It is during … In 875 CE the Vikings had firmly established their kingdom, and a new Norse warlord, Guthrum, had taken command. While avoiding unnecessary changes in custom, he limited the practice of the blood feud and imposed heavy penalties for breach of oath or pledge. He won a great victory at the Battle of Edington in 878 but continued to struggle with Danish advances until 896, when the invasions ceased. (John Haare / Public Domain ) A Period of Peace Results in a Divided England . When he was at home, Æthelbald deposed his father, King Æthelwulf. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Alfred the Great A legend and a hero to his people, King Alfred the Great was known to be one of the best rulers of all time. He was a popular king who governed his people well and fairly. Hindsight is 20/20. It was during this period that Asser, formerly of Wales, came to Alfred's court as his personal tutor. The story would go through many different incarnations with the wife depicted as evil and ignorant or simply exasperated by her houseguest, but in all, Alfred's response epitomizes humility and grace. It relates how Alfred, traveling alone at this time, came upon the cottage of a swineherd and asked for hospitality without revealing who he was. Omissions? Alfred had no opportunity to acquire the education he sought, however, until much later in life. Web. He established the practice of translating classical works from Latin into English, set up public schools, reformed the military, and revised and expanded the law code. And not without good reason. Mark, Joshua J. … Ancient History Encyclopedia Foundation is a non-profit organization. In order for each burh to be able to defend itself, it had to be garrisoned, and those men had to be paid, and so Alfred reformed the tax code based on the abundance of crops gathered from a person's land. Alfred administered Wessex well and was a studious lawgiver. Aethelred and Alfred mobilized their forces and met the Vikings in battle at Reading but were badly defeated. In 868 CE they made constant raids throughout Mercia and by 869 CE had completely overrun East Anglia. The Ancient History Encyclopedia logo is a registered EU trademark. Alfred defeated the Viking leader Guthrum (died c. 890 CE) at the Battle of Eddington in 878 CE, after which he was able to deliver terms including the Christianization of Guthrum and his closest advisors, thus bridging the religious gap between the two peoples. Alfred was not expected to become king. It is possible also that he was aware of and admired the great Frankish king Charlemagne, who had at the beginning of the century revived learning in his realm. Alfred’s rendering of the Soliloquies of the 5th-century theologian St. Augustine of Hippo, to which he added material from other works of the Fathers of the Church, discussed problems concerning faith and reason and the nature of eternal life. Alfred the Great was the king of the southern Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Wessex from 886 to 899. When he was born, it must have seemed unlikely that Alfred would become king, since he had four older brothers; he said that he never desired royal power. Alfred was born in 849 CE, the son of King Aethelwulf of Wessex and his wife Osburh. Wise diplomacy also helped Alfred’s defense. In 866 CE they took the city of York, and in 867 CE they killed the Northumbrian kings Osbert and Aelle and consolidated their control of the region. The character in the show is loosely based on the historical Alfred but significant departures are made, most notably in his parentage. He probably received the education in military arts normal for a young man of rank. Nor doom one doom to your friend; another to your foe!" With so much focus on fighting off the Vikings, the educational system of England had almost disappeared. Learn more. Alfred spent much of his reign defending his kingdom of Wessex from Danish invaders. By May of 878 CE, he had assembled a large enough force to meet the Vikings in battle. Alfred, also spelled Aelfred, byname Alfred the Great, (born 849—died 899), king of Wessex (871–899), a Saxon kingdom in southwestern England. Alfred nearly succumbed to the Vikings as well, but kept his nerve and won a decisive victory at the battle of Edington in 879. They consolidated their power in Northumbria, made peace with the Mercians, and were free to threaten the autonomy of Wessex whenever they pleased. Mark, Joshua J. Alfred continued his educational programs, enlarged and reformed the navy, and drew up his own law code based on the Christian Bible and founded on the Ten Commandments. Public schools were created in which students learned to read English; those who were to go on to pursue holy orders would also be taught Latin. Alfred the Great was the youngest of five sons. License. With your help we create free content that helps millions of people learn history all around the world. Even so, in his lifetime, Alfred was respected as a noble king who won the trust of his people