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Alfred the Great
King of the Anglo-Saxons
Statue of Alfred the Great, Wantage, Oxfordshire
Reign	23 April 871 – 26 October 899
Predecessor	Æthelred of Wessex
Successor	Edward the Elder
Spouse	Ealhswith
Issue
Ælfthryth Ethelfleda Ethelgiva Edward the Elder Æthelwærd
Full name
Ælfrēd of Wessex
Royal house	House of Wessex
Father	Æthelwulf of Wessex
Mother	Osburga
Born	c. 849 Wantage, Berkshire
Died	26 October 899
Burial	c. 1100 Winchester, Hampshire, now lost.

Alfred the Great (also Ælfred from the Old English Ælfrēd, pronounced [ˈælfreːd]) (c. 849 – 26 October 899) was king of the southern Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Wessex from 871 to 899. Alfred is noted for his defence of the kingdom against the Danish Vikings, becoming the only English King to be awarded the epithet "the Great".^[1] Alfred was the first King of the West Saxons to style himself "King of the Anglo-Saxons". Details of his life are discussed in a work by the Welsh scholar Asser. Alfred was a learned man, and encouraged education and improved his kingdom's law system as well as its military structure. Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... Arms of the Bishop of Salisbury The Bishop of Salisbury is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Salisbury in the Province of Canterbury. ... For the King of England, see Alfred. ... Al Columbia is an American comic book artist. ... Cover of Zero Zero #12 (September/October 1996), drawn by Max Andersson Zero Zero is an alternative comics anthology that was published by Fantagraphics Books from 1995 to 2000. ... For other uses, see Anglo-Saxon. ... Statue of Alfred the Great in Wantage (by DJ Clayworth) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... , , Wantage is a town and civil parish in the Vale of the White Horse, near the Thames Valley, in the English county of Oxfordshire (formerly in Berkshire), and approximately 10 miles south-southwest of Oxford. ... Oxfordshire (abbreviated Oxon, from the Latinised form Oxonia) is a county in the South East of England, bordering on Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, and Warwickshire. ... is the 113th day of the year (114th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Nine battles are fought between the Danes and Wessex. ... is the 299th day of the year (300th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events Edward the Elder becomes King of England. ... King Ethelred I (Old English: Æþelræd) (c. ... Edward the Elder (Old English: Ä’adweard se Ieldra) (c. ... Ealhswith (or Ealswitha) of the Gaini was born c. ... Ethelfleda (alternative spelling Aethelfled, Æthelfleda or Æthelflæd) (872/879?-918) was the eldest daughter of King Alfred the Great of Wessex and his wife Ealhswith. ... Edward the Elder (Old English: Ä’adweard se Ieldra) (c. ... Æthelwærd of Wessex was the youngest son of King Alfred the Great and Ealhswith. ... A Royal House or Dynasty is a sort of family name used by royalty. ... The House of Wessex refers to the family that ruled a kingdom in southwest England known as Wessex. ... Ethelwulfs first tombstone, in the church porch at Steyning - the two incised crosses indicate a royal burial Ethelwulf, Old English: Æþelwulf, means Noble Wolf (c. ... Look up Circa on Wiktionary, the free dictionary The Latin word circa, literally meaning about, is often used to describe various dates (often birth and death dates) that are uncertain. ... , , Wantage is a town and civil parish in the Vale of the White Horse, near the Thames Valley, in the English county of Oxfordshire (formerly in Berkshire), and approximately 10 miles south-southwest of Oxford. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... is the 299th day of the year (300th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events Edward the Elder becomes King of England. ... Look up Circa on Wiktionary, the free dictionary The Latin word circa, literally meaning about, is often used to describe various dates (often birth and death dates) that are uncertain. ... Winchester is a historic city in southern England, with a population of around 40,000 within a 3 mile radius of its centre. ... For other uses, see Hampshire (disambiguation). ... Old English redirects here. ... is the 299th day of the year (300th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events Edward the Elder becomes King of England. ... For other uses, see Anglo-Saxon. ... For the helicopter, see Westland Wessex. ... The name Viking is a loan from the native Scandinavian term for the Norse seafaring warriors who raided the coasts of Scandinavia, Europe and the British Isles from the late 8th century to the 11th century, the period of European history referred to as the Viking Age. ... This article is about the English as an ethnic group and nation. ... Look up epithet in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... This is a list of monarchs of Wessex until 924. ... For the various rulers of the kingdoms within England prior to its formal unification, during the Heptarchy, see Bretwalda. ... The Welsh are, according to Hastings (1997), an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language, which is a Celtic language. ... Asser (d. ... For other uses, see Law (disambiguation). ...

Childhood

Further information: House of Wessex family tree

Alfred was born sometime between 847 and 849 at Wantage in the present-day ceremonial county of Oxfordshire (in the historic county of Berkshire). He was the fifth and youngest son of King Æthelwulf of Wessex, by his first wife, Osburga.^[2] In 868 Alfred married Ealhswith, daughter of Ethelred Mucill, who is called ealdorman of the Gaini, an unidentified district.^[3] This article does not cite any references or sources. ... There is also a town called Wantage in the state of New Jersey in the United States of America. ... The Ceremonial counties of England are areas of England that are appointed a Lord-Lieutenant, and are defined by the government with reference to the metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties of England. ... Oxfordshire (abbreviated Oxon, from the Latinised form Oxonia) is a county in the South East of England, bordering on Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, and Warwickshire. ... The historic counties of England are ancient subdivisions of England. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Ethelwulfs first tombstone, in the church porch at Steyning - the two incised crosses indicate a royal burial Ethelwulf, Old English: Æþelwulf, means Noble Wolf (c. ...

