Alfred the Great (849-901 AD)

ENGLAND'S GREATEST KING

 

Welcome to my 'Alfred the Great' page. I have been interested in Alfred the Great for about ten years, ever since I first stumbled across him in my reading of English history. On this page you will find a directory relating to Alfred, with articles and information relating to the great king.

 

What's on This Page:

 

INTRODUCTION TO ALFRED THE GREAT:

Alfred the Great was the greatest king produced by Wessex and England. Alfred ruled Wessex from 971 to 901 AD. Though the area of his rule was small in contrast to that of latter English kings, it was Alfred who set the foundation of the British Empire. His family line would set in place the beginnings of the modern English monarchy and nation, beginning with his son Edward, through to Edward the Confessor.

Alfred was born around 849 AD in what is now Wantage (where there is now a statue of the great king). He had three older brothers, all of whom would be king before him. Alfred's father was Ethelwulf, his grandfather was Egbert, both important kings of Wessex. His mother was Osburh, who apparently died while Alfred was young, for his father married Judith, the daughter of Charles the Bald (of France), a son Of Charlemagne.

Egbert became king after Beothric, following a period of exile to the court of the great Charlemagne. Egbert ruled Wessex for some forty years. Ethelwulf followed his father as king.

Ethelwulf sent Alfred to Rome when he was only four, where Pope Leo IV invested Alfred with the consulship. He also made another two-year trip to Rome with his father, who had left his two sons (Ethelbald and Ethelbert) to reign in his absence.

After returning from Rome, Ethelbald continued to rule the western section of Wessex, while Egbert took up his reign in the east. Upon Egbert's death, shortly after his return, Ethelbald reigned supreme and married his father's wife, Judith. About three years later Ethelbert became king, for Ethelbald had died. During his reign (862-866 AD) northern invaders (the Vikings - from the area of Denmark) increased their attacks on the English territories. With the death of Ethelbert, Ethelred became king, reigning for five years.

Finally in 871 AD, Alfred himself became king of Wessex and immediately became engaged with the growing Viking menace as they now hit out at Wessex. It was Alfred who furthered his grandfather's and father's attempt to build a navy to meet the Viking threat.

By 877 AD Wessex was at the crossroads. A crisis faced the kingdom, with the Danish invaders now appearing almost invincible in their quest to crush Wessex. Alfred was reduced to a small stockade in the Somerset region of Athelney. Yet he quickly raised an army and defeated the Danes at Ethandune (the White Horse near Westbury was possible carved as a memorial to this victory over the Danes) and then at the Danish base of operations situated at Chippenham. The Danish king (Guthrum) was forced to Catholic baptism by Alfred and forced back to East Anglia. In 886 AD, Alfred captured London. A truce was eventually established between the Saxons and the Danes, with the south and west being recognised as Saxon and the north and east (East Anglia) as Danish, under Guthrum.

In the 890's, following the death of Guthrum, a new Danish threat emerged under the leadership of Haesten. He arrived with some 200-300 ships in the vicinity of Kent. After a period of war, the Danish interest in Wessex ended and by the late 890's, the Viking crisis was over for Alfred.

Alfred was not just a king of war and dominion, for he also sought to restore England to greatness in many other ways, including education. In his time there was a lack of learning and he sought to change the situation by having translated some of the great literature of his time. Scholars were brought to court from all over the country. He began translating with St Gregory's 'Pastoral Care.' This was followed by other various works, including Gregory's 'Dialogues,' Orosius's 'History of the World' and Bede's 'Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation.'

See also Chambers's Encyclopaedia (1880 Edition) entry on this site. Alfred is also known through Laymon's medieval poem, 'Brut,' of the fourteenth century.

 

THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLES:

It would seem that the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles were written under the close supervision of Alfred himself, which means that they may be very biased towards him. These were written in various monasteries by the monks. Vist the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles.

 

LIFE OF KING ALFRED BY ASSER:

Though written by Asser (Alfred's chaplain), it is thought that this biography was also written under the close supervision of Alfred himself.  Asser came from southern Wales and was possibly the bishop of St David's in Pembrokeshire. Alfred appointed him bishop of Sherborne and gave him the charge of Amesbury monastery.

Visit the Life of King Alfred.

 

LAW UNDER ALFRED:

Alfred the Great continued the work of bringing law to Wessex, Mercia and other areas of England over which he dominated. This he did by combining the laws of the various local kings (Ine and Offa), as well as the Danelaw.

See the Laws of Alfred

 

FURTHER RESOURCES:

 

Perhaps you have an article or information relating to Alfred the Great? Contact me at the email address for consideration. nrbcpastorkev@yahoo.com.au

 


10/04/2007

Top of this Page
Article Archive
Kevin Matthews History Site

 

A KEVIN MATTHEWS
PRODUCTION