for his reforms in education and law, and most notably, his leadership against the Viking threat. Alfred the Great Statue, Winchesterby Odejea (CC BY-NC-SA). This picture is confirmed by Alfred’s laws and writings. In 858, King Æthelwulf passed away. Elrington and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon, University of Cambridge, 1957–69. In the show, his mother is Judith, Princess of Northumbria (played by English actress Jennie Jacques) who is married to Aethelwulf but becomes pregnant through an affair with the Christian monk-turned-Viking-turned-cleric, Athelstan (played by English actor George Blagden). The Viking lines were broken and in flight, but there were too few of Alfred's forces to pursue. Alfred and his brother faced the Danes at Reading and lost. Alfred implements his famous reforms of military. Alfred rallied his forces and blockaded the Viking fleet at Devon, forcing them to withdraw to Mercia but, by 877 CE, the Vikings were back at the borders and, in early 878 CE, they took Chippenham. Alfred the Great (849-899) was the most famous of the Anglo-Saxon kings. Despite overwhelming odds he successfully defended his kingdom, Wessex, against the Vikings . Whether his brother was involved or not, Alfred was victorious, skillfully leading his forces, and drove the Vikings from the field. Further Viking threats were kept at bay by a reorganisation of military service and pa… He never reveals himself as king or argues with the wife but accepts her scolding as appropriate and helps her bake the bread. Alfred's Burghal System seems to have been adapted from the Carolingian precepts. Alfred the Great, King of Wessex, a defender against Viking invasion and a social reformer; just few of the reasons why he is the only English monarch to be known as “the Great”. Old forts were strengthened and new ones built at strategic sites, and arrangements were made for their continual manning. His frailty in youth and the trip to Rome are also depicted with more or less accuracy but his brothers and their accomplishments are combined and fictionalized in the character of Aethelred (played by Darren Cahill) and elements of Aethelwulf's reign and personality are also significantly altered. Alfred was not expected to become King since he had four elder brothers. The code of law that was compiled under him was the first all-English collection of laws. They took him in for a few days, and one day when the swineherd was out, his wife was baking bread in the oven while Alfred sat nearby preoccupied with his troubles. The Alfred Jewel (Oxford, Ashmolean Museum, AN1836 p.135.371) Biography Alfred was king of Wessex. In 876 CE Alfred made a treaty with Guthrum in which he gave the Viking leader hostages, and the Vikings swore an oath to leave Wessex alone. Ancient History Encyclopedia. Alfred's epithet 'the great' was not given to him in his lifetime but centuries later when Asser's work became more widely known and the significance of Alfred's reign was more fully recognized. Alfred was a man of … Alfred succeeded in government as well as at war. His laws gave special attention to the protection of the weak. Last modified April 24, 2018. "Alfred the Great." Alfred at this point had no choice but to pay the Viking commanders a large sum to leave Wessex. He's the odd sort of king insofar as he doesn't seem to have lusted after the throne. They won at Ashdown and a fortnight later lost at Basing. Alfred was born in 849 CE, the son of King Aethelwulf of Wessex and his wife Osburh. The theory that Viking raids were the wrath of God had gone unchallenged since the Lindisfarne raid in 793 CE as there was no better available, and Alfred most certainly believed it. He had spent many years fighting the ‘Viking invasions,’ after ascending the throne. She chastised Alfred, who was sitting close by, saying, “You hesitate to turn the loaves which you see to be burning, yet you're quite happy to eat them when they come warm from the oven!” (Keynes & Lapidge, 198). In this year Alfred married Ealhswith, descended through her mother from Mercian kings. There may have been an official oath of loyalty to the king that the populace, or at least landowners, had to take, but even if there was not, it is clear that Alfred had united the people of Britain under his rule. Also useful is the chapter on Alfred in Christopher Brooke, The Saxon and Norman Kings (1963). While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Following the Battle of Eddington, he went to work to resolve the underlying causes of the raids which, in his view, were the poor state of education, clerical learning, and lack of unity in his kingdom. Osburh is described in Asser's Life of King Alfred as a religious and intelligent woman who had a significant effect on his life-long interest in learning; a characteristic which chiefly defines Alfred and shaped his later accomplishments. His mother early aroused his interest in English poetry, and from his boyhood he also hankered after Latin learning, possibly stimulated by visits to Rome in 853 and 855. The Warrior Queen: The Life and Legend of Aethelflaed, Daughter of Alfred... Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. At the age of four, his father sent him to Rome on pilgrimage, where he was confirmed in the faith by the Pope and, according to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, was anointed as king. Athelred then died in the middle of April 871 and Alfred became his successor. Corrections? Learn more. It was with the backdrop of a rampaging Viking army that Alfred's public life began, with the accession of his third brother, Æthelred of Wessex, in 866. Alfred, then, had no choice but to take command of the entire army and lead the attack. Alfred the Great. It also had a near-monopoly on the acquisition of knowledge as its official language. In April, Aethelred died and Alfred became king. As we have seen, Alfred did – against all odds – break the momentum of the Viking conquerors of Britain and push them back into a confined territory that his progeny would eventually retake. The Vikings massacred much of the populace, but Alfred escaped with his family and a few men and went into exile. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. He was a wise administrator, organizing his finances and the service due from his thanes (noble followers). He learned poetry by hearing it recited & then repeating it but could not read it himself until sometime in his teenage years. After the kingdoms of Northumbria, East Anglia and Mercia had fallen to the Vikings, Wessex under Alfred was the only surviving Anglo-Saxon province. He prevented England from falling to the Danes and promoted learning and literacy. In both works, additions include parallels from contemporary conditions, sometimes revealing his views on the social order and the duties of kingship. Later historians, especially during the Victorian Age, would consider him the most perfect king of the Middle Ages for his piety, justice, and noble vision of a better future for his people. Beginning in 880 CE, Alfred reorganized his kingdom and implemented educational, legal, and military reforms which would transform Wessex and eventually the whole of Britain. Early life. He scrutinized the administration of justice and took steps to ensure the protection of the weak from oppression by ignorant or corrupt judges. In it Alfred admonished, "Doom very evenly! During his reign, he repelled the Viking invasions and laid the foundation for what became the Kingdom of England. Alfred's impressive military and administrative skills stabilized Britain after almost a century of Viking raids and warfare. His educational reforms paved the way for public schools in England, his law code served as the basis for future legal reforms, and his restructuring of the cities, towns, and roadways changed the infrastructure of the country forever. He first appeared on active service in 868, when he and his brother, King Aethelred (Ethelred) I, went to help Burgred of Mercia (the kingdom between the Thames and the Humber) against a great Danish army that had landed in East Anglia in 865 and taken possession of Northumbria in 867. On a trip to Rome, at some point after Eddington, Alfred had learned defensive tactics and stratagems from the Carolingian kings of France who had been dealing with their own Viking problems for centuries. Alfred reorganized his army and used ships against the invaders as early as 875. The supremacy of lordship was emphasized throughout as Alfred believed that the king ruled by divine will and, if he were true to his calling, would rule justly in the best interests of his people. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Alfred earned the name 'the Great' by defending the kingdom from Viking invasions. In 853 he was taken to Rome to be confirmed by the Pope and it is likely that he was being prepared for a life in the Church. The Vikings were driven from the field and fortified the defenses of their stronghold. He even translated … Alfred the Great’s most enduring work was his legal Code, reconciling the long established laws of the Christian kingdoms of Kent, Mercia and Wessex. Further reading: “Alfred the Great: The Man Who Made England” by Justin Pollard, “The Royal Saints of Anglo-Saxon England: A Study of West Saxon and East Anglian Cults” by Susan J. Ridyard, “The Kings and Queens of Anglo-Saxon England” by Timothy Venning, “Alfred the Great” by David Sturdy, “The Royal Line of Succession” by Hugo Vickers, “Alfred the Great: Asser’s Life of King Alfred and … Over the next few years, Alfred would continually have to mobilize what troops he could muster to defend his realm. Alfred wrote for the benefit of his people, but he was also deeply interested in theological problems for their own sake and commissioned the first of the translations, Gregory’s Dialogues, “that in the midst of earthly troubles he might sometimes think of heavenly things.” He may also have done a translation of the first 50 psalms. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms. He was daily involved in foreign policy decisions, and the problems of the Vikings in Britain persisted. In 865 CE the Great Army of Vikings led by Halfdane and Ivar the Boneless invaded East Anglia and swiftly defeated any force sent against them. They surrendered, and their king, Guthrum, was baptized, Alfred standing as sponsor; the following year they settled in East Anglia. Although it is possible this ceremony took place, it seems unlikely as Alfred was the youngest of five children and his older brothers – Aethelbald, Aethelberht, and Aethelred – would have all been in line to succeed to the throne before him. Asser comments how “the Christians were aroused by the grief and shame of this, and four days later, with all their might and in a determined frame of mind, they advanced against the Viking army at a place called Ashdown” (Asser, 37, Keynes & Lapidge, 78). Though not Alfred’s work, the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, one of the greatest sources of information about Saxon England, which began to be circulated about 890, may have its origin in the intellectual interests awakened by the revival of learning under him. Updates? It is certain they were married by 887 CE when Aethelflaed's name appears on land charters with Aethelred's. Do not doom one doom to the rich; another to the poor! Although the character of Judith is portrayed as caring and concerned for her son, no mention is made of Alfred's mother's impact on his literacy. Compilation of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle began during his reign, circa 890. Alfred also united the Saxons of Britain into a … This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. These initiatives are known as the Burghal System, in which improved roads linked a series of 33 burhs (fortified settlements) throughout his kingdom. Books Keynes and Lapidge note that Alfred's victory at London marked “the emergence among the English of a sense of common identity, under a common leader, in a common cause” (38). The Saxon king Alfred the Great penetrates the Danish camp disguised as a wandering minstrel, in order to get intelligence. In 886 he took the offensive and captured London, a success that brought all the English not under Danish rule to accept him as king. The king was in the process of marshalling an offensive against the Great Heathen Army of the Danes. We have also been recommended for educational use by the following publications: Ancient History Encyclopedia Foundation is a non-profit organization registered in Canada. Although this victory did not end Viking raids in Britain nor drive the Vikings back to Scandinavia, it allowed for a period of relative peace in which Alfred's reforms could be implemented and take root. Alfred knew that education was important, so he founded schools and rebuilt monasteries. Facts about Alfred the Great 7: returning from Rome. Alfred's terms were lenient: Guthrum and 30 of his chieftains would submit to Christian baptism and renounce their pagan faith, hostages would be provided to ensure compliance, and the Vikings would leave Wessex; all of these conditions were met. Once peace had been established with the Vikings, Alfred went about rebuilding his kingdom. Retrieved from https://www.ancient.eu/Alfred_the_Great/. All penalties took the form of fines except for those which involved crimes of treachery or treason. In 878 CE he defeated the main Viking army at the Battle of Edington. Some of his works were copied as late as the 12th century. 09 Feb 2021. Alfred is most exceptional, however, not for his generalship or his administration but for his attitude toward learning. Alfred, however, destroyed all of the crops surrounding the Viking defenses, killed all the men found outside, and took the cattle. Ancient History Encyclopedia, 24 Apr 2018. Alfred had a respite from fighting until 885, when he repelled an invasion of Kent by a Danish army, supported by the East Anglian Danes. The Danes landed in East Anglia first and then moved into Wessex in 870. He is the best-known Anglo-Saxon king in British history thanks to his biographer Asser (died c. 909 CE) and that work's impact on later writers. Another important factor, however, is that Asser's Life of King Alfred was not widely read at this time since Asser never completed it or had it copied for distribution. His father wanted his sons to succeed the kingship in turn as he felt that choosing just one son to inherit the throne might weaken the leadership. The most famous of these is the story of Alfred and the burnt cakes, which comes from The Life of St. Neot. This work contains much valuable information, and it reveals that Alfred laboured throughout under the burden of recurrent, painful illness; and beneath Asser’s rhetoric can be seen a man of attractive character, full of compassion, able to inspire affection, and intensely conscious of the responsibilities of kingly office. Although illiterate in his youth, Alfred himself wrote the law code and translated a number of works, including Gregory's Pastoral Care, Boethius' Consolation of Philosophy, St. Augustine's Soliloquies, and the first 50 psalms. A leading authority on Anglo-Saxon England. Alfred was a scholar and encouraged education in the kingdom as well as improving the legal system. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Hence, in the lull from attack between 878 and 885, he invited scholars to his court from Mercia, Wales, and the European continent. A: Alfred was the fifth son of King Æthelwulf (839-58), ruler of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Wessex – the area south of the river Thames. Modern studies have increased knowledge of him but have not altered in its essentials the medieval conception of a great king. Alfred the Great. Although Asser never criticizes Aethelred directly, he makes the point that a strategy had been laid whereby Alfred and Aethelred would command joint forces which would strike at different points of the Viking forces but that Aethelred never appeared to take command of his part of the battle. Alfred The Great's rise to power The Church of Rome wielded immense power and its influence extended to almost every aspect of Saxon life. Alfred’s translation of the Pastoral Care of St. Gregory I, the great 6th-century pope, provided a manual for priests in the instruction of their flocks, and a translation by Bishop Werferth of Gregory’s Dialogues supplied edifying reading on holy men. It should be noted that Asser's account of the battle has been challenged and other sources credit Aethelred with full participation in the engagement. Early in the 880's CE, Alfred implemented innovations which included a restructuring of the network of towns and cities. He fought against the Viking invaders and he oversaw a revival of learning and writing in Old English. His success in quelling the attacks was largely due to his superlative defensive strategy. His success against the Vikings is why Assassins Creed has picked the king as their ultimate antagonist in their new game Valhalla. By 886 CE Alfred had captured London and was the most powerful ruler in England. In spite of his accomplishments and fame, Alfred was not as highly respected at this time as he would come to be in later centuries, possibly because the Viking invasions would continue in Britain until c. 1066 CE. Compilation of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle began during his reign, circa 890. Mark, J. J. He also introduced wide-ranging reforms including defence measures, reform of the law and of coinage. To strengthen his kingdom … The burhs were situated in such a way that any garrison could move to support any other within a day's march. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alfred-king-of-Wessex, Alfred the Great - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Alfred the Great - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up), Ecclesiastical History of the English People, Seven Books of Histories Against the Pagans. Then the … Alfred, king of Wessex (the area south of the Thames River in England — and the Thames is the river that runs through London, so go ahead and check the map), is universally referred to as The Great. Related Content In 870 CE reinforcements for the Great Army arrived from Scandinavia and Halfdane led his forces to take Wallingford, ravage Mercia, and drive on into Wessex the next year. Later he had larger ships built to his own design for use against the coastal raids that continued even after 896. You might say, why is that an interesting fact about … Whatever effect the trip to Rome may have had on Alfred's character, it does not seem to be as profound an influence as that of his mother. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. This translation deserves to be studied in its own right, as does his rendering of Boethius’s Consolation of Philosophy. He was the youngest of the six known children of Æthelwulf, king of the West Saxons (reigned 839–858). He prevented England from falling to the Danes and promoted learning and literacy. It should not be thought, however, that this period was – as has often been claimed – a “quiet time” in which Alfred could devote himself to study and domestic policies. He was born as the fifth son of Aethelwulf, King of the West Saxons. The Vikings held the high ground and had already fortified their defenses when Alfred arrived on the field and found his brother the king was still at his prayers. Ancient History Encyclopedia. Alfred the Great was an Anglo-Saxon king who inherited the throne of Wessex in southwestern England in 871 CE. The possession of London also made possible the reconquest of the Danish territories in his son’s reign, and Alfred may have been preparing for this, though he could make no further advance himself. Aethelflaed would continue Alfred's work in conjunction with her husband and then as sole ruler and Lady of the Mercians. He learned Latin himself and began to translate Latin books into