But, even more remarkably, he was also a lover of wisdom, who sought to preserve and disseminate Latin learning by translating into English the books most necessary for all men to know . 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. Facts about Alfred the Great 4: his reputation. With so much focus on fighting off the Vikings, the educational system of England had almost disappeared. At the same time, Alfred imported a number of learned clerics from Wales and France to reintroduce Latin learning to the court and translate Latin works into English. Alfred was a great warrior king, and an effective and inventive ruler. 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. In the early 890s, Alfred’s biographer, Asser, wrote of the agonising illness, thought to be Crohn’s disease, that afflicted the king during his final years. Because of his effort, Wessex transformed from an uncultured mob of people to educated citizens. Alfred the Great, King of England 3 Ælfræd , King of Wessex was born between 846 and 849 at Wantage, Oxfordshire, England G . These initiatives are known as the Burghal System, in which improved roads linked a series of 33 burhs (fortified settlements) throughout his kingdom. Accordingly, Edward the Elder was groomed to assume the crown. Once peace had been established with the Vikings, Alfred went about rebuilding his kingdom. The film featured a cast which included Michael York, Ian McKellan, Julian Glover, and David Hemmings as the titular king. Although a … Local people either surrendered or escaped (Hampshire people fled to the Isle of Wight), and the West Saxons were reduced to hit and run attacks seizing provisions when they could. He made a second trip to Rome two years later with his father. Alfred's concept of kingship extended beyond the administration of the tribal kingdom of Wessex into a broader context. The occasion is being marked with conferences and exhibitions in Winchester, Southampton and London, but the scale of celebrations will be modest compared with those which commemorated hi… He is the only English monarch to be officially described as ‘great’. He is regarded as one of Britain's greatest heroes for his patriotism, his success against barbarism, his promotion of education, and the establishment of the rule of law. Mark has lived in Greece and Germany and traveled through Egypt. He promoted scholarship and the Church. The work was only brought to public attention in the 17th century CE when Sir John Spelman published it as a guide for kingly behavior. In early 878, the Danes led by King Guthrum seized Chippenham in Wiltshire in a lightning strike and used it as a secure base from which to devastate Wessex. His daughter Aethelflaed of Mercia would continue his war with the Vikings as well as his educational reforms and Burghal System along with her brother Edward of Wessex, who had succeeded Alfred. First, he organised his army (the thegns, and the existing militia known as the fyrd) on a rota basis, so he could raise a 'rapid reaction force' to deal with raiders whilst still enabling his thegns and peasants to tend their farms. He never reveals himself as king or argues with the wife but accepts her scolding as appropriate and helps her bake the bread. With so much focus on fighting off the Vikings, the educational system of England had almost disappeared. 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). Facts about Alfred the Great 7: returning from Rome. With your help we create free content that helps millions of people learn history all around the world. Born in about 848, Alfred was the youngest son of Ethelwulf, king of Wessex. As a result of the stubborn struggle against the Danes, Alfred the Great acquired authority over southwestern England about 886. Wessex was left in peace until 885 AD when Kent was invaded by the Vikings from Denmark, aided by those who settled in East Anglia. Alfred earned the name 'the Great' by defending the kingdom from Viking invasions. Alfred was born in 849 CE, the son of King Aethelwulf of Wessex and his wife Osburh. In 868 CE they made constant raids throughout Mercia and by 869 CE had completely overrun East Anglia. Once peace had been established with the Vikings, Alfred went about rebuilding his kingdom. The spiritual and literary renaissance he spearheaded gave rise to a lasting tradition of English vernacular prose and learning. In 853 he was taken to Rome to be confirmed by the Pope and it is … Alfred was the youngest son of Ethelwulf, king of Wessex.In 865, when Alfred was a youth, Wessex and the other Anglo-Saxon kingdoms in England - Northumbria, East Anglia, and Mercia - were threatened by invasion when a Danish Viking "Great Army" landed on the east coast.The Danes first conquered Northumbria and East Anglia and then turned to attack Mercia. He is known as a merciful and learned man who laid emphasis on education. Historically, he is known as Alfred the Great or Ælfred Micela. Alfred the Great is famous for his victories against the Vikings, and is the only English monarch known as 'the Great'. Alfred the Great ( 1969) Alfred the Great. Alfred’s life, particularly his early struggles as King of Wessex, were portrayed on film in the 1969 epic Alfred the Great. Mark, J. J. Encouraged by this victory, the brothers pursued the Vikings and met them again at Basing but were defeated. He's the odd sort of … 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. Throughout, Smyth remains in serene command of both his complex sources and of the English language. Mark, Joshua J. Alfred did defeat the Danes, but he was never the king of England. https://www.ancient.eu/Alfred_the_Great/. 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 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. The character in the show is loosely based on the historical Alfred but significant departures are made, most notably in his parentage. Together with a navy of new fast ships built on Alfred's orders, southern England now had a defence in depth against Danish raiders. 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). 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. King Guthrum was converted to Christianity with Alfred as godfather and many of the Danes returned to East Anglia where they settled as farmers. Alfred was born in 849 and served as King of Wessex , a Saxon kingdom based in the southwest of modern day England, from 871 to his death on 26th October 899 AD. Alfred the Great (c.848 – 899) was king of the West Saxons from 871 to c. 886 and king of the Anglo-Saxons from c. 886 to 899. 70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints), Mono (35 mm prints) Color. To improve literacy, Alfred arranged, and took part in, the translation (by scholars from Mercia) from Latin into Anglo-Saxon of a handful of books he thought it 'most needful for men to know, and to bring it to pass ... if we have the peace, that all the youth now in England ... may be devoted to learning'. 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