At five years old, Alfred is said to have been sent to Rome where, according to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, he was confirmed by Pope Leo IV who "anointed him as king." Victorian writers interpreted this as an anticipatory coronation in preparation for his ultimate succession to the throne of Wessex. However, this coronation could not have been foreseen at the time, since Alfred had three living elder brothers. A letter of Leo IV shows that Alfred was made a "consul" and a misinterpretation of this investiture, deliberate or accidental, could explain later confusion.^[4] It may also be based on Alfred later having accompanied his father on a pilgrimage to Rome and spending some time at the court of Charles the Bald, King of the Franks, around 854–855. On their return from Rome in 856, Æthelwulf was deposed by his son Æthelbald. Æthelwulf died in 858, and Wessex was ruled by three of Alfred's brothers in succession. For other uses, see Rome (disambiguation). ... The initial page of the Peterborough Chronicle. ... Leo IV, pope from 847 to 855, was a Roman by birth, and was unanimously chosen to succeed Sergius II. His pontificate was chiefly distinguished by his efforts to repair the damage done by the Saracens during the reign of his predecessor to various churches of the city, especially those... The Victorian era of the United Kingdom marked the height of the British Industrial Revolution and the apex of the British Empire. ... A asses is a ceremony marking the investment of a monarch with regal power through, amongst other symbolic acts, the placement of a crown upon his or her head. ... This article is about the Roman rank. ... Charles the Bald[1] (numbered Charles II of France and the Holy Roman Emperor) (French: , German: ) (13 June 823 – 6 October 877), Holy Roman Emperor (875–877) and king of West Francia (840–877), was the youngest son of Emperor Louis the Pious, by his second wife Judith. ... The following list of Frankish Kings is one of several Wikipedia lists of incumbents. ... Events Patriarch Ignatius is imprisoned and (December 25) deposed to be succeeded by patriarch Photius I. Louis the German invades West Francia, hoping to secure Aquitaine from his brother Charles the Bald, but fails. ...

Asser tells the story about how as a child Alfred won a prize of a volume of poetry in English, offered by his mother to the first of her children able to memorize it. This story may be true, or it may be a legend designed to illustrate the young Alfred's love of learning.

Under Ethelred

During the short reigns of his two eldest brothers, Æthelbald and Ethelbert, Alfred is not mentioned. However with the accession of the third brother, Ethelred I, in 866, the public life of Alfred began. It is during this period that Asser applies to him the unique title of "secundarius", which may indicate a position akin to that of the Celtic tanist, a recognized successor closely associated with the reigning monarch. It is possible that this arrangement was sanctioned by the Witenagemot, to guard against the danger of a disputed succession should Ethelred fall in battle. The arrangement of crowning a successor as Royal prince and military commander is well-known among Germanic tribes, such as the Swedes and Franks, with whom the Anglo-Saxons had close ties. King Ethelbald of Wessex or Æþelbald (Means roughly Noble Bold) was the eldest son of King Ethelwulf of Wessex and was born in about 831 or 834. ... King Ethelbert or Æþelberht of Wessex (Means Magnificent Noble) was a son of Ethelwulf of Wessex and was born in around 835 AD. He succeeded his brother, Ethelbald of Wessex, as King of Wessex in 860, but died without issue in about 865. ... King Ethelred I was a son of Ethelwulf of Wessex and was born around 837 AD. He succeeded his brother, Ethelbert of Wessex, as King of Wessex in about 865. ... This article is about the European people. ... Biblical pharaoh depicted as an Anglo-Saxon king with his witan (11th century) The Witenagemot (also called the Witan, more properly the title of its members) was a political institution in Anglo-Saxon England which operated between approximately the 7th century and 11th century. ... The term Germanic tribes (or Teutonic tribes) applies to the ancient Germanic peoples of Europe. ... This article is about the Frankish people and society. ...

In 868, Alfred is recorded fighting beside his brother Ethelred, in an unsuccessful attempt to keep the invading Danes out of the adjoining Kingdom of Mercia. For nearly two years, Wessex was spared attacks because Alfred paid the Vikings to leave him alone. However, at the end of 870, the Danes arrived in his homeland. The year that followed has been called "Alfred's year of battles". Nine martial engagements were fought with varying fortunes, though the place and date of two of the battles have not been recorded. In Berkshire, a successful skirmish at the Battle of Englefield, on 31 December 870, was followed by a severe defeat at the Siege and Battle of Reading, on 5 January 871, and then, four days later, a brilliant victory at the Battle of Ashdown on the Berkshire Downs, possibly near Compton or Aldworth. Alfred is particularly credited with the success of this latter conflict. However, later that month, on 22 January, the English were again defeated at Basing and, on the following 22 March at the Battle of Merton (perhaps Marden in Wiltshire or Martin in Dorset) in which Ethelred was killed. The two unidentified battles may also have occurred in between. Mercia, sometimes spelled Mierce, was one of the kingdoms of the Anglo-Saxon heptarchy, in what is now England, in the region of the Midlands, with its heart in the valley of the River Trent and its tributary streams. ... The name Viking is a loan from the native Scandinavian term for the Norse seafaring warriors who raided the coasts of Scandinavia, Europe and the British Isles from the late 8th century to the 11th century, the period of European history referred to as the Viking Age. ... Englefield is a village and civil parish in Berkshire, England. ... is the 365th day of the year (366th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events February 28 - End of the Fourth Council of Constantinople. ... On January 4, 871, Ethelred of Wessex and his brother Alfred attacked a Danish army which was invading Britain and was camped near Reading. ... is the 5th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Nine battles are fought between the Danes and Wessex. ... The Battle of Ashdown, in Berkshire, took place on the 8th January 871. ... The North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is located in the English counties of Berkshire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire and Wiltshire. ... Compton is a village and civil parish in the English county of Berkshire, located near the start of River Pang valley, in the Berkshire Downs. ... Aldworth is a small village and civil parish, close to the northern edge of the English county of Berkshire, in the rural area between Reading, Newbury and Streatley. ... is the 22nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Basing, now known as Old Basing, is situated a few miles NE of the modern town of Basingstoke, Hampshire, England. ... is the 81st day of the year (82nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Battle of Merton was fought in April 871. ... Not to be confused with Wilshire. ... Dorset (pronounced DOR-sit or [dɔ.sət], and sometimes in the past called Dorsetshire) is a county in the south-west of England, on the English Channel coast. ...

