Vikings / Famous Vikings / Alfred the Great
Alfred the Great
King of the West Saxons and Anglo-Saxons
HistoricalOpponentsOutside the Norse branches
- Lived
- c. 849 – 899
- Role
- King of the West Saxons and Anglo-Saxons
Alfred became king of Wessex in 871, in the middle of the Great Heathen Army's assault. Surprised by Guthrum at Chippenham in January 878, he took refuge at Athelney in the Somerset marshes, rallied his forces and won decisively at Edington. He then reorganised the army, built a network of fortified burhs and a fleet, took London in 886, and beat off a second great invasion in 892–896. He also promoted learning, translating Latin works into English and issuing a law code.
Known for
- Defeated Guthrum at Edington, 878
- Built the burhs that secured Wessex
- Sponsor of English law and learning
In the story
Places
- 1Wantage, England (birthplace)
- 2Athelney, England
- 3Edington, England
- 4Winchester, England
On the timeline
Events that name Alfred the Great
The 8 main events of 20. Each opens in the timeline.
- 868 CE Great Army Besieged at Nottingham The Great Army moves from York into Mercia and winters at Nottingham. King Burgred asks his brothers-in-law, King Æthelred of…
- c. 4 January 871 CE Battle of Reading Four days after Englefield, King Æthelred and his brother Alfred bring the main West Saxon army to Reading and attack the…
- c. 8 January 871 CE Battle of Ashdown On the Berkshire Downs the Danes form two divisions, one under the kings Bagsecg and Halfdan, one under their earls. Asser…
- c. 22 January 871 CE Battle of Basing Two weeks after Ashdown, Æthelred and Alfred fight the Danish army again at the royal estate of Basing in Hampshire, and this…
- 22 March 871 CE Battle of Meretun Æthelred and Alfred fight the Danes at Meretun, an unidentified place perhaps in Hampshire, Wiltshire or Dorset. The West Saxons…
- April 871 CE Alfred Becomes King of Wessex King Æthelred dies shortly after Easter, which falls on 15 April, and is buried at Wimborne. His brother Alfred, aged about…
- May 878 CE Battle of Edington In the seventh week after Easter Alfred rides to Egbert's Stone, where the men of Somerset, Wiltshire and part of Hampshire rally…
- 886 CE Alfred Takes London; the Danelaw Defined Alfred occupies London, restores the Roman walled city and entrusts it to Ealdorman Æthelred of Mercia; the Chronicle says all…
Sources
Wikipedia — Alfred the Great Wikipedia — Battle of Edington Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Alfred king of WessexPicture: King Alfred ‘The Great’, Samuel Woodforde · Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.