Only one king in the history of the English people has been called "Great". This was The Great Alfred, who ruled the land of the West Saxons. Alfred the youngest son of King Aethelwulf of Wessex, was born in 849 in Wantage, a town in south central England.
Alfred's father was a very religious Christian an a friend of Pope Leo IV. Twice before his 10th birthday, Alfred traveled to Rome. Those visits made a lasting impression on the little boy. Alfred came to respect education, and in later years learned to speak and read Latin.
During Alfred's youth Danish sea rovers, whom we know call Vikings, were raiding the English Coast. The Danish invaders even made settlements on the English coast and used these bases for raids father inland.
Alfred Becomes King
Alfred's father died in 858. Soon afterward to of Alfred's older brothers were killed in battle. Aethelred, Alfred's last surviving brother, was king when a new invasion of Danes menaced the West Saxon kingdom in the year 870. The next year has been called "alfred's year of battles" because he fought against the Danes in nine different places. The most important battle took place at Ashdown in January, 871. The Saxons defeated the Danes, but Aethelred was wounded and died in the spring. Alfred, the last of the kingdom. He was 22 years old.
The next seven years saw times of peace and times of war. In the winter of 878, a Danish force attacked the castle where Alfred was celebrating Christmas. Alfred and a small band of loyal soldiers escaped and hid in the forest until Easter.
Alfred spent this time training and rebuilding his armies. Many legends have grown up about Alfred's adventures during those trying times. The most famous is the story of Alfred and the cakes. According to that legend, he took refuge in a forest hut. An old peasant woman who lived there asked him to watch the cakes baking ih her oven while she went about her work. Alfred was so busy worrying about his kingdom and planning new battles that he let the cakes burn. When the woman returned, she gave Alfred a severe scolding. But he did not embarrass her by telling her that he was the king.
In 876 Alfred defeated the Danes at Edington. All the nobles of England now turned to Alfred as their leader. Alfred and Guthrum, the pagan Danish chief, signed a peace treaty at Wedmore. Guthrum and many of his followers settled in England, and were converted to Christianity. This was an important step toward uniting England. However, in 886 other Danish invaders attacked England, but Alfred defeated them, too.
Alfred turned his attention to strengthening England. English laws were rewritten and clarified. New forts and walls were built to protect towns. But Alfred's most important work was in restoring the learning and education that had existed in England before the Danish invaders swepth through the country
With the help of scholars, Alfred translated several books from Latin to English. These were among the first books ever written in the languange of the country, and were the foundation of English literature. Alfred also encouraged the historians of the time to continue a record of events that had been started many years earlier, The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle.
When Alfred died, about 899, an unknown chronicler wrote, "There passed away Alfred the king . . . the famous, the warlike, the victorious, the careful provider, for the window, the helpless, the orphan and the poor; the most skilled of Saxon poets, most dear to his own nation, courteous to all, most liberal . . . most watchful and devout in the service of God."
Alfred's father was a very religious Christian an a friend of Pope Leo IV. Twice before his 10th birthday, Alfred traveled to Rome. Those visits made a lasting impression on the little boy. Alfred came to respect education, and in later years learned to speak and read Latin.
During Alfred's youth Danish sea rovers, whom we know call Vikings, were raiding the English Coast. The Danish invaders even made settlements on the English coast and used these bases for raids father inland.
Alfred Becomes King
Alfred's father died in 858. Soon afterward to of Alfred's older brothers were killed in battle. Aethelred, Alfred's last surviving brother, was king when a new invasion of Danes menaced the West Saxon kingdom in the year 870. The next year has been called "alfred's year of battles" because he fought against the Danes in nine different places. The most important battle took place at Ashdown in January, 871. The Saxons defeated the Danes, but Aethelred was wounded and died in the spring. Alfred, the last of the kingdom. He was 22 years old.
The next seven years saw times of peace and times of war. In the winter of 878, a Danish force attacked the castle where Alfred was celebrating Christmas. Alfred and a small band of loyal soldiers escaped and hid in the forest until Easter.
Alfred spent this time training and rebuilding his armies. Many legends have grown up about Alfred's adventures during those trying times. The most famous is the story of Alfred and the cakes. According to that legend, he took refuge in a forest hut. An old peasant woman who lived there asked him to watch the cakes baking ih her oven while she went about her work. Alfred was so busy worrying about his kingdom and planning new battles that he let the cakes burn. When the woman returned, she gave Alfred a severe scolding. But he did not embarrass her by telling her that he was the king.
In 876 Alfred defeated the Danes at Edington. All the nobles of England now turned to Alfred as their leader. Alfred and Guthrum, the pagan Danish chief, signed a peace treaty at Wedmore. Guthrum and many of his followers settled in England, and were converted to Christianity. This was an important step toward uniting England. However, in 886 other Danish invaders attacked England, but Alfred defeated them, too.
Alfred turned his attention to strengthening England. English laws were rewritten and clarified. New forts and walls were built to protect towns. But Alfred's most important work was in restoring the learning and education that had existed in England before the Danish invaders swepth through the country
With the help of scholars, Alfred translated several books from Latin to English. These were among the first books ever written in the languange of the country, and were the foundation of English literature. Alfred also encouraged the historians of the time to continue a record of events that had been started many years earlier, The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle.
When Alfred died, about 899, an unknown chronicler wrote, "There passed away Alfred the king . . . the famous, the warlike, the victorious, the careful provider, for the window, the helpless, the orphan and the poor; the most skilled of Saxon poets, most dear to his own nation, courteous to all, most liberal . . . most watchful and devout in the service of God."