King at war

In April 871, King Ethelred died, and Alfred succeeded to the throne of Wessex and the burden of its defence, despite the fact that Ethelred left two young sons. Although contemporary turmoil meant the accession of Alfred—an adult with military experience and patronage resources—over his nephews went unchallenged, he remained obliged to secure their property rights. While he was busy with the burial ceremonies for his brother, the Danes defeated the English in his absence at an unnamed spot, and then again in his presence at Wilton in May. Following this, peace was made and, for the next five years, the Danes occupied other parts of England. However, in 876, under their new leader, Guthrum, the enemy slipped past the English army and attacked Wareham in Dorset. From there, early in 877, and under the pretext of talks, they moved westwards and took Exeter in Devon. There, Alfred blockaded them, and with a relief fleet having been scattered by a storm, the Danes were forced to submit. They withdrew to Mercia but, in January 878, made a sudden attack on Chippenham, a royal stronghold in which Alfred had been staying over Christmas, "and most of the people they reduced, except the King Alfred, and he with a little band made his way by wood and swamp, and after Easter he made a fort at Athelney, and from that fort kept fighting against the foe" (Anglo-Saxon Chronicle). , Wilton is a town in Wiltshire, (of which it was once the county town), England, with a rich heritage dating back to the Anglo-Saxons. ... Guthrum (died c. ... Wareham is a historic market town in the Purbeck district of Dorset, England. ... A number of other places have taken their names from Exeter The city of Exeter is the county town of Devon, in England, UK. It is located at 50° 43 25 N, 3° 31 39 W. In the 2001 census its population was recorded at 111,066. ... For other uses, see Devon (disambiguation). ... Statistics Population: 30,000 Ordnance Survey OS grid reference: ST919733 Administration District: North Wiltshire Shire county: Wiltshire Region: South West England Constituent country: England Sovereign state: United Kingdom Other Ceremonial county: Wiltshire Services Police force: Wiltshire Constabulary Fire and rescue: Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service Ambulance: Great Western Post office... Athelney is a small village located in the Sedgemoor district of Somerset, England. ...

Statue of Alfred the Great at Winchester

A popular legend tells how, when he first fled to the Somerset Levels, Alfred was given shelter by a peasant woman who, unaware of his identity, left him to watch some cakes she had left cooking on the fire. Preoccupied with the problems of his kingdom, Alfred accidentally let the cakes burn and was taken to task by the woman upon her return. Upon realizing the king's identity, the woman apologised profusely, but Alfred insisted that he was the one who needed to apologise. From his fort at Athelney, a marshy island near North Petherton, Alfred was able to mount an effective resistance movement while rallying the local militia from Somerset, Wiltshire and Hampshire. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (768x1024, 98 KB) Photo prise par Odejea le 25 août 2005 à Winchester. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (768x1024, 98 KB) Photo prise par Odejea le 25 août 2005 à Winchester. ... Winchester is a historic city in southern England, with a population of around 40,000 within a 3 mile radius of its centre. ... The view towards Brent Knoll from Glastonbury Tor. ... , North Petherton is a small town in Somerset, England, situated on the edge of the eastern foothills of the Quantocks, and close to the edge of the Somerset Levels. ... This article is about the county of Somerset in England. ... Not to be confused with Wilshire. ... For other uses, see Hampshire (disambiguation). ...

Another story relates how Alfred disguised himself as a minstrel in order to gain entry to Guthrum's camp and discover his plans. This supposedly led to the Battle of Edington, near Westbury in Wiltshire. The result was a decisive victory for Alfred. The Danes submitted and, according to Asser, Guthrum and 29 of his chief men received baptism when they signed the Treaty of Wedmore. As a result, England became split in two: the southwestern half was kept by the Saxons, and the northeastern half including London, thence known as the Danelaw, was kept by the Vikings. By the following year (879), both Wessex and Mercia, west of Watling Street, were cleared of the invaders. For the 18th century American form of music and performance known as minstrelsy, see minstrel show. ... The Battle of Edington (May 878) was a battle which took place near Edington in the county of Wiltshire in the south-west of England. ... , Westbury is a town and civil parish (population 11,135 in the 2001 census) in the west of the English county of Wiltshire, most famous for the Westbury White Horse. ... This article is about the Christian religious act of Baptism. ... The Treaty of Wedmore, signed at Wedmore in Somerset, was the result of the Battle of Edington (OE. Ethandun) in 878 AD, in which Alfred the Great defeated the viking forces of the Dane, Guthrum. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Anglo-Saxon. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... Gold: Danelaw The Danelaw, in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles also known as the Danelagh, (Old English: Dena lagu; Danish: Danelagen), is a name given to a part of Great Britain, now northern and eastern England, in which the laws of the Danes[1] held predominance over those of the Anglo... The modern Watling Street crossing the Medway at Rochester near the Roman and Celt crossings Watling Street is the name given to an ancient trackway in England and Wales that was first used by the Celts mainly between the modern cities of Canterbury and St Albans. ...