English in 887. The Battle of Ashdown in January 871 CE would prove Alfred's skill in military leadership and his ability to think clearly and act in a crisis. The Vikings were left with whatever provisions they had inside and after two weeks of siege surrendered. At the age of four, his father sent him to Rome on pilgrimage, where he was confirmed in the faith by the Pope and, according to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, was anointed as king. A freelance writer and former part-time Professor of Philosophy at Marist College, New York, Joshua J. Alfred, also spelled Aelfred, byname Alfred the Great, (born 849—died 899), king of Wessex (871–899), a Saxon kingdom in southwestern England. But observing the rape of his land, he puts away his religious vows, to take up arms against the invaders, leading the English Christians to fight for their country. Mark, published on 24 April 2018 under the following license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. There were many famous Anglo-Saxon kings, but the most famous of all was Alfred, one of the only kings in British history to be called 'Great'. Recognizing that these could be destroyed just as easily as their predecessors, he then reformed the military and the very structure of settlements in his kingdom. Under Alfred the Great, the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms were consolidated around Wessex, the army was reorganized, a considerable fleet was built, and a number of fortresses were erected. The Danes refused to give battle, and peace was made. The Ecclesiastical History of the English People, by the English historian Bede, and the Seven Books of Histories Against the Pagans, by Paulus Orosius, a 5th-century theologian—neither of which was translated by Alfred himself, though they have been credited to him—revealed the divine purpose in history. Alfred soundly defeats the Danes and becomes a hero. Alfred was never forgotten: his memory lived on through the Middle Ages and in legend as that of a king who won victory in apparently hopeless circumstances and as a wise lawgiver. Ninth century English nobleman Alfred (David Hemmings) puts his plans to become a priest on hold, because his country has been invaded by Vikings. (Asser, 53, Keynes & Lapidge, 83). Aethelred died in 871, and Alfred succeeded him. Alfred then lost a series of battles and was forced to buy peace. The Vikings were diverse Scandinavian seafarers from Norway, Sweden... Alfred serves as military commander under his brother King Aethelred against, Alfred becomes king of Wessex following Aethelred's. As a child, Alfred travelled … In the 18th century CE, Alfred was regarded as the epitome of a noble king, and by the time of the Victorian Period (1837-1901 CE), he was embraced as the founder of the British Empire, father of the British Navy (although he only reformed it), and the greatest king to ever rule England. In considering what is true happiness and the relation of providence to faith and of predestination to free will, Alfred does not fully accept Boethius’ position but depends more on the early Fathers. Shortly after taking London, Alfred sealed an alliance with Mercia by arranging a marriage between his daughter Aethelflaed (r. 911-918 CE) and the earl of that region, Aethelred II (r. 883-911 CE). Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Alfred's brothers each ruled in succession following their father's death until Alfred was officially named successor to his brother Aethelred in c. 865 CE and elevated to the rank of military commander. They retired in 877 having accomplished little, but a surprise attack in January 878 came near to success. The civil war emerged and finally they negotiated by giving the east area to be ruled by Æthelwulf and the western shires were ruled by Æthelbald. For the next few years Alfred fought the Vikings. It may be that Alfred's family had low expectations of him as a warrior-king as he was more given to books than action and was often ill as a young man (possibly afflicted with Crohn's disease). Since he had four elder brothers, the chances of him becoming the king were improbable. During the duration of about 50 years, Kind Alfred managed to reopen a new era in Anglo-Saxon literature.Alfred attained the "Great" in his name because of the leadership he possessed.He was the man who led his men to victory during harsh times against the Danes. While Old England is being ransacked by roving Danes in the ninth century, Alfred is planning to join the priesthood. He learned poetry by hearing it recited and then repeating it but could not read it himself until sometime in his teenage years and even then could not read Latin in which the most important works of his time were written. The Danes established themselves at Chippenham, and the West Saxons submitted, “except King Alfred.” He harassed the Danes from a fort in the Somerset marshes, and until seven weeks after Easter he secretly assembled an army, which defeated them at the Battle of Edington.