, and Offa of Mercia. In the nutshell, the Doom Book sought to establish Christian law in the Kingdom ...
Taking several notes from the reign of Charlemagne the Greatand the Carolingian renaissance, who lived a century before him, Alfred worked extremely hard to increase literacy in his kingdom. He sought to do this through culture and religion. Perceiving the Viking raids as punishments from God for abandoning God’s commandment, Alfred encouraged reli...
Saddened by his lack of proper education during his childhood, Alfred made sure that his children and children of nobles received the best form of education possible. He set up court schools to tutor his children in English writing and liberal arts. Many of the scholars in the court schools came from across Europe. There was the likes of Grimbald a...
- Defender of England. Alfred is renowned for his role in defending England against the Viking invasions, particularly the Great Heathen Army. His military strategies and leadership skills were instrumental in repelling Viking forces and preserving Anglo-Saxon independence.
- Educational Reforms. Alfred recognized the importance of education and championed significant educational reforms. He promoted literacy, translated Latin works into English, and established schools, contributing to the intellectual and cultural advancement of his kingdom.
- Legal Reforms. Alfred implemented legal reforms to ensure fairness and justice. He codified laws and established a system of justice based on the principle of equal treatment under the law, setting the foundation for English common law.
- Religious Patronage. Alfred was a devout Christian and supported the growth of Christianity in England. He promoted the building of churches, encouraged missionary activities, and sponsored the translation of religious texts, contributing to the spread and strengthening of Christianity in his realm.
One of the most famous Anglo-Saxon kings was Alfred the Great. By the end of Alfred's reign he was called 'King of the English'. He fought the Vikings and then made peace.
Oct 26, 2021 · Why is King Alfred significant? Military and intellectual activities were in themselves sufficient to have established Alfred’s reputation, but what really made him stand out to succeeding generations was the fact that his Welsh adviser Asser wrote a biography of the king in 893.
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Jan 11, 2018 · Alfred the Great’s Viking Wars: Inside the Anglo-Saxon Fight to Save England. In January 878, a band of men made their way through the Wessex countryside. Viking patrols searched for them, but the fugitives knew the hidden tracks and paths: this was their country. The man on the run was Alfred, and he was last king of the Anglo-Saxons.