For the next few years there was peace, with the Danes being kept busy in Europe. A landing in Kent in 884 or 885 close to Plucks Gutter, though successfully repelled, encouraged the East Anglian Danes to rise up. The measures taken by Alfred to repress this uprising culminated in the taking of London in 885 or 886, and an agreement was reached between Alfred and Guthrum, known as the Treaty of Alfred and Guthrum. Once more, for a time, there was a lull, but in the autumn of 892 or 893, the Danes attacked again. Finding their position in Europe somewhat precarious, they crossed to England in 330 ships in two divisions. They entrenched themselves, the larger body at Appledore, Kent, and the lesser, under Haesten, at Milton also in Kent. The invaders brought their wives and children with them, indicating a meaningful attempt at conquest and colonisation. Alfred, in 893 or 894, took up a position from whence he could observe both forces. While he was in talks with Haesten, the Danes at Appledore broke out and struck northwestwards. They were overtaken by Alfred's eldest son, Edward, and were defeated in a general engagement at Farnham in Surrey. They were obliged to take refuge on an island in the Hertfordshire Colne, where they were blockaded and were ultimately compelled to submit. The force fell back on Essex and, after suffering another defeat at Benfleet, coalesced with Haesten's force at Shoebury. Plucks Gutter is a small hamlet in Kent, England where the River Little Stour and River Great Stour meet. ... Norfolk and Suffolk, the core area of East Anglia. ... and then the king did a poo in battle The Treaty of Alfred and Guthrum is an agreement between Alfred of Wessex and Guthrum, the Viking ruler of East Anglia. ... Appledore is a village in Kent, England, about 8 miles (13 kilometres) south of Ashford, Kent and on the northern edge of the Romney Marsh. ... Milton-next-Gravesend was an ancient civil parish in the NW of the county of Kent, England. ... Edward the Elder (Old English: Ä’adweard se Ieldra) (c. ... This article is about the English town. ... This article is about the English county. ... The Colne is a river in England. ... Statistics Population: Ordnance Survey OS grid reference: TQ782860 Administration District: Castle Point Shire county: Essex Region: East of England Constituent country: England Sovereign state: United Kingdom Other Ceremonial county: Essex Historic county: Essex Services Police force: Essex Police Ambulance service: East of England Post office and telephone Post town: BENFLEET...

Alfred had been on his way to relieve his son at Thorney when he heard that the Northumbrian and East Anglian Danes were besieging Exeter and an unnamed stronghold on the North Devon shore. Alfred at once hurried westward and raised the Siege of Exeter. The fate of the other place is not recorded. Meanwhile the force under Haesten set out to march up the Thames Valley, possibly with the idea of assisting their friends in the west. But they were met by a large force under the three great ealdormen of Mercia, Wiltshire and Somerset, and made to head off to the northwest, being finally overtaken and blockaded at Buttington. Some identify this with Buttington Tump at the mouth of the Wye River, others with Buttington near Welshpool. An attempt to break through the English lines was defeated. Those who escaped retreated to Shoebury. Then after collecting reinforcements they made a sudden dash across England and occupied the ruined Roman walls of Chester. The English did not attempt a winter blockade but contented themselves with destroying all the supplies in the neighbourhood. Early in 894 (or 895), want of food obliged the Danes to retire once more to Essex. At the end of this year and early in 895 (or 896), the Danes drew their ships up the Thames and Lea and fortified themselves twenty miles (32 km) north of London. A direct attack on the Danish lines failed, but later in the year, Alfred saw a means of obstructing the river so as to prevent the egress of the Danish ships. The Danes realised that they were out-manoeuvred. They struck off northwestwards and wintered at Bridgenorth. The next year, 896 (or 897), they gave up the struggle. Some retired to Northumbria, some to East Anglia. Those who had no connections in England withdrew back to Europe. The city of Exeter is the county town of Devon, in the southwest of England, also known as the West Country. ... See also North Devon (UK Parliament constituency) North Devon is a local government district in Devon, England. ... The Thames Valley is generally the region that drains into the River Thames, England, but is used in a more specific term by the government. ... The Kingdom of Mercia at its greatest extent (7th to 9th centuries) is shown in green, with the original core area (6th century) given a darker tint. ... Not to be confused with Wilshire. ... This article is about the county of Somerset in England. ... , Buttington is a village in Powys, Wales. ... River Wye and Lancat and Ban y Gore Nature Reserve The Wye at Hay-on-Wye The Wye at Tintern This article is about the river that flows along the Anglo-Welsh border. ... Welshpool Town Hall Welshpool (Welsh: ) is a town in Powys, Wales, only 4 miles (6 km) from the border with England. ... This article is about Chester in England. ... Several places exist with the name Thames, and the word is also used as part of several brand and company names Most famous is the River Thames in England, on which the city of London stands Other Thames Rivers There is a Thames River in Canada There is a Thames... Bow Creek (tidal) meets the Limehouse Cut (canal) with a view of Londons Docklands The River Lee or River Lea (both spellings are in general use) is a river in England. ... Did you mean Bridgnorth, a town in Shropshire, England? ... Section from Shepherds map of the British Isles about 802 AD showing the kingdom of Northumbria Northumbria is primarily the name of a petty kingdom of Angles which was formed in Great Britain at the beginning of the 7th century, from two smaller kingdoms of Bernicia and Diera, and... Norfolk and Suffolk, the core area of East Anglia. ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ...

Reorganization

After the dispersal of the Danish invaders, Alfred turned his attention to the increase of the navy, partly to repress the ravages of the Northumbrian and East Anglian Danes on the coasts of Wessex, and to prevent the landing of fresh invaders. This is not, as often asserted, the beginning of the English navy. There had been earlier naval operations under Alfred. One naval engagement was fought under Æthelwulf in 851, and earlier ones, possibly in 833 and 840. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, however, does credit Alfred with the construction of a new type of ship, built according to the king's own designs, "swifter, steadier and also higher/more responsive (hierran) than the others". However, these new ships do not seem to have been a great success, as we hear of them grounding in action and foundering in a storm. Nevertheless both the British Royal Navy and the United States Navy claim Alfred as the founder of their traditions. Naval redirects here. ... This article is about the navy of the United Kingdom. ... Ethelwulfs first tombstone, in the church porch at Steyning - the two incised crosses indicate a royal burial Ethelwulf, Old English: Æþelwulf, means Noble Wolf (c. ... This article is about the navy of the United Kingdom. ... USN redirects here. ...

Alfred's main fighting force, the fyrd, was separated into two, "so that there was always half at home and half out" (Anglo-Saxon Chronicle). The level of organisation required to mobilise his large army in two shifts, of which one was feeding the other, must have been considerable. The complexity which Alfred's administration had attained by 892 is demonstrated by a reasonably reliable charter whose witness list includes a thesaurius, cellararius and pincerna—treasurer, food-keeper and butler. Despite the irritation which Alfred must have felt in 893, when one division, which had "completed their call-up (stemn)", gave up the siege of a Danish army just as Alfred was moving to relieve them, this system seems to have worked remarkably well on the whole. In Saxon times, defenses were based upon the housecarls, who were the professional soldiers of the king, and the fyrd, a militia of all able-bodied men that was called up from the districts threatened with attack. ...

