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Notes for Alfred "the Great" , King of England
General Note
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Alfred the Great, King of England, 871-899, b. Wantage, Berkshire,849; d. 26 Oct. 899; m. 868,
Ealhswith Alswitha, d. ca. 905, dau ofEarl Aetheired of Mercia and Eadburh. Alfred was one
of the greatest men in history. He was crowned king at Winchester, 871; founded the British
Navy, organized the militia, compiled a code of laws, built schools and monasteries, and invited
scholars to live at his court. He was a good scholar and translated many books.
Alfred,
b. 849, d. Oct. 26, 899, succeeded his brother Ęthelred as King of Wessex in April 871. Both
he and his brother were sons of King Ęthelwulf. The only English King called "The Great," Alfred
is renowned both for his ability as a war leader and for his love of learning. He can be counted
with Charlemagne, as one of the two most outstanding rulers of the 9th century.
Alfred
was the first English monarch to plan systematically for the defense of his realm against the
Danes, with whom he was almost constantly at war from 876 until the end of his life. He was
also the first monarch of an English Kingdom to become a symbol and focus of national unity.
Although effective ruler only of Wessex and English Mercia, he was regarded as the protector
of all the English living under Danish rule. His capture of London in 886, which marked thefarthest
extent of his essentially defensive territorial expansion, led to general English recognition
of his leadership. After his death, however, Wessex and Mercia were still unable to expel the
Danes from England.
A learned layman, Alfred tried to ensure that his country men
had the opportunity to become literate. To that end, he relied upon the bishops of the Anglo-Saxon
church both to teach and to seek outstudents. Alfred himself translated into Anglo-Saxon the
Pastoral Care of Pope Gregory I, Orosius' Seven Books of History against the Pagans, Boethius'
Consolation of Philosophy, (possibly) the Ecclesiastical History of the Venerable Bede, and
part of St. Augustine of Hippo's Soliloquies. To each of these except the fourth he added his
own commentary. Alfred's military victories saved English culture and national identity from
destruction, and his intellectual activities began the education of his people in the Latin
heritage.Ref: Academic American Encyclopedia RASC 1-15.
(ASC 853,871,891,894,897,901;DNB,
I 153-162; Asser:Life of Alfred).
The Death of Alfred, 899 In this year died Alfred,
son of Ethelwulf,six nights before All Hollow's Day (1 November). He was King over all England
except thatpart which was under Danish domination, and he ruled the kingdom Twenty-eight and
ahalf years. Ref. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle.
He left this Message: "This I will say
--that I have sought to liveworthily, the...
One of the outstanding figures in English
history, Alfred's laws were the first that made no distinction between the English and the
Welsh peoples.
Reigned 871-899. He prevented the Danish conquest of England, defeating
them at Edington (878) after a campaign of guerrilla warfare. After his victory he allowed
the Danes to keep their conquests in Mercia and East Anglia provided that Guthrum, their King,
was converted to Christianity. Alfred built a navy of Warships to defend the south coast against
further Danish invasions (885-86 ;892-96) and protected Wessex with a chain of fortifications.
He took London (886), this gaining control of all England except the Danish areas.
Alfred
the Great is probably the most famous of the Anglo-Saxon kings. However, much of his fame rests
in legends which are not necessarily based in historic fact, and the more important events
of his reign are often not remembered. He was the son of ?thulwulf of Wessex and was crowned
king of Wessex while in his early twenties. At that time, the Vikings, or Danes, who had invaded
England in 793, were pushing to take Wessex. They had already defeated East Anglia, Northumbria
and Mercia. However, Alfred was successful in his bid to defeat the Vikings at the battle of
Edington, and Wessex did not fall under Danish rule.
During his reign, Alfred bettered
his kingdom and the lives of his subjects. He originated the system of burhs which emerged
in England: fortified towns were located such that no one lived more than 20 miles from one,
meaning that they could reach safety in a day's marching. Thirty burhs existed during the time,
and many of them still survive today. A total of 27,000 men were required to defend the burhs,
and the fact that they did defend them is a testament to Alfred's organizational and military
skills. The army was also revamped under him, and Alfred had new ships built in order to meet
the Danes at sea.
One of Alfred's greatest contributions to his people was his interest
in educating them. To this end he issued a law-code, he brought scholars to Wessex, he translated
books, himself, from Latin to (Old) English, and he likely ordered the writing of the Anglo-Saxon
Chronicle, a history of the Anglo-Saxons which would be updated each year. One of Alfred's
laws reads as follows:
"If anyone ties up an innocent ceorl, he is to pay him 10 shillings
compensation. If anyone whips him he is to pay him 20 shillings compensation. If he places
him in the stocks, he is to pay him 30 shillings compensation."
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