![]() West Saxon genealogical lists state that Alfred was 23 when he became king in April 871, implying that he was born between April 847 and April 848. According to his biographer, Asser, writing in 893, "In the year of our Lord's Incarnation 849 Alfred, King of the Anglo-Saxons", was born at the royal estate called Wantage, in the district known as Berkshire (which is so called from Berroc Wood, where the box tree grows very abundantly)." This date has been accepted by the editors of Asser's biography, Simon Keynes and Michael Lapidge, and by other historians such as David Dumville and Richard Huscroft. He was given the epithet "the Great" in the 16th century and is the only English monarch to be labelled as such.įurther information: House of Wessex family treeĪlfred was a son of Æthelwulf, king of Wessex, and his wife Osburh. Details of his life are described in a work by 9th-century Welsh scholar and bishop Asser.Īlfred had a reputation as a learned and merciful man of a gracious and level-headed nature who encouraged education, proposing that primary education be conducted in English, rather than Latin, and improving the legal system and military structure and his people's quality of life. Alfred began styling himself as "King of the Anglo-Saxons" after reoccupying London from the Vikings. He defended his kingdom against the Viking attempt at conquest, becoming the dominant ruler in England. Alfred also oversaw the conversion of Viking leader Guthrum to Christianity. He won a decisive victory in the Battle of Edington in 878 and made an agreement with the Vikings, dividing England between Anglo-Saxon territory and the Viking-ruled Danelaw, composed of Scandinavian York, the north-east Midlands and East Anglia. Īfter ascending the throne, Alfred spent several years fighting Viking invasions. Under Alfred's rule, considerable administrative and military reforms were introduced, prompting lasting change in England. ![]() Three of Alfred's brothers, Æthelbald, Æthelberht and Æthelred, reigned in turn before him. He was the youngest son of King Æthelwulf and his first wife Osburh, who both died when Alfred was young. 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. Once again, a deal was struck for some Danegeld, and this time Guthrum lead his forces out of Wessex into Mercia.Alfred the Great (also spelled Ælfred c. Instead of leaving Wessex, he slaughtered his hostages in the dead of night and headed for the town of Exeter, which they took without much problem. The two sides exchanged a few hostages for good measure, and off Guthrum and his troops went.īut Guthrum thought that this payment from Alfred was rather good. This type of payment was called Danegeld, and essentially it was translated to mean Danish Gold. So Alfred did what so many kings in England had done in the past. He also suffered from bad stomach pains that would often leave him in bed for days. Alfred was more interested in books, learning and worshipping God than leading his troops in battle. In 875, they took the town of Wareham in Wessex.Īlfred had no interest in a fight. They headed south for the riches of Wessex. The second half was now under the command of a young, ambitious leader called Guthrum. In the spring, Halfdan took half of the troops back to York, where they permanently settled. ![]() Ivar the Boneless was dead, possibly killed in the battle that finally captured Repton for the Danes. The Great Heathen Army spent the winter of 874 in Repton, the ancient capital of Mercia, right in the very middle of England.īy this time, only Halfdan remained in England. The great anglo-saxon chronicle written at the time described the brother’s forces as “The Great Heathen Army.” They probably numbered less than 2000 men. With its green fields, fertile farming pastures and lack of defence, England was a perfect opportunity to build a new way of life. ![]() When he attacked England, he was captured and thrown to his death in a pit of deadly snakes by the King of Northumbria. They wanted two things:įirstly, vengeance for their father. The brothers were bringing their army not to raid and plunder. These sons were called Halfdan, Ivor the Boneless, and a man named Ubba. It was lead by the sons of the famous Viking warrior Ragnar. Ever since the anglo-saxons inhabiting villages along the English coastline had lived in fear of spotting dragon ships on the horizon.īut this Viking invasion was something a little different. It had been almost one hundred years since the attack on Holy Island. In AD 865, a great army from Denmark invaded the kingdom of East Anglia.
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