One of the weaknesses of pre-Alfredian defences had been that, in the absence of a standing army, fortresses were largely left unoccupied, making it very possible for a Viking force to quickly secure a strong strategic position. Alfred substantially upgraded the state of the defences of Wessex, by erecting fortified burhs (or boroughs) throughout the kingdom. During the systematic excavation of at least four of these (at Wareham, Cricklade, Lydford and Wallingford) it has been demonstrated that "in every case the rampart associated by the excavators with the borough of the Alfredian period was the primary defence on the site" (Brooks). The obligations for the upkeep and defence of these and many other sites, with permanent garrisons, are further documented in surviving transcripts of the administrative manuscript known as the Burghal Hidage. Dating from, at least, within twenty years of Alfred's death, if not actually from his reign, it almost certainly reflects Alfredian policy. Comparison of town plans for Wallingford and Wareham with that of Winchester, shows "that they were laid out in the same scheme" (Wormald), thus supporting the proposition that these newly established burhs were also planned as centres of habitation and trade as well as a place of safety in moments of immediate danger. Thereafter, the English population and its wealth were drawn into such towns where it was not only safer from Viking soldiers, but also taxable by the King. The burh wall at Wallingford A Burh is an Anglo-Saxon name for a fortified town or other defended site, such as a hill fort. ... Wareham is a historic market town in the Purbeck district of Dorset, England. ... , Cricklade is a small town in north Wiltshire in England, on the River Thames, situated midway between Swindon and Cirencester. ... Village in Devon, established as a burh by Alfred the Great, though the dedication of the parish church to St. ... Map sources for Wallingford at grid reference SU6089 Wallingford is a small town in Oxfordshire in southern England. ... The Burghal Hidage is a Anglo-Saxon document providing a list of Wessexs fortified burhs. ...

Alfred is thus credited with a significant degree of civil reorganisation, especially in the districts ravaged by the Danes. Even if one rejects the thesis crediting the "Burghal Hidage" to Alfred, what is undeniable is that, in the parts of Mercia acquired by Alfred from the Vikings, the shire system seems now to have been introduced for the first time. This is probably what prompted the legend that Alfred was the inventor of shires, hundreds and tithings. Alfred's care for the administration of justice is testified both by history and legend; and he has gained the popular title "protector of the poor". Of the actions of the Witangemot, we do not hear very much under Alfred. He was certainly anxious to respect its rights, but both the circumstances of the time and the character of the king would have tended to throw more power into his hands. The legislation of Alfred probably belongs to the later part of the reign, after the pressure of the Danes had relaxed. He also paid attention to the country's finances, though details are lacking. A shire is an administrative area of Great Britain and Australia. ... A hundred is an administrative division, frequently used in Europe and New England, which historically was used to divide a larger region into smaller geographical units. ... A tithe (from Old English teogotha tenth) is a one-tenth part of something, paid as a voluntary contribution or as a tax or levy, usually to support a religious organization. ... The Witenagemot (or Witan) was a political institution in Anglo-Saxon England which operated between approximately the 7th century and 11th century. ...

Legal reform

Main article: Doom book

Alfred the Great’s most enduring work was his legal code, called Deemings, or Book of Dooms (Book of Laws). Sir Winston Churchill observed that Alfred blended the Mosaic Law, Celtic Law, and old customs of the pagan Anglo-Saxons.^[5] Dr. F.N. Lee traced the parallels between Alfred’s Code and the Mosaic Code.^[6] However, as Thomas Jefferson concluded after tracing the history of English common law: "The common law existed while the Anglo-Saxons were yet pagans, at a time when they had never yet heard the name of Christ pronounced or that such a character existed".^[7] Churchill stated that Alfred’s Code was amplified by his successors and grew into the body of Customary Law administered by the Shire and The Hundred Courts. This led to the Charter of Liberties, granted by Henry I of England, AD 1100. The Doom Book was a list kept in the 1930s by United States censor Will Hays and major Hollywood studio moguls. ... A legal code is a moral code enforced by the law of a state. ... Churchill redirects here. ... Torah, (תורה) is a Hebrew word meaning teaching, instruction, or especially law. It primarily refers to the first section of the Tanakh–the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, or the Five Books of Moses, but can also be used in the general sense to also include both the Written... Celtic Law The social structure of Iron Age Celtic society was highly developed. ... For other uses, see Anglo-Saxon. ... Thomas Jefferson (13 April 1743 N.S.–4 July 1826) was the third President of the United States (1801–09), the principal author of the Declaration of Independence (1776), and one of the most influential Founding Fathers for his promotion of the ideals of Republicanism in the United States. ... This article concerns the common-law legal system, as contrasted with the civil law legal system; for other meanings of the term, within the field of law, see common law (disambiguation). ... The Charter of Liberties, also called the Coronation Charter, was a written proclamation by Henry I of England, issued upon his ascension to the throne in 1100. ... Henry I (c. ...

Foreign relations

Asser speaks grandiosely of Alfred's relations with foreign powers, but little definite information is available. His interest in foreign countries is shown by the insertions which he made in his translation of Orosius. He certainly corresponded with Elias III, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, and possibly sent a mission to India. Contact was also made with the Caliph in Baghdad. Embassies to Rome conveying the English alms to the Pope were fairly frequent. Around 890, Wulfstan of Haithabu undertook a journey from Haithabu on Jutland along the Baltic Sea to the Prussian trading town of Truso. Alfred ensured he reported to him details of his trip. Paulus Orosius (c. ... The Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem is the head bishop of the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem, ranking fourth of nine patriarchs in the Eastern Orthodox Church. ... For main article see: Caliphate The Caliph (pronounced khaleef in Arabic) is the head of state in a Caliphate, and the title for the leader of the Islamic Ummah, an Islamic community ruled by the Sharia. ... Baghdad (Arabic: ) is the capital of Iraq and of Baghdad Governorate. ... For other uses, see Pope (disambiguation). ... Wulfstan of Hedeby (Latin Haithabu) was a late 9th century traveller and trader. ... Hedeby (referred to also as Haithabu and Latin Heidiba) was a settlement and trading center on the southern Baltic Sea coast of the Jutland Peninsula at the head of a narrow, navigable inlet, the Schlei in Schleswig-Holstein, northern Germany. ... Jutland Peninsula Jutland (Danish: Jylland; German: Jütland; Frisian Jutlân; Low German Jötlann) is the western, continental part of Denmark as well as one of the three historical Lands of Denmark, dividing the North Sea from the Kattegat and the Baltic Sea. ... For other uses, see Baltic (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Prussia (disambiguation). ... Truso, situated on Lake Druzno, was an Old Prussian (Pomesanian) town near the Baltic Sea just east of the Vistula River. ...

Alfred's relations with the Celtic princes in the western half of Britain are clearer. Comparatively early in his reign, according to Asser, the southern Welsh princes, owing to the pressure on them of North Wales and Mercia, commended themselves to Alfred. Later in the reign the North Welsh followed their example, and the latter cooperated with the English in the campaign of 893 (or 894). That Alfred sent alms to Irish as well as to European monasteries may be taken on Asser's authority. The visit of the three pilgrim "Scots" (i.e., Irish) to Alfred in 891 is undoubtedly authentic. The story that he himself in his childhood was sent to Ireland to be healed by Saint Modwenna, though mythical, may show Alfred's interest in that island. Approximate extent of South East Wales. ... Approximate extent of North Wales North Wales (known in some archaic texts as Northgalis) is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales, bordered to the south by Mid Wales. ... Approximate extent of North Wales North Wales (known in some archaic texts as Northgalis) is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales, bordered to the south by Mid Wales. ...

Religion and culture

Very little is known of the church under Alfred. The Danish attacks had been particularly damaging to the monasteries, and though Alfred founded two or three new monasteries and enticed foreign monks to England, monasticism did not revive significantly during his reign.^{[citation needed]} The Danish raids had also an impact on learning, leading to the practical extinction of Latin even among the clergy: the preface to Alfred's translation of Pope Gregory I's Pastoral Care into Old English bearing eloquent, if not impartial witness, to this.^{[citation needed]} “Saint Gregory” redirects here. ... Pastoral care is the ministry of care and counseling provided by pastors, chaplains and other religious leaders to members of their group (church, congregation, etc). ... Old English redirects here. ...

Alfred established a court school, following the example of Charlemagne ^[8]. To this end, he imported scholars like Grimbald and John the Saxon from Europe, and Asser from South Wales.^{[citation needed]} Not only did the King see to his own education, he also made the series of translations for the instruction of his clergy and people, most of which survive. These belong to the later part of his reign, probably the last four years, of which the chronicles are almost silent.^{[citation needed]} Charlemagne (left) and Pippin the Hunchback. ... Saint Grimbald was a Benedictine abbot also called Grimwald, invited to England by King Alfred the Great in 885. ...

Apart from the lost Handboc or Encheiridion, which seems to have been merely a commonplace book kept by the king, the earliest work to be translated was the Dialogues of Gregory, a book greatly popular in the Middle Ages. In this case the translation was made by Alfred's great friend Werferth, Bishop of Worcester, the king merely furnishing a foreword. The next work to be undertaken was Gregory's Pastoral Care, especially for the good of the parish clergy. In this, Alfred keeps very close to his original; but the introduction which he prefixed to it is one of the most interesting documents of the reign, or indeed of English history. The next two works taken in hand were historical, the Universal History of Orosius and Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People. The priority should likely be given to the Orosius, but the point has been much debated. In the Orosius, by omissions and additions, Alfred so remodels his original as to produce an almost new work; in the Bede the author's text is closely stuck to, no additions being made, though most of the documents and some other less interesting matters are omitted. Of late years doubts have been raised as to Alfred's authorship of the Bede translation. But the skeptics cannot be regarded as having proved their point. The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ... Werferth[1] was an English bishop of Worcester, from 873 to 915. ... The Bishop of Worcester is the ordinary in the see of Worcester and has his seat in Worcester Cathedral. ... Paulus Orosius (c. ... For other uses, see Bede (disambiguation). ... Folio 3v from Codex Beda Petersburgiensis (746) The Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum (in English: Ecclesiastical History of the English People) is a work in Latin by the Venerable Bede on the history of the Church in England, and of England generally; its main focus is on the conflict between Roman...

Alfred's translation of The Consolation of Philosophy of Boethius was the most popular philosophical handbook of the Middle Ages. Here again Alfred deals very freely with his original and though the late Dr. G. Schepss showed that many of the additions to the text are to be traced not to Alfred himself, but to the glosses and commentaries which he used, still there is much in the work which is solely Alfred's and highly characteristic of his genius. It is in the Boethius that the oft-quoted sentence occurs: "My will was to live worthily as long as I lived, and after my life to leave to them that should come after, my memory in good works." The book has come down to us in two manuscripts only. In one of these^[9] the writing is prose, in the other^[10] a combination of prose and alliterating verse. The latter manuscript was severely damaged in the 18th and 19th centuries,^[11] and the authorship of the verse has been much disputed; but likely it also is by Alfred. In fact, he writes in the prelude that he first created a prose work and then used it as the basis for his poem, the Lays of Boethius, his crowning literary achievement. He spent a great deal of time working on these books, which he tells us he gradually wrote through the many stressful times of his reign to refresh his mind. Of the authenticity of the work as a whole there has never been any doubt. This early printed book has many hand-painted illustrations depicting Lady Philosophy and scenes of daily life in fifteenth-century Ghent (1485) Consolation of Philosophy (Latin: Consolatio Philosophiae) is a philosophical work by Boethius written in about the year 524 AD. It has been described as the single most important... For other people of the same name, see Boethius (disambiguation). ... The Lays of Boethius is King Alfred greatest work of literature Citation needed. ...

The last of Alfred's works is one to which he gave the name Blostman, i.e., "Blooms" or Anthology. The first half is based mainly on the Soliloquies of St Augustine of Hippo, the remainder is drawn from various sources, and contains much that is Alfred's own and highly characteristic of him. The last words of it may be quoted; they form a fitting epitaph for the noblest of English kings. "Therefore he seems to me a very foolish man, and truly wretched, who will not increase his understanding while he is in the world, and ever wish and long to reach that endless life where all shall be made clear." Augustinus redirects here. ...

Beside these works of Alfred's, the Saxon Chronicle almost certainly, and a Saxon Martyrology, of which fragments only exist, probably owe their inspiration to him. A prose version of the first fifty Psalms has been attributed to him; and the attribution, though not proved, is perfectly possible. Additionally, Alfred appears as a character in The Owl and the Nightingale, where his wisdom and skill with proverbs is attested. Additionally, The Proverbs of Alfred, which exists for us in a thirteenth century manuscript contains sayings that very likely have their origins partly with the king. Psalms (from the Greek: Psalmoi) (originally meaning songs sung to a harp, from psallein play on a stringed instrument, Ψαλμοί; Hebrew: Tehilim, תהילים, or praises) is a book of the Hebrew Bible, Tanakh or Old Testament. ... The Owl and the Nightingale is a poem written in Middle English detailing a debate between an owl and a nightingale as overheard by the poems narrator. ... The Proverbs of Alfred is a collection of the putative sayings of Alfred the Great of England in late Anglo-Saxon or early Middle English. ...

Main article: Alfred Jewel

The Alfred jewel, discovered in Somerset in 1693, has long been associated with King Alfred because of its Old English inscription "AELFRED MEC HEHT GEWYRCAN" (Alfred Ordered Me To Be Made). This relic, of unknown use, certainly dates from Alfred's reign but it is possibly just one of several that once existed. The inscription does little to clarify the identity of the central figure which has long been believed to depict God or Christ. The Alfred Jewel is a Saxon ornament of unknown purpose. ... The Alfred Jewel is a Saxon ornament of unknown purpose. ... This article is about the county of Somerset in England. ... Old English (also called Anglo-Saxon[1], Old English: ) is an early form of the English language that was spoken in parts of what is now England and southern Scotland between the mid-fifth century and the mid-twelfth century. ...

Veneration

Alfred is venerated as a Saint by the Orthodox Church and is regarded as a hero of the Christian Church in the Anglican Communion, with a feast day of 26 October,^[12] and may often be found depicted in stained glass in Church of England parish churches. Also, Alfred University was named after him; a large statue of his likeness is in the center of campus. Orthodox icon of Pentecost. ... The provinces of the Anglican Communion commemorate many of the same saints as those in the Roman Catholic calendar, often on the same days, but also commemorate various famous (often post-Reformation and/or English) Christians who have not been canonized. ... Main article: Anglicanism The Anglican Communion is a world-wide affiliation of Anglican Churches. ... The calendar of saints is a traditional Christian method of organising a liturgical year on the level of days by associating each day with a saint, and referring to the day as the saints day of that saint. ... is the 299th day of the year (300th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Strictly speaking, stained glass is glass that has been painted with silver stain and then fired. ... A parish church in the Church of England, is the place of Christian worship which acts as the religious centre for the people of the smallest and most basic Church of England administrative unit, known as a parish. ... Alfred University (Alfred) is a small, comprehensive university in the Village of Alfred in western New York State, USA, an hour south of Rochester and two hours southeast of Buffalo. ...

Family

In 868, Alfred married Ealhswith, daughter of Ealdorman of the Gaini (who is also known as Aethelred Mucill), who was from the Gainsborough region of Lincolnshire. She appears to have been the maternal granddaughter of a King of Mercia. They had five or six children together, including Edward the Elder, who succeeded his father as King of Wessex, Ethelfleda, who would become Queen of Mercia in her own right, and Ælfthryth who married Baldwin II the Count of Flanders. Ealhswith (or Ealswitha) of the Gaini was born c. ... An Ealdorman, or Alderman, was the prior magistrate of a British shire in A. D. 900 to A. D. 1100. ... Gainsborough is a town in Lincolnshire, England. ... For other places with the same name, see Lincolnshire (disambiguation). ... A list of the Kings etc. ... Edward the Elder (Old English: Ä’adweard se Ieldra) (c. ... This is a list of monarchs of Wessex until 924. ... Ethelfleda (alternative spelling Aethelfled, Æthelfleda or Æthelflæd) (872/879?-918) was the eldest daughter of King Alfred the Great of Wessex and his wife Ealhswith. ... The Kingdom of Mercia at its greatest extent (7th to 9th centuries) is shown in green, with the original core area (6th century) given a darker tint. ... Baldwin II of Flanders (c. ... The counts of Flanders ruled over the county of Flanders from the 9th century. ...

Ethelfleda (alternative spelling Aethelfled, Æthelfleda or Æthelflæd) (872/879?-918) was the eldest daughter of King Alfred the Great of Wessex and his wife Ealhswith. ... For the later earl, see Earl Aethelred of Mercia. ... Edward the Elder (Old English: Ēadweard se Ieldra) (c. ... is the 198th day of the year (199th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events King Athelstan of England succeeds to the throne. ... Edgiva of Kent, or also Eadgifu (d. ... Baldwin II of Flanders (c. ... Æthelwærd of Wessex was the youngest son of King Alfred the Great and Ealhswith. ... is the 289th day of the year (290th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events Births Deaths March 26 - Al-Hallaj, Sufi writer and teacher Categories: 922 ...

Death, burial and Legacy

Alfred died on 26 October. The actual year is not certain, but it was not necessarily 901 as stated in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. How he died is unknown. He was originally buried temporarily in the Old Minster in Winchester, then moved to the New Minster (perhaps built especially to receive his body). When the New Minster moved to Hyde, a little north of the city, in 1110, the monks transferred to Hyde Abbey along with Alfred's body. His grave was apparently excavated during the building of a new prison in 1788 and the bones scattered. However, bones found on a similar site in the 1860s were also declared to be Alfred's and later buried in Hyde churchyard. Extensive excavations in 1999 revealed what is believed to be his grave-cut, that of his wife Eahlswith, and that of their son Edward the Elder but barely any human remains.^[13] is the 299th day of the year (300th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Old Minster was the Anglo-Saxon cathedral for the diocese of Wessex and then Winchester from 660 to 1093. ... Winchester is a historic city in southern England, with a population of around 40,000 within a 3 mile radius of its centre. ... The New Minster, Winchester was a royal Benedictine abbey founded in 901 in Winchester in the English county of Hampshire. ... Hyde Abbey was a Benedictine monastery just outside the walls of Winchester, Hampshire, dissolved and demolished in 1538. ...

Alfred has had a number of education establishments named in his honour. These are:

• The University of Winchester was named 'King Alfred's College, Winchester' between 1840 and 2004, whereupon it was re-named "University College Winchester".
• Alfred University, as well as Alfred State College located in Alfred, NY, are both named after the king.
• In honour of Alfred, the University of Liverpool created a King Alfred Chair of English Literature.
• University College, Oxford is erroneously said to have been founded by King Alfred.
• King Alfred's College, a secondary school in Wantage, Oxfordshire. The Birthplace of Alfred.
• King's Lodge School, in Chippenham, Wiltshire is so named because King Alfred's hunting lodge is reputed to have stood on or near the site of the school.
• The King Alfred School & Specialist Sports Academy, Burnham Road, Highbridge is so named due to its rough proximity to Brent Knoll (a Beacon Site) and Athelny.

The University of Winchester is a university in Winchester in the United Kingdom. ... Aerial view of Alfred State College taken in April 2006. ... Aerial view of The Village of Alfred, taken April 2006. ... The University of Liverpool is a university in the city of Liverpool, England. ... The King Alfred Chair of English Literature was founded at the University of Liverpool, UK in 1881. ... College name University College Collegium Magnae Aulae Universitatis Named after Established 1249 Sister College Trinity Hall Master Lord Butler of Brockwell JCR President Peter Surr Undergraduates 420 MCR President Monte MacDiarmid Graduates 144 Homepage Boatclub Crest of University College, Oxford University College (in full, the The Master and Fellows of... Statistics Population: 30,000 Ordnance Survey OS grid reference: ST919733 Administration District: North Wiltshire Shire county: Wiltshire Region: South West England Constituent country: England Sovereign state: United Kingdom Other Ceremonial county: Wiltshire Services Police force: Wiltshire Constabulary Fire and rescue: Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service Ambulance: Great Western Post office...

Wantage Statue

The statue of Alfred the Great, situated in the Wantage's market place, was sculpted by Count Gleichen, a relative of Queen Victoria, and unveiled on 14 July 1877 by the Prince and Princess of Wales, the future Edward VII and his wife.^[14] Prince Victor of Hohenlohe-Langenburg. ... Queen Victoria redirects here. ... is the 195th day of the year (196th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1877 (MDCCCLXXVII) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Edward VII (Albert Edward; 9 November 1841 – 6 May 1910) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death on 6 May 1910. ...

The statue was vandalised on New Year's eve 2007, losing part of its right arm. ^[15]

See also

• British military history
• Kingdom of England
• Lays of Boethius

British military history is a long and varied topic, extending from the prehistoric and ancient historic period, through the Roman invasions of Julius Cæsar and Claudius and subsequent Roman occupation; warfare in the Mediaeval period, including the invasions of the Saxons and the Vikings in the Early Middle Ages... Motto Dieu et mon droit(French) God and my right Territory of the Kingdom of England Capital Winchester; London from 11th century Language(s) Old English (de facto, until 1066) Anglo-Norman language (de jure, 1066 - 15th century) English (de facto, gradually replaced French from late 13th century) Government Monarchy... The Lays of Boethius is King Alfred greatest work of literature Citation needed. ...

References

Canute the Great, or Canute I, also known as Cnut in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles (Old Norse: Knútr inn ríki, Norwegian: Knut den mektige, Swedish: Knut den Store, Danish: Knud den Store) (died November 12, 1035) was a Viking king of England, Denmark, Norway, parts of Sweden[1...

Further reading

• Pratt, David: The political thought of King Alfred the Great (Cambridge Studies in Medieval Life and Thought: Fourth Series, 2007) ISBN 9780521803502
• Parker, Joanne: England's Darling The Victorian Cult of Alfred the Great, 2007, ISBN 9780719073564
• Pollard, Justin: Alfred the Great : the man who made England, 2006, ISBN 0719566665
• Fry, Fred: Patterns of Power: The Military Campaigns of Alfred the Great, 2006, ISBN 9781905226931
• Ancestral roots of sixty colonists who came to New England between 1623 and 1650 : the lineage of Alfred the Great, Charlemagne, Malcolm of Scotland, Robert the Strong, and some of their descendants, 1976, ISBN 806303735
• Giles, J. A. (ed.): The Whole Works of King Alfred the Great (Jubilee Edition, 3 vols, Oxford and Cambridge, 1858)
• The whole works of King Alfred the Great, with preliminary essays, illustrative of the history, arts, and manners, of the ninth century, 1969, OCLC 28387

External links

• The Life of King Alfred translated by Dr. J.A. Giles (London, 1847).
• Britannia History Bishop Asser's Life of King Alfred
• Documentary - The Making of England: King Alfred
• An Illustrated Biography of Alfred the Great
• Alfred the Great
• official website of the British Monarchy
• King Alfred the Great
• Alfred Jewel
• Lays of Boethius
• Royal Berkshire History: King Alfred the Great
• Alfred's Palace

See also

• Template:British Monarchs
• Template:Pictish and Scottish Monarchs

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